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THE GUARDIAN · HEALTH · November 13, 2026

She gets 16 pelvic exams a day – so yours don’t hurt

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Molly Callahan, a gynecological teaching assistant, helps medical students practice pap smears and breast exams On her busiest days, Molly Callahan, has 16 speculums inserted into her vagina. She works full-time as a gynecological teaching assistant ( GTA ) – a layperson who helps medical students practice pap smears and breast exams before they work with actual patients. It’s not as unpleasant as you might think. In fact, the point is to help students learn how to do it without causing discomfort. Contrary to common belief, pap smears – tests that screen for cervical cancer – don’t have to be

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