Learn about Pennsylvania Hospital's pathology residency program.
The First Year
Residents acquire extensive experience in both surgical pathology (8 months) and get an introduction to various fields of clinical pathology (4 months), usually blood banking and chemistry. In surgical pathology, residents are responsible for gross description and dissection of cases and also includes autopsy and frozen sections. For the first month, each new resident is assigned a “peer-mentor” in the form of a senior resident (usually the Chief Residents) who helps integrate new residents into the department. There is ample time for residents to review their slides prior to sign out with the attending pathologist at a teaching microscope. The first year is spent primarily at Pennsylvania Hospital.
The Second Year
Residents spend core rotations in the major disciplines of clinical pathology such as Blood bank, Chemistry, Hematopathology, and Microbiology,
as well as anatomic pathology, which includes surgical pathology, surgical pathology subspecialties and cytopathology, at Pennsylvania Hospital and
the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
The Third and Fourth Years
Residents gain increasing experience in a variety of surgical pathology disciplines including cytopathology, elective rotations at the HUP, and molecular pathology, also at HUP, and rotations at the Medical Examiner’s office.
Increasing responsibility is given during additional surgical and autopsy pathology rotations, such as advanced anatomic pathology rotation that functions as acting fellow. Pediatric pathology rotation at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is also scheduled during these years. Elective rotation in ocular pathology at adjacent Wills Eye Hospital may also be arranged.
Additional experience in hematology, blood banking, microbiology and clinical chemistry are tailored to the individual interests of each resident. Research in terms of projects are encouraged in anatomic and/or clinical pathology and attendance at a national meeting is reimbursed whenever a resident presents a poster or abstract.
Summary
The program provides structured training with interactive, didactic and hands-on experience including modern laboratory technologies. This program prepares our residents to pursue both academic and community level practice. Our residents have secured highly coveted fellowships across the nation and have become members and leaders of healthcare teams.