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Program Pathways

Residents can pursue training in Anatomical Pathology, Clinical Pathology, or a combined Anatomical and Clinical Pathology program.

Anatomic Pathology

URMC Autopsy SuiteCore Rotations

Residents pursuing a four year combined AP/CP program are required to complete the following core rotations:

  • Autopsy Pathology minimum 2 months
  • Cytopathology (gyn and non-gyn) minimum 4 months
  • Neuropathology minimum 2 months
  • Surgical Pathology minimum 9 months
  • Forensic Pathology minimum 1 month
  • Dermatopathology minimum 1 month

Residents seeking certification in only Anatomical Pathology must complete an additional 24 months of formal AP rotations. They must also spend additional time in surgical pathology and neuropathology, and complete a rotation in hematopathology.

Elective Rotations

Once residents have successfully completed their minimum core requirements, they are encouraged to select additional rotations from elective opportunities available. These may include additional advanced rotations in the core services as well as elective rotations for additional training in specialized areas. Specialized electives include (but are not limited to) 1 to 3 month experiences in:

  • Advanced Cytopathology
  • Antenatal Pediatric Pathology *
  • Neuromuscular Pathology
  • Renal Pathology
  • Pathology Informatics
  • Pathology Practice*

*two months total, one month counts as AP, one counts as CP

Additionally, informal specialized study in pediatric pathology, ophthalmologic pathology, bone pathology, and histologic technique can be arranged with individual faculty members in these areas.

Clinical Pathology

URMC Clinical LabsCore Rotations - Standard

  • Blood Bank & Transfusion Medicine - 2 months
  • Chemistry - 2 months
  • Hematology - 2 months of hematopathology & 1 month coagulation
  • Microbiology - 2 months

Residents should take at least two of the four rotations in two-month uninterrupted blocks during their first year.

Residents are required to spend an additional nine months in one of more of the clinical laboratories. Whereas the total time cannot be less than nine months, the time spent in each of the various laboratories vary. Thus, additional rotations through any of the sections or subsections in Laboratory Medicine, may be less than a full two-month block. Such flexibility is allowed to assure the residents' educational goals are achieved in accordance with their own pace and abilities.

All AP/CP or CP only residents are strongly encouraged to take advanced rotations in Transfusion Medicine, and rotations in Molecular Diagnostics, Coagulation and Immunopathology as part of their ten months’ “required flexible program” for CP. A rotation through Cytogenetics may also be used towards the CP portion of training as may only one month of a two-month Antenatal or Postnatal Pediatric Pathology rotation.

Other available Clinical Pathology Electives include:

  • Advanced Transfusion Medicine
  • Chemistry: Toxicology
  • Cytogenetics: Protein Chemistry
  • Cytogenetics: Prenatal Diagnosis
  • Microbiology: Virology
  • Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Pathology Practice
  • Pediatric Pathology
  • Special Coagulation

Electives

Several electives in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are available to third and fourth year medical students with rotations through Clinical Pathology and Anatomic Pathology. Students with an interest in forensic pathology may participate in a four-week elective at the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s office. Autopsy Pathology is another popular Anatomic Pathology elective along with Neuropathology and Surgical Pathology. Clinical Pathology electives can be arranged through Microbiology or Molecular Diagnostics.

For additional information, contact Betsy McDonald at x34580 or email betsy_mcdonald@urmc.rochester.edu.