Residency Programs
Combined Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) Training
The combined program consists of 24 months of structured training in AP and 18 months of structured training in CP. This is followed by 6 months of flexible training which should be used to integrate aspects of AP and CP.
Structured Training in Anatomic Pathology (24 months)
Note: This is identical to the 24 structured months for AP only residents.
Structured Training in Clinical Pathology (18 months)
Note: This is identical to the 18 assigned structured months for CP only residents.
Flexible (Integrated) Training in Pathology (6 months)
The remainder of the fourth and final year of required training may be customized by the resident to meet her/his individual needs but she/he will be encouraged to synthesize and integrate ALL areas of diagnostic pathology during this period.
Combined AP/CP training at Stanford may be summarized as:
- Years 1 & 2: a solid grounding in Anatomic Pathology
- Year 3: an introduction to the core areas of Clinical Pathology
- Year 4: two periods of integration
- Integration of Clinical Pathology
The laboratory medicine rotations that complete the residents' 18 months of structured CP training are designed to allow the resident to see familiar diagnostic and management problems in different ways. These include genetic and molecular approaches (during the two-month rotation in Genetics), coagulation and special red blood cell studies, the perspective of a community hospital (during the two-month rotation at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System) and the special viewpoint of the pediatric patient (during the one-month rotation in pediatric laboratory medicine).
- Integration of all of Pathology
The final six months of the four years of combined AP/CP training should be customized by residents to allow them to connect all areas of Pathology into one integrated knowledge base. We strongly recommend that this be solidified by doing an additional year of anatomic pathology (either a subspecialty fellowship or the Surgical Pathology fellowship).
Anatomic Pathology (AP) Only
Training
Residents complete 24 months of structured training followed by 12 months of flexible training. The details of the current program of rotations are given below.
Structured Training in Anatomic Pathology (24 months)
- 4 months of autopsy experience, divided equally between Stanford Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)
- 11 months of surgical pathology experience (9 months at Stanford Hospital and 2 months at the VAPAHCS)
- 9 months of anatomic pathology specialty training to be distributed as follows: dermatopathology, forensic pathology, immunodiagnosis, hematopathology, neuropathology (1month each), one additional month of dermatopathology / neuropathology; two months of either hematopathology, cytopathology, or neuropathology (selected by resident) or other subspecialty area (on approval of AP Program Director); and one month unassigned (to be spent in any area on approval of a faculty mentor).
Flexible Training in Anatomic Pathology (12 months)
The third year of required training may be customized by the resident to meet her/his individual needs. Residents may apply for our Surgical Pathology Fellowship or do an alternative year of AP training designed in conjunction with the faculty in accord with the trainee’s career plans. A wide variety of research opportunities also exists.
Clinical Pathology (CP) Only Training
Residents complete 24 months of structured training followed by 12 months of flexible training. The details of the current program of rotations are given below.
Structured Training in Clinical Pathology (24 months)
- 12 months of training in the four major established areas of laboratory medicine: chemistry/immunology, hematology/coagulation, microbiology/virology, and transfusion medicine. These are divided into introductory rotations of two months, followed by one-month return visits after all of the areas have been experienced, allowing the resident to integrate experience gained in various sections and function with a graduated level of responsibility.
- 2 months of training in laboratory genetics (biochemical genetics, molecular genetics and cytogenetics)
- 1 month of training in pediatric laboratory medicine
- 1 month of training in coagulation and red blood cell special studies
- 2 months of training in general laboratory medicine at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)
- 6 months of structured training in pathology and laboratory medicine or research to be determined by the resident, in consultation with the Clinical Pathology faculty
Flexible Training in Clinical Pathology (12 months)
The third year of required training may be customized by the resident to meet her/his individual needs. A wide variety of patient care projects and/or research opportunities (clinical, translational or basic) research exist.
Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology Training
The program guarantees a position in the neuropathology fellowship program at the time they enter the residency program (assuming the trainee is in good standing). The combined AP/NP training consists of 24 months of AP (the first 24 -month structured portion of the AP only program) and 24 months of neuropathology. The current composition of the 48 months of required combined AP/NP training is as follows:
- Twenty four months of AP similarly scheduled as the AP only training.
- The first 12 months of NP training concentrates on general diagnostic surgical and autopsy neuropathology. The second 12 months offers the opportunity for the trainee to develop a research project and/or develop additional expertise in diagnostic NP, depending upon the ultimate career objectives of the trainee.
- Candidates who wish to be certified in NP must first become certified in AP which will require 2 years training for residents who ultimately seek certification in AP and NP. Time-wise this means that becoming certified in AP and NP will require 4 years - 2 years for AP and 2 years for NP.
