The Residency Program at the Brigham and Women's Hospital is designed to provide a depth and breadth of training in Anatomical Pathology (AP), Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine (CP), or both, to meet the full certification requirements of the American Board of Pathology, while maximizing flexibility towards a spectrum of career goals. Many of our resident trainees go on to pursue academic careers, while others become community pathologists. Thus, our training program emphasizes achievement of core competencies in diagnostic anatomical pathology and/or clinical pathology, while providing opportunities for elective experiences in clinical sub-specialties, and basic or clinical research.

The key strengths of our training program include:

• An extensive and highly structured curriculum that emphasizes hands-on training and active learning in rotations and an extensive schedule of conferences designed especially for residents.
• A rigorous 2-year core program in AP or CP and 3-year core in AP/CP characterized by high clinical specimen volume, with emphasis on resident-faculty contact, resident involvement in clinical decision making and mechanisms of disease.
• Subspecialty rotations/sign-outs, with graduated responsibilities that provide added diagnostic experience.
• Ability to concentrate full-time in AP or CP subspecialty(ies) of choice, CP core rotations (for AP/CP) or laboratory research, beginning in the third year, following the core experience.
• Extensive exposure to state-of-the-art technologies, including flow cytometry, image analysis, cytogenetics and new molecular diagnostic techniques.
• Program flexibility, with an emphasis on supporting the individualized goals of our trainees.
• Extensive opportunities to participate in basic, bench-to-bedside (translational), and clinical research at BWH and other institutions affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
• Opportunities for the teaching of medical students in pathology and pathophysiology courses at Harvard Medical School, and in clinical rotations at the hospital.
• A strong tradition of mentoring of our trainees.
• A strong track record of academic achievement and career development of our trainees.

Residents in the Brigham and Women's Hospital Program in Pathology generally follow one of the following 3 training paths. In addition to the following training paths, a subsequent "credentialing year" is available in subspecialties or research, and completes the requirements for certification by the American Board of Pathology. Trainees in good standing are funded through completion of the training requirements of the American Board of Pathology, including the credentialing year.

AP/CP: (4 years)

• 24 months core AP
• 12 month-s core CP
• 6 months advanced CP rotations
• 6 months elective/advanced rotations

AP only: (3 years)

• 24 months core AP
• 12 months advanced rotations includi-ng advanced surgical pathology and sub-specialty rotations, or research

CP only: (3 years)

• 12 months core CP (3 months each of chemistry, microbiology, hematology, and blood banking/transfusion medicine)
• 12 months of advanced rotations in any of the core laboratories, molecular pathology, immunopathology, laboratory informatics/management, and cytogenetics
• 12 months flexible training in a subspecialty area, including research

Individualized programs are designed with each house staff member prior to the beginning of each academic year, with consideration to level of training, individual preferences, long-term goals and the necessity to meet Board requirements. Senior residents assume increased diagnostic, teaching, and administrative responsibilities on autopsy, surgical and clinical pathology services, with appropriate faculty supervision.

Intensive subspecialty pathology experiences of a year or longer including accredited fellowships in Women's and Perinatal Pathology, Cytopathology, Neuropathology, Hematopathology, Dermatopathology, Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine, Pediatric Pathology (at Children's Hospital), and Molecular Diagnostics (accreditation pending) are available.

Each resident/clinical fellow involved in the teaching of medical students is appointed as a Clinical Fellow in the Department of Pathology at the Harvard Medical School to encourage and recognize this activity.