During training in Clinical Pathology residents should develop proficiency in three areas.

Technical Expertise

Clinical pathologists must have the expertise to assess the validity of laboratory assays and to institute corrective measures when problems arise. This requires an understanding of the following: a) principles of test methodology to enable trouble-shooting and identification of interferences, b) evaluation of new instrumentation and techniques, and c) knowledge of appropriate specimen collection.

Medical Knowledge

Clinical pathologists function as a liaison between clinicians and the laboratory and can assist in patient diagnosis and management.
Residents are strongly encouraged to interact with clinicians as much as possible to maximize the resident's exposure to clinical medicine and to maximize exposure of clinicians to the proper utilization of CP residents and faculty as a resource. Rounding with clinicians and providing literature on pertinent laboratory issues relating to patient management is encouraged. Attendance at the Medical Morning Report is another valuable interaction between clinical pathology residents and the medical residents.

Management

General management, hospital and laboratory structure, quality assurance, quality control, legal issues - including inspection and accreditation, general administration, data management, cost-benefit analysis, cost containment, reimbursement and human resource issues are all important aspects of clinical pathology. When rotating through each laboratory, it will be beneficial for you to get involved with these issues as much as possible. Some of this material is covered in a series of biannual formal lectures given by Dr. Tanasijevic, as well as through involvement in routine laboratory administration with the medical directors of each laboratory.

Core and Advanced Rotations

To be eligible to sit for the Clinical Pathology certification examination of the American Board of Pathology, residents must complete approved training in clinical pathology. This includes at least 24 months (18 months for AP/CP) of structured training in clinical pathology and either an additional 12 months of full-time, continued structured training in pathology or 12 months of full-time, approved flexible training in a specialty area of pathology as part of the defined accredited training program. Flexible training includes research. The program will continue to maintain a high degree of flexibility, but residents should be aware that the following requirements must be met in order to obtain credit for the structural training as follows:

12 months core rotations (AP/CP and CP only): 3 months in each of the four main laboratories: Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology, and Microbiology. The primary responsibility of the resident during these rotations is to the clinical laboratory. Other projects may be pursued in the resident's spare time, after the primary responsibilities in the clinical laboratories are completed. Details of the responsibilities for the individual laboratories are outlined in the manuals which are distributed at the beginning of each core rotation.

12 months advanced rotations (6 months for AP/CP): 3 - 12 months each in one or a combination of the following: Chief Residency, Advanced Blood Banking, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Hematology, Advanced Microbiology, Molecular Pathology, Immunopathology, Laboratory Informatics/Management, Advanced Cytogenetics. Residents must write an approximately one page description of their yearly program plan for advanced rotations. This program outline must be signed by the rotation(s) directors(s) and submitted to Dr. Sacks by April 1st of the preceding academic year.

Residents in advanced rotations will also be required to:

1. Attend all Clinical Pathology Conferences. Included are weekly CP Residents' Meetings, the Clinical Pathology Lecture Series, Gross-Micro, and bimonthly Medicine/Pathology Conferences.
2. Attend Medicine Morning Report when scheduled.
3. Present at conferences when scheduled. These include CP Residents' Meetings, Medicine/Pathology Conferences and Gross-Micro.
4. Teach medical students when scheduled.
5. Perform duties as senior residents, including advising and supporting first year residents.
6. Cover service responsibilities when first year residents are unavailable or are on vacation.
7. Participate in the service aspects of the Clinical Laboratories.
   

Mentoring

Residents are assigned or may choose a mentor at the beginning of year 1. In addition, each resident should have evaluation and career planning sessions twice a year with Dr. Sacks. Once a year each resident should meet with the Vice-Chair Dr. Schoen.