Pathology residency program
Anatomic Pathology
Clinical Pathology
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BWH Clinical Labs 		Pathology Residency, Brigham & Women's Hospital

The Pathology Residency Program at BWH

The residency program in the Department of Pathology of the Brigham & Women's Hospital (BWH) is deisgned to maximize the flexibility of training for a broad spectrum of career goals in academic pathology. With a departmental commitment to providing the highest quality diagnostic pathology services to patients, expanding boundaries of pathology and medicine through research, and to training the next generation of pathologists, our residency program provides a solid foundation in diagnostic anatomic pathology (AP), clinical pathology (CP), or both, to meet full Board requirements. The program is characterized by exposure to, and involvement with, a large amount and variety of material, extensive faculty input, availability of subspecialties and associated training opportunities in all areas of AP and CP, application of new technology, emphasis on the pathogenesis of disease and opportunities for research. Experimence in the core roations is coupled with availability of either short rotations or in-depth training in one of the subspecialties, or research. Ultimately, a high proportion of our residents pursue careers in academic centers, many of whom proactice diagnostic pathology.

Residents in the Brigham & Women's Hospital program typically follow one of four pathways:

  • An AP/CP track that generally consists of 24 months of core AP, 18 months core CP and 18 months of elective rotations, including subspecialties or research.
  • An AP track, consisting of 24 months of core AP and 24 months of elective rotations, including surgical pathology, subspecialty or research.
  • A CP track consisting of 24 months of core CP and 24 months of elective rotations include research.
  • Special tracks for those requiring a mix of core and subspecialty rotations, and research.
During the first two years residents work closely with senior staff members as they are exposed to the fundamental areas of pathology. The last two years of training are highly flexible and are individually structured to fulfill the needs of each resident. Some residents choose clinically oriented subspecialty trainingl other residents may choose laboratory work, or some combinations of advanced clinical training and research.

Thus, through extraordinary flexibility, coupled with considerable career planning guidance, excellent faculty role models and exposure to a wide variety of diagnostic specimens and potential service and investigative opportunities, our program facilitates highly individualized career development in a strong academic environment.