Anatomic Pathology
The department examines approximately 20,000 surgical cases, 2,500 frozen sections, and 4,000 non-GYN cytology cases per year, all of which are cancer or cancer related. Four oncologic surgical pathology fellowship positions are available. Emphasis is placed on the diagnosis of common and uncommon adult malignancies. There is extensive material in head and neck, breast, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, urologic, gynecologic and soft tissue neoplasms along with active immunohistochemistry, molecular pathology and cytogenomic services.
Educational Goals and Philosophy
The fellowship program is designed to provide in-depth experience in the pathology of tumors. The pathology material varies in scope, and the program provides ample exposure to a wide variety of tumors and tumor-like conditions. The main emphasis of the program is on diagnosis. Each fellow’s experience is progressive, with the final objective being to function comfortably as an independent consultant. Fellows take more responsibility and personal action in the handling and diagnosis of cases as the fellowship year progresses.
There is an open door policy throughout the department, and fellows have ready access to the entire staff at all times. Our being a relatively small department is conducive to this intimate approach to education.
Rotations
Fellows spend the entire year in the Cancer Center pathology department. Fellows rotate through all of the surgical pathology subspecialty rotations (Head and Neck, Breast, Thoracic, Gastrointestinal, Urologic, Gynecologic and Soft tissue) during the first six months and can then choose to focus on one or two subspecialties for in-depth training during the final six months of the training program, if desired. Fellows handle all surgical cases, including institutional consultation cases, and present completed reports to attending pathologists at the daily 1:1 signouts. Fellows also participate in subspecialty service-line conferences in addition to departmental conferences.