Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology

Core Curricula

The Vanderbilt Pathology Residency Program has adopted a Core Curriculum for the four-year program in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (APCP4) and the three-year programs in Anatomic Pathology (AP3) or Clinical Pathology (CP3), as follows:

In the APCP4 program, the first year of residency training is centered in AP and two of its three major services, Surgical and Autopsy Pathology.  House Staff may anticipate the performance of approximately 30 – 35 autopsies during the first year. Each autopsy case is reviewed by a member of the faculty and the case is completed by the resident with faculty supervision. Currently, first year House Staff spend approximately five months on the Autopsy service (in one – two month blocks) and three months in Surgical Pathology. The remaining months serve as an introduction to CP, with rotations in some of the core clinical laboratory modules (Chemistry/Molecular Genetics, Hematology/Hemostasis/Thrombosis/Transfusion Medicine, and Microbiology/Virology/Molecular Infectious Diseases. Another major facet of the first year training is the role of the residents as laboratory and autopsy instructors for second year medical students during the fall semester.

The second and third years of training extend the resident's diagnostic capabilities in both AP and CP, with additional training and increasing responsibility in Laboratory Medicine and Surgical Pathology. The laboratory rotations are structured in a modular fashion, with each modular rotation being two months in duration: Chemistry/Molecular Genetics, Hematology/Hemostasis/Thrombosis/Transfusion Medicine, and Microbiology/Virology/ Molecular Infectious Diseases.  The rotations, especially those in Clinical Pathology have adopted a Diagnostic Management Team model that involves residents as consultants for complex testing that may cross traditional laboratory boundaries.  Rotations in Cytopathology, Molecular Pathology, Immunopathology and Hematopathology complete the experience.  Each third year resident typically functions in a supervisory capacity on the Autopsy service for one month, providing experience as a service director, as well as exposure to a wide range of pathologic material.  Residents spend up to four months training at St. Thomas Hospital, typically with two months in AP and one month in CP and one month of introductory Dermatopathology. The AP experience at St. Thomas is based on a wide variety of surgical pathology and cytopathology specimens as well as on autopsy pathology. The clinical laboratory experience is an integrated experience, which provides residents the opportunity to focus on a specific area of interest. Additionally, the clinical laboratory experience also provides an opportunity to learn principles and applications of instrumentation, stat laboratory management, radioimmunoassay and toxicology, and the performance of bone marrow biopsy and aspiration.  In Dermatopathology, residents are exposed to clinical signout of active cases and the opportunity to take advantage of teaching resources compiled by the St Thomas faculty.  Some clinical pathology activities are continued in the Dermatopathology month. The training experience at St. Thomas also provides residents with a clear understanding of community-based pathology practice.

By the fourth year of training, most residents have established well-developed career goals.  At this point in residency training, the program provides flexibility to allow elective concentration in one or several areas of special interest. Additional required rotations include Neuropathology, diagnostic Electron Microscopy/Renal Pathology, and Forensic Pathology. A resident who has demonstrated superior clinical and administrative skills may be given the opportunity to serve as chief resident during the fourth year of training, serving as part of the House Staff Committee and providing assistance to the Program Director and other residents. For residents with demonstrated interest in research and/or academic careers, the department may offer a research year under the supervision of faculty with active investigative programs.