Our program offers a number of training options, which include the following:

1. Combined anatomic and clinical pathology (AP/CP4)
2. Straight anatomic pathology (AP3) or clinical pathology (CP3)
3. Research track

Most of the residents who enter our program undertake 4 years of combined training in both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology (AP/CP4). Those individuals who wish to pursue a career in academic pathology without a primary emphasis on basic research, may choose a 3 year AP (AP3) or CP (CP3) curriculum. Individuals with a strong commitment to a laboratory science may choose the research track.

 Combined anatomic and clinical pathology (AP/CP4) Program:

The first two years of the AP/CP4 program consist of a core curriculum which serves as the foundation for more advanced or specialized rotations of the third and fourth years of training. Progression through the curriculum is accompanied by a graduated increase in resident responsibility.

First year rotations:
 Autopsy Pathology (Adult, pediatric and perinatal) - 3 months
 Surgical Pathology - 2 months
 Transfusion Medicine - 2 months
 Hematopathology - 2 months
 Chemical Pathology - 2 months
 Cytogenetics - 1 month

Second year rotations:
 Surgical Pathology - 4 months
 Cytology/Fine Needle Aspiration - 3 months
 Molecular Pathology/Flow Cytometry - 2 months
 Microbiology - 2 months
 Humoral Immunology - 1 months

Third and fourth year rotations:
 Electives - 6 months
 Dallas VA Medical Center (Surgical pathology/Cytopathology/Autopsy) - 3 months
 Coagulation/Transfusion Medicine - 2 months
 Advanced Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Management - 2 months
 Special Organ Pathology (Renal, Hepatic, Ophthalmic and Dermatopathology) - 2 months
 Surgical Pathology, Zale-Lipshy University Hospital - 2 months
 Pediatric Surgical Pathology, Children’s Medical Center - 2 months
 Hematopathology - 2 months
 Forensic Pathology - 1 month
 Autopsy - 1 month

Anatomic pathology (AP3) Program:

 During the first 2 years of AP3 training the residents take the same 24 months of required AP rotations as the AP/CP4 residents. This is followed by a flexible year of research and/or subspecialty elective training. Modifications of this program may be arranged to meet the specific needs of individuals planning specialized academic and/or research careers.

Clinical pathology (CP3) Program:

 During the first 18 months of CP3 training the residents take the same 18-month core as the AP/CP4 residents. The remaining 18 months are comprised of additional rotations through one or more of the core laboratories, followed by concentrated training in one of the subspecialty areas of clinical pathology and/or research.

Research track:

 Residents who choose to follow the research track can do so as candidates for either AP or CP board certification (AP3 or CP3). Such individuals are usually physicians with a proven research record who also hold a PhD degree. After 24 months of rotations through either anatomic or clinical pathology, the research track resident spends 2 years working in the research laboratory of a faculty member in the Laboratory for Molecular Pathology. The Pathology Department will fund these 2 years of research. Opportunities also exist for spending this time in the laboratory of an investigator who is not a member of the Pathology Department. In such case, the laboratory in which the resident has chosen to work must assume some portion of the funding. The research track also applies to a resident who has received a grant from the Physician Scientist Training Program, in which case there is guaranteed funding for 3 years of research in any laboratory on campus. In some instances it may be possible to intersperse research time with clinical rotations, but this is not desirable, as it would likely be disruptive to continuity of the research project.