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The Pathology Residency Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham provides training in Clinical Pathology (Laboratory Medicine), Anatomic Pathology, or a combination of both. Other combinations are possible, such as Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology or Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Pathology. The program provides graduated responsibility during training in order to allow residents to develop and utilize their skills in pathology. This allows residents to assume responsibility within each service as they develop the necessary expertise. Advanced residents make independent decisions and perform diagnostic procedures as they demonstrate satisfactory skills. Progression through the program is correlated with input from each rotation, its faculty mentors, and the by evaluation by the program director.

The goals of the UAB Pathology Residency Training Program are to provide:

  • An environment that encourages and monitors residents as they develop into practicing pathologists targeted for academic medical centers or practice in the community
  • The resources for this growth
  • A challenging atmosphere to assist the resident in graduated responsibility in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, their subspecialties, and research
  • Opportunities in anatomic and clinical pathologic correlation and consultation with review by faculty
  • Skills for critical analysis of data by all residents
  • Research experiences that foster understanding of basic disease mechanisms, appreciation of modern techniques in cellular and molecular pathology, and development of a scientific approach to problem solving
  • Opportunities to apply the scientific method to problems in disease mechanisms through basic research and applied clinical experimentation
  • Opportunities for effective communication of information through presentation, teaching, and writing
  • Achievement of competency in

             1) Patient Care

             2) Medical Knowledge

             3) Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

             4) Interpersonal and Communication Skills

             5) Professionalism

             6) System-Based Practice

Required rotations are noted below for Anatomic, Clinical, and Combined Anatomic/Clinical Pathology based on requirements set forth by the American Board of Pathology.  These rotations are set for a given year with annual review.

 


Anatomic Pathology (AP)

Duration of Core
AP/CP

Duration of Core
Straight AP

Surgical Pathology (inc. GYN)

12 months

12 months

Autopsy

4 months

4 months

Cytopathology

3 months

3 months

Pediatric Pathology

1 month

1 month

Neuropathology

1 month

1 month

Dermatopathology

--

1 month

Hematopathology

--

1 month

Electives (inc. Research)**

--

Up to 12 months

*as Senior Resident

**Electives are not limited to those listed. They can be defined by the associate and program directors with agreement from the division director. AP and/or CP electives are available to all trainees.

Straight AP requires 36 months of full-time training with at least 24 months of structured AP training. The remaining 12 months are flexible with up to 6 months available for research.

AP/CP requires 48 months of full-time training with at least 40 months of combined structured AP and CP training. The remaining 8 months are flexible with up to 6 months available for research.
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All changes should come to Dr. Alexander, in writing, from the division director, indicating the date of the request, the nature of the change being made, and agreement (by signature) of the resident/fellow, chief resident, and division director.

 

 


Clinical Pathology (CP)

Duration of Core
AP/CP

Duration of Core
Straight CP

Transfusion Medicine

4 months

4 months

Microbiology/Immunology

3 months

3 months

Chemistry

3 months

3 months

Hematology

3 months

3 months

Flow Cytometry

1 month

1 month

Coagulation

1 month

1 month

Molecular Diagnostics/Cytogenetics

1 month

1 month

CP Electives

3 months*

4-16 months*

Research

--

Up to 12 months

 

*as Senior Resident

*Electives are not limited to those listed. They can be defined with the associate and program directors with agreement from the division director.

=====================================================================
All changes should come to Dr. Alexander, in writing, from the division director, indicating the date of the request, the nature of the change being made, and agreement (by signature) of the resident/fellow, chief resident, and division director.

UAB Pathology Residency at a Glance (PDF)