The Stanford University Autopsy Service performs approximately 150 autopsies each year and about 150 autopsies are carried out annually at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital, all under the supervision of Stanford faculty members.

The number of routine histologic sections examined in each case is being reduced to focus on those lesions that present the greatest diagnostic challenge and the most relevance to the patient's clinical course. Sections obtained from autopsies are reviewed over a multi-headed microscope on the day following the autopsy gross conference in order to give residents the most rapid correlation of gross and microscopic findings, to implement a final diagnosis and to issue the autopsy report within two days of the dissection. Each fellow has an opportunity to review material from all current cases at the daily microscopic sign-out. Scholarly activities, including preparation of critical summaries on cases, presentations at conferences, and clinicopathologic or laboratory research are encouraged.

Contact:	Donald Regula, M.D. , Director, Autopsy Fellowship Program Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive, L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324 Tel: (650) 725-5898 / FAX: (650) 725-6902 E-mail: regula@leland.stanford.edu
back to top

The Laboratory of Cytopathology performs diagnostic evaluations of cytologic specimens from both inpatients and outpatients at Stanford and from patients seen in clinics in the surrounding communities. Approximately 23,000 specimens are evaluated annually, including over 1500 fine needle aspiration biopsies and over 2500 other non-gynecologic specimens. In addition, state of the art ancillary diagnostic techniques such as immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, HPV testing, and molecular diagnostics are available in-house.

The cytopathology fellow works together with pathology residents in reviewing slides prior to viewing and discussing the cases at a multi-headed microscope with Dr. Berry, Dr. Kong, or Dr. Nowels. Fellows and residents also actively participate in performing fine needle aspiration biopsies and in immediate evaluation of fine needle aspiration samples obtained using radiographic guidance. Research projects with pathology faculty and collaborative studies with residents, fellows and faculty from other departments are encouraged. A one-year Cytopathology Fellowship will be offered beginning in 2003. This fellowship will offer intensive exposure to all aspects of cytopathology, including performance and interpretation of fine needle aspirates, interpretation of conventional and thin-layer pap smears, application of ancillary diagnostic techniques, and opportunities for research leading to publication.

back to top

The Dermatopathology Service provides the full range of diagnostic services for skin biopsies from patients in the Stanford Dermatology Clinic and for specimens sent in consultation. Each year more than 12,000 biopsies are examined. Consultation cases comprise more than 60% of the volume and reflect the full range of the specialty including diagnostically challenging melanocytic and hematolymphoid neoplasms, dermatoses and blistering disorders. Diagnostic services include direct and indirect immunofluorescence, molecular studies, immunophenotyping and electron microscopy.

The Dermatopathology fellowship is a one year program open to individuals who are board eligible or board certified in either Dermatology or Pathology. Two positions are available each year. The fellows work closely with faculty and housestaff in the Departments of Pathology and Dermatology. Daily case sign-out is conducted over a multiheaded microscope each morning and is attended by trainees in Pathology and Dermatology. Cross-training in either Dermatology or Pathology occurs each afternoon, depending on the individuals’ training background. Participation in multidisciplinary clinical conferences, teaching conferences, resident and medical student teaching and departmental activities is expected. Research activities are strongly encouraged.

Applications consist of a curriculum vitae, a personal statement and three letters of reference and should be submitted by December 31, 18 months prior to the fellowship.

Contact:	Sabine Kohler, MD, Program Director, Dermatopathology Fellowship Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive, L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324 Tel: (650) 723-6736/ FAX: (650) 725-6902
back to top

The clinical immunodiagnosis service is directed by Drs. Rouse and Warnke. Other faculty that participate in the service are Drs. Longacre, van de Rijn, Higgins, Arber and Natkunam. Approximately 4500 cases are accessioned each year. Over 25,000 antibody stains are performed on Stanford cases or on consult cases from many parts of the United States as well as from overseas institutions. Approximately 125 different antibodies are generally used in panels to address differential diagnostic possibilities. The vast majority of stains are performed on routine sections but frozen section studies are also performed. The laboratory employs a variety of manual and automated systems for antigen retrieval and antibody staining as well as for in situ hybridization and quantitative imaging.

This program offers a number of basic and applied research opportunities as potentially useful antibodies and probes are constantly being developed and evaluated. Over 20 years of case material comprising over 50,000 cases is in an easily searchable database for a variety of clinical and research uses. Both residents and fellows are strongly encouraged to participate in immunohistology related projects.

One or two immunopathology fellowships are available for trainees interested in further experience in this field, generally following two or three years of anatomic pathology training. On a daily basis fellows review all of the immunohistochemical stains with faculty who have special expertise in this field. This affords fellows the opportunity to study a large number of the most challenging cases from all the different areas of surgical pathology. Several months are available during the fellowship year for research pursuits.

Contact:	Roger Warnke, M.D. , Director, Immunopathology Fellowship Program Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive, L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324 FAX: (650) 725-6902
back to top

The Stanford Hematopathology fellowship includes broad experience in the diagnosis of neoplastic and non-neoplastic hematology specimens. This training includes approximately 2,400 bone marrow and 2,000 lymph node cases annually. Cases are drawn from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford University Hospital, as well as cases submitted in consultation by pathologists and/or oncologists from many parts of the United States and from overseas countries. Fellows gain extensive experience in immunophenotyping of neoplastic hematopathology cases using both flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, as well as the integrated use of cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic techniques in diagnosis. The non-neoplastic hematopathology experience includes evaluation of coagulation and red cell disorders. Fellow rotations include the lymph node consultation service, the bone marrow service, molecular genetic and cytogenetics and elective time. Cases are examined individually with a staff of hematopathologists that includes Drs. Arber, Cornbleet, Geaghan, George, Higgins, Natkunam, and Warnke, and final diagnostic reports are formulated. Other staff involved in the fellow training includes Drs. Cherry, Schrijver and Zehnder. A multidisciplinary training approach allows the Fellows to integrate and interpret all aspects of diagnostic testing in hematopathology

Contact:	Daniel Arber, M.D., Director, Hematopathology Fellowship Program Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive, L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324 Tel: (650) 725-5603 / Fax: (650) 736-1473 E-mail: daniel.arber@medcenter.stanford.edu
back to top

The Molecular Pathology Fellowship in the Stanford Pathology Department is accepting applications for one position per year, beginning in July, 2003. This is an ACGME-accredited fellowship offering comprehensive training in Molecular Pathology. The Stanford Molecular Pathology program serves the adult and pediatric populations at Stanford and also sees referrals from Northern California and the U.S. The program is interdisciplinary and includes participation of faculty in the Departments of Pathology, Medicine, Pediatrics (Division of Medical Genetics) and Department of Genetics. Laboratory rotations include formal training in Biochemical Genetics and Cytogenetics. Fellows will be trained in assay development, quality assurance and results interpretation in the Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Stanford and the Kaiser-Permanente Regional Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory, a large reference laboratory for the Kaiser system which offers a testing menu that is complimentary to that of Stanford. Fellows are expected to initiate a research project during the fellowship. This project can be performed in any appropriate laboratory at Stanford, which offers unmatched opportunities for research in Molecular Pathology and Molecular Genetics. Departmental funding is available for suitable research projects. Moreover, additional funding may be available for qualified fellows to continue their research beyond the period of the formal fellowship.

back to top

The Neuropathology Program is under the direction of Dr. Hannes Vogel. The Program has three other neuropathologists, and include Dr. Ray Sobel (based at the Veteran’s Administration Palo Alto Health Care System) and, on a part time basis, Dr. Dikran Horoupian. The neuropathology faculty conducts basic and collaborative research as well as participate in teaching and sign out of surgical and autopsy neuropathology. Each year, over 500 biopsies are processed and an additional 300-400 cases are received for consultation in the Neuropathology Laboratory. At least 200 brains are examined from autopsies at the Stanford, Palo Alto VA Hospital, and regional forensic facilities. The Laboratory is staffed by a full time histotechnologist and fully equipped for standard neuropathology stains, muscle enzyme histochemistry, and nerve teasing.
Stanford Neuropathology seeks to foster the careers of future leaders in neuropathology through the two-year Neuropathology Fellowship, fully accredited by the American Board of Pathology. One position is available each year. Under the supervision of the neuropathology faculty, the trainee is responsible for the diagnosis of the majority of neurosurgical specimens including frozen sections, muscle and nerve biopsies, teased nerve preparations, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, and for examining autopsy brains and spinal cords. The trainee is will participate actively in conferences held in the Departments of Pathology, Neurology and Neurosurgery. The program encourages fellows to pursue basic, translational or clinical research projects with appropriate faculty mentors, either within the Pathology Department or in any other part of the University.

Contact:	Hannes Vogel, M.D., Director, Neuropathology Fellowship Program Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive, L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324 Tel: (650) 723-6041 / Fax: (650) 498-5395 E-mail: hvogel@stanford.edu
back to top

Surgical Pathology This one-year fellowship in surgical pathology is designed to offer advanced, focused and intensive training in diagnostic surgical pathology. Specific rotations include: “hot seat”, frozen section, sign out of consultation material (including immunohistochemistry and other special diagnostic techniques) and elective time. Elective time may be designed to pursue additional subspecialty training in areas of gynecologic, soft tissue, breast, gastrointestinal, renal, cardiopulmonary transplantation, or molecular pathology, dermatopathology, cytopathology and/or research. Fellows participate in departmental and interdepartmental conferences, as well as medical student and resident teaching. The laboratory accessions over 39,000 surgicals (11,000 of them consultation cases) annually and departmental resources and support for clinicopathologic and translational research projects are available.

Contact: Gerald Berry, Director, Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive, L235, Stanford, CA 94305-5324 Tel: (650) 498-4987 / Fax: (650) 725-6902 E-mail: stamaria@stanford.edu back to top