Program Overview

Residents complete 24 months of structured training followed by 12 months of flexible training. 

1. Structured Training in Anatomic Pathology (24 months divided into 26 blocks)

• Surgical pathology and cytopathology experience (Approximately 12 blocks at Stanford Hospital and 3 blocks at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital). Our surgical pathology experience at Stanford Hospital is subspecialized such that residents learn one surgical pathology subspecialty per week including: Breast, GI, GYN, Peds/Bone-Soft Tissue/Cardio- Thoracic, ENT, GU and Frozens. 
• Autopsy experience, divided equally between Stanford Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) (Approximately 3 blocks).
• Anatomic Pathology specialty training including: dermatopathology, forensic pathology, AP ancillary studies/molecular, tissue hematopathology, bone marrow hematopathology, neuropathology and additional selective block(s).
• Electives (in any AP subspecialty as above or additional opportunities such as Genomic Medicine, Global Health, etc) 

2. AP 3 Year Flexible Training in Anatomic Pathology (12 months, for AP only track)    

The third year of required training for AP-only residents may be customized to meet her/his individual needs. Residents may apply for one of our AP Pathology Fellowships and do this training as their AP3 year (note that specialties with subspecialty boards exams may require additional training) or do an alternative year of AP training designed to support the trainee’s career plans. A wide variety of research opportunities are also available.

Program Overview

Residents complete 24 months of structured training followed by 12 months of flexible training.  

CP Rotations:

• Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine
• Clinical Chemistry/ Immunology
• Coagulation
• RBC Special Studies/ HLA
• CP Hematopathology
• Cytogenetics
• Microbiology/ Virology
• Molecular Genetic Pathology
• Biochemical Genetics (elective) 

1. Structured Training in Clinical Pathology (24 months divided into 26 blocks of 4 weeks each for CP only track, 18 months for AP/CP residents)

The first year of training focuses primarily on the four major areas of laboratory medicine: 

• Chemistry/immunology
• Hematopathology/hematology
• Microbiology/virology
• Transfusion medicine

These are divided into introductory rotations of two blocks, followed by one-block return visits after all of the areas have been experienced, allowing the resident to integrate experience gained in various sections and function with a graduated level of responsibility. (At least 12 blocks total)

Additional rotations (predominantly in the second year) include:

• Laboratory genetics (biochemical genetics, molecular genetic pathology and cytogenetics). (At least 2 blocks)
• Histocompatibility. (At least 0.5 block)
• Coagulation/RBC special studies. (At least 1 block)
• General laboratory medicine at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. (At least 2 blocks)
• Laboratory Finance rotation. (At least 0.5 block)
• Electives (in any CP subspecialty as above or additional opportunities such as Genomic Medicine, Global Health, etc)

2. CP3 Flexible Training in Clinical Pathology for CP only track (12 months) 

The third year of required training for CP-only residents may be customized by the resident to meet her/his individual needs. 6 months of additional clinical training in CP is required for CP board certification and 6 months can be research related. A wide variety of patient care projects and/or research opportunities (clinical, translational or basic) are available (research to be determined in consultation with the CP faculty).

Some of our CP only trainees follow their general CP only training with a fellowship in a CP related field to allow for the development of additional fellowship-level expertise. See our fellowship offerings for more information. 

Program Overview

The combined program consists of 24 months of structured training in Anatomic Pathology (AP) and 18 months of structured training in Clinical Pathology (CP).  This is followed by 6 months of flexible training, which should be used to integrate aspects of AP and CP.

Years 1 & 2: Structured Training in Anatomic Pathology (24 months) 
Note: This is identical to the 24 structured months for AP only residents. (See AP training section) 

Years 3 & 4: Structured Training in Clinical Pathology (18 months) 
Note: This is identical to the first 18 structured months for CP only residents. (See CP training section) 

And Flexible (Integrated) Training in Pathology (6 months) 
The remainder of the fourth and final year of required training may be customized by the resident to meet her/his individual needs but will be encouraged to synthesize and integrate all areas of diagnostic pathology during this period. This time can also be used as dedicated AP or CP related research time. 

The majority of our trainees follow their general AP/CP training with a fellowship in an AP or CP related field to allow for the development of fellowship-level expertise. See our fellowship offerings for more information.

Program Overview

The program guarantees a position in the neuropathology fellowship program upon entering the residency program (assuming the trainee is in good standing).

The current composition of the 48 months of required combined AP/NP training is as follows:

• 24 months of AP training (similarly scheduled as the AP-only training)

• 24 months of NP training:

- The first 12 months of NP training concentrates on general diagnostic surgical and autopsy neuropathology. 

- The second 12 months offers the opportunity for the trainee to develop a research project and/or develop additional expertise in diagnostic NP, depending upon the ultimate career objectives of the trainee.

Candidates who wish to be certified in NP must first become certified in AP; the AP program requires 2 years of training for residents who ultimately seek certification in AP and NP.  This means that becoming certified in AP and NP requires 4 years of training, including 2 years for AP and 2 years for NP.