The general objective of the program in clinical pathology is to develop professional and administrative skills required of effective clinical pathologists.
Skills should occur in four general areas of responsibility: service, research and development, education, and management. The clinical pathology component of our residency program includes at least 18 months during the four years of residency. Many months are spent at the AU Medical Center: 3 months of hematology (inclusive of an introductory period spent in various hematology laboratories), 3 months of microbiology, 3 months of transfusion medicine (including rotation time through the HLA-Lab), 3 months of chemistry, 1 month of molecular/cytogenetic pathology, and 1 lab administration month. In addition, 4 months will be spent at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, which will afford a comprehensive CP experience including hematology. Duties, goals, and objectives of the residents are assigned at the beginning of each rotation by the medical directors of the laboratories. Instruction periods include weekly CP Monday morning conferences, noon CP didactic series, noon CP lab management series, and bi-monthly CP review series. Residents also participate in CP quality management meetings as well as hematology/oncology tumor boards and infectious disease grand rounds.
