It's an exciting and challenging time to be a pathologist. Pathologists remain the cornerstone of medical practice, providing the objective diagnostic and interpretive information necessary for definitive patient care. Training in pathology is rapidly evolving with new techniques and tools supplementing and, in some cases, replacing traditional methods. The role of nucleic acid testing is still being defined, with new tumor markers, genetic identifications, and other applications becoming integrated into routine pathology practice. Direct involvement in patient care decision making is the heart of training in clinical pathology (laboratory medicine). Bedside testing, therapeutic apheresis and phlebotomy, and clinical consultations in coagulation, immunology and other disciplines require special competencies that pathologists provide.

No medical student graduates without a firm grounding in pathology, the educational support for future practice success. Residents are key to providing this medical student education, both in the classroom and student laboratories, as well as during electives, thereby solidifying their own learning experience. In addition, opportunities to educate allied health professionals exist.

The close association of researchers in Pathology with clinical activities provides unique opportunities for residents to become involved in basic research. Alternatively, clinical research with faculty who do the daily service work is also readily available.

We invite you to come visit us in Philadelphia, to meet our dedicated faculty and residents and see our facilities. We know that residents who train with us will be among the best-prepared to meet the challenges of the healthcare world of the 21st Century.

Cheryl A. Hanau, MD
Residency Program Director