Anatomic Pathology Only (AP) and Clinical Pathology Only (CP) Training Tracks

The AP-only and CP-only training tracks provide focused training in all sub-disciplines of anatomic or clinical pathology, respectively. These are designed for residents who have more defined career objectives at the time of applying for residency training. These 36-month training programs afford residents a solid foundation in their respective discipline and an opportunity for in-depth subspecialty training and/or a significant research experience. Most commonly, AP-only and CP-only track residents go on to a career in academic pathology, typically at an academic medical center.

Training in AP-only is most common for individuals who either have already decided that the focus of their clinical practice will be within some subspecialty area of anatomic pathology, or for individuals who are planning a career that combines on-going basic or applied research and a more limited clinical practice of pathology. For the latter, the AP-only training is paired with the physician-scientist track.

• AP-Only training begins with the 24 month core AP curriculum described for the AP/CP track (without the 2 months of CP exposure).
• The third year of training typically includes at least six months of AP rotations: Hot seat, informatics, molecular, frozen section, autopsy senior resident, subspecialty biopsy, and general surgical pathology sign out at Bridgeport Hospital. There is also elective time.
  • These cross-specialty rotations carry minimal grossing responsibility and are designed to strengthen the resident's diagnostic skills, further their role as clinical consultants, and transition the resident toward the independent practice of pathology.
    
• The remaining six months can be used to spend additional time on these AP senior rotations as well as for clinical and/or research electives.
  

The specific research strengths in the Department of Pathology are diverse and include basic and translational research. Major efforts are centered in cell biology, virology, cancer biology and diagnosis, biotechnology, computational biology, vasculogenesis and vascular disease, mitochondrial biology, and structural biology. Many of the laboratories have overlapping interests and have joined together to build program projects. The department is also home to several core facilities for the institution, folded together into Yale Pathology Tissue Services, which provides tissue procurement and banking, tissue micro-array, and research histology services.

The most common pathway for the CP-only training program is designed to provide residents with a solid foundation of knowledge in all aspects of Clinical Pathology, an in-depth experience in a subspecialty of particular interest, and a research experience that facilitates development of an independent physician-scientist career pathway.

• The 18-month CP core curriculum described is required for CP-only residents.
  • Assure familiarity with all aspects of Laboratory Medicine.
  • Allowing flexibility for sub-specialization within those 18 months.
  • Tailoring of CP electives to the individual interests of each resident.
• Research and/or clinical subspecialty opportunities are then available during the remainder of the 2nd and 3rd years of the CP-only track.

The format for advanced CP training is individualized for each resident to assure relevance to career goals. Residents accrue senior, graduated responsibilities under the direction of the attending physician; some choose specialty fellowships at this stage of their training, while others begin research. Research opportunities can be explored with any mentor at Yale University.

The specific research strengths of the Department of Laboratory Medicine are diverse and include R01 and program project funded investigators in immunohematology, molecular immunology and virology, transplantation immunology, molecular diagnostics, hemostasis, hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors, and clinical pharmacology, as well as other areas. The research laboratories (including the Yale Stem Cell Center) are near the clinical laboratories, facilitating ready interaction and transfer of biotechnology.