The University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School AP/CP Residency
program provides training for residents seeking board certification in anatomic
and clinical pathology (AP/CP). The goal of the program is to provide education
in anatomic and clinical pathology and to prepare residents for a future as
attending physicians in clinical practice, research, and academic medicine.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New
Jersey Medical School AP/CP Residency program consists of 13 residents from
various backgrounds. Because of the flexibility of the training program and
the mixture of class sizes, resident rotations cannot be linked to a particular
PGY year. The hospitals involved in resident education are The University Hospital
(UH), the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA), and Hackensack University Medical
Center (HUMC). Residents spend varying amounts of time at these institutions
over their four years of training.
The majority of the AP rotations take place at the University
Hospital. On the AP rotation, residents work with other residents of various
PGY levels under the supervision of the chief residents. Three residents cover
gross examination of surgical specimens, frozen sections, and sign out. A fourth
resident covers the autopsy service. After completing a series of AP rotations
at UH, residents then rotate through the VA and HUMC. Residents are supervised
in all aspects of grossing and autopsy.
Anatomic pathology electives are also offered and consist of
such rotations as neuropathology, forensic pathology, dermatopathology and pediatric
pathology in addition to the core rotations in surgical pathology, cytopathology,
and autopsy. This exposes the resident to a wider spectrum of specialties under
the umbrella of clinical pathology.
Clinical pathology rotations begin in the first postgraduate
year and continue throughout the duration of the residency. Core rotations are
offered in microbiology, transfusion medicine, hematopathology and clinical
chemistry. Additionally, rotations are available in flow cytometry, cytogenetics,
molecular diagnostics, coagulation, immunopathology and HLA typing, and toxicology.
Rotations range from one month to three months in total length and are distributed
across the three sites. Electives are available in laboratory management and
informatics at UH.
Conferences are held at all three sites. Weekly didactic sessions
are held at UH on Wednesday mornings, usually from 8-10 am year round. The didactic
sessions cover all aspects of clinical and anatomic pathology as well as laboratory
management. Board review sessions are held throughout the year in anatomical
and clinical pathology before or after the didactic sessions. All residents
are invited attend.
Each of the three sites has a full range of pathology textbooks
for resident use. Computers are also available for resident use at each of participating
institutions.
CALL RESPONSIBILITIES
UH:
The residents on the AP service cover the bulk of the call, with CP residents
responsible for roughly one weeknight per month. Surgical pathology call is
generally once every four nights from 5pm-8am. Surgical pathology weekend call
is covered by the AP residents, who cover, on average, one weekend per month.
The weekend resident is also responsible for any autopsies that may occur. All
call is taken from home (“beeper call”). For the first few months of the residency,
junior residents have senior residents for back-up as the need arises.
HUMC:
Residents on AP rotations (surgical pathology and cytopathology) cover nights
at Hackensack once every four days. Weekday autopsies are covered by the AP
residents. Weekend autopsy call is split between all the residents at Hackensack
regardless of rotation, and is generally taken once per month. Clinical pathology
call is also taken every fourth night and consists of taking phone calls from
clinicians on difficult cases, consulting the attending clinical pathologist
on call, and then making a decision in the best interest of the patient. Call
is most commonly taken in the blood bank.
VA:
Two residents cover the VA for weekend autopsies only. There is no night call.
Autopsies come from both the East Orange VA and from the Lyons VA (the long
term care facility of the VA in New Jersey).
