Required Rotations | Program Conferences

Our curriculum is designed to provide balanced training in both anatomic and clinical pathology, with integrated rotations through the four-year curriculum to provide continuous exposure to both anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine.

Required Rotations (for AP/CP, 4 years)

Anatomic Pathology

Anatomic Pathology encompasses autopsy pathology, cytopathology and surgical pathology and its subspecialties. Sub-specialty rotations include dermatopathology (required) and neuropathology (elective). All first-year residents spend the first month training on the autopsy service to develop their dissection skills and microscopic interpretation of normal and abnormal histology. Further autopsy rotations are interspersed throughout the residency. Our four-person surgical pathology rotations provide focused learning in intraoperative consultations (frozen section), gross examination and dissection of complex specimens, and in-depth case review and collaboration with faculty and staff. 

• Autopsy - 3 months of assigned service + weekend on-calls
• Cytopathology - 3 months
• Dermatopathology - 1 month
• Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County - 1 month
• Pediatric Pathology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago - 1 month
• Surgical Pathology - 16 months

Clinical Pathology

Residents are integrated into laboratory functions through sign-out of cases, involvement in consults and case reviews, laboratory management, and other exercises. Residents also spend time at the bench learning the technical aspects of test performance in each lab.

• Biochemistry/Immunology - 4 months
• Blood Bank - 3 months
• Hematopathology/Flow Cytometry - 4 months
• Microbiology - 3 months
• Molecular Diagnostics - 1 month
• Advanced (Integrative) CP - 3 months

Elective Rotations (4 months)

Elective rotations in nearly every area of anatomic or clinical pathology are available within our educational system (NorthShore and University of Chicago).  Elective rotations outside of our educational system are also possible with advance approval by the Program Director.

Typical Rotation Schedule

An AP only option is also available. 

Program Conferences

Residents are generally provided protected time to attend the daily 8 AM conferences and the Wednesday and Friday 12 PM conferences.

Residents also participate in the quarterly Perinatal M&M Conferences.