Curriculum

Residency rotations take place in multiple institutions within the Texas Medical Center (TMC), providing exposure to varied practice settings and patient populations. Senior residents have flexible schedules with the opportunity to choose from a diverse selection of electives.

Core curriculum:

  • Rotations are 4 weeks in length with a total of 52 blocks during a four year residency.
  • First-year residents take 5-6 blocks of surgical pathology, 2 blocks of autopsy, 1-2 blocks of blood bank, and 1-2 blocks of hematopathology with the additional remaining blocks divided between AP and CP.

 

Rotations:

  • Surgical Pathology:

    • Residents rotate at Memorial Hermann Hospital (MHH) and Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital (LBJ). MHH has sub-speciality sign-out while LBJ has general sign-out, providing a varied educational experience. Additionally, residents have core rotations in pediatric pathology, renal pathology, neuropathology, and dermatopathology. Between the two hospitals approximately 32,000 specimens per year are accessioned.

 

  • Cytopathology:

    • Cytopathology training occurs at both MHH and LBJ. In addition to sign-out of all types of cytologic preparations, residents also assist in rapid assessments. MHH and LBJ review a combined volume of approximately 26,000 cytology specimens per year.

 

  • Forensics:

    • Residents gain experience in medicolegal investigation and forensic pathology at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. All aspects of death investigation including scene analysis, autopsy procedures, and laboratory evaluations are covered.

 

  • Autopsy:

    • Residents perform hospital autopsies for MHH and LBJ with approximately 150 autopsies completed yearly.

 

  • Hematopathology:

    • Residents interpret bone marrow and lymph node biopsies, along with flow cytometry, peripheral blood and body fluid smears, and CBC’s. Core training occurs at MHH and LBJ with approximately 600 bone marrow biopsies examined yearly. The LBJ rotation also provides the additional experience of managing a clinical laboratory.

 

  • Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine:

    reisidents in lab

    • Residents interpret antibody panels, work up transfusion reactions, and investigate compatibility issues, as well as monitor component usage. Additionally, residents participate in therapeutic plasmapheresis and RBC exchanges, along with photopheresis. Finally, residents rotate through Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center observing collection, preparation, and storage.

 

  • Chemistry, Immunology, and Coagulation:

    • Residents spend mornings in the chemistry lab followed by immunology sign-out and gel interpretation in the afternoons.

 

  • Microbiology:

    • Residents participate in bench work and rounds with infectious disease. A joint conference with the CP residents at LBJ is held weekly.

 

 

Electives:

  • 5-6 blocks of electives are available and may be taken in any combination of AP and CP or used for research.
  • Electives are offered at MHH, MDACC, and Houston Methodist Hospital, as well as other institutions in and around the TMC.
  • Residents focus on areas of interest or gain sub-specialty training.

Conferences:

  • Residents attend daily conferences at 8AM. Additional afternoon slide and multi-disciplinary conferences supplement resident education.
  • Residents obtain teaching experience through presentations at interdepartmental conferences. These include multidisciplinary conferences, tumor boards, and subspecialty conferences.

Call:

  • First year residents cover daytime weekend CP call while second year residents and above cover AP call along with CP night call. Call is covered from home.
  • While on call residents work closely with pathology faculty to ensure optimal patient care.