This Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited fellowship is designed to provide a wide scope of experience in Hematopathology as regards clinical diagnostics, administration, teaching and academics.
Hematopathology is an unusual specialty in several respects. It cuts across essentially all divisions in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. The practice involves proficiency in general surgical pathology to cover the spectrum of hematological neoplasms involving the gastrointestinal, genito-urinary, cutaneous, and central nervous system along with proficiency in cytogenetics, molecular diagnostics and flow cytometry. It is an evolving field incorporating newer molecular genomics and machine learning.
The foremost goal is to train fellows to be proficient in the diagnosis of hematolymphoid disorders that span the spectrum of reactive and neoplastic entities. The fellow will become familiar with the challenges seen in atypical lesions, the pitfalls and diagnosis based on limited specimen; interpretation of newer delineated molecular genetic aberrations in the context of traditionally defined morphologic entities. Fellows are trained to be future consultants in regards to specimen requirements, interpretation of complex tests and diagnostic implications of the diagnosis. The fellow will be responsive to optimal utilization of resources in the context of personalized medicine.
The second goal is to train future directors and laboratory managers. The training in laboratory management includes didactic sessions in Quality Management Systems, Regulatory Laws & Requirements, Laboratory Trends, Personnel Management, Business Planning and Laboratory Safety. Didactics and projects in Quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement are available. Curriculum includes laboratory certifications and regulations under CAP and CLIA. The fellow is encouraged to attend laboratory management meetings and participate in CAP inspections.
The third goal is to train fellows to be future mentors and program directors. A hematopathologist is continuously involved in educating medical technical staff, residents, and clinical providers. The training is directed to meet these requirements.
Finally, fellows will continue their training in evidence-based medicine for application in daily clinical practice. Accordingly, training in research will incorporate participation in the IRB process, investigative research project, and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Our previous trainees have demonstrated success in all aspects of this training with posters or plenary sessions at national level meetings with follow-up publications in peer review journals.