Overview

The goal of the pathology residency is to train physicians in the broad field of pathology and laboratory medicine through a combination of practical and didactic experiences in the setting of an academic medical center. Exposure to pathology research and to new and developing technologies in pathology (i.e. immunopathology, molecular pathology, ultrastructure) as well as subspecialty pathology (i.e. dermatopathology, hepatic, and renal pathology) are integral to the program. Two broad tracks are offered: a four-year AP/CP program tailored to the needs of individuals interested in academic or community hospital pathology, and a three-year AP program tailored to the needs of individuals interested in subspecialty or investigative anatomic pathology. A combined program in AP-Neuroapthology is also offered. An academic track including up to six months of laboratory research can be arranged for individuals interested in careers in investigative pathology. Fellowships are offered in Surgical Pathology, Liver and Transplantation Pathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Gastrointestinal Pathology, Cytopathology, Dermatopathology, and Neuropathology.

Rotations at three hospitals with widely varied material are provided to ensure adequate exposure of the residents to various problems in pathology (The Mount Sinai Medical Center, a tertiary referral hospital, the Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a general hospital; and Elmhurst Hospital, serving an indigent and immigrant community). A mandatory rotation to the New York City Medical Examiner's Office ensures exposure to forensic pathology. A rotation to a busy community hospital (Englewood Hospital) is available to expose senior residents to the community practice of pathology and practical laboratory management.

Residents are encouraged to the greatest extent possible to function as clinical consultants through a program of graded responsibility over the four years. Anatomic and clinical rotations are integrated to provide four years of continuous training (18 months anatomic pathology, 18 months clinical pathology, and 12 months additional training in anatomic pathology or clinical pathology).

Residents are encouraged to participate in clinical and laboratory research during their training and completion of a scholarly activity is a requirement for completion of the residency program. This may be in the form of a case report, clinicopathologic study or laboratory research.

Each resident is assigned a faculty advisor at the beginning of the residency. Faculty advisors are retained throughout the four years, fostering a close relationship between faculty and residents. Faculty advisors are available to discuss evaluations, career planning and research projects.

Didactic

The department provides a series of comprehensive lectures covering the essential aspects of anatomic, clinical, and molecular pathology. All didactics are considered protected time, allowing residents to be excused from their clinical duties. Each component of the didactic curriculum is taught by renowned experts on the topics covered. Visitors are welcome. Residents, fellows, and medical students rotating on the service from Icahn School of Medicine or visiting from outside institutions are required to attend the following conferences:

The Anatomic Pathology Lecture Series covers topics ranging from general pathology to organ-system based pathology and molecular pathology. Lectures are taught by faculty who specialize in the covered topics.

The Clinical Pathology Lecture Series covers the essentials of clinical chemistry, blood banking, microbiology, hematology, cytogenetics, and laboratory management. Lectures are taught by faculty who specialize in the covered topics.

The Cytopathology Lecture Series covers the essentials of cytopathology in preparation for the required cytology rotation. The course is taught by Dr. Spzorn and the cytopathology fellows.

The Surgical Pathology Conference is conducted by the residents who are required to present a comprehensive lecture to the faculty on interesting pathologic entities encountered on their surgical pathology rotation. The topic is designated by the Program Director. Due to the large surgical volume of our institution, many of the entities presented are eventually written up as case reports.

The Autopsy Conference is conducted by the residents and the Chairman of the Department. Interesting cases are presented to the residents, clinicians, and pathology faculty.

The Unknown Conference consists of a slide review of interesting and highly educational cases. Faculty will provide a tray of slides and short clinical history. The residents are required to preview the slides and formulate a diagnosis. The cases are reviewed and discussed at the multi-headed microscope with the faculty member, residents, and fellows.

The Gross Show at The Mount Sinai Hospital has a long standing reputation for its high educational utility. Due to our incredibly large surgical pathology specimen volume, the department receives many interesting and rare specimens. The course was most notably taught by the late Mamoru Kaneko for over 30 years. Dr. Kaneko’s conference once drew crowds of interested physicians from many institutions in the surrounding area. The course is essential in understanding the key aspects of gross dissection and correlation with microscopy. 

Rotations

Anatomic Pathology

  • Autopsy (Mount Sinai, VAMC, Elmhurst)
  • Cytopathology (Mount Sinai)
  • Dermatopathology (Mount Sinai)
  • Neuropathology (Mount Sinai)
  • Gynecologic Pathology (Mount Sinai)
  • Surgical Pathology (Mount Sinai, VAMC, Elmhurst)
  • Forensic Pathology (Medical Examiner NYC)
  • Pediatric Pathology (Mount Sinai)

Clinical Pathology

  • Blood Bank (Mount Sinai, VAMC)
  • Clinical Biochemistry (Mount Sinai, VAMC)
  • Hematology (Mount Sinai)
  • Microbiology (Mount Sinai, VAMC)
  • Tumor Cytogenetics (Mount Sinai)
  • Laboratory Management and Medical Informatics (Mount Sinai)

Elective Rotations

  • Gastrointestinal Pathology (Mount Sinai)
  • Community Pathology (Englewood Hospital)
  • Electron Microscopy (Mount Sinai)
  • Flow Cytometry (Mount Sinai)
  • Immunopathology (Mount Sinai, VAMC)
  • Research (Mount Sinai, VAMC)
  • Oral Maxillofacial Pathology (Mount Sinai)
  • Renal Pathology (Mount Sinai)

Scholarly Activities

Residents participate in the instruction of medical students at Icahn School of Medicine through participation in the major pathology courses and student electives in the department. Residents are the primary faculty in the student laboratories and supervise students on pathology clerkships.

A variety of research opportunities are available for residents in the department; varying from clinical research to basic science.

Clinical research opportunities are available in the areas of flow cytometry.( J. Strauchen), gynecologic pathology (L. Deligdisch), liver pathology (S. Thung), bone pathology and lymphoid pathology ( J. Strauchen), molecular pathology (D. Zhang), gastrointestinal pathology (N. Harpaz), genitourinary pathology (P. Unger).

Basic research opportunities are available in the areas of morphometry (J. Gil) molecular biology (E. Johnson, T. Fasy), developmental pathology (S. Kohtz), and neuropathology (D. Perl), HIV (S. Morgello).

A scholarly activity (case study, review or laboratory research) is a requirement for completing the program.