Hematopathology Fellowship
Program Description
The laboratory hematopathology fellowship is a two-year program (second year optional), designed to provide eligilibity for the American Board of Pathology specialized examination in hematology. It is available to qualified, licensed pathologists who are board-eligible or diplomates of the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and/or clinical pathology. Internists and pediatricians with comparable boards who are interested in more in-depth training in hematology will also be considered. The program is designed to complement the existing Residency Training Program in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology within the Department of Pathology. The fellow will be exposed to the full range of hematopathology including bone marrow biopsy and aspirate morphology, lymph node biopsy interpretation, body fluid and peripheral blood smear morphology, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, immunohistochemistry, molecular pathology, and coagulation. Exposure to cytogenetics is also mandatory.
Responsibilities
The fellow is expected to become proficient, not only in clinical and laboratory evaluations of patients with hematologic disorders, but also in the evaluation of pathologic materials such as blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. This will be achieved by longitudinal exposure to clinical material throughout the year with graduated responsibility.
In developing necessary skills, the fellow will have teaching responsibilities which involve the education of pathology and medical residents and technologists in bone marrow morphology, monoclonal antibodies, coagulation, cytochemistry, hemoglobin analysis, molecular pathology, and lymph node pathology. This educational service is invaluable to a state-of-the-art hematology laboratory which functions to serve an active, growing hematology oncology service.
The fellow will be responsible for evaluating all liquid hematology cases which pass through the monoclonal antibody laboratory. He/she will closely interact with the immunologist in the interpretation of the morphological and immunological data.
Outline of First Year
| Months |
Rotation Description |
| Two |
Immunopathology including intensive training in flow cytometry in diagnostic molecular biology with clinical applications. |
| Four |
Comprehensive bone marrow and peripheral blood pathology including clinical instruction in bone marrow aspirate and biopsy procedure and all aspects of slide preparation, bone marrow, immunopathology, and cytochemical examination. |
| Two |
Coagulation/Special Hematology to include clinical coagulation, red cell disorder evaluation and hemoglobinopathies, and immunoelectrophoreses evaluation of paraproteins. |
| One |
Combined general Hematology and Blood Banking. |
| Two |
Comprehensive lymph node pathology including immunopathology and molecular biology of lymphoproliferative disorders. |
| One |
Three weeks' vacation One-week off-site conference |
The fellow is expected to and will be responsible for:
- Close interaction with the immunologist in the interpretation of the morphological and immunological data,
- Spending time in molecular pathology learning techniques and tests applicable to hematology,
- The daily monitoring of the routine hematology laboratory and special hematology areas and bringing any problems to the attention of the Section Chief,
- The efficient operation of the bone marrow service, which requires reading out material with the hematologist, pathologist, accurate recording of data, preparation of bone marrow reports, handling of specimens, and accurate filing and storage of material.
- Interaction with clinicians to obtain accurate clinical information, slides from outside cases, and additional material if needed.
Optional Second Year
Fellows will be encouraged to participate in supervised, approved research projects in experimental pathology, hematology, and in the teaching programs of the Department of Pathology. Research ideas and preliminary groundwork should be formulated during the first year and then implemented during the second year. The primary goal is to produce investigative data that would be acceptable for presentation at national meetings and be publishable in leading journals. |
