Surgical Pathology Fellowship

Description

Surgical pathology fellows at the UWMC/HMC have a varied experience throughout the year. Nine months of the year are spent at UWMC and three months at HMC.  Rotations include exposure to consult service (3 months), surg path mentor/supervisor, frozen sections, subspecialties (as acting fellows) and elective months in addition to shared administrative responsibilities.

Overview

The goals of the Surgical Pathology Fellowship are to:

• Provide in depth experience in diagnostic anatomic pathology so that the trainee is well trained to practice general surgical pathology.
• Develop a subspecialty area of interest and expertise to include diagnostic and investigative expertise.
• Gain administrative experience in working with faculty, staff, junior residents and students in helping to manage an academic diagnostic anatomic pathology service.
• Gain experience in the education of junior residents, experience graduated responsibility to prepare the fellows for practice (either private/community or academic practice).
• Extend their ACGME-defined competencies/milestones attained during earlier training in Anatomic Pathology.

The Surgical Pathology Fellowship consists of multiple areas of responsibility:  surgical pathology, diagnostic consultation, junior resident supervision, conference preparation and administration.  This shared responsibility requires that the fellow, as an integral member of the diagnostic staff in Anatomic Pathology, provide accurate, timely, courteous and professional service to UW medicine patients and family members, and other members of the patient’s treatment team. Expectations for every resident, fellow and attending pathologist in Anatomic Pathology are to strive for and maintain excellence in patient care. Teamwork, which is a critical element of quality care, is emphasized throughout the program.  To attain this degree of attention to quality, duties are assigned to the fellow that include (but are not necessarily limited to):

• Providing backup coverage and/or arranging coverage when the service is at less than a full complement of residents.
• Answering questions from clinicians that less senior residents are unable to handle, or to refer clinicians to an appropriate attending or consultant.
• Reviewing slides with less senior residents prior to sign-out when requested.
• Answering questions from the technical and clerical staff regarding policies and procedures that impact the service.
• Providing backup for frozen sections and assisting junior residents when they need help in FS room, particularly as surg path mentor or when other help is not available.  
• Administrative tasks such as making yearly and monthly didactic schedules, organizing resident feedback, etc.

Program Goals and Objectives

Typical Schedule

Program Aims

• Provide in depth experience in diagnostic anatomic pathology so that the trainee is well trained to practice general surgical pathology
• Provide opportunities for a subspecialty area of interest and expertise to include diagnostic and investigative expertise
• Provide experience for fellows to gain administrative experience in working with faculty, staff, junior residents and students in helping to manage an academic diagnostic anatomic pathology service
• Provide opportunities for fellows to gain experience in the education of junior residents, and graduated responsibility in order to prepare the fellows for practice in either private practice or academic surgical pathology 
• Provide opportunities for the trainees to extend their ACGME-defined competencies/milestones attained during earlier training in Anatomic Pathology.

Requirements

Applicants are expected to have completed at least 2 years of Anatomic Pathology.

Stipend & Benefits

Appointment is for one year. Stipend and benefits are based on the schedule for residents at an equivalent level. Fellows are encouraged to apply for extramural funding if additional years of research training is desired.

For More Information

Dr. Paul E. Swanson, MD Department of Pathology University of Washington Box 356100 Seattle, WA 98195-6100

Application & Instructions for Pathology Fellowships The UW Surgical Pathology Fellowship is participating in the Unified Approach to Fellowship Recruitment for surgical pathology and subspecialties.  Applications: 2025-2026 position openings will accept applications April 1, 2023 Virtual Interviews: Beginning August 15, 2023. Applicants selected to interview will be contacted by the program coordinator to arrange for a mutually suitable time. Earliest Offer Date: October 3, 2023 We do not accept the APC Standard Application Form If you have questions or problems, please contact our Academic Programs Coordinator.