A fully accredited training program in anatomic and clinical pathology is offered over a four-year period. Occasionally, residents choose anatomic pathology alone but most complete an integrated AP/CP program. Training is offered in autopsy pathology, neuropathology, surgical pathology, GI-liver pathology, renal pathology, lung pathology, dermatopathology, cytopathology, forensic pathology, neuropathology, hematopathology, microbiology, transfusion medicine, chemical pathology, immunopathology, molecular pathology, cytogenetics/cytogenomics, laboratory management, medical informatics, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and other specialty areas. Graded responsibility is emphasized in all areas. LAC + USC Medical Center is the Sponsoring Institution and provides experience with a broad and diverse spectrum of pathology. The residency program includes rotations at Keck Hospital of USC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) that complement the experience at the Medical Center. In addition, as part of the core curriculum, forensic pathology is also provided at the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner – Coroner Office. Fellowship positions are available in surgical pathology, hematopathology, neuropathology, cytopathology, forensic pathology and a non-ACGME accredited GI/Liver Pathology fellowship. Postgraduate physicians actively participate in the teaching programs of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and the USC School of Pharmacy. Research is strongly encouraged, and teaching is expected.
A total of 40 positions are available to support the residency and fellowship positions. Twenty-four (24) GY-1 to GY-4 AP/CP positions (20 funded by LAC+USC, 4 funded by Keck/USC), 7 surgical pathology (5 funded by LAC+USC, 2 funded by Keck/USC), 4 cytopathology (all funded by LAC+USC), 3 hematopathology (2 funded by LAC+USC, 1 funded by CHLA), and 2 neuropathology fellowship positions are available (1 funded by LAC+USC, 1 funded by CHLA). 1 GI/Liver fellowship (non-ACGME accredited). Admission to a fellowship is by application.
The LAC+USC Medical Center has a capacity of 600 beds in one unit on a single campus with more than 33,500 admissions, more than 500,000 outpatient visits, and more than 143,000 ER visits per year. Patients of all ages, backgrounds and ethnic groups are cared for, representing a vast variety of diseases in such numbers that the rare becomes almost commonplace. A large modern laboratory with facilities in several buildings employs more than 300 laboratory personnel. Annually, there are approximately 73 autopsies at LAC+USC [additional autopsy experience is incorporated into the program through the Keck Hospital of USC (22 autopsies), CHLA (42 autopsies) and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner – Coroner (3,435 autopsies)], 23,092 (LAC+USC) 19, 338 (Keck and Norris) 8,142 (CHLA) surgical specimen examinations, 22,891 cytologic examinations (1,183 fine needle aspirations, 2,778 non-gynecologic, and 18,930 pap smears) at LAC+USC, and more than 8,472,144 total laboratory procedures. Research facilities are available for a wide variety of procedures including tissue culture, germ free techniques, molecular pathology, and others. Teaching conferences for postgraduate physicians and students are held daily in conference rooms. Extensive library facilities exist within the department, hospital, and the Norris Library of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Residents also have ready access to new computers with internet access.
Los Angeles is a metropolitan community of 7,000,000 people with an unmatched year-round climate, readily accessible mountains, beaches, snow and surf, and as wide a variety of cultural, social, educational, recreational and sporting events as can be found anywhere in the world.
