The Department of Pathology offers structured, yet flexible, training programs designed to prepare physicians for careers in the academic and private practice of pathology. Fully approved training programs are available in combined anatomic (AP)/clinical pathology (CP); AP or CP only positions will be considered in select cases. In addition to autopsy and general surgical pathology, the Anatomic service offers training in cytopathology, dermatopathology and forensic pathology. The Clinical service offers extensive training in laboratory and morphologic hematology, flow cytometry, immunology, blood banking and transfusion medicine, coagulation, chemistry, informatics, toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring and forensic drug testing, microbiology, and medical microscopy. The laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics provides a core facility for research and clinical applications of molecular pathologic techniques and cytogenetics. Recent additions to our facilities include a renovated and modernized Autopsy Suite, a Cytodiagnostic Center for conventional and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration procedures, an expanded Apheresis Center, next generation sequencing capabilities, and a newly renovated Resident work room. Fellowship programs are available in molecular genetic pathology, forensic pathology, hematopathology, cytopathology and surgical pathology (see Specialized Areas section in this directory). Special research, investigative, and/or developmental projects are available in all areas of the department. In addition to regular departmental and interdepartmental conferences, frequent resident/clinical case-based/teaching conferences are given by the pathology staff. Pathology residents take an active part in student teaching conducted by the department.
A total of 16 positions are currently available with three to four being filled annually at the PGY-1 level. Positions are available for fellowship training in pathology subspecialties (see Specialized Areas section of this directory).
The Medical College of Virginia (MCV) had its beginning in 1838. In 1968 MCV merged with the Richmond Professional Institute and formed a new state university—Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU Health is among the most complex and influential health centers in the United States. VCU Health has over 1,125 beds and admits nearly 50,000 patients annually. The Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center has over 700 additional beds. Continued growth of VCU Health is reflected by its current program of modernization and extensive new construction. The Massey Cancer Center offers a multidisciplinary approach to the care of cancer patients. The VCU medical library contains over 175,000 bound journals. Approximately 120 autopsies are performed annually by VCUH and the VA Medical Center Hospital. An additional 700 medico-legal necropsies are performed by the Division of Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Neuropathology examines over 300 brains per year in addition to surgical biopsy specimens of brain, muscle, nerve, and eye. Greater than 20,000 surgical cases are processed, many with significant multipart specimen complexity, and a high proportion with neoplastic disease. The section of Cytopathology performs over 1,500 fine needle aspiration biopsies yearly. The clinical pathology laboratories occupy more than 40,000 square feet in a modern facility that is linked to the hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms by a pneumatic tube transport system. The laboratories perform over 10 million procedures on approximately one million specimens annually using a wide array of automated instruments. Clinical pathology resident training and duties entail interpretation of bone marrow aspirations and biopsies, workup and supervision of patients for apheresis procedures, medical interpretation of laboratory test abnormalities, participation in quality control, quality assurance, and method validation analyses, and review of utilization patterns.
The historic city of Richmond is the state capital and main cultural center of Virginia with an acclaimed Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Ballet, several theatrical groups, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Richmond is one of the most conveniently located cities in the mid-Atlantic area, just 90 miles south of Washington, DC; 45 minutes away from Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and James River Plantations; 90 miles from Virginia Beach, Monticello, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Skyline Drive. Richmond recreational facilities include 5 large city parks, abundant tennis courts, gardens, wooded nature trails, a large coliseum, children’s zoo, science museum, James River rapids and many public as well as private golf courses. Other major educational institutions within the city are the University of Richmond and Virginia Union University.
