The Pathology Residency Program provides thorough training in all aspects of anatomic and clinical pathology and laboratory management with the specifics of the program tailored to meet the needs of the individual. In addition to autopsies, surgical pathology, and cytopathology, the anatomic pathology program includes specialized training in dermatopathology, pediatric pathology, and forensic pathology. Laboratory medicine includes clinical chemistry, hematopathology, transfusion medicine, microbiology, and cytogenetics/molecular pathology. Research experience is encouraged and facilities are available for residents to learn standard and specialized research techniques and participate in projects independently or with faculty. Funds are available to support presentation of such projects at scientific meetings. The house staff participates actively in the educational activities of the department. These activities include interdepartmental conferences and opportunities in medical student education.
The program supports 13 residency positions. The department participates in the NRMP.
The University of South Alabama (USA) is a major referral center for the Gulf Coast and is especially noted for its trauma center and high risk intensive care nursery. It currently includes an acute care hospital, the USA Health University Hospital , and the USA Health Children’s and Women’s Hospital; combined, these hospitals are licensed for over 550 beds. In 2008, the University of South Alabama opened the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, the first academic research center in the Gulf Coast region. Each facility has its own clinical laboratory, and these facilities provide a core experience in anatomic pathology. In addition, senior residents have the opportunity to rotate with the private pathology group at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, a 704 bed acute care hospital with a much higher surgical pathology volume, augmenting the residency experience. A full laboratory of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is located on the Medical Center campus. Teaching facilities are located on each hospital campus.
Mobile is a rapidly growing, yet traditional city of approximately 200,000 people (metropolitan population of about 600,000). It was settled in 1502 by the French and was subsequently governed by Britain, Spain, the U.S., and the Confederacy before being retaken for the US by Admiral Farragut in 1864. Mobile’s streets are shaded by a canopy of live oaks and the city features a mild climate with flowers blooming year round. Other attractions are the annual Mardi Gras festivities, Senior Bowl, and GMAC Bowl, as well as 12 months of fishing, sailing, and other water activities. South’s student athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division 1 sports in the Sun Belt. Mobile is home to a symphony orchestra, a professional opera company, and a professional ballet company. Beaches at Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island are within an hour’s drive. The Mobile metropolitan area is experiencing the greatest job growth of any area in the state. Major industries include computer hardware and software, textiles, seafood processing, oil and gas production, paper and lumber products, chemicals, aviation, shipbuilding, and tourism. Mobile is the deep-water port of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and a gateway to more than 16,000 miles of navigable rivers. With the community’s strong growth comes an increased need for educational and medical services provided through the University of South Alabama.
