The Department of Pathology offers fully approved training programs for residents in anatomic pathology and clinical pathology as a combined AP/CP 4-year program. Training in anatomic pathology includes surgical pathology, autopsy/forensic, neuropathology, dermatopathology, nephropathology and cytopathology. Experience in rapid on-site cytologic evaluations (ROSE) as well as intraoperative consultations (frozen sections) is emphasized. Clinical pathology training includes hematology, blood banking/transfusion medicine, coagulation, flow cytometry, clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, molecular genetic pathology, cytogenetics, and computer applications to laboratory medicine. Opportunities are available for specialized training in quality improvement, test validation and various techniques including electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Research opportunities are available, with emphasis on clinically related topics. Residents participate in the department’s teaching and quality improvement programs.
Three positions are normally available through the match. The department has ACGME approval to train 12 residents. Post sophomore or upper level fellowships can be arranged. There are three 1-year fellowships (surgical pathology, hematopathology and cytopathology).
There are a total of 650 beds in the West Virginia University Hospitals, consisting of 575 medical/surgical beds in Ruby Memorial Hospital, and 75 psychiatric beds are at Chestnut Ridge Hospital. Ruby Memorial is the University’s main teaching hospital and tertiary referral center. Most of the medical and surgical specialties are represented here, and there is a level 1 trauma center. Several other facilities are present on the same campus. Outpatient clinics are located in the Physicians’ Office Center, which is connected to Ruby Memorial Hospital. The Health Sciences Center contains the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and the Betty Puskar Breast Cancer Center. The Health Sciences Center also contains schools of medicine and dentistry, medical and dental technology, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and public health. Mountain View Regional Rehabilitation Hospital is used by the University hospital and County hospital for patients requiring long-term recovery from trauma and other illnesses. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has a major research establishment adjacent to the hospitals. In addition, each resident will do rotations at an affiliated hospital, Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia. The department examines approximately 32,000 surgical and 16,000 cytologic specimens per year. Autopsy numbers from Ruby Memorial Hospital and Charleston Area Medical Center average 50 autopsies per year. In addition, opportunity to participate in medical legal (forensic) autopsies is available through collaboration with the WV Medical Examiner’s office. The department also covers the pathology services for an additional 6 community hospitals and referral testing for 9 system hospitals. Anatomic pathology utilizes COPATH computer information system. The clinical laboratory currently performs more than 2,200,000 examinations per year and uses Epic laboratory information system. The laboratories are well-equipped in all areas including special laboratories for coagulation and platelet studies, enzymology, and immunology. The Health Sciences Center Library contains 190,000 volumes and receives 2,400 periodicals.
Morgantown, with a population of 35,000, is located on the Monongahela River 75 miles south of Pittsburgh. Elevation varies from 850 to about 2,000 feet above sea level. West Virginia University, the principal institution for higher education in the state, has a student enrollment of 25,000 on its three Morgantown campuses. Educational, cultural, and recreational facilities of the university, as well as tickets for intercollegiate athletic events, are available to house staff. The Center for Creative Arts has several series of repertory groups. Many outdoor recreational facilities (fishing, boating, skiing, golfing, etc.) are nearby.
