Graduate Medical Education

The Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency Program of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is an integrated tri-service program under the National Capital Consortium accepting Army, Navy and Air Force residency candidates. The program also sponsors rotations for interns and medical students interested in exploring the practice of pathology or in acquiring a firm foundation in and understanding of laboratory medicine and practices.

Mission
The NCC Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency Program strives to provide the highest quality education in clinical and anatomic pathology in order to develop a renaissance pathologist, deployable worldwide, who can function in any pathology practice. The program cultivates a complete physician who:

• Functions as an integral member of the healthcare team
• Is a model of professionalism
• Remains intellectually curious for life
• Makes ethically correct decisions
• Contributes to the fund of scientific knowledge and education of others, and
• Is a master at resolving difficult diagnostic problems

Program Summary
The four-year anatomic and clinical pathology residency program is designed to meet the requirements of the Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the Pathology Residency Review Committee (RRC), the National Capital Consortium (NCC) and the American Board of Pathology (ABP). The National Capital Consortium Pathology Residency Program is fully accredited by the ACGME and is authorized 24 resident positions. The program generally consists of 22 months of required Anatomic Pathology rotations, 18 months of required Clinical Pathology training and 8 months of specialty rotations, electives and/or research. Rotations may be in two weeks to three-month blocks. Although rotations are separated under “anatomic” and “clinical” pathology headings, this division is artificial- all diagnostic modalities are necessary for patient care and pathologists integrate all diagnostic testing in that pursuit.

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has been designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center that administers subspecialty cancer care to active duty military and their beneficiaries and is the only military medical institution with this designation. As a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the focus is on state-of-the-art diagnostics and surgery with evidence-based therapy in an academic climate.

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides clinical support through anatomic and clinical pathology services, including the performance of laboratory studies and the provision of consultative services. The Department provides reference laboratory services to supported tri-service military medical treatment facilities, and histopathology, molecular and immunopathology support to the Joint Pathology Center (JPC), the Department of Defense’s reference pathology center for tertiary diagnostic consultation. The Dermatopathology Fellowship and Oral Pathology Residency are co-located with the AP/CP Residency Program. The Department conducts or supports training programs in advanced laboratory technology, clinical laboratory management, histopathology, blood banking and pathology assistance. The Department operates a blood donor and processing center for the procurement, processing and shipment of blood components and frozen red cells in support of the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP).

Rotations in Anatomic Pathology (AP) provide instruction and proficiency the following areas:

• Surgical pathology, including histologic and immunohistochemical techniques
• Cytopathology, including fine needle aspiration techniques and patient counseling
• Autopsy and Forensic Pathology
• Informatics and the use of automation in pathology
• Dermatopathology
• Neuropathology
• Pediatric pathology
• Ancillary studies used in Anatomic Pathology, including molecular pathology (fluorescent in-situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, gene rearrangements and mutations), cytogenetics, ultrastructural pathology, special stains, tumor markers and flow cytometry

Rotations in Clinical Pathology (CP) provide instruction and proficiency in the following areas:

• Transfusion medicine, apheresis, donor center operations and blood banking
• Microbiology, including bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology and plate rounds
• Chemical pathology, including analysis of laboratory data on intensive care unit patients, serum and urine electrophoresis, hemoglobin electrophoresis, serology, toxicology and core laboratory operations
• Hematopathology, including flow cytometry, coagulation, bone marrow aspiration, medical microscopy (body fluid examination and analysis) and urinalysis
• Immunology and HLA typing

Integrated AP/CP exposure or rotations include:

• Deployment health care and laboratory management
• Laboratory management and transition to practice
• Laboratory Quality Improvement/ Performance Improvement programs
• Research
• Integrated clinical rotations (dermatology, infectious diseases, critical care)
• Clinical correlation conferences
• Tumor planning conferences

The program’s objectives are to develop and meet the core competencies in each area. Core competencies include medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, systems-based practice and scholarly activity.

Interns and Medical Clerks
Pathology rotations for interns and clerks integrate anatomic and clinical pathology. Rotations are structured to introduce the trainee to surgical pathology, cytopathology, autopsy, hematopathology, transfusion medicine, and microbiology. The rotation focuses on practical training that will be applicable to many clinical practice settings and prepare trainees for internship or residency through familiarization with laboratory practices and limitations. For instance, trainees will learn rapid assessment of a CBC and peripheral smear for causes of anemia; identification, workup and treatment of transfusion reactions; appropriate blood product utilization; proper submission of laboratory specimens; role of intraoperative consultation (frozen sections); microscopic methods for the examination of tissue; roles of cytopathology and fine needle aspiration in diagnosis, and laboratory identification of common causes of infectious diseases.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERVIEW
Interviews may be on-site (during rotations) or by telephone. All candidates for residency must interview with the Program Director.
Prior to interview, please provide:

• CV
• Previous school year transcripts
• Personal statement
• Photo

Send to:
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
NCC Pathology Residency Program
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services
Building 9, Ground Floor, Room 849
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20889-5600

Uniform option for interview:

• Uniform of the day

Interviews arranged by calling:

Residency Program Coordinator - (301) 369-4156