Program Overview

Mission

The pathology residency program at Howard University Hospital provides training for physicians to enter academic medicine, independent practice or community practice. We offer a combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology four (4) year training program. Residents are trained with a comprehensive curriculum of didactic lectures, slide conferences, interdisciplinary conferences and hands-on learning. There are lots of opportunities for research and scholarly activity within the department and protected time is provided for residents to conduct research.

Our diverse faculty span both anatomic and clinical pathology. All faculty prioritize resident education and enjoy teaching residents eager to learn. Given the small size of the program, medical staff, faculty and residents work closely together. The Department of Pathology has a high standard of professionalism and strives to provide excellent service to all who interact with the laboratory.

Why Choose Us
  • • The Small Program Size
  • • Accredited by the Accrediting Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
  • Location- Howard University is located in the heart of Washington, D.C. where there are countless cultural, artistic, and dining options in addition to the monuments and museums.
  • • Elite fellowship acceptance
  • Diversity of residents
Residency Program Highlights
  • • High board pass rate
  • • High quality resident Teaching conferences
  • • Optional (1) month Research elective
  • • Annual education allowance
  • • Free parking
  • • $1000 Board review course allowance
  • • Pathology small group teaching opportunities
Residency Program Facts
  • • First year positions: 2
  • • Total positions: 8
  • • Physician faculty: 9
  • • Average hours per week on duty: 60
  • • Average hours per week of conferences: 10
  • • J-1 visa sponsorship
About Howard University Hospital
  • • 200-bed, teaching hospital at one of the nation's most historic universities
  • • A private, non-profit institution, Howard University Hospital is the nation's only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university
  • • One of the most comprehensive health care facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
  • • Designated a Level 1 Trauma Center

Rotations

The pathology training program consists of four (4) years of integrated experience in anatomic pathology and clinical laboratory medicine with supervised training and experience in anatomic and clinical pathology.

Anatomic Pathology Duration in Months
Autopsy Rotation all 4 years
Cytopathology 5
Cytopathology (Quest Diagnostics- QUEST) 1
Surgical Pathology 12-14
Surgical Pathology (Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center) 2
Forensic Pathology/ Toxicology (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore, MD) 1
Forensic Pathology/Toxicology (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Washington, DC) 1
Pediatric Surgical Pathology (Children’s National Medical Center- CNMC) 1
Clinical Pathology
Clinical Chemistry/ Informatics/Lab Management 4
Informatics/Lab Management Junior 1
Lab Management Senior 1
Microbiology/virology/parasitology/mycology 4
Hematology/coagulation/urinalysis 4
Pediatric Clinical Pathology 1
Immunoserology/Immunology 1.5
Immunology (QUEST) 0.5
Flow Cytometry (QUEST) 0.5
Cytogenetics (QUEST) 0.5
Molecular Pathology (QUEST) 0.5
Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine 3.5
Transfusion Medicine (National Institutes of Health Clinical Center) 0.5

The structured program includes 25 months of core anatomic pathology rotations and 20 months of core clinical pathology rotations over the four year combined AP/CP training program.  The remaining three (3) months are reserved for electives, dedicated research time and additional training in the core rotations.

The first year of training focuses on anatomic pathology with introductory rotations in clinical pathology. The second and third years of training consists of a mixture of anatomic and clinical pathology. The third and fourth years of training provide opportunities for electives to strengthen the particular interest of the resident. Fourth year residents also have opportunities for increased responsibility in diagnosis and decision making, teaching, mentoring, leadership and administrative roles as chief resident.