Focus Area for Pathology
Description of the Focus Area
This focus area allows the student extra time to prepare for one of two specialty areas: clinical pathology and anatomic pathology. These career paths require advanced training and board certification.
Current Number of Pathology Focused Students
- Class 2013: 5
- Class 2014: 1
- Class 2015: none declared to date
- Class 2016: 1 declared to date
Advisors
- Dr. John Cullen
- Dr. Carol Grindem
- Dr. Mac Law
- Dr. Keith Linder
- Dr. Don Meuten
- Dr. Jennifer Neel
- Dr. Luke Borst
Steps to Pursue a Focus in Veterinary Pathology
- Identify an advisor in the pathology group
(Drs. Cullen, Grindem, Law, Linder, Meuten, Neel, Borst) - Join "PathHeads"; student pathology club; Dr Law advisor
- Outline selectives you would like to take; discuss with your advisor
- Identify other areas of interest that you would like to be involved with (Research at CVM , Research in RTP and adjacent Universities, Diagnostic experiences, Career opportunities in Pathology, DVM/PhD program)
- Try to attend gross rounds and clinical pathology rounds
- Take several summer externships
- Take core rotations in senior year
- Additional 4th year rotations in anatomic or clinical pathology
- Take several externships in the 4th year.
Year 1-3 Requirements
There are no required courses during the first three years.
Year 1-3 Recommended Courses
Fundamentals: Recommended to be Taken in First Year
- Necropsy pathology - Meuten
- Surgical pathology - Linder
Specialties in Pathology
- Exotic animal pathology - Cullen
- International diseases - Cowen
- Diagnostic cytology - Grindem
- Advanced clinical parasitology for large animals - Levy
- Equine Parasitology in Clinical Practice - Bello
Advanced Diagnostic Techniques
- PCR diag of bact disease- Orndorff
- Diagnosis of viral diseases - Guy
Research Pathology
- Special topics in pathology (research pathology) - Law
Others Related to Pathology
- Histologic techniques - Khosla
- Swine health management - Almond
Fourth Year Required Rotations
Required rotations
- VMB 976 Radiology
- VMB 977 Anesthesiology
- VMP 977 Necropsy
- VMP 978 Clinical Pathology
- VMC 971 Small Animal Medicine (2 consecutive blocks)
- VMC 976 Equine Medicine
- VMC 973 Small Animal Surgery
- VMC 960 Small Animal Emergency OR VMC 966 Equine Emergency
- VMP 970 Ruminant Health Management I
- VMC 980 Oncology
- VMC 939 General Limited Small Animal Practice
- VMP 975 Advanced Anatomic Pathology
OR
VMP 994 Extramural Studies/Pathology (2 rotations - any combination)**
**Extramural Rotations (in 4th year) - maximum of 6 credits (3 rotations)
Pick 2 from the following list
- VMC 981 Laboratory Animal Medicine
- VMP 982 Poultry Health Management I
- VMP 984 Swine Medicine I
- VMC 972 Cardiology
- VMC 982 Ophthalmology
- VMC 983 Dermatology
- VMC 984 Neurology
Other Experiences
Hospital rounds/seminar series @ CVM
These are "opportunities" at the CVM. Some of these will be over your head (and that is OK) so review them with your advisor, decide which ones may be worth attending and give them a try; adjust your schedule and goals with your advisor.
- Surgical pathology - Friday histo conf 7:45-9 AM - Dr. Law
- Necropsy pathology - Wednesdays @12:15 - 1:30 PM
- Clinical Pathology - Fridays 12-1PM - Dr. Grindem
- Zoological Medicine - Thurs 3:45-5PM - Dr. Stoskopf
- House Officer Seminar Series - Thurs @ 8-9AM
- MBS and PHP Departmental Faculty Seminars - check on schedule
- Microbiology Seminar Series - Weekly, Mondays @ 4-5PM
Histopathology rounds
(space limited @ 10-headed scope; must be pre-arranged)
- Ophthalmic pathology - 1st Mon of every month @ 8:15-9:15 AM - Dr. Davidson
- Dermatopathology - every thurs 12:00-1:00 PM - Dr. Linder, Dr. Olivry
- Neuropathology - monthly -
- Hepatic histopathology - Fridays @ 9-10 AM - Dr. John Cullen
- Avian pathology - monthly - Dr. John Barnes
Journal clubs
- Oncology - Tues 7-8AM - Dr. Hauck
- Clinical pathology - Mon 12-1 PM - Dr. Grindem
- Immunology - Fri 9-10AM - Dr. Tompkins
Recommended journals to review
- Veterinary Clinical Pathology
- Veterinary Pathology
- JVIM
- Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Medicine
- JAVMA
Extracurricular activities
- Sat. morning necropsy volunteers - Dr. Law
- PATHHEADS Student Pathology Club - Dr. Law
Employment opportunities/externships/funding
- Summer jobs - see Dr Law
- Go to web pages for – ACVP <www.acvp.org/>, Pfizer
Toxicologic pathology/Industry/Governmental
Opportunities in RTP area:
- GLAXO-SMITHKLINE - Drs. Rich Miller or Christine Merrill
- Experimental Pathology Labs
- CIIT
- EPA -Dr. Doug Wolf
- NIEHS - Drs. Dave Malarkey or Susan Elmore
- Wake Forest Univ - Dr. Mark Cline
- UNC - Dr. Virgina Godfrey
Diagnostic Path - Domestic/Exotic Animal
- Opportunities in RTP area:
- Rollins An. Dis. Diag. Lab - Drs. Pete Moisan or Steve Rushton
- Antech Diag Lab - Dr. Pam Luther
- NCSU CLIN PATH tech - Drs. Grindem, Neel
- NC ZOO – Dr. Brigid Troan
- Duke Univ Primate Center
Funding/Externships (see also http://www.acvp.org)
- CVM - summer student / NCSU – Dr. Jody Gookin
- Charles Davis Stipend - http://www.acvp.org/
- ACVP stipend - Apply for in November prior to the summer or scholastic year. See ACVP web page.
- Many externships are available at other universities, pathology programs.
- Diagnostic Labs, Government labs, or private institutions.
Other Useful Information
- Pathology: http://www.acvp.org/
- Clinical Pathology: http://www.asvcp.org/