4 Year Program
The combined AP/CP program is the most common track residents choose to complete at UCLA and, consists of core anatomic pathology rotations (24 months), core clinical pathology rotations (18 months), 3 months of senior/fellowship level advanced rotations,and 3 months of electives. The AP and CP rotations are integrated throughout the residency-training program. This allows for early exposure to all essential aspects of pathology and helps residents make an informed career/fellowship decision. Combined AP/CP residents can choose from an AP-emphasized AP/CP training model or a CP-emphasized AP/CP training model, which entails different senior/fellowship level advanced rotations.
Example Schedule
Years 1 & 2: Integrated Core AP & CP Rotations (with an AP emphasis)
Year 3: Complete Core AP rotations, continue CP Rotations
Year 4: Complete Core CP & Senior Rotations
3 Year Program
The AP only track provides an intensive 3 year delve into anatomic pathology that will equip trainees with knowledge and experience to become experts in their field and, pursue research and academic careers. The training program encompasses all academic and surgical pathology specialties, including cytology and image-guided fine needle aspiration, hematopathology, neuropathology and autopsy/forensic pathology. The curriculum consists of the core AP rotations (24 months), 2-3 months of hematopathology/lymphoma service, 2-3 months of molecular pathology and cytogenetics, 3-5 months of senior/fellowship level AP rotations and 6 months of laboratory research which are preferably completed towards the end of residency.
Example Schedule
Year 1: Core AP rotations
Year 2: Complete Core AP rotations, senior AP rotations
Year 3: Molecular, cytogenetics, senior rotations, research
3 Year Program
The CP only program provides education and exposure to all subspecialty areas of laboratory medicine, including hospital information systems. UCLA performs approximately 2.7 million laboratory tests per year in the clinical laboratory, drawing from our main inpatient hospital settings (Ronald Reagan Medical Center & UCLA Santa Monica Hospital), more than 180 outpatient clinic sites throughout the greater Los Angeles metro area, and the Bruin University Reference Laboratory (BURL). The curriculum consists of the core CP rotations (18 months), 12 months of senior/fellowship level CP rotations, and 6 months of laboratory research which are preferably completed towards the end of residency. If desired, up to 6 months of senior level CP rotations may be substituted with anatomic pathology rotations.
Example Schedule
Year 1: Core CP rotations
Year 2: Complete Core CP rotations, senior CP rotations
Year 3: Senior CP rotations, research
4 Year Program
The research residency track can be completed in tandem with either the combined AP/CP (4 years), AP only (3 years), or CP only (3 years) programs. The research environment at UCLA is rich and diverse, with numerous opportunities for clinical, translational, and basic scientific research. In the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, we have trained physician scientists who have gone on to have impressive research careers. Our program is flexible and provides trainees with outstanding clinical training as well as opportunities to work with any faculty member at UCLA. Our goal is to produce outstanding physician investigators who will meld the practice of pathology with innovative research.
The combined AP/CP research residency curriculum consists of the core AP rotations (24 months), the core CP rotations (18 months), and 6 months of research, preferably completed towards the end of residency.
The AP only research residency curriculum consists of the core AP rotations (24 months), 2-3 months of hematopathology/lymphoma service, 2-3 months of molecular pathology and cytogenetics, 3-5 months of senior/fellowship level AP rotations and 6 months of laboratory research.
The CP only research residency curriculum consists of the core CP rotations (18 months), 12 months of senior/fellowship level CP rotations, and 6 months of laboratory research.
3-4 Year Program
Combined AP-only residency and Neuropathology fellowship. This is traditionally chosen by those who enter residency with a strong interest in a career in Neuropathology and/or Forensics.
