Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The ACGME- accredited hematopathology fellowship at Tufts Medical Center offers broad in-depth training in clinical hematology, hematopathology, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, immunopathology, coagulation, and laboratory medicine. The goal of this 1-year experience is to prepare the fellow to independently function as a primary diagnostician and consultant in all areas of hematopathology and clinical laboratory hematology. The fellow should have a strong background in general diagnostic pathology, and acquire skills though the fellowship training to become an independent attending pathologist able to practice in either an academic, community hospital, or commercial laboratory setting, or pursue further subspecialty fellowship training.

Tufts Medical Center presents a rich diversity of cases and the state of the art clinical hematology laboratory has the diagnostic capacity to support the diagnostic needs of patients across various disciplines and disorders. The hematology laboratory performs about one million tests annually and the annual bone marrow volume is up to 800 cases with around 300 additional consultation cases for lymph nodes and other biopsies.

The fellow will assume graduated responsibility for diagnostic sign out of cases and will participate in conference presentations, tumor boards, pathology laboratory administration, and the education of pathology and laboratory medicine residents.

Each fellow will have individual hematopathology fellowship plans to assure meeting all their educational goals. Opportunities exist to become involved in ongoing clinical or translational research in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine, particularly in partnership with other clinical services.

Preparation and taking American Board of Pathology/ Hematopathology subspecialty exam is a part of the fellowship.

The goal of the one-year hematopathology fellowship is to prepare the candidate for advanced practice in hematopathology. The fellowship is based on a model of practice under supervision, rather than a program of didactic and practical exercises.

In general, the practice of hematopathology occurs in one of three major practice settings:  academic practice, community hospital based group practice, or commercial laboratory.  Each of these settings varies in terms of their typical workloads, spectrum of case types, case complexity, and involvement in teaching and scholarly activity. This fellowship takes place in an academic practice setting and will adequately prepare the candidate for practice in any of the major pathology practice models.

At the end of the one-year Hematopathology Fellowship, the successful candidate will be expected to:

1. Provide competent diagnostic interpretation of all hematopathology and hematology material. 
2. Develop an analytical approach to diagnoses.
3.  Recognize own limitations.
4. Serve as a consultant to health care providers. 
5. Demonstrate effective teaching of medical students, residents, pathologists, and clinicians.
6. Demonstrate effective management of the clinical hematology laboratory.
7. Assume professional responsibility for patient care in preparation to function as a laboratory medical director. 
8. Participate in lifelong learning.

The program is structured to provide all necessary core training over a one year period and to assure that learning the techniques and skills required for excellence in hematopathology practice (adult and pediatric hematopathology, flow cytometry, cytogenetics and immunopathology) is accomplished in a coordinated fashion.

The year is divided a follows:

6 months – hematopathology
2 months - flow cytometry
2 months – clinical hematology and coagulation
2 months – molecular diagnostics and cytogenetics
*elective & research planned according to interest

During the year, the Hematopathology Fellow's mandatory conferences:

• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Pathology and Lab Medicine Core Lecture Series
• Hematologic Malignancy
• Plasma Cell
• Coagulation sign-out
• Coagulation Stewardship
• Departmental Journal Club
• Surgical pathology weekly conference

The fellow is expected to initiate or participate in one or more research projects related to any area of hematopathology, to present the research data at national meetings, and to publish the data in pathology/biomedical journals.

The department provides funds for purchasing books and attendance at a national meeting. If an abstract is presented at a meeting, additional funds and time off are provided.

Tufts Medical Center is a world-class academic medical center located in Boston and the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. It also sponsors nineteen specialty ACGME-accredited clinical training programs.

Tufts Medical Center is a 415-bed robust organization, providing everything from routine medical care to treating the most complex diseases affecting adults and children. Tufts Medical Center is also home to the Tufts Medical Center, a full-service children's hospital dedicated exclusively to all levels of pediatric care.

Tufts Medical Center provides heart, kidney and bone marrow transplants, is a level I trauma center, provides comprehensive neurological and neurosurgical care, and offers cutting-edge cancer treatments.

Tufts Medical Center is also home to The Boston Gamma Knife Center, the first and only Gamma Knife Center in Massachusetts and northern New England.

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Applicants must be board eligible in AP/CP and licensed to practice medicine in the State of Massachusetts by the time their fellowship begins. We encourage those interested to apply 18 months in advance. To apply, download the CAP Standardized Application for Pathology Fellowships. Letters of recommendation should be addressed to:

Monika Pilichowska, MD, PhD
Hematopathology Fellowship Director
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Tufts Medical Center
800 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111

Application materials and requests for further information should be addressed to:

Madeline Harrison
Residency Program Coordinator
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Tufts Medical Center, Box 115
800 Washington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Telephone: 617-636-2567
Fax: 617-636-7128
E-mail: mharrison3@tuftsmedicalcenter.org