ACVP > Veterinary and Comparative Pathology Training Programs

American College of Veterinary Pathologists >

Veterinary and Comparative Pathology Training Programs

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

Anatomic Pathology Residency

Clinical Pathology Residency

Program Directors

Dr. Carol Grindem, (919) 513-6277, or e-mail Carol_Grindem@ncsu.edu

Dr. Jennifer Neel, (919) 513-6254 Jennifer_Neel@ncsu.edu

Website: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/studentservices/intern_resid/clinpathology.html

Objectives
The Resident Training Program in Veterinary Clinical Pathology at North Carolina State University is a three-year postgraduate training opportunity designed to provide advanced training in veterinary clinical pathology, to develop diagnostic laboratory skills and to develop teaching and communication skills. Completion of this program will fulfill the prerequisites for the Clinical Pathology Board examination by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. This residency program is designed to prepare trainees for the many available career opportunities in veterinary clinical pathology including diagnostic laboratories, academic institutions, toxicologic/ pharmaceutical industries or private businesses.

The program provides ample opportunities to develop proficiency and acquire expertise in advanced clinical pathology necessary to become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathology. Residents will participate with faculty, staff and veterinary students in the daily professional activities, and acquire teaching and writing skills through the combined professional instructional efforts. In addition, residents will have the opportunity to complete graduate courses, participate in seminars, and acquire skills in research methodology. The program is designed to facilitate entry into a PhD graduate program. A variety of excellent PhD programs are available to choose from and competitive stipends are awarded annually.

The program is not part of the residency matching program. Requests for applications are advertised in the fall in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and positions start July 1.

Clinical Pathology Laboratory and Faculty at NC State University
The NCSU-CVM Teaching Hospital receives about 17,000 patients annually including increasing numbers of avian, fish and exotic species. The Clinical Pathology Laboratory handles a monthly work load of 1200 CBC's, 300 cytopathology specimens, 300 urinalyses, and 600 serum chemistry and blood gas panels. In addition we handle 60 coagulation panels and 140 send-out specialized assays. We have a laboratory staff of 7 technologists, and 8 part-time student technicians. Major pieces of equipment include an Advia 120 hematology instrument, and a Hitachi 912 chemistry instrument. The cytopathology reading room is equipped with a 5-headed Olympus microscope with a digital camera, an Olympus microscope, two computers networked to the main frame computer and a small reference library. A 10- headed teaching scope and a Nikon microscope/video camera station are also available.

The Clinical Pathology Group at NCSU include five faculty (4 board certified). Faculty are Carol Grindem, Jennifer Neel, Don Meuten, Valarie Pallatto and Gregg Dean; residents are Jaime Tarigo and Laura Snyder. Faculty and residents are responsible for teaching a sophomore clinical pathology course (VMP 942), 12- two-week laboratory medicine senior rotations (VMP 978) and 2- one-week cytology selectives. Additionally, there are 6 board certified veterinary clinical pathologists in the Greater Research Triangle Area.

General Information
Clinical Pathology Residency Program provides training primarily in cytology, hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistries, urinalysis and surgical pathology. Residents will evaluate and diagnose cytologic and surgical pathology material. They will also review and interpret laboratory results from hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry and urinalysis. Routine laboratory material serves as source material for evaluation.

Similarly, residents are expected to develop proficiency in certain laboratory techniques and will have laboratory and instructional responsibilities. Attendance and participation in clinical pathology rounds and case discussions, journal club, histopathology conferences, House Officer' Seminar Series, internal medicine rounds and graduate courses are expected. Residents are also encouraged to attend seminars, conferences and clinical rounds in the college, university and surrounding area.

Clinical research projects provide opportunities to enhance grantsmanship, organizational, publication and communication skills. Presenting results of these projects at National meetings and published in appropriate journals is strongly encouraged.

Appointments will be for sequential one-year terms. Residents will be formally reviewed twice a year. Reappointment is based upon satisfactory progress in the program. Appointments and reappointments usually start July 1. Individuals wishing to enter a Ph.D. degree program should contact the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies for further information early in their program. Graduate training opportunities are available in pathology, infectious diseases, immunology, cell biology, physiology, pharmacology, and population medicine.

Program
The following is a general outline for the training program. Twice a year the resident and the residency committee will meet to develop a 6-month plan for professional activities. The resident is ultimately responsible for compliance with the work plan. During the third year, a major component of the trainee’s duty will be to mentor junior residents, organize board study groups and assume primary responsibility for cytopathology duty and senior clinical pathology teaching.

Program Outline

Orientation on laboratory medicine, specimen preparation and handling, record keeping, teaching resource material and photography (1st year).
Assignment to clinical pathology service duty for approximately 27 weeks/year. Duty includes evaluating cytologic samples; reviewing blood smears, chemistry data, coagulation data, and urinalysis data; and consulting with clinicians, students and researchers about the interpretation of laboratory results (1st, 2nd, 3rd years.)
Rotation (1-4 weeks) in the clinical pathology laboratory to gain proficiency in operating laboratory equipment (Advia hematology instrument, Hitachi chemistry instrument, Blood gas machine, and coagulation machine) learning test methodologies, quality control and laboratory management. (1st and 2nd years)
Gain teaching experience through presentation of lectures and assisting in laboratory instruction in the sophomore clinical pathology course (VMP 942), senior clinical pathology rotations (VMP 978) and selectives. Teach the urinalysis part of VMM942 the 1st year (2 lecture, 2 laboratory), the coagulation section the 2nd year (3 lectures and 1 laboratory), and the hematology section the third year (6 lectures and 4 labs) and assist in teaching other laboratories all three years. The residents will teach a hands-on urinalysis lab, a hematology lab, cytology and body fluids lab in the senior rotation. Additionally, the 2nd and 3rd year trainees will participate with the faculty in teaching hematology/cytology and clinical chemistry case interpretation in the senior rotations (VMP 978).
Presentation of at least one in-depth seminar in the House Officers' Seminar Series related to clinical disease problems identified through clinical pathology laboratory tests or related to a research project. Weekly attendance of this seminar series is required (1st, 2nd years).
Attend, participate, and present at weekly clinical pathology rounds, clinical pathology journal club, surgical pathology seminars and internal medicine rounds, and annual mock board exam (1st, 2nd, 3rd years).
Development of a clinical research project with the guidance from the clinical pathology faculty (1st year).
Submission and acceptance (before completion of the residency) of at least one first author article for publication in an appropriate refereed journal.
Encourage presentation of case material and/or research project at regional or national meeting (1st, 2nd, 3rd years).
Submissions to "What is your diagnosis?" or a presentation at the Southeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference at Tifton, GA is strongly encouraged (1st, 2nd, 3rd years).
Other opportunities include rotations of 1-2 week duration through ancillary disciplines such as anatomical pathology, Rollins State Diagnostic Laboratory, basic research laboratory, immunology, oncology, small or large animal medicine, laboratory animal medicine, electron microscopy, epidemiology, computer science, or clinical pharmacology are available (1st, 2nd, 3rd years).
NCSU has many centers of excellence within the veterinary college. Residents are encouraged to attend seminars and lectures of interest e.g. necropsy rounds, small and/or large animal medicine rounds, wildlife and zoo animal rounds, and research seminars (1st, 2nd, 3rd years).
Identify and arrange the schedule of graduate course work to be completed during the residency (1st year).
Superior residents may be promoted to clinical lecturer after successful completion of their second year contingent on available funding.

Clinical Pathology Faculty

Clinical Faculty
Carol B. Grindem, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. Hematopoietic neoplasms, platelet disorders, clinical application of flow cytometry, diagnostic cytopathology.
Donald J. Meuten, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. (anatomical and clinical pathology). Bone and calcium disorders, diagnostic cytopathology and surgical pathology.
Jennifer A. Neel, D.V.M., Dip. A.C.V.P. Diagnostic clinical pathology, cytopathology, and photography.
Valarie Pallatto, D.V.M., Diagnostic clinical pathology, coordinator of ACVP board preparation.

Research Faculty
Gregg Dean, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. Pathogenesis of feline infectious diseases (FeLV, FIP) cytokines, molecular biology, flow cytometry.

Adjunct Clinical Pathology Faculty
Jan Andrews, D.V. M., Ph.D; Dip. A.C.V.P.; Antech Diagnostics
Holly Jordan, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P.; GlaxoSmithKline

Anatomical Pathology Faculty
John Barnes, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. Avian diseases.
Talmage Brown, Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. Pathogenesis of infectious diseases.
John Cullen, V.M.D., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. Carcinogenesis.
Yongbaek Kim, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P. Molecular carcinogenesis.
Jerry Mac Law, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dip. A.C.V.P. Toxicology.
Donald Meuten, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dip. A.C.V.P. (dual boarded). Bone and calcium disorders.
Keith Linder, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dip. A.C.V.P. Skin biology and disease pathogenesis.

Adjunct Anatomical Pathology Faculty
Linda Kooistra, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P.; Rollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab
Dave Malarky, D.V.M., Ph.D.; Dip. A.C.V.P.; NIEHS

Anatomic Pathology Residency

Program Coordinator
Dr. Keith Linder, (919) 513-6257 or Keith_Linder@ncsu.edu

Program Description
The Anatomic Pathology Program at North Carolina State University is an official part of the post-veterinary training program within the College of Veterinary Medicine. This residency program provides 3 years of advanced training in anatomical pathology. The training is a foundation for becoming a competent diagnostic pathologist and helps to prepare the trainee for certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. The program also provides an understanding of clinical pathology and basic principles of general pathology at a molecular level. For administrative purposes, residents may be enrolled as graduate students and receive a nonthesis Masters of Specialized Veterinary Medicine (MSpVM) upon completion of the residency program. Anatomic pathology residents are strongly encouraged to continue their training by entering a graduate research program with a goal of receiving a Ph.D. degree after completion of their residency. Continued participation in the pathology training program after entrance into graduate school is encouraged in preparation for the Board Examination in anatomic veterinary pathology.

In this program residents are trained in the morphologic pathology of food, companion, laboratory, aquatic, equine, avian and exotic animals. In order to develop an understanding of anatomic pathology, the resident's major activities will be performing necropsies and examining surgical pathology specimens, under the supervision of a senior pathologist. Integration of pathologic findings with patient history, clinical findings, clinical pathology data, microbiology, immunology, toxicology, and other ancillary studies is emphasized. Residents will participate in necropsy and histopathology rounds as an important component of the training program. Residents will be exposed to related disciplines by selecting optional rotations at regular intervals. Disciplines available for such rotations include poultry pathology, electron microscopy, ophthalmic pathology, toxicologic pathology, clinical pathology, or research. Residents may elect to spend short externships at the North Carolina Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences the University of North Carolina School of Medicine or at one of the variety of government and private research institutions in the Research Triangle area. Residents are also encouraged to attend seminars, conferences, and rounds in the College, University, and other institutions in the surrounding area.

There are 3 anatomic pathology residency positions. Optimally, one new resident will begin each year to maintain a hierarchy of experience within the program. Additional positions may be available through our participation in the consortium with NCI for those applicant interested in carcinogenesis.

When selecting candidates for open residency positions, preference will be given to individuals wishing to pursue graduate studies leading to the Ph.D. degree. Residents planning to continue their pathology training as Ph.D. candidates will be encouraged to identify mentors and to seek graduate stipend support during the residency period. Graduate studies at North Carolina State University may be pursued in one of a variety of areas including toxicology, carcinogenesis, oncology, infectious diseases, immunology, cell biology, pathology, physiology and microbiology. Research training opportunities are available at several institutions in the Research Triangle Park, including the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences and the Chemical Industries Institute of Toxicology. Graduate programs are organized through NC State University and the research can be done in laboratories at the various institutions.

All anatomic pathology residents are evaluated two times each year, by Dec 1 and Apr 1. There is a standard evaluation form. A copy of the form is submitted to the associate Dean for Services and one is placed in the trainees file.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Faculty

The following are in direct support of the program:

Talmage T. Brown, Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary pathology), Professor. Pathogenesis of infectious diseases of the respiratory and reproductive systems.
John M. Cullen, V.M.D., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary pathology), Professor. Liver disease, carcinogenesis.
Greggory Dean, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary clinical pathology), Assistant Professor. Pathogenesis of lentivirus infections.
Carol B. Grindem, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary clinical pathology), Professor. Neoplasms of the hematopoietic system.
Yongbaek Kim, D.V.M., Ph.D. Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary pathology). Assistant Professor. Molecular carcinogenesis.
Keith Linder, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology), Assistant Professor. Skin Biology and Skin Disease Pathogenesis.
Jerry McHugh Law, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology), Assistant Professor. Aquatic Toxicologic Pathology.
Donald J. Meuten, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary pathology and veterinary clinical pathology), Professor. Bone and calcium disorders.

Associate & Adjunct Faculty
H. John Barnes, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P. (veterinary pathology), Avian Pathology.
Michael Dykstra, Ph.D. Electron microscopy; Mycology.
Jeff Everitt, D.V.M., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology). Toxicological Pathology.
Jerry Hardisty, D.V.M., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology). Toxicological Pathology.
Richard Miller, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology), Toxicologic Pathology. Hepatic carcinogenesis.
Edward J. Noga, D.V.M., M.S., Diseases of the fish.
James F. Wright, V.M.D., Ph.D., Exotic and laboratory animal pathology.
Pam Luther, D.V.M., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology). Dermatologic Pathology.
Mike Davidson, D.V.M., Diplomate A.C.V.O., Ophthalmology
Thierry Olivry, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.I.M., Dermatopathology.
Linda Kooistra, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology). Diagnostic
David Malarkey, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate A.C.V.P., (veterinary pathology), Assistant Professor. Molecular Carcinogenesis and Toxicologic Pathology.

Return to directory listing

. . . . . . . . .

> Training and Education