ACVP Training Program Overview

Name of Institution:	Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Address:	Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Section of Clinical Pathology 240 Farrier Road Ithaca, NY 14853

Program Coordinators and Emails:
Anatomic: Dr. Elena Alina Demeter, [email protected] 
Clinical: Julie Webb, [email protected] 

Resident Representatives and Emails:
Anatomic: Dr. Shotaro Nakagun, [email protected] 

Prerequisites Beyond DVM:
For Clinical Pathology: at least 1 year of post-DVM work (e.g. internship, clinical practice, masters, PhD)

Tour of the Cornell Program Facilities (video)

Program Information:
Program	CP	AP	Combined MS/PhD
Program Options	Residency		N/A
Full Time Residents	2	8
Typical # of years for completion	3	3
Money to go to one (1) meeting/year	Yes, to ACVP/ASVCP if presenting research or a mystery case	Yes, $1500 per year (2nd and 3rd yr) and additional $1500 to go to ACVP third year if presenting
Money for books and supplies	After hours call-in fees goes toward resident account, which can be used for books, supplies, board exam travel, etc. Clin Path laboratory library also maintained and updated by the section and routine supplies provided by section	Money not provided for personal books and supplies. Pathology library maintained and updated by the section
Independent research/publication required for program completion?	Yes. Residents are expected to design and carry out a hypothesis-driven clinical pathology-related research project, write a brief grant proposal, and present and publish their results, under guidance and mentoring by our faculty	Yes, opportunity to write mini grant proposal and perform small research project, required to present findings, and encouraged to publish

Comments:
AP:  https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/departments/biomedical-sciences/residencies/anatomiczoo-pathology-residency
CP: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/population-medicine-and-diagnostic-sciences/intern-and-residency-programs/residency-clinical-pathology

Case Load:
	Small Animals	Large Animals	Exotic/Zoo Animals	Lab Animals
Anatomic Pathology	70-75% biopsy, 40-45% necropsy	20-25% biopsy, 35-40% necropsy	5-10% biopsy, 15-20% necropsy	Included in exotic/zoo animals
Clinical Pathology	~70%	~20%	~5%	~5%

Comments:
CP: Residents primarily review hematologic and cytologic samples on service. Less time is spent reviewing other tests including urinalyses, serum protein electrophoresis, and flow cytometry. We receive case submissions from Cornell’s small animal, equine, and farm animal hospitals, wildlife center, and Rosamund Gifford (Syracuse) Zoo.  In addition, we receive case submissions from local and referral veterinary hospitals, zoos, and research labs from across the country and Canada.

Required Coursework for Specific Programs:
MS	N/A
PhD	N/A
AP	Specialty pathology rounds in lab animals, opthalmology, neuropathology, hepatopathology, dermatology, wildlife/zoo, and clinical pathology
CP	Required attendance at weekly rounds: Monday: mystery slides Wednesday: chemistry case alternating with cytology/histopathology case correlates Friday: topic rounds

Comments:
AP: Attendance and participation at weekly surgical pathology and gross pathology seminars is required.  We require annual attendance and participation at the Northeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference for the 1st and 2nd year residents.
CP: Residents are required to complete three, one-week rotations on the surgical biopsy service in their first year and a one-week rotation in the Comparative Coagulation Laboratory. Residents also “listen in” on ASVCP monthly online rounds, as well as two different monthly online rounds put on by the Cornell CPs to local specialty practices. 

Other Opportunities:
We offer a residency position in zoo/wildlife anatomic pathology every two years with the next application cycle opening for the fall of 2020 (start date July 1, 2021).  These residents spend two years at Cornell University College of Vet Med and one year in the Bronx at the Wildlife Conservation Society, which includes the Bronx Zoo.  There is also a Wildlife Health Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Residency position in laboratory animal anatomic pathology in collaboration with the Quadri-Institutional Laboratory of Comparative Pathology: The Rockefeller University – Comparative Bioscience Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center – Center of Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Hospital for Special Surgery. This position will available every 2 years, the first application cycle opening for the fall 2023, with the first resident to start on July 1, 2024. These residents spend two years at Cornell University College of Vet Med and one year at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York.  

There are opportunities to work with lab animal species through Cornell’s Center for Animal Resources and Education (CARE).  We often sponsor 1 or 2 residents to attend the Annual Workshop on the Pathology of Mouse Models for Human Disease (September).

Residents are encouraged to pursue post-resident graduate training, but it is not required.

The Clinical Pathology section also offers a one-year internship program to one individual per year. In this program, the emphasis is working with the technical staff in the performance of analytical duties mainly in the hematology and cytology sections, with rotations in the chemistry and immunology lab sections, as well. The intern participates in all of the same teaching rounds as our residents, but do not sit in with the clinical pathologist on service. The intern is mentored on a research project, as well. 

Percentage of Time Spent in Activities – Clinical Pathology:
	Service	Teaching	Seminar/Courses	Research	Other
Year 1	50 2 weeks per month sitting with pathologist on duty	5 Assist with labs in 2nd year vet student clin path course and teach biweekly 1-hour sessions around the multi-headed scope to 4th year students (in rotation with other residents)	20	10	Remaining time for self-study
Year 2	50 2 weeks per month sitting in with pathologist on duty	5 same as 1st	20	25	Remaining time for self-study
Year 3	50-60 2-3 weeks per month as pathologist on duty	10 In addition to previous responsibilities, aim to give a lecture and lead discussion section for 2nd year course	20	10	Remaining time for self-study
Year 4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Comments:
Time spent on service and in rounds is consistent throughout the program, but can be tailored to the needs of individual residents on a case-by-case basis. The goal is for residents to complete the data collection phase for their research project in the first two years leaving the 3rd year to write up the project for publication.  Increased responsibility is given to 3rd year residents in the form of acting as the pathologist on duty with sign-out authority, upon approval from CP faculty. Additional time off service is given to residents in the weeks leading up to the Phase I and II certifying exams.

Percentage of Time Spent in Activities – Anatomic Pathology:
	Service	Teaching	Seminar/Courses	Research	Other
Year 1	70	10	20
Year 2	70	10	10	10
Year 3	70	10	10	10
Year 4

Comments:
Year 1:  Approximately 2/3 time on necropsy and 1/3 on biopsy.
Year 2:  Equal time between the 2 services.
Year 3:  Predominately biopsy service with increased responsibilities in teaching and mentoring of junior residents.

The learning is primarily case-based and resident-driven. No specific clinical pathology rotations are required.  Informal and formal consultations are encouraged on cases that have clinical pathology correlates.  Correlate rounds between clinical and anatomic pathology happen semi-weekly.