ACVP Training Program Overview
| Name of Institution: | University of Pennsylvania |
| Address: | Penn Vet 3900 Delancey Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 |
Program Coordinators and Emails:
Dr. Molly Church, [email protected]
Dr. Martina Piviani, [email protected]
Resident Representatives and Emails:
Stefano De Arcangeli, [email protected]
Prerequisites Beyond DVM:
1-year postgraduate experience (clinical practice, rotating internship, clinical pathology internship, PhD) preferred
PennVet Anatomic Pathology (video)
| Program Information: | |||
| Program | CP | AP | Combined MS/PhD |
| Program Options | Yes | Yes | Not yet a formal combined program. Opportunity for graduate programs |
| Full Time Residents | 1 (planning for 3 by 2028*) | 6 | |
| Typical # of years for completion | 3 | 3 | |
| Money to go to one (1) meeting/year | $1,300/year | Yes | |
| Money for books and supplies | No | Yes | |
| Independent research/publication required for program completion? | Encouraged and supported (case reports, original studies depending on interest) | Yes | |
Comments:
- Specialty Rounds include: Biopsy, Small and Large Animal Systems, Neuropathology, Dermatopathology, Ocular Pathology, Cytology, Journal Club, Laboratory Animal Pathology, Wildlife, & JPC Wednesday Slide Conference.
- There are post-residency MS/PhD opportunities available.
- The program is affiliated with Medical and Dental Schools, Abramson Cancer Center, Wistar and CHOP.
- Unique opportunities available include dedicated externship time and rotations in the Comparative Pathology Core.
- With faculty mentorship, residents are encouraged to present research at ACVP/ASVCP or ECVCP/ESVCP annual meetings and submit a first-authored manuscript (e.g., a case report).
- *We will have one resident in July 2026, 2 residents in July 2027 and 3 residents in July 2028.
| Case Load: | ||||
| Small Animals | Large Animals | Exotic/Zoo Animals | Lab Animals | |
| Anatomic Pathology | 12,000 biopsies; 400 autopsies | 500 biopsies; 800 autopsies | Approximately 50/yr | Mice; Comparative Pathology Core (500/yr) |
| Clinical Pathology | 6,000 cytology sites per year and 2,000 blood smear reviews per year 90% small animals and 10% other (farm animals, equine, lab animals) | Rare | Occasional (mice, macaques) | |
Comments:
Under the direct supervision of three full-time faculty members, trainees receive advanced instruction with an emphasis on examination of a large and varied caseload composed of cytology and hematology specimens of animals submitted mainly from the UPenn veterinary teaching hospitals (Philadelphia and New Bolton Center) and referring veterinary practitioners (average of 25 cytologies and 5 pathologist blood smear reviews per day, 90% small animal, 10% other species). Primary training will take place at the Ryan small animal teaching hospital located in Philadelphia.
| Required Coursework for Specific Programs: | |
| MS | |
| PhD | |
| AP | None |
| CP | Attendance of Clinical Pathology lectures in year 1 of residency |
Comments: The residency program provides comprehensive training under the supervision of three clinical pathology faculty, including participation in weekly clinical pathology rounds, monthly cytology–oncology rounds, and a range of departmental and university seminars.
Other Opportunities:
Residents may complete up to 6 weeks of approved externships outside the university.
Please visit our website for complete information.
| Percentage of Time Spent in Activities – Anatomic Pathology: | |||||
| Service | Teaching | Seminar/Courses | Research | Other | |
| Year 1 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 5-15 | 15-20 |
| Year 2 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 10-15 | 5-10 |
| Year 3 | 60 | 10 | 10 | 10-15 | 5-10 |
| Year 4 | |||||
| Percentage of Time Spent in Activities – Clinical Pathology: | |||||
| Service* | Teaching | Seminar/Courses | Research | Other | |
| Year 1 | 50 | 20 | 5 | 25 | |
| Year 2 | 50 | 20 | 5 | 25 | |
| Year 3 | 50 | 20 | 5 | 25 | |
| Year 4 | |||||
Comments:
- * 2 weeks per month on duty
- Residents are expected to contribute to training house officers and veterinary students in clinical rotations and instruct the students in clinical pathology laboratories in Year 1, 2 and 3. By year 3, residents are encouraged to give 1-3 lectures for the 2nd year course.
- Anatomic Pathology residents’ service time is spent on autopsy, biopsy and specialty services such as dermatopathology, neuropathology, ocular pathology, and Comparative Pathology Core.
- Residents are integral in teaching 4th-year veterinary students and participate heavily in the 2nd-year pathology course.
- Residents have a rigorous rounds schedule including: JPC, biopsy, dermatopathology, neuropathology, ocular pathology, clinical pathology, journal club, lab animal pathology and small & large animal systems rounds. Residents are expected to attend seminars in the Pathobiology Department and hospital grand rounds.
- Post-residency PhD opportunities are available within the graduate group in Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathobiology.
- Residents are allotted time (up to 3 months) to complete externships of their choice.