ACVP Training Program Overview
| Name of Institution: | Washington State University |
| Address: | Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology Bustad Hall, College of Veterinary Medicine Pullman, WA 99164-7040 |
Program Coordinators and Emails:
Anatomic Pathology – Dr. Laura White, [email protected]
Clinical Pathology – Dr. Mara S. Varvil, [email protected]
Resident Representatives and Emails:
Anatomic Pathology – Dr. Holly Drankhan , [email protected]
Prerequisites Beyond DVM:
None, but research experience is preferred
| Program Information: | |||
| Program | CP | AP | Combined MS/PhD |
| Program Options | MS (CP) | AP | MS |
| Full Time Residents | 2 | 11 | |
| Typical # of years for completion | 3 | 3 years (MS), with option to continue with PhD afterwards | |
| Money to go to one (1) meeting/year | Yes, if presenting | Yes, if presenting | |
| Money for books and supplies | No, but shared books and supplies are provided | No, but shared books and supplies are provided | |
| Independent research/publication required for program completion? | Yes | Yes | |
Comments:
In the Anatomic Pathology program at Washington State University, residents train under the direction of 10 ACVP board-certified pathologists in a fully accredited diagnostic laboratory (http://www.waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu) and are eligible for ACVP certification. All residents will enter in a professionally-oriented Master of Veterinary Pathology program. Residents will be encouraged to pursue PhD training following completion of the residency/Master’s program. Within the PhD program, residents will receive state-of-the-art training in biomedical research. Graduates are highly recruited for positions in academia, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, and state and national laboratories.
The clinical pathology program at Washington State University includes training within the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Clinical Pathology laboratory and service. This program is a combined residency with a Thesis Master’s degree. Residents train under two ACVP board certified clinical pathologists and are eligible for ACVP certification upon completion of the program. The goal is for graduates of this program to pass their ACVP board certification and to be well rounded pathologists prepared for jobs in industry, academia, and diagnostic laboratories. For more information, please visit our website.
| Case Load: | ||||
| Small Animals | Large Animals | Exotic/Zoo Animals | Lab Animals | |
| Anatomic Pathology | Necropsy: 310 Histopath: 3,739 | Necropsy: 572 Histopath: 1,118 | Necropsy: 204 Histopath: 1,056 | Necropsy: 17 Histopath: 36 |
| Clinical Pathology | 80% | 15% | 5% | *Included in Exotics/Zoo Animal |
Comments:
Histopath = this number includes histopathology on in-house necropsies, field necropsies, and surgical biopsies.
| Required Coursework for Specific Programs: | |
| MS (AP) | Statistical methods for graduate researchersMaster’s Special Project, with expectation of submission for publication |
| AP | Advances in diagnostic pathology (ADP)Anatomic pathology seminar (APS)Introduction to histopathology |
| MS (CP) | Introduction to Veterinary Clinical ResearchSeminar in clinical medicineDesign and analysis of biomedical experiments OR statistical methods in research OR analysis of variance of designed experiments |
| CP | Advanced clinical pathology: Biochemistry roundsSpecial topics in veterinary clinical medicine: Cytology rounds |
Comments:
AP- Residents are enrolled in Introduction to Histopathology the first semester of their training. ADP and APS are required each semester for the duration of the program. These courses include regular necropsy and biopsy duty, and a seminar style course designed to increase the depth and breadth of resident training in gross pathology, histopathology and disease pathogenesis.
CP- residents are enrolled in both courses each semester for the duration of the program. These courses are resident-lead rounds style discussions focusing on biochemistry evaluation and cytology cases.
Other Opportunities:
AP
- Unique diagnostic and research opportunities with wild and captive bighorn sheep, elk, racehorses, amphibians and cold-water fish including over 200 diagnostic fish biopsies that are distributed to the residents 
- In the second year of the program residents are required to act as Teaching Assistants in the Systemic Pathology course of the DVM curriculum. Didactic lecture experience is not required but available for residents who wish to receive additional teaching experience.Â
- Core rounds: Gross pathology, Histopathology
- Special rounds opportunities: Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Neurology
- Each semester 2-3 outside pathologists with special expertise (e.g., zoo and wildlife pathology, primate pathology, toxicologic pathology, etc.) are invited to give guest seminars in the Anatomic Pathology Seminar course.Â
CP
Clinical pathology- program strengths include evaluation of in-house TEG and hemostasis testing, hematology evaluation, blood banking program, clinical chemistry evaluation, cytologic evaluation, and the location within the veterinary teaching hospital provides a collaborative attitude and a close working relationship with clinicians. Additionally, residents are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in histopathology rounds, Wednesday Slide Conference, Oncology rounds, ASVCP Online rounds, and other joint rounds.
| Percentage of Time Spent in Activities – Anatomic Pathology:Residency with Master’s in Veterinary Pathology | ||||
| Service | Teaching | Seminar/Courses | Research | |
| Year 1 | 70 | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| Year 2 | 60 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Year 3 | 40 | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| Percentage of Time Spent in Activities – Clinical Pathology:Residency with Master’s in Veterinary Pathology | |||||
| Service | Teaching | Seminar/Courses | Research | Other | |
| Year 1 | 50% | 10% – Small group DVM fourth year students, 2nd year laboratory | 20% | 10% | 10% – Independent study, online rounds participation, manuscript composition (case reports, PIP, WYD, etc.) |
| Year 2 | 50% | 15% – DVM fourth year students and 2nd year didactic lecture and laboratory | 10% | 20% | 5% – independent study, online rounds participation, manuscript composition (case reports, PIP, WYD, etc.) |
| Year 3 | 50% | 15% – DVM fourth year students and 2nd year didactic lecture and laboratory | 5% | 20% | 10% – independent study, online rounds participation, manuscript composition (Thesis and original research). |