Is the Residency Program accredited by the ACGME?

Yes, we are fully accredited by the ACGME for a total of 20 residents.   The Program was established in 1960 and has a long, stable history of training outstanding residents in both Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.

How many positions are there in your Program?

We accept 4 in the AP/CP track, and 1 in either an AP-Only or CP-Only track each year.

Do you have a cut off for USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores?

You must have passed the USMLE 1 & 2 CK examinations with a score of at least 80 (candidates successful only after repeated attempts are less likely to be considered).  Candidates who match with the University of Utah residency program must successfully pass Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS before they begin their residencies.

Do you consider year of graduation from medical school?

We require applicants to have graduated from medical school within the last four years.

How many International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are there in your program?

We currently have 9 IMGs in the residency program.

Do you sponsor visas?

Questions regarding visas can be answered by the Office of Graduate Medical Education at www.medicine.utah.edu/GME, phone (801) 581-2401, or e-mail.

When do you start reviewing applications? When will I be notified if I am selected for an interview?

We only accept applications through ERAS and for applicants registered for the NRMP Match. Once an application is complete it is reviewed by the Residency Program Director and  a decision is made whether or not to invite the candidate for an interview.  The Program Coordinator then invites the candidate via e-mail.  We receive a large number of applications from well-qualified candidates but we are only able to interview a small number.

Can I contact the Program Office to inquire on the status of my application?

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator regarding application status, interview scheduling and any other questions.

What should I expect on my interview day?

We strive to make your interview day as informative as possible.  The program interviews one to two candidates per day from September 1st through January 31st.  When you are invited to interview you will be asked to give three acceptable interview dates and to work with the Program Coordinator to finalize a date. The interview day typically starts at 7:30 am and ends around 4:00 pm.  Candidates can expect to attend resident morning conference; have one-on-one interviews with representative faculty members, a chief resident, the Department Chair and the Program Director; lunch with several current residents; and tours of the residents' room and training facilities.  The Program pays for a one night stay at The University Guest House on the University of Utah Campus. The most convenient and economical way to get to and from the airport is Express Shuttle.

How many months of electives do residents get?

Residents in the AP/CP Combined program have 9 months of electives, and residents in the CP-Only program have 12 months of electives.

What research opportunities do residents have?

Many research opportunities are available covering a wide range of areas from basic science to preclinical to clinical research. Though not required, all residents are encouraged to pursue research projects as part of their training. Trainees with an interest in research will find enthusiastic support from the faculty, including help in identifying research mentors.  Residents may also choose to do research elective rotations, allowing them to have an extensive research experience in more diverse areas of research. Current CP-only and AP-only residents are incorporating intensive research training during extended elective rotations into their curriculum. For more information on research opportunities, please click here.

Are there opportunities to do away rotations?

Yes.  Residents may request to do an away rotation from the Program Director.  In the recent past residents have done rotations at UCSF (dermatopathology), University of Colorado at Denver (dermatopathology),  Massachusetts General Hospital (gynecologic pathology) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (dermatopathology).   Residents  who wish to do an away rotation may apply to the Program Director to have their housing expenses paid for by the Department.  Also, residents who choose to do an away rotation within Utah may apply to have their food and lodging paid for by the Utah Medical Education Council.

Do residents receive money for books or travel?

Yes.  Books for incoming residents are paid for by the Department (approximately $1000 worth of books).  Residents in their PGY-2 year and beyond receive $500 per year towards books.  Each year residents receive $500 for travel expenses to be used towards attending educational conferences.  In addition, residents who present research or who are a delegate to a national organization receive funds from the Department to cover the costs of airfare, hotel, conference registration and per diem to attend conferences.  Money for books and travel are in the same fund and residents may use the money for either books or travel.  Any money left in the fund near the end of the residents' final year may be used to pay for registering for the American Board of Pathology board examination.

How many cases do the residents participate in?

The following totals are from the 2006-2007 academic year and include all training facilities:

Autopsies 270

FNA's 1440

GYN + non-GYN Cytology 38,800

Surgicals 53,000

Bone Marrows 1,500

Clinical Laboratory Tests 8.8 million

Call

There are two services covered by pathology residents and there is always one pathology resident on each of these services. Residents are assigned to two or three day blocks of call (Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Friday through Sunday). If a holiday falls on a Monday then this is included in the weekend on call block (Friday through Monday). Residents are not scheduled on consecutive blocks and residents do not cover both call services at the same time.

AP (Anatomic Pathology) call is from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am Monday through Friday and 24 hours a day on holidays and weekends.  AP call primarily includes grossing in specimens on the weekend at Huntsman Cancer Hospital (HCH) and Primary Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), and  performing frozen sections for University Hospital (UH), HCH and PCMC. Residents are required to be at the UH/HCH from 5:00 pm to 7:00 PM on weekdays and to come in on Saturday at 8:00 am and once on Sunday to check the refrigerators at UH, HCH and PCMC for specimens from the OR. Other than the times stated, the resident on AP call is on at-home call. A resident typically receives three to four calls on a weeknight of AP call. There is always a faculty member on call in each of the following divisions: Anatomic Pathology, PCMC, VAMC, Cytopathology and Hematopathology for the resident on AP call to consult. Residents take less AP call as they advance in the program. For example, PGY-1 residents average 30 days of AP call, PGY-2 26 days, PGY-3 22 days, and PGY-4 20 days.

CP (Clinical Pathology) call is 5:00 pm to 8:00 am Monday through Friday, and 24 hours a day on holidays and weekends and primarily includes answering clinical pathology questions for ARUP Laboratories’ staff and clients and handling transfusion and blood banking questions for UH, HCH and PCMC. Residents on CP call receive an average of three to four calls on weekdays. CP call is at-home call and residents only rarely have to come into the University Hospital, as most calls can be handled over the phone. There is always a faculty member on call in each of the following divisions: Clinical Pathology, PCMC, Blood Bank and Hematopathology. Residents take less CP call as they advance in the program. For example, PGY-1 residents average 25 days of CP call, PGY-2 22 days, PGY-3 20 days, and PGY-4 16 days.

Residents on the infectious disease rotation take one week of 24/7 call per month of the rotation.  This is at-home call.

What is the conference schedule?

Residents have morning conference from 8:00 to 9:00 am every day.  Residents are required to attend at least 85% of conferences.  Please click here for more information on conferences.