Order of fellowships

[deschutes]

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If I were to do two fellowships, is it generally advisable to do the "generalist" year before the "subspecialist year"? e.g. surg path before (for the heck of it) dermpath?

I'm just thinking of the effects when the various board exams eventually roll around.

The question is seriously meant, even if the pairing of examples may seem a little frivolous to some.

 

[Matte Kudesai]

If I were to do two fellowships, is it generally advisable to do the "generalist" year before the "subspecialist year"? e.g. surg path before (for the heck of it) dermpath?

I'm just thinking of the effects when the various board exams eventually roll around.

The question is seriously meant, even if the pairing of examples may seem a little frivolous to some.

Most of the fellows I've met have done surgical pathology first and then the subspecialty (this includes dermpath fellows from our program) fellowship.

Depends on your goals. Having that extra year to tighten your general surgical pathology skills at the "sign out" level is nice. You build your confidence, tie up loose ends, and strengthen weaknesses. Obviously this depends on where you do your fellowship.... some places work you like a dog others fine tune your diagnostic ability.(others both... others neither)
After general surg path you can focus your expertise in a subspecialty.

This is not for everyone because some people know that they will only sign out heme or derm and do not give a crapola about anything else.

Flexibility is the key in training. Thats why its nice to be AP/CP and comfortable signing out most things so you can cover if the situation required it.....

If you do Derm, GI, Heme etc. you still may be in a situation where you'll need to sign out general surg path.

Surgical pathology fellowship can help tighten up your confidence when reading frozen sections as well.

 

[deschutes]

I fully agree with you. Like you say, most fellows seem to do surgical pathology first and then the subspecialty fellowship.

I guess I was trying to find out if there would be any reason someone who wanted to do two fellowships (i.e. surg path and some other subspecialty) would do the subspecialty year first.