Top 15 pathology programs?

[A.D.O.R.]

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What are the top 15 pathology programs? Any in Southern California -- i.e. Los Angeles?

 

[Global Disrobal]

There has never been an "official" ranking of Path programs. If you look at old posts you'll see that there have been numerous posts and debates regarding this issue. Training wise you'll sometimes be better off at the medium named programs than the largers ones...Just purely reputation speaking, in no specific order these programs are always mentioned:

Brigham
MGH
U Washington
Stanford
Mayo
UCLA
Emory
Duke
UTSW
UCSF

As far as the California programs go, USC doesn't have the reputation of UCLA. Its known for having a malignant schedule (for pathology) and not as many well known profs. They are strong in immunohisto and lymphomas, and couple of other sections.
UCLA is a great rounded program with its CP catching up. I would consider he program as one of the top ones in the country and especially in California, specifically based on volume, teaching, and array of pathology but not in the same level as the Boston programs/Seattle/or Mayo.

Good luck with the app process

GD

 

[A.D.O.R.]

GD,

How good, or bad, is the pathology program at UCSF? Would you recommend it over UCLA? I know this is only one person's opinion but I would like to get a feel for how it compares to UCLA and other programs. Thanks for replying. Very helpful.

 

[Global Disrobal]

UCSF is definitely an up ande coming program especially with the chairman change they did recently however keeping in mind cost of living (not that its easy comparing LA vs SF), teaching (from what SF residents who are friends have said), and overall facilities goes Iwould favor UCLA. Stanford should be included in the mix especially since they have an awesome "hot seat" set up, facility, and improving CP component.

This is just my opinion. If someone disagrees i welcome their opinion

Good luck

 

[rirriri]

global,

are you still doing 0BGYN? or have you reverted back to the Mafia???

 

[Global Disrobal]

No Ririri

I have yet to see "the light" and the switch is on for good 😀 I'm actually helping a couple of others in revamping the OB-GYN forum right now...those silly ob's are not like the pathologists when it comes to posting!

By the way, did you take Step 2 yet?

Good Luck

GD
PS I check into the mafia here and there still

 

[Sage]

"Stanford should be included in the mix especially since they have an awesome "hot seat" set up, facility, and improving CP component." - Global

I'm a new path-wanna-be, so I'm not that familiar with some slang-path phrases. What do you mean by "hot-seat"?

 

[Global Disrobal]

"Hot Seat" is a system that some Pathology programs employ. A senior resident or a surgical pathology fellow will sit in the hot seat and review all the slides before the residents do. From there the residents get the slide, preview (if possible-varying from place to place), and then sign out with an attending. Sub sequently the Hot Seat reviews his/her dx with that of the attending to see how it correlated or not.

I personally have always liked the idea, especially as a Post-Soph. Fellow. I always had the opportunity to hit up the hotseat for hints and help before going to sign out and knew what to read ahead of time. Also as a rotating med student in Surg Path I took time everyday to sit at the Hot Seat and review the cases with the person that was on it and it turned out to be a very fast paced rewarding experience.

I'm sure that Great Pumpkin can also shed some light on this from a resident's perspective!

Good Luck with your pathology Track!

 

[Mindy]

Hello! I am completely biased, but I have to put in my plug for the Massachusetts General. The training thus far is *exquisite*! The work is hard, approaching unbearable at rare times, but I doubt you see more impressive specimens anywhere in the world. If you don't mind working hard, and want to be at an awe-inspiring , incredible medical center, apply to MGH. I wanted to go here because I thought it was the best hospital in the world. Now that I am here, I know that I am right.

I know its a silly little plug, but I would be more than happy to answer more specific questions.


Mindy

 

[mrpeters714]

Well, since we're plugging our programs...

If you're looking for a path residency in socal, make sure to check out UCSD. In terms of "top 15 programs" I have no idea if you'd include it in that list--it certainly doesn't have the name-brand recognition that harvard or hopkins does.

Things I like about my program:
-volume: just right. enough to keep me busy and interested, but not so much that I drown in work. on a really busy day on surg path at the main hospital (we rotate at 2 hospitals), I get in at 8 am and go home at 7-8 pm. On a not so busy day, I leave at 6. This allows me time to study as well as work.
-teaching: we have what so far have been great lectures, every day at 8 am while at the main UCSD hospital. we also have a daily "interesting conference" case around the large multi-headed scope.
-faculty: the faculty are awesome. uniformly nice, approachable, and interested in teaching. the program has a very "socal" feel to it--very laid back. our star faculty is noel weidner, who just finished a new "surg path bible" type book, "Modern Surgical Pathology." weidner is very, very dedicated to teaching the residents, and will absolutely make sure that the program does not turn out residents who are not up to snuff.
-specimen variety: UCSD is the main tertiary care center south of LA. We also get alot of very advanced and unusual specimens from people that come up from mexico. thus far, i think the variety has been great.
-program improvements: noel weidner was brought in 3 years ago to shape up the anatomic path side of things, and he has made alot of changes for the better. We also hired a PA a year ago who is certified to gross in all manner of specimens. he's really good at teaching gross technique. we are about to have our gross room and resident's room renovated as well. we just got an awesome new multi-headed scope (an olympus) in the main conference area. i frequently use it to preview because it's so amazingly crisp and clear.
-san diego: probably the nicest city in the US, but I'm biased. surf, sun, great mexican food, yadda yadda yadda.

When I interviewed here, the main thing that struck me was that the residents were more enthusiastic about their program than at any other place I interviewed, including ucla, stanford, ucsf, mgh (no offfence, mindy--i thought long and hard about mgh), bwh, jhu.

anyway, i could go on and on...

-mrp