The Department of Pathology offers a comprehensive training program, whose mission is to provide a high quality pathology education, in order to prepare our residents for a lifetime of learning and careers as community practitioners, scholars and laboratory medical directors.
The program is fully accredited by ACGME and offers training in both anatomic pathology (3 years) and combined anatomic and clinical pathology, AP/CP, (4 years) to be Board eligible/Board certified by the American Board of Pathology.
Anatomic Pathology
The Anatomic Pathology track (AP) prepares residents with the technical and diagnostic expertise necessary to confidently interpret common and unusual surgical, cytological and autopsy cases, in addition to understanding the epidemiology, pathogenesis and biological behavior of disease. Emphasis is placed on accurate description of the gross and microscopic findings of the organ systems and correlation with the clinical course to establish the final diagnosis. The autopsy service performs approximately 120 autopsies per year with a diversity of pathology.
The surgical pathology rotation provides the resident with exposure to biopsies and resection specimens. The resident is responsible for processing gross material under the supervision of a staff pathologist. This rotation provides exposure to more than 10,000 surgical specimens per year. Many cases require intra-operative consultations allowing the residents to interact with surgeons and become proficient in performing and interpreting frozen section preparations, among others.
Residents have a three months rotation in cytopathology where in addition to evaluate genital and non-genital cytologies, they perform fine needle aspirations. Dermatopathology and forensic pathology are additional rotations.
As residents progress through training, they receive gradually increasing levels of responsibility and independence.
Clinical Pathology
The Clinical Pathology (CP) training track exposes the residents to all facets of laboratory medicine, including the daily operation of the clinical laboratory. The residents learn the analytical procedures and quality assurance methods performed regularly. They acquire familiarity with both theoretical and practical aspects of all procedures and instrumentation. The resident acts as liaison between the clinical laboratory and clinicians by solving problems that may arise during the ordering and interpretation of laboratory tests. Main clinical rotations include Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Microbiology, Hematology and Coagulation, Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine, Laboratory Administration and Molecular Pathology.
Evaluation and Advancement
Contracts are renewed yearly upon satisfactory completion of rotations and passing appropriate tests. Each resident is evaluated at regular intervals by the Faculty.
Requirements
- Graduate from USA LCME-Accredited Medical School
- Fill out the National Residency Matching Program Application form
- Application sent through ERAS
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement concerning your professional interest
- Official Transcript from Premedical Institution with cumulative average grade point (GPA)
- Official Medical School Transcripts with cumulative average grade point (GPA)
- Letter of recommendation from the Dean of the School of Medicine
- USMLE Parts I & II
- Diploma from Medical School
- Two letters of recommendation
- Puerto Rico Medical License (permanent or provisional)
Additional Requirements if Foreign Medical Graduate
- Official ECFMG Certificate
- Visa permit if not a USA citizen
- Be fully bilingual, spanish and english
Deadline : November 29th
María S. Correa-Rivas, MD
Program Director
E-mail: maria.correa6@upr.edu
Diana Negrón, MD
Associate Program Director
E-mail: diana.negron3@upr.edu
Mrs. Glenda L. Casanova
Program Coordinator
Telephone: (787) 758-2525 ext. 1331
Fax: (787) 754-0710
E-mail: glendalyz.casanova@upr.edu
Medical Sciences Campus
University of Puerto Rico
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
PO Box 365067
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067