The Department of Pathology offers a comprehensive training program to provide a high-quality pathology education and prepare our residents for a lifetime of learning and careers as community practitioners, scholars, and laboratory medical directors.
ACGME fully accredits the program, which offers training in anatomic pathology (3 years) and combined anatomic and clinical pathology (4 years) to be board-eligible/board-certified by the American Board of Pathology.
Anatomic Pathology
The Anatomic Pathology (AP) training prepares residents with the technical and diagnostic expertise to confidently interpret common and unusual surgical, cytological, and autopsy cases and understand the disease’s epidemiology, pathogenesis, and biological behavior. 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 residents perform more than the minimal number of autopsies required by the American Board of Pathology.
The surgical pathology rotation provides the resident with exposure to various surgical 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.
Residents rotate in cytopathology to evaluate genital and non-genital cytology and perform fine needle aspirations. Dermatopathology, breast, and forensic pathology are additional rotations.
As residents progress through training, they receive gradually increasing responsibility and independence.
Clinical Pathology
The Clinical Pathology (CP) training 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 all procedures and instrumentation’s theoretical and practical aspects. The resident acts as a liaison between the clinical laboratory and clinicians by solving problems that may arise while ordering and interpreting laboratory tests. Primary 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. The faculty evaluates each resident at regular intervals.
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 medical school transcripts with cumulative average grade point (GPA)
- Letter of recommendation from the Dean of the School of Medicine
- USMLE Parts 1 and 2
- Diploma from Medical School
- Two letters of recommendation
- Puerto Rico Medical License (permanent or provisional)
Additional Requirements if International Medical Graduate
- Official ECFMG Certificate
- Visa permit if not a USA citizen
- Be fully bilingual in Spanish and English
Deadline: According to the ERAS application
Residency Program Director
María J. Marcos-Martínez, MD, FCAP, FASCP
Residency Associate Program Director
Gloria Ramos-Rivera, MD, FCAP, FASCP
Program Coordinator
Mrs. Glenda L. Casanova-Laureano
Telephone: (787) 758-2525, ext. 1331
Fax: (787) 754-0710
Medical Sciences Campus
University of Puerto Rico
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
PO Box 365067
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067