Thank you for your interest in the UTMB Pathology Residency Training Program. We offer a diverse and comprehensive educational experience that prepares residents for excellence in both academic and community practice settings.
For the 2027-2028 academic year, we will fill six (6) PGY-1 positions through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Our fully accredited Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) Residency Program currently includes 26 positions across PGY-1 through PGY-4 levels.
Residents may pursue one of the following training tracks:
- Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP)
- Anatomic Pathology (AP-only)
- Clinical Pathology (CP-only)
- Physician-Scientist Research Pathway (PSRP)
In addition, UTMB offers advanced fellowship training opportunities in:
Current AP/CP Curriculum Overview
- Rotation Legend: 1 Block = 4 Weeks
Anatomic Pathology Rotations: 22 blocks at minimum
Surgical Pathology: 12
Hospital Autopsy Pathology: 3
Forensic Pathology: 1
Cytopathology: 4
Transplant/Renal Pathology: 1
Dermatopathology: 1
Clinical Pathology Rotations: 20.5 blocks at minimum
Hematopathology/Flow Cytometry: 4
Clinical Chemistry: 4
Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank: 4
Clinical Microbiology: 3
Coagulation: 2
Cytogenetics/Molecular Diagnostics: 2
Histocompatibility: 0.5
Laboratory Administration & Informatics: 1
Elective Rotations: 5.5 blocks
Residents may tailor their training through elective rotations in:
- Pediatric Pathology
- Neuropathology
- Research
- Additional Core Rotations
Outside electives: Available upon approval. Requests must be submitted to program leadership no later than seven months before the start of the rotation and are subject to review and approval.
Current AP-only Track Curriculum Overview
The basic structure of the Anatomic Pathology program (AP) consists of 29 blocks of core Anatomic Pathology rotations and 7 blocks of electives.
Anatomic Pathology Rotations: 29 blocks at minimum
Surgical Pathology: 12
Cytopathology: 4
Hospital Autopsy Pathology: 3
Forensic Pathology: 1
Neoplastic hematopathology: 4
Molecular Diagnostics/Cytogenetics: 2
Laboratory Administration & Informatics: 1
Transplant/Renal Pathology: 1
Dermatopathology: 1
Elective Rotations: 7 blocks
Electives vary between 0.5-2 blocks and include the following:
- Neuropathology
- Pediatric pathology
- Research
- Any AP or CP subspecialties
Current CP-only Track Curriculum Overview
The basic structure of the Clinical Pathology program (CP) consists of 24 blocks of core Clinical Pathology rotations and 12 blocks of electives.
Clinical Pathology Rotations: 24 blocks at minimum
Hematopathology/Flow Cytometry: 4
Clinical Microbiology: 4
Clinical Chemistry: 4
Transfusion Medicine/Blood Bank: 4
Coagulation: 2
Cytogenetics/Molecular Diagnostics: 3
Laboratory Administration & Informatics: 2
Histocompatibility: 1
Elective Rotations: 12 blocks
Electives vary between 0.5-2 blocks and include the following:
- Research
- Any AP pr CP subspecialties
Physician Scientist Pathway
Available to eligible residents in AP, CP, or AP/CP training who seek advanced research training and careers as physician-scientists.
Our Department has advanced and developed the concept of Diagnostic Management Teams (DMT) which provides comprehensive diagnostic interpretation of complex anatomic and clinical pathology data to our clinicians. Information comes from our diagnostic experts as a personalized,
expert driven narrative about the differential diagnosis for a patient evaluation. Personalized interpretations that are disease-specific and have input not only from the pathologist, but also from investigators studying that particular disease are
also provided. Pathology
residents are exposed in real-time to active clinical cases and play a
meaningful and important role in the DMT (video link). The following DMT have been implemented during the past 3 years: Coagulation, Transfusion Medicine, Forensic Pathology, Transplantation Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Clinical Chemistry.
Other DMT are currently being developed and will be implemented soon. Residents graduating from our program will be uniquely qualified to serve as real partners with treating physicians as they confidently provide valuable diagnostic information to
their clinical peers in other medical disciplines.
Progressive Responsibility and Teaching Opportunities
As residents advance through training, they are entrusted with increasing levels of responsibility and autonomy while actively mentoring junior residents.
Educational opportunities include:
- Resident-led teaching of junior trainees
- Instruction of medical students within the Integrated Medical Curriculum
- Participation in laboratory-based pathology education
Residents contribute to teaching across multiple core medical school courses, including:
- Pathobiology and Host Disease
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Systems
- Gastrointestinal and Nutrition
- Molecules, Cells and Tissues
A Continually Evolving Training Program
The residency curriculum is continuously reviewed by the Residency Advisory Committee to ensure compliance with:
- American Board of Pathology (ABP) requirements
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) standards
- Evolving educational best practices
Program enhancements are implemented regularly to maximize resident learning and success.
Program Strengths
Balanced AP/CP Training
Our curriculum maintains a balanced distribution of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology throughout all four years of residency, ensuring comprehensive preparation for board certification and future practice.
Dedicated Faculty Mentorship
Residents work closely with faculty who are recognized educators, clinicians, and researchers, creating numerous opportunities for scholarly activity and research involvement.
Texas Medical Center Collaborative Conferences
Every Friday morning, residents participate virtually in the Texas Medical Center Inter-Institutional Pathology Conferences hosted by Houston Methodist. These conferences provide exposure to a broad range of subspecialty pathology topics and collaborative learning opportunities.
Protected Educational Time
Residents attend daily noon conferences with protected teaching time covering all pathology subspecialties. Additional educational experiences include:
- Professional development sessions
- Group learning using digital slide repositories
Exceptional Grossing and Autopsy Support
UTMB employs:
- Surgical Pathology Pathologist Assistants
- Autopsy Pathologist Assistants
These highly trained professionals focus heavily on resident education and provide significant support for specimen processing and autopsy training.
Highlights include:
- Small specimen and biopsy grossing performed primarily by Pathologist Assistants and technicians
- Every third autopsy case prosected by the Autopsy Pathologist Assistant
- Autopsy workload limited to two cases per week during autopsy rotations
- Additional cases completed during the Medical Examiner rotation to satisfy board eligibility requirements
Advanced Facilities
Residents train in a modern surgical pathology suite featuring:
- Large sign-out rooms
- Multiple multi-headed teaching microscopes
- Digital projection capabilities
- State-of-the-art educational resources
Diverse Teaching Opportunities
Residents have opportunities to teach:
- Medical student laboratory courses
- Gastroenterology educational activities
- Radiology educational conferences
National Visibility Through Social Media
UTMB Pathology maintains a well-established professional social media presence that supports:
- National educational outreach
- Professional networking
- Fellowship recruitment opportunities
- Resident scholarly engagement