ASCP Resident Road Map
Pathology is one of the most exciting, diverse disciplines in medicine and affords opportunities in an inordinate number of subspecialties. In recognition of the complex nature of developing a career in Pathology, the ASCP Resident Council has developed the “ASCP Career Road Map”, designed to guide you along the journey of Pathology Residency. This is simply a guide, realizing there will be difference depending on the institutional curriculum/culture, leave availability, and support. Please utilize it at your own discretion and feel free to contact your local ASCP Resident Council Representative if you have questions!
- PGY 1: TRAINING YOUR EYE
Pathology
- Master basic histology (you must know the normal before you recognize the abnormal)
- Become familiar with basic diagnoses and entities to be included in the differential
- Start reviewing the implications of your diagnoses (i.e., associated treatment)
- Utilize RISE scores to identify areas of weakness requiring additional focus
- Websites:
Research
- Explore research interests, consider submitting a research abstract to ASCP Annual Meeting (due April 30) (www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting) and/or other national pathology organizations (usually due in late October)
- Consider preparing and submitting a manuscript (especially case reports)
- PGY 2: CONTINUE DEVELOPING DIAGNOSTIC SKILLS
Research
- Develop a research project--small or large scale (the caliber of the project is not as important as understanding the process and generating meaningful data that can be submitted for annual meetings and/or manuscripts)
- Submit an abstract for the ASCP Annual Meeting (due April 30) (www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting), other national pathology organizations (usually due in late October), or subspecialty societies
- Prepare and submit a manuscript (i.e., case reports, write-up of data submitted for meetings, etc.)
- Begin thinking about a potential career path and explore any areas of pathology to which you have not yet been exposed (i.e., private vs. academic, possible subspecialties) (/functional-nav/career-center)
Career
- Identify a mentor to assist with career development (i.e., someone with similar interests/personality/background who has been developed a successful career in Pathology) (see the
ASCP Membership Directory) and (article “Mentorship Musts”)
- Become an ASCP Resident Representative for your institution and/or an active ASCP volunteer
- Complete USMLE Step 3 (http://www.fsmb.org/m_usmlestep3.html)
- Attend ASCP Annual Meeting
- Attend courses of interest (especially topic reviews)
- Attend plenary sessions
- Create business cards to be handed out to faculty, colleagues at networking sessions
- Attend resident-specific lectures, especially the Mini Resident Review Courses
and the American Board of Pathology session
- Begin thinking about whether to do a fellowship (~90% of pathology residents elect to do a fellowship), and if so, which subspecialty
- **If you are considering a more competitive subspecialty (i.e., Dermpath or GI), you may want to apply in 2nd year!
- Prioritize the values you will consider when deciding where you want to apply (i.e., geography, reputation, job placement, etc.)
- Apply for permanent license (if U.S. Medical Graduate)
- Apply for ASCP Subspecialty Grant
(deadlines: August, January)
- Begin working on your presentation skills
- Use the ASCP RISE Exam to identify
your weaknesses
- Attend the ASCP Resident Reception at the USCAP Meeting to network with other Residents and ASCP Leadership
- PGY 3: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Pathology
- Consider taking a Board Review Course
- Review ASCP, Osler course information/lectures (to grasp an idea of key points in Pathology, particularly those tested on Boards!)
- Seize leadership opportunities within your institution (i.e., med student/allied health lectures, tumor boards, mentoring med students/junior residents)
- Further develop diagnostic abilities, perfect work flow and foster independence
- Work as a member of a CAP inspection team (http://www.cap.org/apps/cap.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=accreditation)
Research
- Continue expanding research project(s)
- Submit abstract to ASCP Annual Meeting (due April 30) (www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting)
- Attend ASCP Annual Meeting (usually late October/early November) (www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting)
- Prepare and submit a manuscript (i.e., case reports, write-up of data submitted for meetings, etc.)
Career
- Apply for Fellowship
- July/August—update CV, letters of reference, undergraduate/medical school documents, application requirements specific to institutions of interest
- August/September—begin completing applications
- Late November/early December—complete final applications
- December through February—fellowship interview season
- March 1—official notification date
- Attend ASCP Annual Meeting (www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting)
- Attend courses of interest (especially topic reviews) and plenary sessions
- Attend social networking events (i.e., Resident Reception, etc.)
- NETWORKING—hand out business cards to faculty, colleagues (particularly those at institutions of interest or with similar subspecialty interests) (article “A Recruiter’s Guide to Mining Your Network”)
- Attend resident-specific lectures, especially the Mini Resident Review Courses
and the American Board of Pathology session
- Visit Career Booths and establish contact information with companies of interest
- Become an active ASCP Volunteer (www.ascp.org, betty.sanders@ascp.org, or contact your
ASCP Regional Resident Council Representative
or Resident Representative for more information)
- Apply for permanent license (if Foreign Medical Graduate)
- Apply for ASCP Subspecialty
Grant (deadlines: August, January)
- Learn how to negotiate your salary
- Use the ASCP RISE Exam to identify your weaknesses (www.ascp.org/Residents/RISE)
- Attend the ASCP Resident Reception at the USCAP Meeting to network with other Residents and ASCP Leadership
- PGY 4: PRACTICE AS JUNIOR FACULTY
Pathology
- Board study preparation—consider attending a Board Review Course
- Intently review past ASCP, Osler course information/lectures (start Board preparation early!)
- Seize leadership opportunities within your institution (i.e., med student/allied health lectures, tumor boards, mentoring med students/junior residents)
- Identify any weaknesses in diagnostic abilities, perfect work flow
- Work as a member of a CAP inspection team
- Practice as though you are junior faculty
Research
- July through December--Complete research project(s)
- Submit abstract to ASCP Annual Meeting (due April 30) (www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting)
- Finalize/revise any drafted manuscripts
Career
- Perfect your CV and cover letter(s)
- Practice interviewing
- Attend ASCP Annual Meeting (usually late October/early November)
(www.ascp.org/2013annualmeeting)
- Attend courses of interest (especially topic reviews in areas of weakness)
- Attend plenary sessions of interest
- Attend social networking events (i.e., Resident Reception, etc.)
- Visit Career Booths and maintain contact information with companies of interest-be sure to bring your CV
- NETWORKING—hand out business cards to faculty, colleagues (particularly those at institutions of interest or with similar subspecialty interests) (article “A Recruiter’s Guide to Mining Your Network”)
- Attend resident-specific lectures, especially the Mini Resident Review Courses and
the American Board of Pathology session
- Apply for 2nd Fellowship if in career plan
- Maintain contact with future fellowship program director/preceptor
- Learn about MOC requirements (www.ascp.org/moc)
- Attend the ASCP Resident Reception at the USCAP Meeting to network with other Residents and ASCP Leadership
- Explore potential job opportunities
 |
Past reports below:
|
The American Society for Clinical Pathology continues to respond to the interests and needs of residents, fellows, and program directors by directing an annual survey on fellowships and the job market for pathologists in training, including residents and fellows. The surveys are conducted as part of the Resident In-Service Examination (RISE) and the Fellow Forensic In-Service Examination (FISE), the Fellow In-Service Hematopathology Examination (FISHE), Fellow Neuropathology In-Service Examination (NPISE), Fellow Pediatric Pathology In-Service Examination (PISE) and the Fellow Transfusion Medicine In-Service Exam (TMISE). These data are compiled by ASCP to provide information useful to all pathology trainees, residency and fellowship program directors, and prospective employers.
A total of 2,602 individuals participated in the Spring 2012 RISE, including 2,540 residents (658 PGY-1, 648 PGY-2, 650 PGY-3, and 584 PGY-4) and 63 individuals who cited training status as other than PGY 1-4, e.g. fellows.
A total of 279 fellows participated in the 5 Spring 2012 Fellowship In-Service Examinations.
Are you looking to make the next step in your career? ASCP Career Center allows job seekers and employers to unite by providing updated job opportunities as well as a robust database of professional profiles for employers looking to fill an opening. The Career Center also provides valuable career information and resources including wage and salary data, news, and tips on interviewing.
Take me to the ASCP Career Center.
Also visit CareerMD's CareerPATHOLOGY Job Bulletin
From the 2011 ASCP Annual Meeting, Dr Betsy Bennett (now Former Executive Vice President of the American Board of Pathology) discusses:
- What you Need to Know for the AP/CP Boards
- Requirements for ABP Certification
- How to Prepare for Board Examinations
- Who Writes the Examination Questions
- Examination Development
- Examination Content
- Recommended Reference Books
- Q&A from Residents"
GYN Assessment--Measure your team’s interpretive skills in gynecologic cytopathology testing and fulfill your CAP LAP accreditation requirements for interlaboratory comparison. Choose the date you wish to start. Then, you’ll receive 15 high-quality glass slide cases throughout the year. Detailed educational materials and individual comparative result reports are provided for each glass slide case. A year-end summary provides statistical performance reports for all individuals on your laboratory team, as well as the laboratory as a whole.
Non-GYN Assessment--Measure your team’s interpretive skills in non-gynecologic cytopathology and fulfill CAP LAP accreditation requirements for interlaboratory comparison. Like the GYN Assessment, choose the date you wish to start. Over a year, you will receive 20 high-quality glass slide cases. A year-end summary provides statistical performance for all individuals in your laboratory team.
GYN Lab Comparison--This comprehensive program fulfills all your gynecologic cytopathology proficiency testing and CAP LAP accreditation requirements for interlaboratory comparison. Choose the date of your ASCP GYN PT™ testing, slide type as well as a second date for your Lab Comparison shipment. Your ASCP Lab Comparison program consists of 12 high-quality glass slides, detailed comparative results and year end statistical summaries.
GYN Review--The ideal supplement to ASCP GYN Assessment Program, the GYN Review offers additional exposure to 24 new glass slide GYN cases for diagnostic interpretation. This streamlined diagnostic program provides target answers and peer comparison statistics to help you benchmark your laboratory and participant accuracy. Unlike its companion program ASCP GYN Assessment that includes detailed educational materials, the ASCP GYN Review program consists solely of an increased number of glass slide cases for review and repetitive exposure, detailed comparative results reports and year-end statistical summaries.Educational case studies are not part of this program.
GYN Digital Image Program-- This is the first quarterly event for in this calendar year program that provides 20 GYN cases divided into quarterly testing event cycles of five cases each. Each patient case is depicted by high-resolution digital images in printed format and on CD-ROM. Images, case histories and follow-up educational case studies are also available on the web. Individual and interlaboratory performance statistics are provided.
NonGYN Review--A companion to ASCP Non-GYN Assessment, this program includes a total of 24 glass slide cases that help you assess your team’s interpretive skills and fulfill CAP LAP accreditation requirements for interlaboratory comparison. Includes target answers and a year-end statistical summary for your lab and all individuals. Educational case studies are not part of this program.
NonGYN Digital Image-- This program includes 20 diagnostically interesting NonGYN/FNB cases depicted by high-resolution digital images, followed by interlaboratory statistics and detailed case discussions. An ideal program to add to your educational library and teaching tool for staff, residents or fellows.
FNB Site-Specific Assessment--A comprehensive FNB assessment program that includes cases sampled from specific body sites (thyroid, breast, lymph node, and salivary gland). Diagnostic spectrum covers typical benign processes through malignant with detailed educational case studies. This program meets CAP/LAP accreditation requirements for interlaboratory comparison.
FNB Review-- This glass slide supplement to ASCP FNB Site-Specific Assessment includes a total of 48 glass slide cases to assess your interpretive skills and fulfill CAP/LAP accreditation requirements for interlaboratory comparison. This streamlined program provides target answers and statistical reports. Educational case studies are not part of this program.
