Combined PhD Program with Anatomic Pathology Residency
The training program in Applied Anatomic Pathology is aimed at American
College of Veterinary Pathologists board qualification. It is based
in the Pathology Section of the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory. This laboratory occupies the north end of the Colorado
State University Veterinary
Teaching Hospital (VTH) and provides diagnostic service for regional
veterinarians, the public, and the VTH. The laboratory is accredited by
the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and offers
services in bacteriology, chemistry/toxicology, endocrinology, parasitology,
pathology and virology. The Diagnostic Laboratory is an outreach unit
of the Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology Department. A full-time
coordinator serves Necropsy Laboratory activities.
Eight veterinary pathologists, all ACVP diplomates, conduct
and supervise pathology section activities. Residency activities are focused on VTH
necropsy and surgical pathology cases. Last year there were approximately 900 VTH
necropsy cases and 1800 VTH surgical pathology cases. Other case material is easily
accessible in the Diagnostic Laboratory setting and includes approximately 800 necropsies
and 30,000 surgical pathology cases from outside sources. The Pathology Section of the
Diagnostic Laboratory has a case load that includes the common domestic companion and
livestock species as well as exotic and wildlife species.
In addition to training based on direct responsibility for necropsy and
surgical pathology cases, trainees participate in Department of Microbiology,
Immunology & Pathology seminars and conferences. Weekly research and
microscopy seminars occur during the fall and spring semesters. A Friday
Anatomic Pathology Conference is held weekly throughout the year to serve
the needs of pathologists and pathology trainees engaged in diagnostic
pathology. It is conducted in the necropsy laboratory area and is presented
by the pathology trainee on duty for the week. Cases are presented as
preserved tissues or in situ abnormalities captured by video. Video
microscopy is also available for discussion of cases. The weekly microscopy
seminar is attended by most of the Pathology Department faculty pathologists.
Both anatomic and clinical pathology cases are presented and interpreted
by pathology trainees in preparation for the ACVP
board examination. This seminar serves as a vehicle for bringing together
laboratory and applied pathologists for discussion of case material.
Responsibilities of the trainee in necropsy laboratory include
learning and refining necropsy techniques, seeking and describing macroscopic
alterations, tissue sampling and preparation for further study, interpretation of
histopathologic alterations and preparation of the necropsy report. Integration of
supporting laboratory data is necessary. The surgical pathology activities include
receiving and preparing samples for processing, description and interpretation of
histologic alterations, and preparation of a surgical pathology report. These activities
are performed under the supervision of a faculty pathologist assigned to that duty.
Surgical pathology slides are read by the anatomic pathology trainees and faculty
pathologists in a microscopy facility shared with the Clinical Pathology Service.
This promotes immediate communication between those interpreting cytology specimens
and histologic specimens. The central location of the microscopy room in the VTH also
serves to promote direct contact between clinicians and pathologists on a frequent
basis.
The Pathology Section of the Diagnostic Laboratory is also
the unit that provides training for veterinary students. Six to nine veterinary students
per week are assigned to the necropsy laboratory as part of the Postmortem Investigation
Practicum course. This is a core 2 week rotation. In this course students learn
necropsy technique, description, interpretation and tissue sampling strategies for
utilizing diagnostic laboratory resources. The pathology trainee participates along
with the supervising faculty pathologist in teaching this group of students. At times
during the fall and spring semesters third year veterinary students also have necropsy
laboratory assignments in order to begin learning necropsy technique. Pathology
trainees also have the opportunity to participate in pathology laboratories for second
year veterinary students. If desired by the trainee and if there is an opportunity,
pathology trainees may also take responsibility for didactic lectures in the veterinary
curriculum.
Pathology trainees frequently have opportunities to prepare
publications in collaboration with diagnostic laboratory and VTH staff and faculty.
Such activity provides valuable experience in critical writing and interpretation as
well as participation in a collaborative effort.
The Necropsy Laboratory is fully equipped for investigation
of animal diseases. Facilities are available for biocontainment of zoonotic or other
hazards. Multiple desktop computers are available for access to diagnostic laboratory
findings and reports, literature searching capability and access to pathology images
via local laser disk equipment and via the Internet. Additional equipment for use by
trainees includes digital photography, digital video recording and editing capability, black and white and
color printers, digital scanning, and high resolution video microscopy. A variety of
image manipulation software is also available.
Research component: Graduate research training utilizes modern scientific methodology and encourages independent thought with an emphasis on experimental design, data interpretation, and development of written and oral communication skills. Research opportunities include, but are not limited to, the study of bacterial and viral pathogenesis, mycobacterial diseases, arthropod-borne infectious disease, retrovirus pathogenesis/therapy, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, immunoparasitology, malarial molecular biology and immunology, vector biology, inherited metabolic disease, and diseases induced by environmental toxins. Students will begin investigations of prospective laboratories in which to conduct their research beginning in year 1. Years 2-3 are structured to provide time for increasing research activities and coursework required for culmination of the graduate degree. Graduate work towards a PhD typically continues after year 03 after which time stipends are funded by mentor laboratories, independent funding obtained during years 2-3, or via a departmental T32 post-DVM PhD training grant (http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/mip/graduate/postdvm.aspx).
Application procedures are outlined at http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/mip/residency/apcpres.aspx.