Overview:
Resident Training Program in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
Program
Goals: The overall goals of our
Residency and Graduate Programs in Comparative Pathology
is to prepare veterinarians for careers in academia,
biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry or diagnostic
laboratories. Successful outcome of the training
program includes certification by the American College
of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP). The anatomic pathology
residency training program offers a STANDARD
ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY TRACK, a ZOO
AND WILDLIFE PATHOLOGY TRACK or a LABORATORY
ANIMAL PATHOLOGY TRACK. All three residency positions include a two year
training period in gross and microscopic pathology based on a diversity of
pathology cases from the necropsy/biopsy services of the W. R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical
Teaching Hospital. The program is structured to provide the professional
guidance, facilities, and casework for graduate veterinarians to obtain
expertise in the discipline of anatomic pathology. Our intent is to provide an
initial two-year residency appointment to develop skills in morphologic
pathology and acquire a fundamental understanding of the pathogenesis of
diseases via rotating assignments to our hospital pathology services. The
residents will be under the guidance of experienced board certified pathologist
faculty mentors. After the 2 years of initial training, there are various
options for a third year. Residents in the STANDARD
ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY TRACK have the option to
apply for the SENIOR Residency
position (1 year), third year residencies at other universities, or begin a
PhD in comparative pathology. Residents in the ZOO
AND WILDLIFE PATHOLOGY TRACK are committed
to a third year at the Zoological Society of San Diego.
Residents in the LABORATORY
ANIMAL PATHOLOGY TRACK are committed
to a third year at UC Davis with laboratory animal
pathologists. After three years of training under the
guidance of board certified pathologists (ACVP and ECVP),
candidates are expected to take the ACVP certifying examination. At the
conclusion of this phase, residents are encouraged to apply to the Graduate Group in
Comparative Pathology in pursuit of a PhD.
Essential
skills developed during the program include the recognition and accurate
description of lesions, the formulation of morphologic diagnosis, correlation
of clinical signs with pathological findings, and integration of findings with
pathology literature. Residents are also expected to understand the molecular,
biochemical, and cellular basis for disease processes and species differences
in responses to disease. Furthermore, competence in scientific writing and
public speaking are promoted through resident rounds and teaching
opportunities.
The
discipline for all candidates is learned through rotations on the necropsy and
biopsy services and participation in seminars. The VMTH offers a diversified
case load, including companion animals, equine, exotic hoof stock, food
animals, laboratory animals, and a variety of wild and exotic species. The
Anatomic Pathology Service at the VMTH has approximately 1800 biopsies and 1400
necropsies a year, of which approximately 15% are zoo and wild animal or exotic
pet cases. Residents can gain further experience in non-human primate, poultry,
food animal, and fish pathology through rotations at UC laboratories outside of
the VMTH. Residents assume primary responsibility for gross and histopathologic
evaluations and reports on all cases that are submitted during their assigned
rotations. All aspects of case evaluation (gross necropsy, histopathology
evaluation, and pathology reporting) are guided and reviewed by an ACVP or ECVP
pathologist. Cases are also reviewed by specialty pathologists, when
appropriate.
The
departmental seminars endeavor to supplement necropsy and biopsy casework by
providing greater breadth and depth of material. Program seminars include
Advanced Systems and Species Pathology, Journal Club/Histopathology Conference,
Gross Pathology Discussion, and Surgical Pathology. Residents also participate
in weekly Gross Pathology Rounds and Dermatopathology Conference. A variety of
monthly rounds are also attended, which include: Ocular Pathology, Oral
Pathology, Zoological Pathology Rounds, Advanced General Pathology Review and
Lab Animal Pathology Conference. Residents actively participate in these
seminars, thereby acquiring experience in preparing and presenting findings to
a professional audience. Residents are also expected to present their cases at
VMTH clinical grand rounds, when appropriate.
To
acquire investigative skills, residents select an appropriate research topic
based on hospital case material within their first year of residency under the
guidance of a faculty mentor. This project should result in a manuscript
suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal (such as
Veterinary Pathology) and a formal presentation at the annual VMTH House
Officers Seminar Day. Residents also acquire speaking and teaching skills
through instruction of fourth year students on necropsy rotation, and in
assisting at wet laboratories for General and Systems Pathology courses in the
veterinary school curriculum.
Because
residents are full time employees of the VMTH during their first two years of
training, they are not permitted to concurrently enroll in graduate school.
However, graduate courses in pathology are often scheduled to allow auditing by
residents.
Program
Length: All residency appointments are renewed annually with
renewal based on adequate progress. A third year of advanced training for
Standard track residents is available at the VMTH (SENIOR
Residency position), based on interest and performance during the first two
years of training. For the third year of training, residents in the LABORATORY
ANIMAL PATHOLOGY TRACK, and residents in the ZOO
AND WILDLIFE PATHOLOGY TRACK.
Standard
track residents after their second year can choose to transition directly into
a PhD program. These graduate students continue to participate in hospital
pathology services on a part-time basis to fulfill their third year requirement
to qualify for the ACVP examination.
Program
Size: The program currently consists of four first year
residents, five second year residents, one third year or SENIOR
Resident one third year ZOO
AND WILDLIFE PATHOLOGY TRACK resident at the San Diego Zoo, and one
third year LABORATORY
ANIMAL PATHOLOGY TRACK resident at the Comparative Pathology Lab and
the California National Primate and Research Center. Up to 10 graduate students
also participate in program activities. Faculty includes twelve board certified
(ACVP or ECVP) anatomic pathology faculty, and four ACVP clinical pathology
faculty members. Pathologists from the California Animal Health and Food Safety
Laboratories, the Center of Comparative Medicine, the Comparative Pathology
Laboratory, and the California National Primate and Research Center on campus
also participate in seminars and are available for consultations.
Compensation:
Salary:
$37,308/1st year; $39,024/2nd year; $40,848/3rd year
Benefits
include: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance and
vacation and sick pay.
Qualifications
& Requirements for Admission to the Program: Qualifications for
admission include a DVM (or equivalent degree) from a veterinary school and a
scholastic record sufficient for acceptance into graduate school (a minimum GPA
of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and veterinary school courses).
Although resident applicants do not apply to graduate school at the time of
application to the residency, we give preference to residents who are qualified
to continue their advanced training in a post-doctoral degree program. GRE
scores can be included by are not required for application to residency
program.
Application: All
application materials can be submitted in electronic or hard copy except
official transcripts and class rank. Required application materials that must
be received by the October 31, 2011 deadline consist of:
1)
Letter of Intent specifying interests and professional goals. Additionally the
letter should include which position or positions you are applying for
(standard; zoo and wildlife; lab animal or senior). Applicants are welcome to
apply for more than one position but must rank the order of their
preference.
2)
Curriculum vitae
3)
letters of recommendation, sent directly from the referee and not the
candidate.
4)
Official transcripts from all veterinary and post-veterinary education. You may
submit them electronically along with your entire application packet, but a
certified official hard copy must be mailed separately in a sealed envelope by
you or your veterinary school. If you are a foreign applicant interpretation of
their University’s grading system has to be provided with the
application. FOREIGN
APPLICANTS.
5)
Official class rank from your veterinary school. Please indicate if official
class rank is not available from your school.
6)
TOEFL scores for foreign applicants. If English is not your first language,
applicants must submit TOEFL scores or provide equivalent evidence of
demonstrated written and verbal skills in English. Refer to FOREIGN
APPLICANTS.
Foreign
Applicants: Foreign applicants are welcome to apply. Refer
to FOREIGN
APPLICANTS for complete application process.
Scoring
of applications: All applications will be evaluated based on the
following criteria: 1) overall academic achievement, 2) academic
achievement in pathology and related subjects, 3) clarity of career goals
(letter of intent), 4) the promise of a successful career in veterinary
pathology, 5) experience and interest in teaching and research including
pursuit of a Masters or PhD degree, 6) interest in an academic career,
7) foreign applicants will also be evaluated based on their evidence of
excellence in written and spoken English. Top applicants will be invited for a
phone interview.
Visitors:
Visiting our program prior to application is not required but externships
and/or one day interviews for resident applicants are encouraged VISITOR
POLICY (pdf). Schedule visits by contacting Ms. Becky Griffey.
Visits to the department must take place prior to October 15, 2011.
Contacts: All
application materials must be received no later than October 31, 2011
and should be mailed to:
Ms.
Becky Griffey
Residency Application Coordinator
VMTH Anatomic Pathology
1345 Vet Med 3A
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California - Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-5270
rmgriffey@ucdavis.edu
Additional information about the training program can be obtained by
contacting:
Dr.
Patricia Pesavento
Residency Training Coordinator
Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California - Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-5270
Telephone (530) 752-1166
papesavento@ucdavis.edu