Pathology Residency Program Special Expertise Tracks Meet the Needs of an Evolving Field

• Main Authors: Laura M. Wake MD, Derek B. Allison MD, Alisha D. Ware MD, Jody E. Hooper MD, Alex S. Baras MD, PhD, Evan M. Bloch MBChB, MS, William Clarke PhD, Kathleen H. Burns MD, PhD, Karen S. Sfanos MS, PhD, Michael J. Borowitz MD, PhD, Charles Steenbergen MD, PhD, Ralph H. Hruban MD, Marissa J. White MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-08-01
• Series: Academic Pathology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/23742895211037034

Pathologists who enter the workforce must have a diverse skill set beyond that of clinical diagnostics alone. Anticipating this need, the Johns Hopkins Pathology Residency Program developed Special Expertise Tracks to enhance training in relevant subspecialty domains. Using a combination of discussions and surveys, we assessed: (1) our current resident curriculum; (2) perceived curricular strengths and needs; (3) resident career preferences and ultimate career paths; (4) perceived barriers to implementing an advanced elective curriculum; and (5) available departmental/institutional resources. Additionally, we utilized the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Pathology Milestones as a curricular guide. Six professional residency training Special Expertise Tracks were established: Education, Physician-Scientist Research, Informatics, Quality Improvement/Quality Assurance/Value-Based Care, Health Policy/Hospital Management and Global Health. After implementation in 2017, the Education track has had 4 residents complete the curriculum successfully; the Physician-Scientist Research track has had 2 residents and the Informatics and Global Health tracks have each had one resident successfully complete their respective curricula. Currently, 5 residents are pursuing the Education track, one is pursuing the Physician-Scientist Research track, one is pursuing the Informatics track, and 2 residents are pursuing the Global Health track. Five residents have completed long-term projects including developing several e-learning modules, an online free digital cytopathology atlas, peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books. The Johns Hopkins Pathology Resident Special Expertise Track program provides pathology residents an opportunity to gain meaningful experience and additional skills tailored to their individual career interests.