Frequently Asked Questions

A: UNC sponsors an anatomic and clinical residency program (AP/CP). It is a 4-year program that has anatomic and clinical pathology integrated over all 4 years. It is accredited by the ACGME. There are 27 months of required AP rotations, 18 months of required CP rotations (including 4 selectives), and 3 additional elective months, which may be either AP or CP electives. There are a total of 7 elective/CP selective months with 2 of the CP selective months consisting of Lab Management and Informatics.

A: We are currently accredited for 17 residents. For the 2026 match, we are seeking 4 PGY1 positions, all through the residency match. The 2026 class will also include one resident who deferred from the PGY1 class of 2025-2026, for a total of 5 PGY1s..

A: A copy of the block rotation diagram and descriptions of each rotation may be found on our curriculum page.

A: Yes, the Henderson Post-Sophomore Fellowship is a 1-year fellowship available to UNC medical students who have completed the foundation phase and ideally the application phase.

The fellowship is composed of 12 one-month rotations through the various areas of anatomic and clinical pathology. The student fellows are given the same responsibilities as first year pathology residents. The Henderson fellows are paid a stipend and their medical school tuition for this year. This is an excellent opportunity to learn whether Pathology is a good career option. Material learned during this fellowship is also applicable to most other clinical disciplines.

There are also medical student electives in surgical pathology, transfusion medicine, laboratory medicine, forensics, and hematopathology available at UNC.

A: UNC Surgical Pathology uses an integrated approach to gross and microscopic diagnosis for all assigned resident cases. The result is uniformity in the training experience, improved skills development, and an appropriate balance of time devoted to gross and microscopic pathology across all years of training. Cases assigned to each resident assure the development of high levels of proficiency and expertise in diagnostic surgical pathology. Daily cases include a broad spectrum of specimen types to assure adequate preparation in work-up of diverse pathologic processes. UNC accessions approximately 40,000 surgical cases per year, not including Dermatopathology.

Simultaneous development of gross and microscopic diagnostic skills mimics actual practice, starting in PGY1 and continuing throughout all years of training. This includes an emphasis on the early development of light microscopic diagnostic skills, differential diagnosis, ancillary techniques, and reporting from the beginning of residency. We emphasize microscopic preview starting in PGY-1 with a rapid and sustained development of diagnostic skills throughout all years of residency. We emphasize daily face-to-face sign-out for a resident with an attending, to increase direct faculty to resident teaching, with detailed case discussion and finalization with the attending pathologist.

The educational program in gross and microscopic pathology allows residents to develop greater depth of knowledge and mastery of topics, with augmented faculty instruction at the microscope during daily sign-out and in teaching conferences. We ensure residents follow their assigned cases through all aspects of the gross exam, microscopic exam, ancillary studies, write-up and final diagnosis, with each case followed from start to finish. Specific competencies in gross and microscopic pathology are targeted by using a resident checklist/portfolio.

Time on surgical pathology also includes rotating on our “conference/consult” service for PGY3 and PGY4 residents. This rotation includes 1) reviewing the outside slides that come to surgical pathology for a second opinion before treatment and 2) presenting at some of our tumor boards, including our most popular tumor boards: Gyn Onc, Lung, GI, GU, and ENT. This rotation allows residents to review many interesting cases, see how cases were handled at other institutions, and interact with clinical teams as the “pathology expert”.

The program affords an opportunity for progressive responsibility and autonomy for residents as they advance through the training program. This include progressive expectations for quality of work and diagnostic accuracy with each advancing year of training; increased case complexity with advancing years of training; increased frozen section service autonomy for PGY3-4; and the conference/consult rotations for PGY3-4.

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A: Yes, we have 7 PAs at UNC Hospitals, typically 5 in the gross room in surgical pathology, 1 in the main frozen section room, and 1 on the autopsy service. All are highly trained and committed to pathology resident education.

A: Breast, Gyn oncology, Ob Gyn, GI smalls (biopsies, two separate benches because of volume, this includes liver biopsies), GI large specimens (including pancreas), GU, ENT, Thoracic/Endocrine, Neuropathology, and Bone and Soft tissue. UNC has an excellent spectrum of pathology, with all major case types represented, both complex specimens and small biopsies.

A: Neuropathology and ophthalmology specimens come through surgical pathology, but are signed out by neuropathologists. Dermatopathology specimens are accessioned through the dermatopathology service housed in the Department of Dermatology. Residents see these specimen types on the dedicated months of dermatopathology and neuropathology. Renal biopsies for medical renal diseases are handled by Nephropathology (a separate division of our Department); residents can choose to see these specimens during an elective rotation on this service anytime between the PGY2 and PGY4 years. Additionally, there are several renal pathology didactic and unknown slide conferences each year. Lymph nodes and bone marrows are accessioned through Hematopathology; residents see these case types when on a hematopathology rotation. Dental biopsies are usually signed out by the Oral Pathology Laboratory in the UNC School of Dentistry. These oral pathologists are jointly appointed with UNC Pathology and are available for consultation, lectures, and elective rotations. Oral pathology resections are received on the ENT service. Between the main surgical pathology service and these subspecialty areas, UNC has a very complete experience in surgical pathology available to residents.

A: There is a total of 4 months on cytology. Graduated responsibility is emphasized. Residents perform superficial FNAs in UNC hospital clinics and assist with rapid on-site evaluation of adequacy for deep aspirates in conjunction with the 5 cytotechnologists, and several board certified attendings. This is a high-volume service, with over 1500 FNAs/year, including both the superficial and radiology guided FNAs. Residents become proficient in performing and interpreting superficial fine needle aspirations. In addition, there are approximately 10,000 Pap tests and 6,000 non-gyn specimens (including FNAs).

A: There is a total of 4 months of hematopathology (1 in each year). Residents obtain comprehensive training in the workup of bone marrows and lymph nodes for benign and malignant disease, and also become proficient in evaluation of blood smears and body fluids. Coagulation, protein electrophoresis (SPEP/immunofixations), and technical hematology testing are integrated into the chemical pathology curriculum. Residents present cases at the multidisciplinary conference in the final years of their training.

A: Residents spend a month in molecular pathology during their second year reviewing and signing out molecular results with the fellow and attendings. The PGY4 experience is predominantly self-directed with review of online modules through the Training Residents in Genomics (TRIG) program, which has been updated for 2025. This program includes small group activities and discussions with faculty are interspersed throughout the month. Residents can spend 2-4 weeks at Foundation Medicine as an elective to obtain additional molecular training.

A: Residents spend three months (2 in first year and 1 in fourth year) on the Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine rotation, which includes the blood bank, a blood donation program, and therapeutic apheresis. The first month is devoted to learning the principles of transfusion medicine and developing comfort with evaluating and caring for apheresis patients, while the latter two months involve the resident taking a more active role in the direction of the service.

A: Residents are an integral part of the laboratories while on rotation, and active learning and participation in patient care and clinical consultation is emphasized. While on clinical chemistry, residents are on first call for answering clinician questions, and while on microbiology, the resident rounds with the infectious disease team daily. As mentioned above, residents obtain extensive experience in apheresis while on the BB/TM service, and see patients, write orders, and consult with clinical teams for apheresis patients.

A: Graduated responsibility is one of our program’s core values. Rotations on all services that span multiple years have specific expectations that ensure that residents are presented with more responsibility and have the opportunity to gain autonomy as they progress through the program. Our goal is that residents can practice competently and independently in all areas of pathology after they have completed the program. Some specific examples of graduated responsibility include, in surgical pathology, increased case complexity each year so that by the end of training residents will be able to independently work up all case types and write accurate reports. By PGY4, residents are expected to be able to formulate a complete and accurate report for both routine and complex cases, be comfortable in ordering special studies, know how to accurately bill for services provided, and be able to present and discuss cases with clinical teams. In cytopathology, upper-level residents are given time to write up cases independently and after demonstrating competency in performing fine needle aspirates and rendering accurate preliminary diagnosis, will be permitted to perform these services independently. In hematopathology, upper-level residents will formulate diagnoses and interpret special studies independently, and present cases at multidisciplinary conference. In autopsy, the upper-level resident takes on the role of teacher and mentor to the PGY1 resident. In transfusion medicine, the PGY4 functions as the acting director of the service.

A: Electives may be taken in any area of the department. Any of the laboratories welcome residents for elective rotations, and subspecialty anatomic pathology rotations can be arranged at UNC for focused study using study sets and reading suggested by faculty members (such as breast, GI, GU, etc). Away rotations can be arranged at other institutions, and the resident’s salary is still paid by UNC. These must be arranged well in advance. There are opportunities for international electives, and UNC sponsors several Global Health Scholars, which provides support for residents for international travel and research in global health areas. CP selectives are electives that must be taken in clinical pathology to fulfill board requirements. There are 3 months of electives and 4 months of CP selectives. Senior residents typically take 4 months of CP selectives at the end of the year before sitting for the American Board of Pathology examination in the spring of their last year. Residents must complete an on-line self-instructional module on pathology laboratory management and informatics at some point during the residency; this is typically taken during one of the CP selective months in PGY4 as this material is directly relevant to the board exam.

A:

Our pathology residency has an unusually large number of opportunities for clinical interaction and direct patient care. Residents directly participate in a number of multi-disciplinary tumor conferences and clinical teams. Residents present pathology material at ENT, GI, gynecologic oncology, urologic oncolog,y and hematology/oncology tumor boards, round in the microbiology laboratory with the infectious disease team and present at autopsy conference. The primary venues for direct patient care are on the apheresis service and the cytology rotations.

A: Our department is a rich environment for research. There are approximately 50 research faculty members with primary academic appointments in pathology who welcome participation by pathology residents. UNC is home to an NCI-Designated comprehensive cancer center and was most recently 6th amongst all US universities for federal research support. Many multidisciplinary research endeavors need participation by pathology and residents are welcome to participate in these activities. The clinical faculty engage in translational research and welcome participation by residents. Dedicated research time may be taken during electives.

A: UNC is a leader in global health and global pathology, and due to our ongoing collaborations with the pathology laboratory at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, Malawi, and other developing efforts in South America and Africa, we have a global pathology curriculum for our AP/CP residents. This currently includes on-site (UNC) and in-country (Malawi) electives for our pathology residents. And, for trainees with a keen interest in global health, we are working on developing a longitudinal Global Pathology Pathway.

These unique educational opportunities will expose residents to a different mix of cases from those seen at UNC (e.g., advanced malignancies, infectious diseases, and HIV associated pathologies), will help them develop skills needed to practice pathology in a resource appropriate fashion, and will promote participation in inclusive teams that leverage cultural diversity.

A: Every morning 8–9 am (except Thursdays where grand rounds seminars are held 8:30–9:30) there is a required educational conference for residents. These include didactic lectures on a wide variety of AP and CP topics, rotating over a 2-year cycle, gross conferences, unknown slide conferences, morbidity and mortality conferences, and CP conferences with presentations by residents and fellows to allow experiences in public speaking and constructing a lecture. Journal club is held monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at mid-day. Residents are protected from service responsibilities to attend these conferences. Additionally, autopsy conference is held for those on the autopsy service and there are approximately 10 weekly multidisciplinary tumor conferences which residents attend when on related services. Residents gain experience presenting at these tumor conferences throughout their residency, particularly during the 6 weeks they are on the conference/consult rotation during their third and fourth years in surgical pathology.

A: We don’t have a boot camp per se, but we have a robust orientation lasting 3-5 days when PGY1 residents start, and the didactic conferences during the month of July are all orientation lectures to the different disciplines in pathology. These include a series of organ system-based lectures on the approach to handling all specimen types presented by the upper-level residents, and lectures by faculty orienting new residents to all areas of the laboratories. New residents are carefully supervised and instructed when they start a new rotation, and chief residents and faculty are always available to assist a new resident.

A: PGY1 residents do not take call. PGY 2-4 residents divide up call time, approximately 13 weeks total over the duration of the residency. Call is combined AP and CP for everything but the autopsy service. Call is from home, with residents returning to the hospital as needed for patient care issues. PGY1s and 2 do Saturday autopsies when they are on the autopsy rotation, but there is no night or Sunday autopsy call.

A: Residents work one-on-one with MS4 medical students doing electives in pathology, presenting at clinical pathology conferences and lab continuing education conferences, and at multidisciplinary tumor boards.

A: Yes! We have a Resident Development Program that pairs trainees with a core faculty mentor during the second half of their PGY1 year. The core faculty mentor serves as a guide during each trainee’s journey through residency by meeting with the trainee each quarter to discuss key, stage-appropriate, personal and professional development topics and by connecting the trainee with additional mentors and resources as they grow and refine their career interests.

A: Cytopathology (2), Surgical Pathology (3), Hematopathology (2), Forensic Pathology (1), Nephropathology (1), Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine (1), Molecular Genetic Pathology (1), Clinical Chemistry (1), Clinical Immunology (1), Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (1), and Clinical Microbiology (1). UNC residents are typically very competitive for these fellowships and are encouraged to apply.

A: In the previous 10 years (2016-2025), 40 residents have completed the program. These residents completed or will complete a total of 50 fellowships (general or subspeciality) surgical pathology (17), breast pathology (1), GI pathology (1), GU pathology (2), hematopathology (5), cytopathology (6), molecular pathology (6), microbiology (1), forensic pathology (3), dermatopathology (2), renal pathology (2), transfusion medicine (2), neuropathology (1), lab administration (1). 29 of the residents did 1 fellowship, 9 did 2 fellowships, 1 did 3 fellowships, 1 did no fellowships. 35 of these fellowships were done at UNC, 15 were not at UNC with outside institutions including Duke (4), Vanderbilt University (2), Stanford University (1), University of Pittsburgh (1), University of Colorado (1), University of California at Irvine (1), University of Alabama Birmingham (1),  University of Iowa (1), University of Rochester (1), Brigham and Womens Hospital (1), and University of Utah/ARUP (1). Our residents have been very successful at competing for outside fellowships if they so choose..

A: Of the 40 residents who have completed the program between 2015-2024 (not including those still in a fellowship/post-doc), they are currently:

• 15 academics
• 16 private practice
• 4 Medical Examiner
• 3 industry (molecular pathology company)

A: The salary and benefits web page for all house staff lists current salary benefits. These are updated yearly. In addition, the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine gives each resident a professional fund for books, journals and travel of $1000/year, an extra $500/year for chief residents, and will pay meeting registration and travel for residents to present at professional meetings (in addition to the professional fund for each resident).