Become a skilled pathologist with Tufts Medical Center’s four-year AP/CP residency
Tufts Medical Center offers a four-year, ACGME-accredited residency combining anatomic and clinical pathology (AP/CP). Our goal is to provide balanced, high-quality training that prepares graduates for successful careers in academic medicine, community hospitals or private practice. Our residents develop into skilled pathologists who prioritize honesty, excellence and patient well-being.
The program begins with a one-month resident “boot camp” featuring lectures and hands-on training led by senior residents, laboratory staff, attendings and the program director. This foundation ensures trainees master key skills before taking on greater responsibility.
In the first year, residents focus mostly on anatomic pathology rotations. They independently perform gross examinations, preview histological slides, draft reports and review cases with faculty. Protected time is reserved for weekly tumor boards, didactic sessions and unknown slide reviews. Monthly activities include Journal Club, Autopsy Conference, Brain Cutting and Grand Rounds.
The second year emphasizes clinical pathology rotations in clinical chemistry, microbiology, transfusion medicine and blood banking, hematology and HLA. Residents attend weekly clinical pathology didactics, laboratory management meetings and specialty lectures.
During the third and fourth years, residents rotate through both AP and CP subspecialties based on their educational needs and interests. This period includes electives, scholarly projects, quality improvement initiatives and leadership opportunities.
After residency, fellows can continue their training in our hematopathology and surgical pathology fellowship programs.
Didactics + tumor boards
Didactics take place every Wednesday for clinical pathology and Thursday and Friday mornings for anatomic pathology. Topics cover all organ systems and are followed by slide sessions. Residents also attend weekly lectures in chemistry, microbiology, hematology and transfusion medicine.
Tumor boards are held daily. Residents actively participate in a variety of topics, including genitourinary, breast, neuro, gynecologic, gastrointestinal oncology, liver, head and neck, and thoracic pathology.
