The vast majority of clinical decisions are based on the results of laboratory tests. Clinical Pathology, a specialty that emphasizes the study of laboratory medicine, is vital for educating physicians to order the correct tests and understand the clinical significance of test results. The discipline of Pathology includes both Clinical and Anatomic Pathology. Major subspecialty areas in Clinical Pathology are:
As a part of their training, residents are taught to provide consultative services regarding laboratory testing to other physicians. Training in Clinical Pathology also focuses on the development, validation, implementation and total quality management of laboratory testing. Further, it includes a significant management component which covers principles of laboratory finance, cost benefit analysis, team building, lean technology, six sigma and adherence to CMS, FDA and other regulatory requirements as applied to the clinical lab.
The Clinical Pathology faculty at Medical College of Wisconsin provide medical oversight for Dynacare Laboratories. Dynacare Laboratories is a joint partnership between Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and Dynacare, a subsidiary of LabCorp. Dynacare Laboratories at Froedtert Hospital provides laboratory services to the hospital and Froedtert and Medical College Clinics. Dynacare also has a significant outreach program throughout Wisconsin and neighboring Illinois that brings in a large volume of additional laboratory testing. The hospital volume combined with the outreach program volume totals several million tests per year and provides a fertile environment for our residency training program in Clinical Pathology. The curriculum is further complemented by opportunities for training in pediatric Clinical Pathology at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
Residency training in Clinical Pathology occurs throughout all four years of the residency program. Training is competency based with skill level expectations designed to build a solid body of knowledge in the field. Immersion in Clinical Pathology occurs during the second year of training and takes the form of daily participation in provision of all aspects of providing laboratory services as well as didactic and small group sessions. Call and Clinical Pathology Conferences round out the experience. Research opportunities in Clinical Pathology are available and encouraged.