Pathology Residency Training Program[]
Residency Program Director: [Juan Olano, MD]
Number of Residents (total): 20
Number of Residents (annually): approx. 5
Comments/Reviews: Edit[]
Current or past residents, please feel free to add your comments below. If you disagree with some else's comments, please feel free to leave your own differing opinion, but please do not delete anyone else's comments. Thank you for your professionalism.
Unofficial Pros/Cons:
Pros:
1. Very nourishing and laid back learning environment lead by the faculty. Faculty are friendly and easy to work with, but also very knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers.
2. Strong sense of camaraderie between residents at work (senior residents are often helping junior residents with pragmatic issues, teaching, etc, even when they are on different rotations) and friendships outside of work (happy hours, parties, secret santa, etc)
3. Easily get the 50 required autopsies. Most residents have completed about 50 cases by their fifth month of autopsy. Those who are a little short catch up during the forensics month.
Cons:
1. Too many autopsies? Some residents feel that there are too many autopsies and wish we shared cases as in other programs (after 5 months the average resident has completed around 50 cases). This has actually improved a lot since the new PA Jaclyn Nickels starting doing every 3rd autopsy. Another way to look at it is that none of our residents ever have to go away to complete their numbers while we often will have residents from other programs come to our program to catch up.
DAILY SCHEDULE: Edit[]
There are 5 residents on surg path per month plus the 2 fellows. We signout on a subspeciality basis with residents rotating weekly with one of those weeks being frozen section call.
A typical day starts around 7:30 with previewing biopsies and any surgical cases not previewed the previous afternoon. Signout starts around 10:00 and continues until 11:45. We encourage faculty and residents to start with cases more interesting and educational cases to maximize learning time. From 12-1pm we have noon conference for lectures and unknown conferences. The 1-2pm slot is flexible and can be used for more signout time, to start grossing early, or for faculty to show interesting cases. Between 2-2:30 start grossing specimens for the bench that you are signing out. For the most part you don't spend time grossing biopsies or small things (tonsils, gallbladders, ect) unless there is a suspicion of cancer. We currently have 2 PAs who help with grossing full time and a 3rd who primarily works on the autopsy service who is available some afternoons to assist. Most afternoons grossing is done between 5:30-6:30. In general, the other residents do a good job of stepping in and helping overloaded benches, grossing some of the simple or benign specimens so that you can focus on the more complicated specimen. Once grossing is done we start previewing the surgical slides from the previous day with residents rarely staying past 7:30 or 8pm. If you are more of a morning person then arriving early to preview the surgicals is also acceptable.
Overall, the hours are great and the work environment is terrific. By and large the faculty are very approachable in all departments and really treat the residents as junior colleagues. Each faculty member has their own way of teaching which is definitely a strength of the program. One faculty member teaches by asking questions while another tends to speak their mind concerning the specimen while others expect you to ask questions if there’s something that’s unclear. Also, upper level residents and fellows are easy going and always ready to answer any questions. This program is an enjoyable place to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions: Edit[]
-Should I be concerned about hurricanes and flooding?
- The last major hurricane was in 2008, and the institution has made significant improvements. While the weather is unpredictable, Galveston is prepared and well-equipped for natural disasters. Prior to Hurricane Ike in 2008, Hurricane Alicia hit in 1983. Our residents agree natural disasters are no more a concern here than anywhere else.
-Are there family friendly things to do in Galveston?
- Absolutely! For one, Galveston is an island with plenty of beaches and parks. Deep sea fishing is a must! Moody Gardens is a one-of-a-kind resort (just look for the pyramids as you're coming over the causeway) with a water park, private beach, aquarium, rainforest, and ropes course, just to name a few attractions (https://www.moodygardens.com/). Pleasure Pier is highly visible from the Seawall and provides a carnival open all year long (https://www.pleasurepier.com/). Walking along the Seawall can be very relaxing as the tide rolls in each evening. The City of Galveston also sponsors TONS of fun events for families, couples, and singles (https://www.galveston.com/festivals/). Some of our favorites include Mardi Gras, Dickens on the Strand, Lone Star Motorcycle Rally, and the Sandcastle Competition.
-How does the cost of living compare to other cities?
- Galveston has a higher cost of living compared to the Texas average but is still less than the national average (https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/county/texas/galveston). However, for more affordable options, many of our residents live off-island in League City, Texas City, etc. There are shuttle services as far north as League City (https://www.utmb.edu/transit/home).
-Do your residents get the fellowships they want?
- Yes. Our residents have gone on to do prestigious fellowships at places like Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Columbia University, Beth Israel Deaconess, ARUP etc.
- https://www.utmb.edu/pathology/education/pathology-residency-training-program/residency-graduates-and-future-graduateswhere-are-our-graduates
-In one sentence what sets UTMB Pathology apart?
- Learning should be fun.
-Do residents have opportunities for research?
- Yes, there are plenty of opportunities for research. Research projects are not required for graduation, but they are encouraged and well-supported.
- Notably, many members of our faculty work closely with the Galveston National Laboratory (https://www.utmb.edu/gnl), a lab primarily focused on research related to infectious disease.
- One quality improvement project is required prior to graduation (in accordance with ACGME).
-Do residents have trouble taking educational time off to attend national conferences?
- No. In fact, the program encourages residents to attend national conferences.
Comments/Reviews: Edit[]
Chemistry Fellowship[]
One position is available every two years and is open to MDs and PhDs
Cytopathology Fellowship[]
One fellowship position per year.
Surgical Pathology Fellowship[]
Two fellowships positions per year. Good volume of cases and at the same time not as overwhelming as other neighboring programs might be. Responsibilities include tumor board presentations, resident lectures, and bi-weekly interesting case conference. Surgical pathology faculty are friendly and easy to work with, but also very knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers. The new surgical pathology director, Dr. Thaker is very enthusiastic and has lots of new ideas for improving the program.
Dermatopathology Fellowship[]
Fellowship Director: Dr. Ramon Sanchez
Two fellowship positions per year. Typically one for a dermatology-trained applicant and one for a pathology-trained applicant.
The fellowship is split into two services. The main service is covered by Dr. Sanchez and deals with the specimens from his private lab (~22,000 cases/yr). The second service is covered by Dr. Kelly and deals with the specimens from UTMB hospital, most of which are from the dermatology dept (~7,000 cases/yr). All cases for both services are signed out at UTMB hospital.
A normal day for both fellows entails signing out at 7:30am with Dr. Sanchez where he reviews and finalizes the cases that the fellows have previewed the day before (~100 cases/day). Signout usually lasts until 9 or 9:30am. At that time, there is a half hour break or so, after which the fellows sign out with Dr. Kelly the cases that have come out the same day (~20-30 cases/day). These cases are typically not previewed before hand. This sing out usually lasts till 11 or 11:30am. The fellows then preview Dr. Sanchez cases (usually split up between the fellows and previewed separately) and enter their preliminary diagnoses into his online software program where he will finalize them with the fellows the next morning.
For the pathology trained fellow, there are clinics for which the fellow is expected to act as a first year dermatology resident. These clinics are in the afternoon Mon, Tues, and Thurs. The fellow is expected to make diagnosis, perform biopsies, and prescribe medications. All activities are supervised by a dermatology faculty member staffing the clinic.
The dermatology trained fellow is expected to participate in the gross room of the pathology department and the daily hour surgical pathology consensus conference Mon, Tues, and Thurs afternoon. The dermatology fellow must also rotate through hemepath and observe an autopsy.
Wednesday is a double sign out day where the fellows sign out both in the morning (cases from day before) and afternoon (same day cases) with Dr. Sanchez. The cases are expected to have been reviewed and entered into the computer for both sessions. Wednesday morning after sign out, the fellows also go over a chapter of McKee with Dr. Sanchez.
Friday is primarily an educational day where the fellows sign out with Dr. Sanchez in the morning, adjourn to attend dermatology grand rounds, attend Dr. Raimer's (Dermatology Chairman) weekly hour kodachrome lecture, followed by giving a one hour lecture to the dermatology residents (alternating with each fellow) covering a chapter in Levers. This all happens before noon.
Other responsibilities of the fellows include gathering interesting cases (10 cases) for the bi-monthly unknown conferences for both the UTMB dermatology residents and The Methodist Hospital pathology residents (Houston, TX), help organizing the end of year UTMB Dermpath Review Course, taking pictures for conferences, ordering and tracking immunos and special stains, and participating in one research project.
The fellows are also expected to consult on Mohs frozen cases (~200/yr) and preview immunofluorescence cases (~50/yr).
https://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/dermatopathology-folder/dermatopathology