We offer a non-degree (straight) residency program which is designed to prepare participants for success in the ACVP board and a career in anatomic pathology. The availability varies from year to year, with generally 1-2 residents in each year, for a total of 6 residents.
Post residency PhD training is an option through the college’s Comparative and Experimental Medicine graduate program.
During the 2023 application cycle, we will be looking to accept three residents to start July 1, 2024.
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE:
Residency in Anatomic Pathology application
Primary training case material during the residency comes from the teaching hospital, a state contract for ruminant submissions, mail-ins from surrounding and distant referral practices, and an extensive zoo and exotics, and wildlife animal hospital service, and a local large non-domestic cat sanctuary. In 2021, the necropsy caseload included 35% large animals, 25% small animals, and 40% zoo, exotic, wildlife, and lab animal. In 2021, the biopsy caseload was approximately 5500 cases including 85% dogs, 11% cats, and 4% other.
Residents are on service for an average of 50 weeks over their 3-year residency, split between biopsy and necropsy service. While on duty, residents work closely with the faculty pathologists who share case responsibilities and are on the necropsy floor to help train residents and students. There are 7 board certified anatomic pathologists and 3 board certified clinical pathologists.
The residency does not require formal didactic classwork; however, there is an extensive schedule of gross, histopathologic, and special topic rounds including:
ADDITIONAL TRAINING:
- Image interpretation (weekly)
- Histopathology (weekly)
- Slides “On the Fly”
- AFIP / JPC Round
- Special species (monthly)
- Clinical service special topic rounds (monthly):
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Journal Club (weekly)
- General pathology (monthly)
- Tumor boards (every other month)
- Medicine boards (every other month)
- Cytology (weekly, optional)
- Gross necropsy rounds (daily)
TEACHING, PRESENTATIONS, and PUBLICATIONS:
Residents are expected to teach in the General Pathology (first year vet students) and Systemic Pathology (second and third year vet students) laboratory sessions as well as 4th year veterinary students on the necropsy floor. In house, residents present twice during their residency at the Friday Faculty “Grand Rounds” and rotate monthly presentations on the anatomic aspects of the tumor or disease entity selected for the all hospital tumor and medicine boards. Residents are also required to present each year at a regional meeting such as the Southeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference at Tifton, GA and are highly encouraged to present at the annual ACVP and or AAVLD conference. One small resident project ending in publication is expected before the end of the residency. Funding for conference travel and a research allowance is provided.
Selected resident publications
- Medullary bone in male budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with testicular neoplasms.
- Natural canine distemper virus infection in Linnaeus’s 2-toed sloths
- Pulmonary silicosis in 2 rock hyraxes, and literature review
- Hepatic lesions in 90 captive nondomestic felids presented for autopsy
- Characterization of a novel Canine distemper virus causing disease in wildlife
- COX-2 and c-kit expression in canine gliomas
- Regulatory T Cells and Their Role in Animal Disease
CONTACTS:
- Residency Director:
- Wesley Sheley, DVM, PhD, DACVP
- wsiniard@utk.edu
- Administrator:
- Ms. Deborah Hill
- dhill20@utk.edu
- Phone: 865-974-8235
The Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences (BDS), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, has an opening for a clinical pathology residency position that starts August 1, 2023. The application deadline is October 15, 2022. We plan to make our initial offer for the position on November 15.
This is a 3-year program designed to fulfill training requirements and eligibility for board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP); residents have the option to pursue graduate work and a Master’s degree with tuition support from the College (graduate degree work is not open to residents here on a J-1 visa). Residency training will emphasize diagnostic cytology, hematology, clinical chemistry, and laboratory quality management. It will also include time on surgical biopsy and endocrinology services, and opportunities for involvement in research. The resident will participate in diagnostic service, teaching of veterinary students, journal club, rounds, and seminars, and will be encouraged to attend and present at national meetings and write manuscripts for publication. More information about the program is available upon request.
The Department of BDS currently has four faculty clinical pathologists and seven faculty anatomic pathologists. Our clinical pathology diagnostic service is supported by a well-equipped laboratory with a staff that includes five ASCP-certified medical technologists, and a diverse caseload with submissions from within the teaching hospital and from outside practices.
The University of Tennessee is committed to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.
This position is open to US citizens, permanent residents (those holding a green card), or foreign applicants who are eligible for a J-1 visa (no direct interaction with live patients is allowed by those here on a J-1 visa). In addition, candidates for the position must meet the eligibility requirements listed in the “Credentialing Requirements for All Examinations” section of the ACVP Certifying Examination Candidate Handbook.
An internship or practice experience is desirable but not required.
The residency has a starting salary of $33,000. The appointment is renewable on an annual basis (three years total), assuming satisfactory performance. Currently the salary in the 2nd and 3rd years of the program is $33,500 and $34,000, respectively. A travel stipend of $2,500 and a research stipend of $750 will be provided. Health insurance is available for approximately $200/month (more for spouse and/or children). A parking permit is available for approximately $100/semester.
Applications for the clinical pathology residency should include:
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of professional goals
- Veterinary school transcript
- Three references (names, titles, email addresses, and phone numbers)
Applications should be sent to:
Dr. Michael M. Fry
UTCVM, Dept. of BDS
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4543
Informal inquiries are welcome. Please direct them to mfry@utk.edu
The University of Tennessee is an EEOA/AA/TitleVI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer.
