The Cytopathology Fellowship Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a one-year program with emphasis on diagnostic cytology with clinical correlation. The fellowship is approved by the ACGME. We have a full-service laboratory, which processes a wide range of specimens from all body sites. There are approximately 23,000 cases accessioned each year, of which approximately 4,000 are non-gynecologic specimens. This figure includes about 1,100 fine needle aspirations, of which approximately half are performed or assisted by the cytopathology residents, fellows, and attendings. Aspirations of the breast and from the head and neck sites are especially emphasized. ThinPrep™ processing is used for approximately 95% of the gynecologic specimens and many non-gynecologic specimens. Special techniques such as flow cytometry, immunperoxidase studies and electron microscopy are available for use on cytologic specimens as well as for research purposes. The Cytopathology Division is staffed by Susan J. Maygarden, MD, Harsharan Singh, MD, and Chad Livasy, MD.

The responsibilities of the cytopathology fellow include supervision of the needle aspiration service; participation in cytopathologic sign-out, with 3 months of supervised sign-out by the fellow, review of consultation cases, and participation in teaching, quality assurance, and conferences with residents and staff. In addition, elective time is available in surgical pathology, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and other specialized areas of pathology. The fellowship includes experience in administration of the cytology laboratory as well as exposure to the fundamentals of quality assurance/quality control in cytopathology. Fellows are encouraged to participate in a project during the year, which may be a clinically related study or basic science research. Departmental support is available to present the findings of a research project at a national meeting. A large number of faculty members with wide-ranging research interests are available to collaborate in research projects.

The pathologists who have completed this fellowship have taken positions in both academics and private practice, and most are directors of cytopathology or fine needle aspiration at their current institutions. Thus far, all former fellows have successfully passed the American Board of Pathology Added qualification in Cytopathology Boards.

The University of North Carolina Hospitals are a 665-bed general public hospital system and are the teaching hospitals for the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. UNC Hospitals provide a full range of services, including heart, lung, liver, and kidney transplants, comprehensive oncology services, and a large emergency room. The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has approximately 70 faculty members and offers an anatomic and clinical pathology residency program and numerous fellowships in addition to the cytopathology fellowship.

The stipend for the cytopathology fellowship position is dependent upon the PGY level of the fellow. In addition, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, and a contribution toward health insurance are provided.

Applicants for this position must be graduates of an approved US or Canadian medical school, or must be foreign medical school graduates with approximate certification. The minimum pathology requirement is two years of anatomic pathology training. Strong preference is given to applicants who have completed either an AP or AP/CP residency. This fellowship may be used for ABP Added Qualification in Cytopathology provided all AP or AP/CP Board requirements have been met prior to entry. Applicants must possess or be eligible to obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine in North Carolina.