Focus Area – Pathology
The pathology focus area allows the student extra time to prepare for one of two specialty areas: clinical pathology and anatomic pathology. These career paths require advanced training (residency) and board certification.
Focus Area Advisors
Steps to pursue a focus in veterinary pathology
- Identify an advisor in the pathology group
- Join “PathHeads”, the student pathology club (Dr. Meritet advisor)
- Outline the selectives you would like to take and discuss with advisor
- Identify other areas of interest you would like to be involved in (Research at CVM, research at RTP/adjacent universities, diagnostic experiences, pathology specialties, etc.) and/or see a part-time job in NCSU pathology (Clinical pathology laboratory student technician, anatomic pathology [necropsy/histology] laboratory student technician)
- Try to attend gross rounds (9:15-10:15 on Fridays in autopsy theater)
- Take core pathology rotations (VMP 977 and VMP 978) in clinical year
- Take additional clinical year rotations in anatomic or clinical pathology (Advanced Topics in Anatomic Pathology rotation VMP 975 and/or Advanced Topics in Clinical Pathology VMP 988)
- Take pathology related externships in clinical year (VMP 944; aim for at least one rotation of pathology related externship)
Year 1-3 Courses
Required
Core Courses
- VMP931 (Semester 3) Veterinary Pathology I (General Pathology)
- VMP 941 (Semester 4) Veterinary Pathology II (Systemic Pathology)
- VMP 942 (Semester 4) Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Recommended Selectives (but not limited to)
Fundamentals: Recommended to be Taken in First Year
- Necropsy pathology
- Surgical pathology
Specialties in Pathology
- Advanced clinical pathology
- Non-domestic animal pathology
- Diagnostic cytology
- Advanced clinical parasitology for large animals
- Specialized organ histology
- Diseases of marine organisms
Advanced Diagnostic Techniques
- PCR diag of bact disease
Research Pathology
- Special topics in pathology (research pathology)
- Swine health management
Year 4 Required Rotations
CORE SENIOR CLINICAL ROTATIONS
- VMB 976 Radiology
- VMB 977 Anesthesia
- VMP 977 Autopsy
- VMP 978 Clinical Pathology
- VMC 971 Small Animal Medicine (2-blocks consecutive)
- VMC 979 Equine Medicine
- VMP 970 Ruminant Health Management I
- VMC 980 Oncology
- VMC 939 Small Animal Primary Care
TWO ROTATIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUP
- VMP 975 Advanced Topics in Anatomic Pathology
- VMP 988 Advanced Topics in Clinical Pathology
- VMP 994 Extramural Studies/Pathology – All Extramural Rotations (in 4th year) –
ONE ROTATION FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUP
- VMC 973G Small Animal Gen. Surgery
- VMC 973O Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery
ONE ROTATION FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUP
- VMC 960 Small Animal Emergency
- VMC 966 Equine Emergency
TWO ROTATIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUP
- VMC 981 Laboratory Animal Medicine
- VMP 982 Poultry Health Management I
- VMP 984 Swine Medicine I
- VMC 972 Cardiology
- VMC 982A Ophthalmology
- VMC 983 Dermatology
- VMC 984 Neurology
- VMC 987 Aquatic Medicine
- VMC 988 Exotic Animal Medicine
Other experiences
Conferences
- American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) meeting – https://www.aavld.org/
- American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) meeting – https://www.acvp.org/
- Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) meeting – https://www.toxpath.org/index.asp
- Southeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference (SEVPAC)
- Northeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference (NEVPC)
Rounds/Seminars
- Gross rounds: Fridays from 9:15-10:15 in autopsy amphitheater
- Histology-Cytology correlates: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Extracurricular activities
- Pathheads: Student pathology club; Dr. Meritet is advisor
Employment Opportunities/Externships/Funding
- ACVP externship scholarship program: https://www.acvp.org/page/Intern_Extern_Opport
- Ask faculty, residents, and senior students for recommendations
- CVM Summer Research Interns (Mentors: Drs. Luff, Gruber, Mochizuki)
- Visit the ACVP externship center: https://www.acvp.org/page/Intern_Extern_Opport
- Student tech positions:
- Clinical Pathology Student Tech position
- Anatomic Pathology (Histology/Autopsy) Student Tech Position
Other Useful Information
- Follow “student_chapters_acvp” on Instagram
- Follow “Student Chapters of ACVP” on Facebook
- ACVP: https://www.acvp.org/
- ASVCP: https://www.asvcp.org/
- Davis-Thompson Foundation: https://davisthompsonfoundation.org/
- The Joint Pathology Center: https://www.askjpc.org/vspo/
Recommended Journals to Review
- Veterinary Clinical Pathology
- Veterinary Pathology
- Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
- Journal of Comparative Pathology
- Toxicologic Pathology
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (Pathology in Practice)
Recent/Current Number of Pathology Focused Students
Class 2013: 5
Class 2014: 1
Class 2015: 3
Class 2016: 3
Class 2017: 5
Class 2018: 3
Class 2019: 1
Class 2020: 3
Class 2021: 3
Class 2022: 3
Class 2023: 1
Class 2024: 5 declared to date
Class 2025: 0 declared to date
Class 2026: 0 declared to date