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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

  1. Identify an advisor in the pathology group
  2. Join “PathHeads”, the student pathology club (Dr. Meritet advisor)
  3. Outline the selectives you would like to take and discuss with advisor
  4. 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)
  5. Try to attend gross rounds (9:15-10:15 on Fridays in autopsy theater)
  6. Take core pathology rotations (VMP 977 and VMP 978) in clinical year
  7. 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)
  8. 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

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

  • Clinical Pathology Student Tech position
  • Anatomic Pathology (Histology/Autopsy) Student Tech Position

Other Useful Information

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