The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine offers flexible four to five-year training programs leading to Board certification in anatomic pathology, laboratory medicine, or combined anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine. These programs are individually tailored to be suitable for those individuals interested in an academic career in pathology, in the subspecialty practice of pathology, or in the practice of modern general pathology in the community. In addition, a training program in experimental pathology is available for those individuals who desire a career in scientific investigation.

The experimental pathology training program is especially suited for graduates of combined MD/PhD programs. The core program in anatomic pathology consists of training in pediatric and adult autopsy pathology, pediatric and adult general surgical pathology, cytopathology, gynecologic pathology, hematopathology, neuropathology, and renal pathology. The core training program in laboratory medicine consists of rotations in biochemistry, coagulation, cytogenetics, hematology, microbiology, serology, transfusion medicine, and virology. Rotations in immunopathology and molecular pathology are included in all the training programs.

The residents are strongly encouraged to spend one year in an anatomic subspecialty or laboratory of their choice in order to gain diagnostic expertise and/or research experience in a specific subspecialty area of pathology. All residents are actively encouraged to participate in the research programs of the department and to present the results of their research at appropriate national meetings. Experimental pathology trainees complete the core training program in either anatomic pathology or laboratory medicine in two years and spend the subsequent two years in full-time laboratory research. The research may be performed within the department, or with an appropriate preceptor within other departments of Weill Medical College of Cornell Universityor nearby Rockefeller University or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. These unrivaled research opportunities combined with excellent financial support for the trainees make the experimental pathology training program one of the most attractive in the United States. In addition, a fifth year of training leading to subspecialty certification is available by application. The interests, goals and performance of each resident are reviewed periodically the Residency Advisory Committee. This committee assists residents in planning their advanced training years as well as in selecting specific laboratories in which to pursue their research. The residents participate in numerous teaching conferences concerning anatomic pathology, laboratory medicine, and clinical and basic science research. In addition, each resident engages in student teaching in the pathology courses of the Weill Medical College of Cornell University . All the residents receive training and instruction from a large full-time faculty devoted to the clinical practice of pathology, clinical and basic research and teaching.