The Neuropathology fellowship is individually tailored to the fellow's career goals. In general fellows are ultimately expected to be eligible for the ABP neuropathology board exam, which require 2 years of training. Currently, board eligibility also requires that they:

• complete neuropathological examination of 200 autopsy brains
  
• complete an adequate number of intra-operative consultations, neuromuscular, and CSF examinations (precise number not currently specified)
• and in the future will probably require formal training in ophthalmic pathology
  

During the 2-years of ACGME approved training fellows will also participate in Neuropathology Division activities. These activities help develop skills essential for a successful academic career and include:

• Monthly staff meetings
  
• Quarterly individual meetings with the fellowship director
  
• Quarterly group fellow meetings
  
• Weekly QA conference
  
• Weekly conference in neuropathology research topics
  
• Assorted Department fellowship requirements (2 annual pathology department presentations)
  
• Attendance of and presenting at local and national meetings (at least 1 per year)
  
• Medical, graduate, resident, and fellow teaching exercises
  

NP fellowship training can be broadly divided into 2 tracks: Academic/Anatomic and Academic/Research. The former track will develop academic neuropathologists whose primary focus is clinical work (including general pathology) and teaching. The latter track will mentor fellows into academic positions with independent research funding, protected research time, and neuropathology-exclusive service work. Service responsibilities are tailored to best prepare fellows for one or the other track. Fellows in the Academic/Anatomic track are supported during both years by Graduate Medical Education funding. Fellows in the Academic/Research track will be supported during their clinical training by Graduate Medical Education funding and during their research training by their own or their mentor's research funding.

The clinical/service work at the University of Pittsburgh Division of Neuropathology is divided into 2 parts. Service-1 includes all surgical specimens and intraoperative consultations, while service-2 handles neuromuscular, ophthalmic, and autopsy pathology. Fellows in the academic/anatomic track will commit each year 5 months to service-1 and 5 months to service-2, along with one month of electives and one month of vacation per year.

Fellows in the academic/research track will commit 6 months to service-1, 5 months to service-2 along with one month of vacation in one year; and 11 months to research and one month of vacation in the other year. Either the first or the second year of the fellowship may serve as the “research year.”

After 6 months of clinical training fellows in either track may be eligible to take evening and weekend call for one week a month during the remaining portion of their training.

While formally a 2 year fellowship, additional training and support is available for fellows in the Academic/Research track through either the Department based Pathologist Investigator Residency Training (PIRT) program or other fellowships if desired.

Updated 3/7/08