The fellowship training program in pediatric pathology is a 1 year program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Dr. Judy Pascasio is the program director and can be reached at judy.pascasio@drexel.edu . Our program accepts one fellow each year. Please contact us with any questions. 

Overview

The program is intended to provide an organized educational experience for qualified pathologists seeking to acquire advanced competence in the diagnosis of childhood diseases.  The duration of the program is normally one year.  It includes formal education in diagnostic pediatric pathology and management and quality assessment issues germane to the pediatric laboratory environment.  The program is limited to one fellow a year and occasional rotating residents who stay in the department for two months.  This assures that the fellow and/or residents have appropriate supervision throughout their rotation and also ensure proper patient care and education.

Mission

The major goal of the pediatric pathology training program is that the resident acquires advanced training and knowledge in the diagnosis of pediatric diseases through the surgical and autopsy service and clinical laboratory rotations. As part of this process, the trainee is expected to apply all the techniques available in a modern pathology laboratory, including pediatric cytology, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructural examination, immunoflourescence, cytogenetics and molecular pathologic techniques when these are indicated. We accomplish this goal by offering a diversity of pediatric anatomic pathological material.  The transplantation program (kidney) is very active, and dependent upon the input of the pathology department. 

The resident/fellow in training will also be exposed to a wide variety of pediatric tumors, neuropathologic specimens (including over 75 muscle biopsies for neuromuscular disorders and mitochondrial cytopathies), otolaryngologic specimens, general pediatric surgery specimens, bone marrow biopsies, lung biopsies and cytologic preparations, medical kidney biopsies, orthopedic specimens, urologic specimens, skin biopsies, and oral surgical specimens. Numerous GI biopsies are received from the GI service.  Clinical faculty expertise in managing metabolic, neurologic, infectious, hematologic and pulmonary disorders is also a program strength.  Electron microscopy is active and on-site, with approximately 130 examinations per year, including ciliary ultrastructural studies for ciliary dyskenesis. 

The academic environment, with ACGME accredited residency training programs in other pediatric subspecialties, and interaction through numerous conferences is also a strength, as is the wealth of teaching material accumulated since 1947.  Finally, the size of the program, with one resident/fellow at a time, ensures continuing interaction with the teaching staff and one-on-one attention.

Fellowship Schedule

Conference Schedule

How to apply

You can apply by requesting an application form for the program by e-mail.  

If you have any questions or would like to request a hard copy application, please contact the fellowship program director.

Fellowship Training Program Director
Name:                            Judy Pascasio, M.D.
Address:                        Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine                                     
                                        St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children                                     
                                        Erie Avenue at Front Street                                     
                                        Philadelphia, PA 19134
Telephone Number:     (215) 427-5271 or (215) 427-5272
Email address:              judy.pascasio@drexel.edu

Eligibility

Physicians who will have completed at least 2 years of residency training in a program approved by the American Board of Pathology may apply for the Fellowship in Pediatric Pathology.  Preference is given to trainees, who desire careers in Pediatric Pathology.  Pennsylvania law requires all fellows to have successfully completed all three Steps of the USMLE prior to the onset of their fellowship. Copies of the scores of each step need to be provided with the application. Three letters of recommendation from physicians familiar with your clinical work should be sent directly to the Program Director. Foreign Medical graduates are invited to apply after they have successfully completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) process and have a valid certificate number; copies of these documents need to be provided with the application. Where applicable, the candidate needs to have a valid visa.  After reviewing all of the information, the staff will contact competitive applicants to arrange an interview.

Application Form