Penrose Hospital - Pathology Residency

Penrose Hospital offers an accredited four-year AP/CP residency in a unique community-based program. There are 11 staff pathologists and up to eight pathology residents. The small size of the program allows for a cohesive and friendly atmosphere that fosters learning and allows for individualized training and development. Residents begin their surgical pathology training by working on every case at the microscope alongside a staff pathologist. As a resident’s skills increase, they are given graduated responsibility, eventually relying on the staff only for case review and finalization. 

This community-based program also gives residents the opportunity to gain an appreciation for the administrative and managerial parts of running a pathology practice. Residents will see a multitude of cases, ranging from standard care to rare and challenging cases. All these experiences will prepare residents and help them adapt to various work environments. 

Two residents are assigned to the surgical pathology rotation each week, and both are assigned a staff pathologist — the residents alternate grossing and sign-out days. On grossing days, the resident is responsible for grossing the surgical specimens and performing intra-operative frozen sections. Our pathology assistant covers some of the grossing duties, leaving the more complicated and interesting cases for the resident. 

On sign-out days, the resident is responsible for reviewing and dictating the previous day's specimens with their assigned staff. Residents begin their surgical pathology training working closely with staff pathologists. As skills increase, they are given more responsibility, eventually relying on the staff only for case review and finalization. 

Call is split evenly between the residents and taken a week at a time (Friday-Thursday), amounting to eight or nine call weeks per year. Call is combined AP/CP, and all laboratory needs are directed to the resident. Most calls originate from the blood bank and can be handled over the phone. Occasionally, residents are called in to perform an after-hours frozen section or review a critical slide, among other duties. 

On the weekends, the resident on-call is responsible for grossing a small volume of specimens and reviewing any flagged peripheral blood smears. There are no weekend autopsy duties. Junior residents are responsible for covering one holiday call per year. Residents can trade call weeks to accommodate their schedules. 

Our schedules are flexible. Residents are given four months of elective time, which many residents use to rotate at outside institutions they are considering for fellowship. Flexibility is also shown in scheduling vacation time. Vacation can be taken a day at a time or in blocks per the resident's discretion as long as ample notification is given to the chief resident, who is responsible for making the schedule and ensuring services are covered. 

Current medical school students interested in attending our program are encouraged to consider pursuing a one-month externship as part of their medical school rotations. Several of our current and past residents did externships at our program before joining us for residency. While we are happy to facilitate these externships, please know that space is limited. To discuss joining us for your externship, contact Catherine Larson at:

[email protected] 

Our residents have successfully obtained fellowships in the field of study and the location of their choice. Ample elective time allows residents to freely pursue away rotations at outside institutions. Recent residents have accepted fellowships in hematopathology, dermatopathology, gastrointestinal pathology, cytology, molecular genetics, microbiology, pediatric pathology, and forensics. 

Each year a total of 2 residents are appointed to the program. The Penrose Pathology Residency program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match process. Applications are accepted and reviewed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). 

Application requirements:

• Application
• Personal Statement
• Dean’s letter and three letters of recommendation submitted through ERAS 
• Medical School transcript from an accredited DO or MD medical school
• COMLEX level 1 and 2, or USMLE step 1 and 2 are accepted
• We are unable to sponsor applicants requiring a Visa

Interview Information:

• Applications are reviewed once received from ERAS. 
• Interviews are scheduled mid October through mid December.
• Our Pathologists' are located at various hospitals along the Front Range therefore our interview process is conducted virtually and includes interviews with our Program Director, current residents, and attending Pathologists. 

Audition rotations/Externships are available throughout the year. Reach out to Catherine Larson, [email protected], to secure a rotation time and walk through the application process.