Curriculum

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Weekly multidisciplinary gross conference where interesting specimens from the autopsy and surgical services are evaluated and correlated with clinical and radiologic findings.

Rotation schedule

This sample rotation schedule for the Cardiovascular Pathology Fellowship has 13 four-week rotations.

8 rotations (32 weeks)	2 rotations (8 weeks)	2 rotations (8 weeks)	1 rotation (4 weeks)
Cardiovascular consultation Endomyocardial biopsy (transplant and nontransplant) Cardiovascular surgical pathology	Autopsy — congenital heart disease	Elective and research	Molecular genetic pathology of cardiovascular disease

Rotation descriptions

Cardiovascular training

The curriculum for the Cardiovascular Pathology Fellowship consists of four-week rotations in cardiovascular surgical pathology, cardiovascular consultation, with additional exposure to transplant and nontransplant endomyocardial biopsy and with the possibility for elective time in other areas.

Autopsy training

Both forensic and hospital autopsies are performed under the direct supervision of a consultant. The autopsy service is also staffed by a laboratory supervisor, six full-time autopsy technicians and nine rotating pathology assistants. The newly renovated, state-of-the-art facilities are spacious and include two autopsy rooms, a separate gross dissection room, an X-ray room, a resident work area, digital photography equipment, storage freezers, and a unique custom-built heart-lung perfusion fixation apparatus.

You formulate a complete autopsy report incorporating all relevant clinical information, autopsy findings and supplemental studies. The autopsy rotation is an excellent rotation to learn systemic pathology, gross anatomic pathology and histopathology.

3D printed specimen models that are routinely obtained in the work-up of cardiovascular cases — 3D-printed specimen models that are routinely obtained in the a diagnostic examination of cardiovascular cases.

Didactic training

To supplement your "on-the-job" learning that occurs on specific rotations, you also utilize the cardiovascular pathology teaching collection, composed of both gross heart specimens and microscopic slides.

You also have the opportunity to participate in teaching activities for the Cardiovascular Unit of the Pathophysiology Course in Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine as well as other institutional conferences. In addition, you may spend short periods of time in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the Echocardiography Laboratory.

Research training

You participate in various research projects dealing with cardiovascular disorders from a pathology and clinical perspective.

Teaching opportunities

You have the opportunity to interact and teach medical students, allied health staff (echocardiography and histotechnology programs), residents (pathology, radiology and internal medicine), and fellows (cardiology).

Evaluation

To ensure that you acquire adequate knowledge and develop the appropriate technical skills to meet program expectations, your performance is monitored carefully during the Cardiovascular Pathology Fellowship. You are formally evaluated by supervising faculty members at the completion of each rotation and meet with the program director to review these evaluations. In addition, you regularly evaluate the faculty to confirm that your educational needs are being met.