In this fellowship, you will learn and apply the multidisciplinary approach in the management of the patient with breast disease. You will also learn techniques for fresh gross examination, frozen section interpretation, and permanent section H&E diagnostic skills, including the utilization and interpretation of special techniques, such as immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization.

Supervision and instruction are supplied by 53 staff consultants.

Multidisciplinary Training 
Multidisciplinary care is the standard approach at Mayo Clinic for the care of patients with benign and malignant breast disease. The fellow gains experience with the multidisciplinary care by rotating every two weeks through all of the major clinical disciplines involved in patient care. Dedicated faculty from each of the multidisciplinary areas (Breast Diagnostic Clinic, Breast Imaging and Intervention, Breast Surgery, Medical Genetics, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology) in breast diseases are assigned full time for teaching and supervising. The fellow will spend one month in the Division of Cytogenetics to acquire knowledge in HER2 interpretation and clinical significance as it pertains to HER2 evaluation by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The majority and remainder of the fellow's experience will be in Surgical Pathology devoted to intensive training in the diagnostic interpretation of both routine and unusual neoplastic and non-neoplastic breast specimens. During this time elective months are also offered in our subspecialty areas including:

• Bone and soft tissue pathology
• Cardiovascular pathology
• Cytopathology
• Dermatopathology
• Endocrine pathology
• Gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology
• Genitourinary pathology
• Gynecologic pathology
• Head and neck pathology
• Hematopathology
• Molecular genetics, cytogenetics and flow cytometry
• Neuropathology
• Ophthalmic pathology
• Pulmonary pathology
• Renal pathology

Didactic Training

There is an integrated didactic core lecture series, attended by all residents and fellows, which covers a range of topics in anatomic and clinical pathology. There is also a monthly education conference in surgical pathology and a monthly journal club in conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Breast Fellowship Program in Surgery where periodically you will be expected to present material. An extensive teaching file contains glass slides demonstrating the entire spectrum of neoplastic and non-neoplastic pathological diseases.

Research Training
The wealth of surgical pathology material at Mayo Clinic offers limitless opportunities for research projects. We also collaborate with large, active clinical and research groups in all subspecialty areas. Core science laboratories are located in the same building as the pathology division, providing access to techniques such as microdissection, molecular genetics, cytogenetics and flow cytometry.

In addition, you are encouraged to assist with teaching and the development of clinicopathologic studies for presentation and publication.

Evaluation

Fellows are evaluated at the completion of each rotation block, which may range in length from four to eight weeks. Evaluations assess fellow competence in patient care, medical knowledge, professionalism, systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement; and interpersonal and communication skills.

The program director meets with each fellow quarterly to review their evaluations and discuss professional growth. In addition, allied health staff and residents are asked to evaluate the fellow's performance periodically.

Fellows are able to view their evaluations electronically. Final written summative evaluations are completed for each fellow upon completion of the program.