Curriculum

Program Description:

The Pathologist’s Assistant program is an intensive full-time 2 year curriculum, culminating in a Master’s degree in Health Science, beginning in the spring semester. The Program provides a structured, graduate-level curriculum including a broad background in medical sciences combined with intensive education in anatomic pathology.

The first year of the Program will consist of didactic course work combined with laboratory sessions; the second year includes clinical rotations (practicum courses) with additional didactic course work. Major portions of the practicum courses will be completed at approved clinical affiliates throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Please note: The scheduling of the classes below is subject to change but all courses will be completed.

Curriculum - Year 1
Spring
PATH 603	Human Anatomy for Path. Asst.	6 Hours
PATH 625	Anatomical Pathology Techniques	4 Hours
PATH 728	General Pathology	5 Hours
FIDP 493B	Advanced Forensic Photography	3 Hours
		18 Hours
Summer
PATH 751	Mechanisms of Disease	12 Hours
		12 Hours
Fall
PSIO 743	Fundamentals of Physiology	5 Hours
MICB 702	Microbiology	5 Hours
MTEC 465	Clinical Laboratory Management	2 Hours
PATH 620	Clinical Pathology Seminar	2 Hours
PATH 610	Educational Methodologies	1 Hour
PATH 605	Advanced Microanatomy	2 Hour
		17 Hours

Curriculum - Year 2
Spring
PATH 627	Path Assistant Practicum I	9 Hours
PATH 630	Pathology Review I	2 Hours
		11 Hours
Summer
PATH 628	Path Assistant Practicum II	9 Hours
		9 Hours
Fall
PATH 629	Path Assistant Practicum III	7 Hours
PATH 631	Pathology Review II	2 Hours
		9 Hours
2 Year Total		76 Hours

Transfer credits are not accepted for incoming students to the Pathologists’ Assistant program (with the exception of Direct Admit students).  All curricular credits in the Pathologists’ Assistant program must be satisfactorily completed. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to progress to the Clinical Rotation phase of the program.

Direct Admit:

Students who enter the MHS in Pathologists’ Assistant Program after successfully completing the WVU Program in Medical Technology will have the following course work waived providing they meet the following criteria:

• The student must begin the MHS in Pathologists’ Assistant Program no more than three academic years after completing the BS in Medical Technology at WVU.
• The student must have a grade of “B” or higher in the related undergraduate course.

Pathologist’s Assistant Waived Courses	Related Undergraduate Courses
MTEC 465	PATH 610
MTEC 465	MTEC 381

Clinical Rotations:

Clinical rotations will begin in early January following successful completion of the didactic portion of the program. Rotations are completed in early to mid-December (based on convocation date).

We have affiliation agreements with the following sites for 2012:

Allegheny General Hospital, Main Campus, Pittsburgh, PA

Chairman of Pathology: Dr. Jan Silverman
Coordinator: Jerry Glass, PA

A 798 bed urban teaching facility.
8 Pathologists,
1 Pathologists’ Assistant
Residency Program
Over 17,000 surgical pathology cases
70 autopsy cases

Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, WV.

Coordinator: Dr. Darren Harris

A 261 bed community hospital,
3 Pathologists,
~11,000 surgical pathology cases,
14 autopsies

West Virginia University Hospitals/Ruby Memorial Hospital

Clinical Coordinators: Michelle Costas, MHS, PA(ASCP);
Carie Coffindaffer, MHS, PA (ASCP)

Medical Director, PA Program: Dr. Tiffany Harper
Chair of Pathology: Dr. Barbara Ducatman
Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for WV: Dr. Matrina Schmidt

A 531 bed teaching hospital,
12 Pathologists,
3 Pathologists’ Assistants,
Residency Program,
Over 18,000 surgical pathology cases,
+45 hospital autopsies,
~500 medical examiner autopsies,
This site provides a surgical pathology and an autopsy pathology rotation, which includes participation in medical examiner cases.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sites:

1) Magee-Womens’ Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA

Clinical Coordinator: Emily Ford, PA (ASCP)
Chief of Pathology: Dr. David Dabbs

A 278 bed urban teaching hospital, specializing in womens’ health issues,
15 Pathologists,
5 Pathologists’ Assistants,
28,000 surgical pathology cases,
85 autopsies.

Surgical Pathology Rotation.

2) UPMC Presbyterian. Pittsburgh, PA

Coordinators: Dr. Alena Sikorova; Dr Raj Seethala

UPMC Presbyterian is a renowned center for organ transplantation, and a recognized leader in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, critical care medicine and trauma services, and neurosurgery. UPMC Presbyterian also is designated as a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center. Surgical and Autopsy Pathology rotations.

3) UPMC Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA

Clinical Coordinator: Brian Foster, MHS, PA (ASCP)

Gross Room Supervisor: Kara Balatincz, PA(ASCP)

UPMC Shadyside is a 517-bed tertiary care hospital that has been serving the residents of Pittsburgh and the tristate area since 1866. UPMC Shadyside offers primary medical care; physician and nursing education; and a broad range of specialties that include cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, geriatrics, gynecology, vascular medicine, endocrinology, and more. Surgical Pathology rotation.

4) UPMC Childrens’ Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

Clinical Coordinator: Lori Schmitt, Pathology Manager

Pathologists’ Assistants: Bill Devine PA (ASCP), Dan Galvis, PA(ASCP)

Renowned for its outstanding clinical services, research programs and medical education, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC has helped establish the standards of excellence in pediatric care. From Ambulatory Care to Transplantation and Cardiac Care, talented and committed pediatric experts care for infants, children and adolescents who make more than 1,000,000 visits to Children’s, its many neighborhood locations, and Children's Community Pediatrics practices each year. In top 10 (8th) on the 2-11-2012 US News & World Report Honor Roll for Best American Children’s Hospitals, indicating it has at least 4 specialties that were ranked in the top ten of the country. Surgical Pathology rotation.

5) UPMC Health Sciences Tissue Bank, Pittsburgh, PA

Clinical Coordinator: Michelle Bisceglia

The Health Sciences Tissue Bank (HSTB) provides central support for University of Pittsburgh research programs needing tissue materials for research from patients seen at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The main objectives of HSTB are: (1) to provide a mechanism to simplify and streamline the process of research tissue accrual and disbursement, and (2) to provide efficient research pathology support services. Services provided by HSTB include: Tissue Banking, Research Histology, and Tissue Microarray Services. The HSTB is an IRB certified honest broker facility.

Not all students may rotate through all sites. Length of time spent at each site is dependent on number of students and sites available. Site assignment is at the discretion of the program director.