The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine offers flexible four to five-year training programs leading to Board certification in anatomic pathology, laboratory medicine, or combined anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine. These programs are individually tailored to be suitable for those individuals interested in an academic career in pathology, in the subspecialty practice of pathology, or in the practice of modern general pathology in the community. In addition, a training program in anatomic pathology and experimental pathology is available for those individuals who desire a career in scientific investigation. This track is geared toward individuals with significant experience in basic science research prior to residency.

The core program in anatomic pathology consists of training in pediatric and adult autopsy pathology, pediatric and adult general surgical pathology, cytopathology, dermatopathology, gynecologic/perinatal pathology, hematopathology, neuropathology, and forensics. Rotations in renal pathology, molecular hematopathology and informatics are also offered as electives. Other electives specifically geared toward graduated resident responsibilities include AP senior, Junior Attending, and Surgical Subspecialty Selective. Elective time for research is also a popular choice. Within general surgical pathology, there is subspecialty sign out in breast pathology, genitourinary pathology, and gastrointestinal/liver pathology. The core training program in laboratory medicine consists of rotations in biochemistry, coagulation, cytogenetics, hematology, microbiology, serology, transfusion medicine, molecular pathology and virology.

The anatomic pathology/experimental pathology trainees complete the core training program in anatomic pathology in two years and spend the subsequent two years in full-time laboratory research. The research may be performed within the department, or with an appropriate preceptor within other departments of Weill Cornell Medical College or nearby Rockefeller University or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. These unrivaled research opportunities combined with excellent financial support for the trainees make the experimental pathology training program one of the most attractive in the United States. In addition, a fifth year of fellowship training at one of several offered in the department is offered.

All residents are encouraged to participate in the research programs of the department and to present the results of their research at appropriate national meetings. The residents participate in numerous teaching conferences concerning anatomic pathology, laboratory medicine, and clinical and basic science research. In addition, each resident engages in student teaching in the pathology courses of the Weill Cornell Medical College. All the residents receive training and instruction from a large full-time faculty devoted to the clinical practice of pathology, clinical and basic research and teaching.