PhD graduate training programs in pathology: 2003 report from the American Society for Investigative Pathology...

Graduate training is one of the most important activities in which we engage. Through PhD training programs in pathology, we continually renew the intellectual vigor of our discipline and assure its position as a vibrant force in the life sciences. To focus on this important issue, the Education Committee of the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) organized a workshop on April 11, 2003 for pathology graduate program directors from across the United States and Canada. The goals of this workshop were to better define the current models of pathology graduate training programs, to identify key issues pertaining to the curriculum of pathology training programs and strategies to better market pathology graduate training opportunities, and to identify challenges for the future. Twenty-three program directors and other faculty interested in pathology graduate education, as well as 2 invited PhD students, attended the workshop. Workshop participants concluded that the integration of more and better disease-related education into graduate training programs would attract more and better-qualified students into pathology career pathways that will ultimately fulfill important societal needs and train future leaders of the biomedical research community. The ASIP is facilitating this goal by taking a leadership role in publicizing educational efforts in pathology and by making systematic use of its Website for sharing information about curriculum ideas and materials, as well as course syllabi.