Recruitment and training of the surgical pathologist

Training programs in surgical pathology currently produce and in the future will produce surgical pathologists with two levels of expertise. The first is the product of the four-year combined residency program. The training program must take into consideration the need of these trainees to attain an acceptable level of expertise in surgical pathology at the time they complete a four-year AP-CP pathology residency program. The trainees in the subspecialty of surgical pathology develop special knowledge and technical skills, often with expertise in a special area. Training of the subspecialists should be limited to those institutions with adequate case material, senior staff, and technical capabilities. Recruitment of the subspecialists from the general pool of trainees in pathology is likely to continue. The ASCP/CAP/APC Joint Task Force on Pathology Manpower in future studies should assess the needs for surgical pathology subspecialists so that funding for traineeships can be sought.