Pathology graduate medical education (overview from 2006-2010)

Abstract

Graduate medical education of pathologists has undergone considerable changes since 2006. The "Outcome Project" and reduction of basic anatomic pathology/clinical pathology training to 4 years are major changes. With implementation of the 80-hour week, it now takes 16,000 hours to train a pathologist who is competent to sit for the American Board of Pathology examination and practice independently. Reduction of the training time from 5 to 4 years has produced a perception (or reality) of mandatory fellowships. Changes are discussed, and trends are updated. Recent data is compared with data reported by the author in 2001 and 2006, and is updated through 2010.