HEMATOLOGY & COAGULATION MEDICINE
 Drs. Cousar, Goldfarb & Innes
Core Rotation: Three months in the first year of clinical pathology.
The resident is responsible for learning the methodology and interpretation of routine hematologic tests and procedures currently available in the Hematology Laboratory. This includes an understanding of laboratory management and quality control. Areas of study include automated instrumentation, differential cell morphology, coagulation, hemoglobin electrophoresis, urinalysis, hematologic immunostaining, cytochemistry, DNA hybridization techniques, and the interpretation of flow cytometric marker studies in the study of hematology. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy interpretation are emphasized. The resident is expected to be available for consultation during the day, i.e., interpretation of morphologic findings on differential counts, hemoglobin electrophoresis, etc. The resident will act as the Hematology liaison with clinicians. Skilled oral and written communication of laboratory results and interpretations to clinicians is fostered. Hematology rounds are held each morning, Monday through Friday.
Specialty training in the Hemostasis/Coagulation Laboratory is done intermittently between other clinical pathology rotations, for one month at a time. The resident is expected to participate in the laboratory work-up of each special coagulation patient. Weekly coagulation conferences combine didactic teaching with review of current cases. Brief daily rounds are held Monday - Friday. Each clinical pathology resident has approximately 2 months’ experience in coagulation medicine per year.
 Urinalysis and medical microscopy training for residents is part of the rotation in the Hematology Laboratory. Areas of study include standard dip-stick urinalysis testing as well as automated urinalysis instrumentation. Medical microscopy for cellular morphology and crystal and cast identification is studied. Medical microscopy of cerebrospinal, pleural, peritoneal, synovial and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens is covered. The resident is expected to be available for consultation during the day, i.e., interpretation of morphologic findings. Abnormal and unusual microscopy findings and all BALs are referred to rounds.
Specialty training in molecular pathology as applied to diagnostic and experimental hematology is included early in the 3 month rotation. For the remainder of the rotation, the resident is expected to be aware of and participate in diagnostic DNA work-ups in hematology. Hematologic molecular genetic cases are reviewed weekly.
The resident is responsible for preparing necessary patient material for the weekly Hematology Pathology Conference; the bi-weekly Pediatric Hematopathology Conference at a multi-headed microscope, the Leukemia/Lymphoma Case Review, and Immunology Conference. The resident should attend the Hematology Case Discussions, and Hematology General Rounds. The resident should participate in aspects of the Hematology quality control and laboratory administrative meetings.
Residents returning to Hematology for further training are expected to assume a higher level of responsibility in the laboratory (differentials, immunologic reports, cytochemistry, coagulation duties, etc.).
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