Educational Mission

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine is committed to excellence in education across every stage of the learning continuum. Our educational programs prepare the next generation of scientists, physicians, and healthcare professionals by fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong commitment to learning, discovery, and compassionate patient care.

Our mission is to:

• Provide exceptional educational experiences for undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students, pathology residents, fellows, postdoctoral scholars, and practicing healthcare professionals.
• Equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment needed to understand disease mechanisms, apply laboratory medicine principles, and deliver high-quality, evidence-based patient care.
• Promote scientific inquiry, scholarship, and innovation through research, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Cultivate future leaders in pathology and laboratory medicine who are dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and serving their communities.
• Support lifelong learning by offering continuing medical education and professional development opportunities for physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Undergraduate/Graduate

PATH 415/515 – Mechanisms of Human Disease

PATH 415/515 introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the fundamental mechanisms of human disease, providing a strong foundation in modern pathology and laboratory medicine. Through lectures and active learning experiences, students explore how biochemical, cellular, and structural changes contribute to disease processes, including, tissue injury, adaptation and repair, inflammation, neoplasia, and system-specific diseases.  Graduate students further develop critical analysis and scientific communication skills through a research-focused term paper and presentation. Together, these courses prepare students for careers in biomedical research, healthcare, and advanced professional education while emphasizing the role of pathology in understanding, diagnosing, and treating human disease.

Medical Student/School Education

PATH 850 Clinical Electives

The Department of Pathology offers a variety of PATH 850 elective clerkships that allow medical students to explore pathology as a medical specialty while gaining hands-on experience in diagnostic medicine. Through participation in surgical pathology, autopsy pathology, hematopathology, laboratory medicine, and other subspecialty services, students work alongside pathology faculty, residents, and fellows to develop diagnostic reasoning, understand disease mechanisms, and appreciate the essential role of pathologists in patient care. These electives complement the College of Medicine curriculum by providing practical exposure to laboratory medicine, multidisciplinary collaboration, and clinicopathologic correlation, from patient specimen to final diagnosis.

Post Sophomore Fellowship (PSF)

The Post-Sophomore Fellowship (PSF) provides medical students who have completed the pre-clinical years of medical school with an immersive, year-long experience in pathology. Functioning at a level comparable to a first-year pathology resident under close faculty supervision, PSFs participate in surgical pathology, autopsy pathology, laboratory medicine, and other diagnostic subspecialties while developing a deeper understanding of disease processes and laboratory diagnostics. The fellowship offers exceptional opportunities for clinical learning, teaching, and research, helping students strengthen their diagnostic reasoning, explore pathology as a career, and gain valuable experience that enhances future residency training regardless of specialty choice.

Graduate Medical Education

Pathology Residency & Fellowship Programs

Graduate Medical Education in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine prepares physicians for successful careers in diagnostic pathology, academic medicine, research, and laboratory leadership. The department's fully accredited Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) Residency Program provides comprehensive training across surgical pathology, cytopathology, autopsy pathology, hematopathology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, molecular pathology, transfusion medicine, and forensic pathology through diverse clinical training sites. Residents learn under nationally recognized faculty while caring for a broad spectrum of patients and developing the expertise required for board certification.

Following residency, fellowship programs offer advanced subspecialty training that allows physicians to refine their clinical, diagnostic, and research expertise in focused areas of pathology. Together, the residency and fellowship programs foster excellence in patient care, education, innovation, and lifelong learning while preparing graduates to become future leaders in pathology and laboratory medicine.