A fully accredited 4-year combined anatomic and clinical pathology training program is offered. First-year appointments may begin the first year out of medical school or at a later date. In the combined AP-CP program, anatomic and clinical pathology rotations are fully integrated throughout the 4 years of training and are generally divided into 2 or 3 month blocks. A highlight of the program is the excellent balance between anatomic and clinical pathology training. Most rotations occur at the University Hospital, with a minority at the Washington Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Rotations in pediatric anatomic and clinical pathology take place at the Children's National Medical Center. Rotations in forensic pathology take place at the DC Medical Examiner's Office. Major departmental conferences are held throughout the week, and departmental research seminars and special lectures are held periodically. Other teaching conferences (hematology, neuropathology, medical and surgical death conferences, tumor conferences, breast conference, gastrointestinal conference, renal conference, head and neck conference, etc.) are held in conjunction with various clinical departments. Exposure to emerging new technologies such as molecular diagnostics is provided. Residents actively participate in the research and teaching activities of the department. Residents have 4 months of elective time in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and/or research. The elective time allows trainees to focus on areas of special interest and may include work at any of the affiliated hospitals or other institutions outside of the university (NIH, AFIP, etc.). Optional training toward an MPH degree is available in the GWU School of Public Health.

A total of 15 appointments is offered, divided among each year of training. Fellowships in cytopathology and surgical pathology are also available in the department. Most beginning residency appointments are at the first-year level; however, advanced appointments may be arranged. Other specialties account for some 450 internships and residencies at the University Hospital, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Children's National Medical Center, and other affiliated hospitals.

The George Washington University Hospital is a general hospital of 371 beds, admitting approximately 16,700 patients annually. The hospital is located in a new state-of-the-art building opened in August, 2002. The Veterans Affairs Medical Center is also a general hospital with a bed capacity of 252 beds and admits about 7,500 patients annually. The Children's National Medical Center is a pediatric hospital of 260 beds and admits approximately 22,000 patients annually. The professional staffs at the three hospitals all have faculty appointments in the University Medical Center. The material available for the residents' study is diverse and covers practically all fields. At the three hospitals there are some 120 autopsies annually, 25,000 surgical pathology accessions, 8,000 cytopathology accessions, 2,000 intraoperative consultations, and approximately 3,200,000 clinical pathology tests. More than 20 additional autopsies are usually performed by each resident while at the DC Medical Examiner's office. A fine needle aspiration clinic is located in the Cytopathology service. An electron microscopy suite is present in the department. The clinical pathology division includes laboratories for hematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, blood bank, flow cytometry, and molecular diagnostics. The residents take part in all these activities, with particular emphasis on providing consultation to clinicians. An excellent collection of current textbooks and clinical case study sets is maintained in the department.

Washington, DC offers many cultural, social, recreational, religious and educational opportunities. In addition, Washington is frequently host to important national and regional medical meetings. Residents in pathology attend many of these meetings and participate in special courses in pathology available in the area, especially those at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and NIH.

In academic year 2008-2009, first-year trainees received $46,249 and second-year trainees $48,024 per annum, with an incremental increase of about $2,000 per annum for each subsequent year. Salary levels for academic year 2009-2010 were not yet available at press time. Each year, all house officers receive three weeks vacation and up to one week administrative leave with pay. White coats are provided. Free parking is available. House staff members provide their own meals and quarters. University tuition benefits and a variety of health insurance and other benefit plans are available. The hospital provides professional liability insurance.