Dermatopathology Fellowship
The Noreen Walsh Dermatopathology Fellowship is a one year opportunity for a graduated resident who completed training in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology or Diagnostic and Clinical Pathology to further train in the subspecialty of Dermatopathology with some exposure to clinical Dermatology.
Program highlights
The Fellowship program was established at the Department of Pathology in Halifax by Dr. Noreen Walsh in July 2012 in an attempt to contribute to the need for subspecialty training in Dermatopathology in Canada.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has not officially recognized any dermatopathology programs in Canada. For graduating fellows to receive an official credential, Dr. Walsh approached the International Committee for Dermatopathology-European Union of Medical Specialists (ICDP-UEMS) to seek approval of the Halifax site as a registered training centre in this discipline. After a site visit and comprehensive evaluation of the quality of the learning opportunity, ICDP-UEMS officially approved the Halifax program. It is the first and remains the only ICDP-UEMS-accredited fellowship in Canada.
The first fellow joined the program in 2013. After Dr. Walsh’s retirement in July 2022, the program continues under the helm of Dr. Sylvia Pasternak. Graduates from the program are now working across Canada, in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia, filling a national gap in dermatopathology.
How to apply
Candidates eligible to apply to the Program include those certified in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology or Diagnostic and Clinical Pathology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or individuals eligible to sit for the RCPSC qualifying exams in those disciplines.
Applications should include a letter outlining the individual’s professional aspirations and a current copy of their curriculum vitae (including a list of 4 referees with whom the applicant has worked in the past 4 years).
Applications should be sent to Program Director Dr. Sylvia Pasternak. Deadline for applications are May 31 of the year prior to the commencement date. A site visit to Halifax, for an elective rotation and for exploration of benefits offered by the Program, is highly encouraged.
Dermatopathology Team
| Dr. Sylvia Pasternak | Dermatopathology Fellowship Program Director ICDP-UEMS Board Certified |
| Dr Thai Yen Ly | American Board of Dermatopathology Certified |
| Dr Jennette Gruchy | ICDP-UEMS Board Certified |
| Dr Ryan De Coste | ICDP-UEMS Board Certified |