Department of Pathology

Dalhousie University

Hematological Pathology

Hematological pathology incorporates multiple areas of medicine and science, including immunology, biochemistry, molecular pathology, and genetics.

As a resident in this four-year program, you’ll gain the ability to study, investigate, diagnose and monitor disorders of blood, blood-forming elements, hemostasis, and immune function in adults and children. You’ll build a solid understanding of these areas, along with a deep knowledge of the morphology of blood and hematopoietic and lymphoid organs, immunohematology, hemostasis and general hematology.

You’ll also learn to direct and supervise blood centre and hospital transfusion medicine services, all within a program that is approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Program highlights

Why hematological pathology at Dal?

There are plenty of reasons to pursue hematological pathology at Dalhousie. These include:

  • centralized laboratory services, with significant case volumes and variety
  • synergies for learning between the hematological pathology, clinical hematology and transfusion medicine programs
  • collaborative relationship with laboratory hematology and clinical hematology services
  • allogeneic bone marrow transplantation referral centre for the Maritimes
  • American Association of Blood Banks-accredited transfusion laboratory
  • significant opportunities for teaching and research
  • medical informatics knowledge and expertise

How our hematopathologists help

Without our faculty of dedicated and knowledgeable experts, we wouldn’t be able to offer a curriculum this strong and diverse. Here are just some of the ways our hematopathologists contribute:

  • teach lectures, work in the laboratory, facilitate small groups during the Skin, Glands, and Blood section of undergraduate medicine (Med II)
  • teach residents in all programs, including internal medicine, anesthesia and pathology
  • teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses
  • participate in continuing medical education initiatives for anesthesia, surgery and nursing
  • engage in clinical and applied research, as well as basic sciences research

What you'll learn

During your time as a resident, you’ll experience the clinical and educational opportunities you need to become a competent, lab-based hematologist. Your training will be tailored to your individual needs, but the overall curriculum is as follows:

PGY1

This year comprises training in relevant clinical medicine. You’ll spend at least six months studying adult clinical hematology, three months studying pediatric hematology/oncology, and the remaining time looking at other clinical disciplines with relevance to hematological pathology.

PGY2 and 3

During this time, you’ll gain approved residency training in adult, pediatric and community hematological pathology. You’ll also learn about:

  • morphological hematology
  • flow cytometry
  • hemostasis
  • transfusion medicine
  • hemoglobinopathy
  • tissue typing
  • cytogenetics
  • molecular pathology
  • immune function
  • hemolytic anemias
  • laboratory instrumentation and automation

PGY4

This year’s curriculum will be based on your interest and future career plans. You could spend the time training in a laboratory medicine subspecialty, taking electives in basic sciences, doing research work or taking courses in leadership or informatics.

 

How to Apply

The Hematological Pathology program is entirely separate from Diagnostic & Molecular Pathology or Diagnostic & Clinical Pathology. In order to meet RCPSC guidelines, you’ll need to complete a focused clinical year in a discipline relevant to hematopathology.

This subspecialty also requires expertise in instrumentation, quality management systems and administrative and regulatory guidelines in a laboratory environment.

Contact information

Hematological Pathology Residency Program Director
 Dr. Tish O'Reilly
Residency Program Coordinator pathres@dal.ca