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Veterinary and Comparative Pathology Training Programs

Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK

Program Objectives

To provide an intensive and comprehensive training experience in either anatomic or clinical pathology with the ultimate goal of ACVP board certification
To provide a broad-base exposure to multiple disciplines in order to prepare candidates for a broad range of career alternatives or for further graduate training

Programs Offered (Executive Summary)

Anatomic Pathology Residency: three 3-year positions

Anatomic Pathology Combined Residency/PhD: one 6-year position; jointly funded by Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (OSU-CVHS) and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF)

Clinical Pathology Residency: two 3-year positions

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements

Interested individuals must have a DVM or equivalent veterinary degree.
Applications should include ALL of the following: a cover letter stating career goals, an updated curriculum vitae, official veterinary school transcripts that include a standardized GPA, and contact information for three references.
GRE scores are desired. For the combined program, GRE scores are a requirement.
Foreign graduates must submit a recent TOFEL score.

Review of candidates will begin in October or November each year a position becomes available. The anticipated start date will be July 1st of the following year, unless otherwise posted.

Stipend and Benefits

Resident stipends start at $27,228 per year including comprehensive health benefits. Graduate research associate position salaries are dependent on the grant through which they are funded. Non-resident tuition is normally waived for individuals supported by a stipend.

Facilities

The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is a fully accredited school that has modern research facilities including equipment for molecular biologic as well as traditional research techniques. College facilities include modern research laboratories, a new laboratory animal facility, a modern teaching hospital, a full service diagnostic laboratory, and an exceptional library. A 1.5 million volume campus library and campus-wide core facilities for molecular biology augment college facilities.

Case material for residency training is provided by the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL), Laboratory Animal Resources, the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and the Tulsa Zoo. A full range of standard pathological techniques is available including immunohistochemistry, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. In addition there are excellent ancillary diagnostic services including toxicology, bacteriology, virology, and molecular diagnostics.

Community

Oklahoma State University is located in Stillwater, a north-central Oklahoma community with a population of more than 45,000. Stillwater is approximately 60 miles from the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas. Stillwater was recently voted the “#6 Best Small City in America" by Demographics Daily Online Magazine and has been designated as "One of America’s 100 Safest Cities" by Safe Communities in America. There are several lakes and rivers within a short drive from Stillwater allowing ample opportunity to experience great outdoor activities. There are seven 18-hole golf courses within the greater community of Stillwater.

Oklahoma State University is a modern, comprehensive, land grant university (http://osu.okstate.edu/welcome/) that offers programs in a wide variety of areas including: Arts and Sciences; Education; Engineering, Architecture, and Technology; Humane Environmental Sciences; Business; Health Sciences; and Veterinary Sciences (http://www.cvm.okstate.edu). The enrollment at the Stillwater campus is approximately 20,000 students including over 4,000 graduate students.

Faculty and Staff

Anatomic Pathology

Melanie A. Breshears, DVM, PhD, DACVP; Assistant Professor
Gregory A. Campbell, DVM, PhD, DACVP; Associate Professor
Anthony W. Confer, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVP; Regents Professor and Sitlington Endowed Chair for Food Animal Research
Bill J. Johnson, DVM, DACVP; Professor; Director, Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL)
Catherine Lamm, DVM, DACVP; Assistant Professor
Bradley L. Njaa, DVM, MVSc, DACVP; Associate Professor; Residency Training Coordinator, Anatomic Pathology
Roger J. Panciera, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVP; Professor Emeritus
Grant B. Rezabek, DVM, MPH; Clinical Assistant Professor
Jerry W. Ritchey, DVM, PhD, DACVP; Professor
Timothy A. Snider, DVM, PhD, DACVP; Assistant Professor

Clinical Pathology

Robin Allison, DVM; PhD; DACVP; Assistant Professor
James H. Meinkoth, DVM; MS; PhD; DACVP; Professor and Interim Head of the Department of Pathobiology; Residency Training Coordinator, Clinical Pathology
Theresa Rizzi, DVM; DACVP; Lecturer

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Sahlu Ayalew, PhD; Research Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology and Microbiology
William W. Barrow, PhD; Professor and Sitlington Endowed Chair for Infectious Diseases. Microbiology
Edmour F. Blouin, PhD; Research Associate Professor, Parasitology
Christine Bourne, PhD; Assistant Research Scientist, Molecular Biology
Philip Bourne, PhD; Research Associate Professor, Research Scientist, Biochemistry and Crystallography
Kenneth D. Clinkenbeard, PhD; DVM; Professor
Jose de la Fuente, PhD; Research Professor; Molecular Parasitology & Vaccinology
Jean M. d’fOffay, DVM, PhD; DACVM; Professor, Virology
Richard W. Eberle, PhD; Professor, Virology
Sidney A. Ewing, DVM, PhD; Professor Emeritus, Parasitology
Robert W. Fulton, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVM; Professor and McCasland Foundation Chair in Food Animal Research and Production Health, Virology
Tamara Gull, DVM, PhD, ACVIM, ACVPM; Assistant Professor, Bacteriology and Large Animal Medicine
Eileen M. Johnson, DVM, MS, PhD; Lecturer, Parasitology
Sanjay Kapil, BVSc & AH, MVSc, PhD; DACVM; Professor, Virology
Katherine M. Kocan, MSPH, PhD; Regents Professor & Sitlington Endowed Chair, Parasitology
Susan E. Little, DVM, PhD; DEVPC; Professor, Krull-Ewing Endowed Chair for Veterinary Parasitology, Parasitology
Tom Oomens, MS, PhD; Assistant Professor; Virology
Mason Reichard, PhD; Assistant Professor, Parasitology
Jared Taylor, DVM, MPH, PhD, ACVIM, ACVPM; Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Public Health

Address inquiries to:

ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY
Bradley L. Njaa, BSc, DVM, MVSc, DACVP
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Oklahoma State University
226 McElroy Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-6769
FAX: 405-744-5275
Email: brad.njaa@okstate.edu

CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
James H. Meinkoth, DVM, PhD, DACVP
255A McElroy Hall
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-2007
Phone: (405) 744-4521
FAX: (405) 744-5275
Email: james.meinkoth@okstate.edu

Detailed Summary of Programs

Anatomic Pathology Residency Program. This program provides 3 years of advanced training in anatomic pathology to serve as a foundation for becoming a competent diagnostic pathologist and to help prepare the trainee for certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. This program provides training in morphologic pathology of companion, laboratory, exotic and food animals, horses and birds. It is also intended to provide an understanding of clinical pathology and principles of general pathology at the molecular level. Resident instruction is based upon trainees performing necropsies and examining surgical pathology specimens, under the supervision of a senior pathologist. In addition, trainees participate in gross rounds, histopathology slide conferences, seminars, and journal clubs. An intense level of directed independent study is required of trainees. The anatomic pathology residency program emphasizes training in diagnostic pathology and is not a combined residency/graduate program. Trainees have the option of continuation in a graduate program following completion of residency requirements. The residency program provides time and collaboration opportunities with research faculty so that the trainees may choose a mentor and graduate program.

Anatomic Pathology Combined Residency/PhD Program. This program offers candidates the opportunity to engage in both veterinary anatomic pathology residency training and cutting-edge research in the broad area of diagnostic imaging at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF). OMRF is a large research foundation based out of Oklahoma City, OK that conducts cutting edge biomedical research focusing on critical areas of investigation that include cardiovascular disease, neoplasia, lupus, and Alzheimer’s disease. The first 2 years of the program are primarily devoted to anatomic pathology residency training at the OSU Stillwater campus, similar to a traditional training program. The following 3 years are primarily devoted to research, capitalizing on the wealth of expertise and state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at the OMRF. To ensure board eligibility and maintain a developing expertise, the candidate will be expected to devote a much smaller portion of time towards pathology training. It is anticipated that during the final year of the program, the research will be in its final stages and more effort can be devoted to diagnostic pathology and preparation for the ACVP board examination.

Clinical Pathology Residency Program. The clinical pathology residency program provides advanced training in clinical pathology to serve as a foundation for becoming competent in diagnostic clinical pathology and to help prepare the trainee for certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. The training program requires 3 years of training. Residency appointments are for 1 year with yearly reappointments if satisfactory progress is made. The program provides training in cytology, hematology, and clinical chemistry. It also provides general training in anatomic pathology and principles of general pathology. Resident instruction is based upon trainees evaluating cytologic specimens under supervision of a senior pathologist. In addition, trainees participate in rounds, histopathology slide conference, seminars, and journal clubs. An intense level of directed independent study, particularly of textbooks and current literature, is required by trainees. Most residents are required to spend part of each year (up to 3 months per year) training with one of our reference laboratory or industrial training partners. The clinical pathology residency program emphasizes training in diagnostic pathology and is not a combined residency/graduate program. However, trainees have the option of working on a M.S. degree during the residency program. It is the resident’s responsibility to find a project and obtain funding for said project, if a M.S. degree is desired. The residency program provides time and collaboration opportunities with research faculty so that the trainees may choose a mentor and graduate program.

Graduate Program in Pathobiology. The graduate program is part of the College-wide Veterinary Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, a multidisciplinary program intended to provide broad opportunities for graduate study to address individual student interests. The program is administered within The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences but may involve faculty outside of the College. Programs of research and study leading to the degrees of Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) are available within three broad areas of focus: infectious diseases, pathobiology, and physiological sciences. Current areas of research strength and focus include: infectious diseases, tick-borne diseases, toxicology, pharmacology, lung biology, and parasitology. The plan of study for either the M.S. or Ph.D. degree is designed to meet the student's needs and interests and typically will include courses in biochemistry, biochemistry techniques, statistics, and seminar. For the Ph.D. degree, written and oral qualifying examinations are required. Students must prepare a research proposal and complete a dissertation based on original research. Normally the OSU Graduate College requires 90 credit hours, including research thesis hours, to fulfill the requirements for a Ph.D. degree. Graduate students holding a D.V.M. or equivalent degree, however, receive a waiver of 30 credit hours towards the Ph.D.

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