Goals of the Program
To provide a comprehensive experience in adult and pediatric hematopathology, including
- morphologic evaluation of lymphoid tissues, bone marrow biopsies and aspirate smears, blood films, and body fluid smears;
- the proper technique for performing bone marrow aspirations and biopsies;
- evaluation of cellular antigens on leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, and other hematolymphoid conditions by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis;
- interpretation of cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic assays in the context of myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma;
- interpretation of coagulation tests in the context of hemostasis;
- interpretation of serum protein electrophoresis, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and other special hematology tests;
- operation and management of automated hematology instrumentation and related digital image interpretation;
- involvement in management issues associated with various laboratories and regulatory policies that support the hematopathology program.
The annual case volume consists of approximately 3,000 bone marrow specimens, 1,600 lymph nodes, 6,000 diagnostic flow cytometic assays, 5,000 molecular diagnostic assays, and 3,500 cytogenetics/FISH assays. The program's faculty consists of 9 board-certified hematopathologists. Fellows also work closely with faculty and staff in our Molecular Pathology, Genetics, and Genomics Clinical Laboratory and a specialist in Transfusion Medicine and Coagulation with dual appointments at Duke University and the Durham VA Medical Center. The fellow will be exposed to a wide variety of clinical and basic investigations and is encouraged to participate in research and quality improvement projects.
Annual Curriculum
Thirteen 4-week blocks of rotation are divided as follows:
- 7 blocks of diagnostic hematopathology, consisting of a mixture of in-house and consult cases (bone marrow, lymph node, blood smears, body fluids, and associated flow cytometric studies) 1 dedicated block of flow cytometry
- 1 block of cytogenetics
- 1 block of molecular diagnostics
- 1 block of coagulation/automated hematology
- 1 block of research
- 1 block of elective
Eligibility Requirements
MD or DO, board eligible or certified in anatomic and clinical pathology (AP/CP). Exceptional AP-only candidates will also be considered.
Facilities
The Duke University Health System is a tertiary health care system serving patients from several mid-Atlantic states. It currently is comprised of three hospitals with 1498 beds.
An affiliation with the Durham Veteran's Affairs Hospital (274 beds) provides additional training opportunities as does the Duke Cancer Institute. Trainees required under law to register for the US Selective Service System must have done so to train at the VA hospital. Additional details can be found at https://www.sss.gov.
Stipend
Commensurate with level of training.
Applications
Hematopathology Application DOC PDF
- 2024-2025 Hematopathology Fellowship: Filled
- 2025-2026 Hematopathology Fellowship: 1 spot available.
- 2026-2027 Hematopathology Fellowship: 2 spots available. We are excited to participate in the inaugural Hematopathology Fellowship NRMP Match for the 2026-2027 appointment year. A list of all the programs participating in the Match can be found on the Society for Hematopathology website. An FAQ document on the match process written for applicants is also available on that website. Duke will begin receiving application materials for 2026/2027 Fellowship in the Fall of 2024. We will begin offering interviews starting in January 2025. Applicants will need to register for the Pathology Fellowship Match in February 2025 with the NRMP (https://www.nrmp.org/fellowship-applicants/) and can rank programs participating in the match with which they have interviewed.
Email your application package to Program Coordinator Brittany Harris.
Eric D. Carlsen, MD, PhD
Director of Hematopathology Fellowship
c/o Brittany Harris
Department of Pathology
DUMC 3712
Durham, NC 27710
Phone: 919-684-2070
Current Fellows
Faculty
Eric D. Carlsen, MD, PhD, FASCP,
Program Director
Email
