The Section of Anatomic Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University invites applicants for anatomic pathology residency positions which begin on July 1 of each year. These are three-year training positions designed to prepare candidates for careers in veterinary pathology and certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

The Cornell University Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Zoological Health Program are pleased to announce the availability of 3 residency positions to begin on July 1, 2025. Two residency positions are available in the traditional anatomic pathology track and one on the zoo/wildlife/anatomic pathology track.

This is a 3-year appointment, renewable annually assuming satisfactory performance. This program is designed to prepare candidates for a career in veterinary anatomic pathology and certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP).

The Zoo and Wildlife Pathology Resident spends the first two years of their training at Cornell's Ithaca campus and the third year at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo in the Bronx, NY. All three years of the traditional program are at the Ithaca campus. Both Ithaca and New York City offer numerous educational, social, and recreational opportunities.

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine is an inclusive, dynamic, and innovative university based in Ithaca, NY. It is New York’s only land-grant institution. The Wildlife Conservation Society, based in the Bronx, NY, is a world-renowned conservation organization whose aims are to save wild animals and wildlands. Staff and faculty at both institutions impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas and best practices to further their goals of teaching, conservation, research, outreach, and capacity building.

The Section of Anatomic Pathology at Cornell University provides diagnostic pathology support for the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center. The Anatomic Pathology caseload at Cornell University includes over 12,000 surgical biopsies and nearly 2,000 necropsies per year. Cases include a wide variety of species from the Cornell University Hospital for Animals and referring veterinarians from around the world. The residents receive wide exposure to companion, agricultural, laboratory, wildlife, and zoo animal pathology. We have specialty pathology services in dermatopathology, neuropathology, hepatopathology, and forensic pathology. Resident learning is supplemented by resident and faculty-organized seminars, specialty rounds, and weekly gross pathology rounds.

The WCS Pathology Department provides diagnostic pathology services to its four zoos, aquarium, and in-country conservation programs in more than 40 countries. Training throughout the residency program is case-based, using submissions received for necropsy examination and through the respective surgical pathology services. Opportunities exist for post-residency graduate research training in a variety of laboratories at Cornell University, the WCS, or anatomic pathology fellowship specialty training.

The annual salary for a first-year resident is $50,000. Dental and health insurance is provided in addition to a retirement account, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts as applicable both at Cornell and the WCS. Benefit choices are selected at the time of hire, and employees pay for some or all of the elected choices. Additional information is available by contacting Golnaz Bastani-Charnley at raemail@cornell.edu. 

A DVM degree or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited or AVMA-listed school and a strong academic record, as well as excellent interpersonal skills and a strong interest in veterinary pathology, are required. 

Applications

To apply, please submit your completed application through this link: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/5664/. (Please note that the anatomic pathology residency position is not posted on AJO (Academic Jobs Online). Instead, please  create an applicant account on the AJO webpage and submit the following documents:)

1. Application Face Page
2. Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended (must be received directly from the college/university registrar)
3. CV
4. Three letters of reference (at least one from a board-certified ACVP/ECVP/JCVP/or equivalent pathologist)
5. Statement of career goals (~ 1 page)
6. Official TOEFL score if applicable 
   1. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL and have the official scores reported to Cornell, using Institutional Code: 8839, by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The TOEFL is the only English proficiency test accepted by this program and scores from other testing organizations will not be considered.
   2. Minimum TOEFL score requirements on the iBT test is 100 overall, with the following minimum required per categories: reading 24; listening 22; speaking 25; writing 25.
   3. Please note: Because language proficiency can change considerably in a short period of time, TOEFL scores are only valid for two years from the test date. If you took the TOEFL more than two years before your application to this program, you must take the test again to have your scores reported.
   4. Students who are currently studying full time, for at least two years, at a college or university where English is the language of instruction, located in a country where English is the native language, may be exempted from submitting TOEFL scores. We ask those individuals who feel they qualify for a waiver to send a letter requesting the waiver and detailing their reasoning along with their application materials well in advance of the application deadline for prior approval.

When submitting your application please make sure to indicate which track(s) you are applying for. Completed applications are due no later than September 27, 2024. Interviews (virtual) will be held in October with the goal of extending residency offers no later than mid-November.

Questions can be sent to:
Alina Demeter, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP
Assistant Clinical Professor
Anatomic Pathology Residency Director
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
ed478@cornell.edu

Questions regarding the zoo/anatomic pathology track can be directed to:
D McAloose, VMD, Dipl ACVP
Head, Department of Pathology
Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program
dmcaloose@wcs.org
 

Cornell University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator.