Program Coordinator:
Dr. Jennifer Johns, jennifer.johns@oregonstate.edu
Location:
Corvallis, Oregon
Next available residency position:
Application deadline will be September 15, 2025. This is for a residency position starting July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029.
Purpose:
The Clinical Pathology residency program at Oregon State University provides advanced training in veterinary clinical pathology and laboratory medicine. This program fulfills training requirements and prepares trainees for the American College of Veterinary Pathology (ACVP) certifying examination in clinical pathology. Residents are based in the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (OVDL) within the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, housed in the same building as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Residents train under the direct supervision of board-certified veterinary clinical pathologists and work closely with medical technologists in the clinical pathology laboratory. Training focuses on hematology, clinical chemistry, cytology, and fundamentals of laboratory management including quality control, instrument and test validation, and testing methodology. Samples are received from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and from outside clients including small and large animal clinics, zoos/aquariums, and wildlife centers, and encompass a diverse range of animal species.
Residents are required to attend/host weekly cytology rounds and focused rounds (clinical pathology journal club, boards preparation sessions, etc.). Other rounds are optional but highly encouraged (see Seminars and Rounds list below). Residents are required to participate in clinical pathology teaching activities, particularly senior rotations and second-year didactic and laboratory teaching.
The clinical pathology residency program encourages scientific collaboration and scholarly activity. Publication of original findings (e.g., case reports, retrospective studies, or original research) is supported and highly encouraged. Additionally, trainees have the option to pursue advanced graduate training concurrently with their residency in the form of a MS or PhD. Most residents obtaining concurrent graduate degrees do so through the Comparative Health Sciences Program, but residents are encouraged to explore other graduate programs at OSU.
Useful links:
Current Faculty:
Dr. Susan Tornquist, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP (Clinical Pathology)
Dr. Jennifer Johns, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP (Clinical Pathology)
Primary seminars and rounds:
Cytology Rounds
Weekly rounds hosted by clinical pathology residents/faculty and attended by senior students, house officers and clinical faculty. Current cases from the week’s diagnostic duty are presented and discussed.
Tuesday Slide Conference
Anatomic and clinical pathology residents and faculty take turns moderating this interactive weekly conference focused on current topics in veterinary pathology.
Surgery-Oncology-Pathology-Imaging (SOPI) Rounds
These quarterly rounds are a collaborative effort between the small animal surgery, oncology, pathology and imaging departments. Specialists and residents gather to discuss current topics and challenging cases.
Clinical Pathology ‘journal club’
This weekly session is focused on meeting the needs of the current resident(s) and includes general pathology review sessions in preparation for Phase 1 board examination; systematic review of veterinary clinical pathology textbooks and relevant journal articles in preparation for Phase 2 board examination; and career development training (e.g., instruction on pedagogy, constructing an academic CV, and mentoring of students).
Other rounds sessions (e.g., necropsy rounds, histopathology rounds, clinical service rounds) are open to clinical pathology residents.
Application process and requirements:
The next application deadline is September 15, 2025, for a residency position starting July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029. The residency position will be posted in the ACVP Career/Training Center prior to application deadline. There is some flexibility regarding the starting date of the program. We do not participate in a match program. Please submit your application materials and any inquiries directly to jennifer.johns@oregonstate.edu.
Applicants are required to have a DVM/VMD or equivalent degree. We prefer at least one year of post-DVM work (e.g., clinical practice, internship, graduate degree or other research experience). Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae and letter of intent. Three letters of professional reference are required and must be submitted directly from the referee to the above email address.