Washington University - School of Medicine: Department of Pathology & Immunology

The Program
	The goal of the Clinical Chemistry Fellowship program is to prepare individuals for a career in academic laboratory medicine, clinical practice or industry. This two-year program emphasizes the clinical aspects of biochemical testing and research including a "traditional postdoc" performing basic or translational research in a Washington University laboratory. Participants have doctoral degrees (PhD or MD) in the biological/biochemical sciences or medicine. Two to three trainees are accepted each year. Clinical chemists generally have four potential areas of responsibility: clinical service, research, education and administration. Career paths for formally trained clinical chemists include: university faculty member, director of a clinical laboratory in an academic or community hospital, director of a reference laboratory or working in the in vitro diagnostic industry.
History
	Laboratory medicine and clinical chemistry can be defined as the application of biochemistry to the diagnosis of human disease. It is a major interface between the basic and clinical sciences as new discoveries are quickly applied to the diagnosis and monitoring of disease. The Clinical Chemistry Fellowship program has had more than 80 graduates since its inception in 1970. More than half have accepted academic positions while approximately a quarter have taken industrial positions. Other graduates have moved into private hospital/practice, reference laboratories or other areas of medicine and academics. In total, the program has a >95% job placement rate.
The Curriculum
	The first year begins with a 15-week clinical rotation covering the fundamentals of clinical chemistry such as quality assurance, molecular diagnostics, endocrinology, toxicology, lipids, pediatric chemistry, statistics, disease states, analytical methods and instrumentation. This is followed by a "traditional postdoc" in the laboratory of a selected faculty member that continues for the duration of the fellowship. During this time, fellows will periodically participate in an on-call (beeper) system that supports hospitals in the Washington University Medical Center, as well as other clinical responsibilities. The second year extends both the clinical and research experience with specialized clinical training in areas such as molecular diagnostics, therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology, medical statistics and information systems, general and stat chemistry. There is a weekly clinical chemistry conference as well as extensive training sessions with individual faculty members. The program offers a high degree of clinical interaction, diversified research opportunities and development of the concepts and skills required to manage a modern clinical laboratory.
The Facilities
	Children's Hospital provides exposure to the laboratory needs of a primary and tertiary care pediatric facility. Barnes-Jewish Hospital provides the same for adult care. Two different types of laboratory computers are utilized and numerous microcomputers are also available. Trainees have access to and borrowing rights from the Washington University libraries and can get on the distribution list for the major laboratory, clinical and biochemical journals, which are purchased by the division. There are two small conference rooms (up to 15 people) and one large conference room (up to 50 people) available. Office space for the trainees is in the research laboratory to which they are assigned and they are also provided desk space in the Laboratory and Genomic Medicine resident's room during clinical rotation. All trainees have a personal computer and e-mail accounts.
Application
	To apply to the Clinical Chemistry Fellowship program, please send a letter of interest, CV, copy of your undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and three letters of reference to: Ann M. Gronowski, PhD or Mitchell G. Scott, PhD Division of Laboratory Medicine Department of Pathology and Immunology Washington University School of Medicine 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8118 St. Louis, MO 63110