Surgical pathology allows doctors to determine the nature of any tissue surgically removed, so that a prognosis may be developed. Surgical pathologists are trained in the other sub-areas of anatomic pathology, because they must evaluate samples based on varying approaches.
The Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education and Stanford University offer surgical pathology courses. Mayo is a fellowship program, whereas Stanford offers a fuller range of classes for medical students.
Immunohistochemistry is the study of antibodies within tissue. The discipline studies antigens at the tissue level, so doctors often work with several lab technicians rather than patients. Schools that focus on lab work rather than patient work are most appropriate before beginning a residency.
The cream of the crop for those wishing to specialize in immunohistochemistry is Harvard Medical School. This is the school that gave rise to Albert Coons, the doctor who developed and created the techniques for labeling antibodies in tissue. Less expensive schools include the University of Florida at Gainesville and Emory University in Georgia.
Cytopathology studies disease on the cellular level. This is the anatomic pathology with which most people are familiar--smear tests, such as Pap tests or cheek swabs, are cytopathological tests. Doctors in this discipline may have equal daily interaction with lab technicians and patients.
Doctors commonly may pursue combined courses of study in gynecology and cytopathology. Some good schools to consider for this sub-area are the University of Illinois, the University of Hawaii or Indiana University School of Medicine.
Molecular pathology shares facets with other disciplines more than the other forms of anatomic pathology. For instance, because pathogens are studied at the molecular level, a doctor's residency may include genetics or proteomics, the study of proteins.
Boston University Medical Center Program offers coursework in these disciplines, as does the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Program.