The pathology residency program at Loma Linda University offers well-rounded pathology education and training in a collegial, family-like Christian atmosphere. As a smaller university program, one of our department’s primary focuses is providing high quality education with sufficient flexibility to meet our residents’ individual training interests and scheduling needs, not just quickly finishing cases to retreat back to research laboratories. Our integrated AP/CP Residency Program provides comprehensive core training that ensures our residents maintain exposure to both AP and CP each year, building expertise in preparation for board exams and clinical practice.

Quick Facts

16
Residents in the program
60
Miles to beaches, mountains, and the desert
$2,500
Annual Travel & Book Fund

Why Choose Loma Linda University Pathology Residency

  • Integrated AP & CP rotations throughout all 4 years
  • Rotating 3-day structure with protected preview time on Surgical Pathology rotation
  • Extensive grossing support & instruction by the Pathologists’ Assistant Program (only PA school in western U.S.)
  • New dedicated “boot camp” Surgical Pathology Orientation with direct, personalized training by the program directors
  • Competitive salary and benefits with a lower cost of living than other major metropolitan areas, while maintaining easy access to beaches, mountains, and the desert
  • Resident wellness and work/life balance are highly valued, with a dedicated Chief Wellness Resident position
  • We encourage interest in all types of practice settings, and our program excels in particular at preparing residents for private practice

Program Directors​

What Our Leadership is Saying

2020 and 2021 have resulted in a new “normal” to our lives, but at LLU Pathology we have strived to maintain as much normalcy as the ongoing pandemic allows. Our residents and PAs welcomed our new PGY-1s to a dinner at the end of their boot camp month. On August 1, the Inaugural Faculty vs. Residents kickball game and picnic was a veritable hit. In September, about 40 attendings, residents and staff attended an Angels’ baseball game. Our department has recently announced the academic appointment of Dr. Joe Chaffin (also known as ‘Blood Bank Guy’) to our Clinical Pathology Faculty. Finally, we have just completed our move into our new hospital buildings, the Troesh Medical Campus. In spite of all the changes the pandemic has introduced into our world, life goes on!

And it has brought us to recruitment season again! We are so excited to have our great PGY-1s, Andrea, Dylan and Priscilla join us and we eagerly await getting to know our future residents soon! While the pandemic has brought many challenges to us all, LLU Pathology remains committed to our current and future residents in order to help them fulfill their educational and professional goals. Thank you for considering our program and we hope to meet you soon!

Justin Kerstetter, MD and Laura Denham, MD
Program Directors