National Capital Consortium Program

Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical Analyst Verified · Dec 10, 2025

National Capital Consortium Program

National Capital Consortium Program is a residency program specializing in Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical, located in Bethesda, Maryland, directed by Samuel L. Grindstaff, MD and coordinated by Rinelle Hemphill. and holds an accreditation status of Continued. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (301) 295-8649. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

This is a military-medicine pathology residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and the only such military institution, integrated with the Joint Pathology Center (the DoD's tertiary reference pathology center) and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. The four-year AP/CP curriculum blends surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, transfusion medicine, forensic and military-specific training (Military Tropical Medicine, Armed Forces Medical Examiner rotations, ASBP blood bank support), reflecting a mission oriented toward producing uniformed pathologists who can serve tri-service military treatment facilities worldwide. Research is required but modest in scope (a single scholarly activity plus a QI project, no dedicated research year), signaling a program built around operational and diagnostic competency rather than academic output. The program explicitly values military leadership development, mentorship structures (staff and senior-resident mentors), and readiness for both routine reference-lab work and deployment-related forensic/tropical medicine roles.

Who it fits

A military-affiliated applicant (active duty, HPSP/HSCP/USUHS-commissioned) drawn to pathology's diagnostic breadth who also values structured, service-oriented training and eventual practice within military or reference-laboratory systems rather than an academic subspecialty-research career.

Research intensity

Low - a single scholarly activity and one QI project are required, but there is no dedicated research year and no described research infrastructure.

Career orientation

Mixed - Community Practice, Fellowship (graduates typically pursue board certification and may subspecialize via elective/JPC rotations, then serve in military treatment facilities or pursue fellowship training such as the co-located Dermatopathology Fellowship).

Important

Eligibility is restricted to active-duty military members or those enrolled in a military-sponsored scholarship/commissioning pathway (HPSP, HSCP, USUHS, or FAP enrollment), and applicants must submit two letters of recommendation.

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