University of North Carolina Hospitals

UNC Health Care Logo

Address

Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Campus Box 7525
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7525

Director

Nichole L. Korpi-Steiner, PhD, DABCC, FAACC
Telephone: (984) 974-1498
E-mail: Nichole.Korpi-Steiner@unchealth.unc.edu

Affiliated Institutions

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH)

Faculty and Research Interests

Nichole Korpi-Steiner, Ph.D., DABCC, FAACC Clinical chemistry, critical and point-of-care testing, special chemistry, and quality assurance
John Schmitz, PhD Clinical immunology and molecular microbiology, histocompatibility and flow cytometry
Steven Cotten, PhD, DABCC Clinical Chemistry, neonatal drug testing, clinical data analysis, and quality assurance
Melissa Miller, PhD Clinical Microbiology, molecular microbiology
Yuri Fedoriw, MD Hematopathology, flow cytometry and molecular diagnostics
Marian Rollins-Raval, MD MPH Special coagulation testing and hematopathology
Margaret Gulley, MD Clinical molecular genetics

Program Details

Level(s) of training: Postdoctoral (MD or PhD)
Number of positions: 1 per 2-year cycle
Duration of program: 2 years
Approximate annual salary or stipend: Dependent upon trainee’s years of post doctoral training
Source of funding: UNC Health Care
Current number of trainees: 1
Number of past graduates (over last 10 years): 5
Positions accepted by most recent graduates: Academic and industry
Positions accepted since inception (1972): 19 academic/government, 10 industry

Application Procedures

Prerequisites

Applicants must have an earned Doctor of Philosophy (or an equivalent doctoral degree) in the basic sciences; chemistry, biology or physics or Doctor of Medicine degree from an accredited university or college. Applicants should have successfully completed enough chemistry courses to apply to the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, i.e., a minimum of 30 semester hours (or equivalent) in undergraduate and/or graduate level chemistry or biochemistry courses taken at institutions acceptable to the Board. Those possessing an MD must be diplomates of the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, or have met the requirements to take the Board examination.

Procedures

Applicants must provide a statement of interest and copy of their curriculum vitae (electronically).  An official copies of their undergraduate and graduate or medical school transcripts, plus three letters of recommendation (These must be sent directly from the recommending individual.  Electronic submissions are permitted).

If selected for an interview, applicants will be provided a formal application.

Deadline

Applications will be accepted beginning July 1st of the year preceding the anticipated start date.

Applications will be reviewed beginning September 1st and will continue until the position is filled.

For additional information, contact
Janice Badstein
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
UNC Hospitals
101 Manning Drive, Rm 1106 East Wing
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (984) 974-1504
E-mail: Janice.Badstein@unchealth.unc.edu

Program Description

Begun in 1972, this ComACC-accredited postdoctoral training program has a rich history of producing leaders within the field of Clinical Chemistry. Fellows receive two-years of intensive training in both the analytical and clinical aspects of clinical chemistry and are prepared to enter laboratory medicine in clinical service, educational, or research roles. Training takes place primarily within the McLendon Clinical Laboratories Core Laboratories which occupy ~10000 sq.ft. of clinical laboratory space. The Core Laboratories currently handle ~ 4000 samples per day and exceed 5,000,000 procedures annually. The testing menu along with the work produced through referral testing assures the trainee receives exposure to an extensive range of testing.

Training is flexible and dependent upon the fellow’s previous experience. During the initial six-month period, the fellow rotates through the major clinical chemistry sections: automated chemistry (general, high-volume testing), special chemistry (electrophoresis, immunoassay, chromatography, etc), toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring, critical care (blood gases and specific stat testing), and pediatric metabolism (organic acids, amino acids). Throughout this period and into the second year as fellows demonstrate mastery of previous assignments, they are given additional responsibilities and activities of increasing complexity. Examples of such include test interpretation, method troubleshooting, on-call responsibilities, referral testing review, method/instrument evaluations, procedures revisions, and inspection readiness. The fellow is expected to participate in a variety of educational activities to supplement the rotations. These include didactics and informal discussions, Clinical Pathology Residents and Fellow’s Conference, Grand Rounds, and the McLendon Clinical Laboratories continuing education program. In the second year, the fellows are encouraged to devote a portion of their time to at least one research problem and to continue expanding their participation in the management process of the laboratory.