The Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship is a one-year program designed to provide rigorous diagnostic training in gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreaticobiliary surgical pathology. The program takes advantage of USCD's large volume of diverse cases with a considerable proportion of high-complexity and esoteric cases. Cases include neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastrointestinal mucosal biopsies and resections, liver explants, medical liver biopsies (including transplant biopsies), pancreatic resections, and outside consultation cases. Areas of expertise include inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, fatty liver disease, liver transplant pathology, and a variety of neoplastic diseases.
In addition, the fellowship experience is enhanced by exposure to pediatric and community-based cases through participation in elective rotations at sites outside of the Division of Anatomic/Surgical Pathology that include UCSD Rady Children's Hospital and Kaiser Permanente. To further strengthen training in academic gastrointestinal pathology, each fellow is required to complete at least one clinicopathologic research project (clinical, translational, or basic science) related to gastrointestinal disease.
Gynecologic/Breast Pathology Fellowship
Program Director: Somaye Zare, M.D. | (858) 657-5064 | E-mail: syekezare@health.ucsd.edu
The Gynecologic/Breast Pathology Fellowship is a one-year program that provides an intensive exposure to surgical pathology of the breast and gynecologic tract. The fellowship will primarily consist of subspecialty sign out of surgical pathology material generated from comprehensive clinical programs at Jacobs Medical Center, Moores Cancer Center, Hillcrest Medical Center, and the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at the Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, and of material sent in for continuity of patient care or a second opinion.
Over the course of the year, the fellow is expected to learn a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care that includes working with surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, geneticists, radiologists, nurses, advanced practice providers, social workers and other team members. UCSD Pathology evaluates approximately 3000 breast and 4000 gynecologic tract cases annually.
Education objectives of the fellowship include learning the following: 1) The full morphologic and immunophenotypic spectrum of benign/non-neoplastic, premalignant and malignant diseases of the breast and gynecologic tract; 2) The significance of gross evaluation and appropriate sampling of breast and gynecologic tract specimens; 4) The morphologic spectrum of breast and gynecologic tract diseases as they may potentially appear on frozen sections; 5) Quickly generating a differential diagnosis for common gross and microscopic appearances; 6) The clinical implications of various pathologic diagnoses; 7) The clinical features of breast and gynecologic diseases (including those with genetic syndrome implications); 8) Recurrent molecular events and their potential role in the evaluation and prognostication of gynecologic and breast diseases; 9) The strengths and limitations of various pathologic techniques in patient care; 10) Communicating effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary breast and gynecologic teams and 11) Some basic aspects of breast and gynecologic cytology.
Fellowship activities will include 1) Subspecialty sign out, organized in one-week blocks; 2) Primary review of all consultation/second opinion cases; 3) Multi-disciplinary gynecologic and breast conferences; 4) Participation in all breast and gynecologic tract frozen sections when feasible; 4) Periodic presentations, including journal clubs and assigned topics of interest; 5) Participation in a weekly perinatal/placental pathology sign out; 6) Completion and presentation of an academic research project; 7) a few weeks (typically 4) of being on call as an attending pathologist; 8) Depending on availability and interest of the fellow, a short rotation in the cytogenetics laboratory (with an emphasis on fluorescence in situ hybridization), or at the clinics.
Faculty: Oluwole Fadare, M.D., Somaye Zare, M.D., Andres Roma , M.D., Farnaz Hasteh, M.D., Omonigho Aisagbonhi, M.D., Ph.D., Mana Parast M.D., Ph.D., and Maria Dell'Aquila Ph.D.
Applications: See our Fellowship Application section below for details.
Hematopathology Fellowship
The Hematopathology Fellowship Program sponsored by the University of California San Diego Department of Pathology is an ACGME-accredited one-year program, and we offer one position each year in the Division of Hematopathology within the Division of Clinical Laboratories.
The overall goal of this one-year fellowship is to provide broad-based training in the field of Hematopathology with an emphasis on the laboratory approach to the diagnosis of benign and malignant hematolymphoid disorders. It will also emphasize education in the structure and function of routine hematology, bone marrow, special coagulation, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics, and genetic laboratories. A multi-modality approach is stressed, with the incorporation of information from multiple sources, including clinical, hematologic, morphologic, cytogenetic, flow cytometric, and molecular data. The program will be structured to give trainees maximum exposure to a wealth of diversified case materials and to faculty with a variety of clinical and research interests and expertise.
Hematopathology, the jewel of pathology, covers all aspects of modern pathology and requires skills and knowledge from cytology, clinical pathology, and anatomic pathology. The Division of Hematopathology sign-outs over 1,100 bone marrow biopsies, 350 lymph nodes and lymphoid tissues, and 1,800 flow cytometry cases each year. The Division of Hematopathology has an intimate relationship with our active Hematology/Oncology colleagues to support a busy bone marrow transplant program and multiple leukemia/lymphoma clinical trials. Within the Department, the fellow will interact with the Anatomic Pathology, Neuropathology and Cytology to provide consultations. Thus the fellows will be exposed to a wide spectrum of diverse cases in both benign and malignant disorders. In addition, the Division of Clinical Laboratories at the Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine (CALM) of UC San Diego also has state-of-the-art Flow Cytometry, Special Coagulation, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Diagnostic laboratories, all of which provide first-class training for either academic or community practice.
Besides clinical training, the fellows will have ample opportunity to engage in clinical, translational, or basic research projects both within the Pathology Department and the University.
Located within two miles from the Pacific Ocean in the American’s finest city, UC San Diego is one of the best public universities. The University boasts a diverse student population and San Diego provides an array of outdoor activities all year around. We welcome you to visit our website and let us know if you need any further information.
All residents with combined AP/CP training are welcome to apply. Residents with either AP or CP training will be considered on a case-by-case base.
Faculty:
Huan-You Wang, M.D., Ph.D., Frank Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., Jack Bui (flow cytometry), M.D., Ph.D., Maria Dell’Aquila(cytogenetics), Ph.D., Steven L. Gonias (coagulation), M.D., Ph.D., and Dzung T. Le (coagulation), M.D., Ph.D.
Applications: See our
Fellowship Application section below for details.
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
*RECRUITMENT OPEN FOR 2023-2024*
The Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program sponsored by the University Of California San Diego Department of Pathology is an ACGME-accredited one-year program, and we offer one position each year in the Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine.
The overall goal of the UC San Diego Medical Center Molecular Genetic Pathology (MGP) Program is to prepare trainees for a successful career in molecular pathology. At the time of completion of the fellowship, trainees will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to assume the directorship of a clinical molecular pathology laboratory and to continue with a pattern of lifelong learning in this field. During the course of the one year program, MGP fellows will participate in the day to day operation of molecular genetic pathology laboratories performing and interpreting a variety of clinical tests. Although the work of fellows will proceed under the supervision of an attending faculty member, a gradually increasing degree of independence and responsibility will be granted and be commensurate with his or her ability and level of training.
Fellows entering the program as pathologists will additionally gain experience with the diagnosis, management, treatment, and counseling of patients with genetic disorders during rotations through Medical Genetics clinics, while fellows entering as medical geneticists will gain exposure to surgical pathology and autopsy pathology via a rotation through the surgical pathology service. Trainees will attend didactic sessions with the supervising Medical Staff, courses in Medical Genetics, journal clubs, and laboratory and clinical conferences. The trainees will be expected to attend and present relevant laboratory findings at clinical conferences within the Department of Pathology as well as other clinical departments.
Fellows are highly encouraged and expected to perform at least one research project of their own choosing with the guidance and assistance of one or more faculty members in the Department of Pathology. The expectation is for the fellows to present the results of the project(s) at national scientific meetings, such as those of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), College of American pathologists (CAP), or Association for Molecular Pathology.
Located within two miles of the Pacific Ocean in American’s finest city, UC San Diego is a top-ranked public university. The University boasts a diverse student population and San Diego provides a large variety of cultural and outdoor activities.
The MGP fellowship is open to MD graduates with prior residency training in Pathology (either AP, CP, or combined AP/CP) or Medical Genetics.
Faculty: Gerald Morris, M.D., Ph.D., Marie Dell’Aquila, Ph.D., Sharon Reed, M.D., David Pride, M.D., Ph.D., Bruce Barshop, M.D., Ph.D., Marilyn Jones, M.D., Lynne Bird, M.D., and
Lisa Madlensky, Ph.D.
Applications: See our Fellowship Application section below for details.
Neuropathology Fellowship
* Recruitment open for:
2025-2027
2026-2028
The Department of Pathology offers a 2-year ACGME accredited Neuropathology fellowship either as part of a combined 4-year AP/NP residency or as a stand-alone NP fellowship available to any applicant who has completed a minimum of two years of anatomic pathology training.
The first year of fellowship is focused on the clinical service with mastery of neuropathology diagnostics. The program at UCSD is supported by a robust neurosurgical service, with approximately 1900 clinical neuropathology cases annually and ~100 hospital autopsies. Clinical faculty provide expertise in neoplastic and non-neoplastic neuropathology, neuromuscular pathology, ophthalmic pathology, and neurodegenerative disease. In-house molecular testing of all gliomas and selected non-glial neoplasms includes Next Generation Sequencing and Oncoscan microarray analysis. DNA Methylation testing is also often utilized in formulating integrated final pathologic diagnoses. A unique strength of the educational program is the dedicated ophthalmic pathology service, providing expert training through a broad array of ocular and orbital pathology specimens from the UCSD Shiley Eye Institute. Rady Children's hospital provides extensive exposure to pediatric neuropathology, and fellows may participate in forensic brain cutting at the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office.
During the second year, the fellow is given protected time to engage in research tailored to their individual career goals and varying from clinical and translational to basic neuroscience opportunities. Fellows with interest in more clinically based research benefit from strong relationships with the neurology, neuro-oncology, neuroradiology, and neurosurgery services. Basic neuroscience research within the Neuropathology Division is uniquely strengthened by affiliated institutes, including the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, the Salk Institute, the Scripps Research Institute, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. Additionally, neuropathology faculty provide diagnostic support to the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), giving fellows access to neurodegenerative pathology and associated research opportunities.
The UCSD Neuropathology fellowship has a strong history of training excellent neuropathologists, including academic clinician-scientists, community neuropathologists, and forensic neuropathologists. The primary goal of our training program is to prepare candidates for a career that emphasizes an enduring commitment to advancing the field of neuropathology and that encompasses any combination of clinical neuropathology diagnosis, translational and basic research, and teaching.
Applications for NP or combined AP/NP Program: See our Fellowship Application section below for details. Please email the CAP Fellowship application to Alexandra Murtha (amurtha@health.ucsd.edu) and Melanie Sevilla (msevilla@health.ucsd.edu).
Surgical Pathology Fellowship
The Division of Anatomic Pathology sponsors a 1-year Fellowship in General Surgical Pathology (see description). The fellowship provides a notably varied experience during the year. Surgical pathology fellows help provide continuity of clinical care by previewing cases in a subspecialized model that is enriched in complex cases, by supervising the gross room and teaching housestaff officers rotating on surgical pathology, by preparing and delivering some organ-specific clinicopathologic conferences, and ultimately, by independently signing out some routine surgical pathology cases.
Description: A one-year fellowship in general surgical pathology is offered by the Division of Anatomic Pathology. One position is available for an AP or AP/CP resident who is interested in receiving focused and intensive training in diagnostic surgical pathology at a variety of practice settings. Fellows rotate through the subspecialty services, present at clinicopathologic conferences, are on-call periodically, and supervise housestaff officers. There are also opportunities for the fellow to experience alternative practice settings by rotating through the Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego and the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group (~50,000 surgical specimens), a robust private practice setting. Applicants must be licensed in the state of California by the beginning of the fellowship
Requirements: Licensed in California.
Faculty: Oluwole Fadare, M.D., Andres A. Roma, M.D., Mojgan Hosseini, M.D., Haiyan Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Vera Vavinskaya, M.D., Farnaz Hasteh, M.D., Grace Y. Lin, M.D., Ph.D., Ahmed Shabaik, M.D., Ann Tipps, M.D., Mana Parast, M.D., Ph.D., Somaye Y. Zare, M.D., and Omonigho Aisagbonhi, M.D., Ph.D.
Applications: See our
Fellowship Application section below for details.