About the molecular genetic pathology fellowship
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
The Molecular Genetic Pathology (MGP) fellowship is a one-year program designed to train future physician leaders with the laboratory and clinical skills required for the practice of molecular diagnostics. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and accepts applicants with residency training in pathology or clinical medical genetics. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible for MGP board certification examination administered by the American Board of Pathology.
The program is based at the molecular diagnostics laboratory (MDL), a high-volume and high-complexity laboratory with state-of-the-art setup and a strong track record of innovation and excellence. The laboratory was among the first to offer clinical next generation sequencing (NGS) in 2012. Since then, it has performed clinical NGS testing using a broad array of platforms and customized panels.
Fellows in our program will have the opportunity to interact with more than 15 faculty who have diverse subspecialty interests in hematopathology and solid tumors. The training is structured around a strong clinical component, including exposure to a broad range of oncologic and non-oncologic genetic testing, graduated clinical responsibilities and preparation for independent signout.
During the fellowship, trainees will attend a regular series of didactic lectures,seminars anddepartmental conferences, including troubleshooting/test development conferences. Fellows also will perform test development and translational research under the supervision of a faculty member and prepare a manuscript acceptable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Additionally, fellows will gain experience in grant writing, leadership skills and delivering lectures to the MDL, laboratory technicians and medical technology students. Flexibility is allowed to encourage the development of special interests and expertise.
Overall, the program provides a well-rounded training in molecular diagnostics, clinical consulting, academic research, regulatory compliance and laboratory management, innovative test platforms, bioinformatics, and leadership in an academic environment driven by the core values of Caring, Integrity, Discovery, Safety and Stewardship.
A Letter from our Program Directors
Left to right: Keyur P. Patel, M.D., Ph.D., Program Director and Richard K. Yang, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Program Director
We welcome you to the Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As program directors, we are honored to introduce you to a fellowship that stands at the forefront of molecular genetic pathology, encompassing service, research and education.
At MD Anderson, we are committed to delivering a rigorous training experience that equips our fellows with the expertise required to excel as leaders in molecular genetic pathology. Our program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), offers a comprehensive one-year curriculum that integrates clinical service, research and scholarly activities.
Our fellowship program is distinguished by its multi-platform approach to molecular genetic pathology. As a participant in one of the largest and most esteemed programs in the nation, you will collaborate with world-renowned experts in hematopathology and anatomical pathology. This collaborative environment will provide you with extensive training experience, covering a broad range of molecular genetic testing platforms.
MD Anderson benefits from a substantial patient population, with approximately 50,000 patients treated annually. This exposure allows our fellows to engage deeply in all aspects of molecular pathology, from the interpretation of pathology slides to the latest advancements in sequencing technology, under the mentorship of our experienced faculty.
In addition to clinical training, our program emphasizes the importance of research and scholarly pursuits. Fellows are encouraged to undertake innovative research projects under the guidance of faculty members leading experts in their fields. This emphasis on research aims to advance knowledge and contribute significantly to molecular genetic pathology.
You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including our dedicated molecular diagnostics laboratory and comprehensive in-house pathology services. MD Anderson is committed to providing a collaborative and enriching environment that fosters both personal and professional growth.
We invite you to explore the opportunities that our Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program offers and to consider becoming part of our dedicated team of pathologists, researchers, and educators. Whether your career goals lie in academic medicine, clinical practice or research, we are dedicated to supporting your development and helping you achieve your objectives while making a significant impact on patient care.
Thank you for considering our fellowship program. We look forward to the prospect of welcoming you to our esteemed community and embarking on this transformative journey together.
Sincerely,
Keyur P. Patel, M.D., Ph.D.—Program Director
Richard K. Yang, M.D., Ph.D.—Associate Program Director
Meet Our Current Fellows
Rasha Alfattal, M.D.
Education
Medical Degree from Baghdad University, Collage of Medicine, Baghdad/Iraq – 2005
Post Graduate Training
Resident, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) – Galveston - 2024
Resident, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Residency Program, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq - 2009
Research Interests
Targeted Therapy in Oncologic Neuropathology
Personal Interests
Table tennis, Poetry writing
Favorite Quote
“Choose the positive, you have choice, you are the master of your attitude, choose the positive, the constructive. Optimism is a faith that leads to success. – Bruce Lee “
Sravanthi Lavu, M.D.
Education
Medical degree: Andhra Medical College, AP, India in 2015
Postdoctoral Researcher: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA 2016 to 2020
Residency: Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA in 2024
Experience
Clinical and translational research in hepatobiliary cancers, hematological malignancies and cystic diseases of kidney
Research Interests
Developing cost effective molecular tests for cytological specimens.
Personal Interests
Books, movies and hiking
Favorite Quote
All good things come to those who wait.
Andrew M. Sohn, M.D.
Education
Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 2019
NIH Medical Research Scholars Program, 2015 – 2016
HHMI Medical Research Fellows Program, 2016 – 2018
Post-Graduate Experience
Anatomic Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 2019 – 2024
NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 2021 – 2023
Research Interest
Software and machine learning engineering for computational and molecular pathology
Personal Interests
Growing food and making compost
Our Alumni
2014-2024
2014-2015
Chi Ok
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Sanam Loghavi
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2015-2016
Adriana Olar
Medical University of South Carolina
Kurt Hodges
University of Cincinnati
2016-2017
Alan Siroy
University of Florida
Roberto Ruiz-Cordero
University of California, San Francisco
2017-2018
Andreas Quesada
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Habibe Kurt
Brown University
2018-2019
Fatima Zahra Jelloul
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Peng Wang
University of Chicago
2019-2020
Richard Yang
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Arash Ronaghy
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2020-2021
Behtash Nezamy
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ( 2nd Fellowship)
Wen Shuai
Duke University Medical Center
2021-2022
Hong Fang
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Mark Evans
Caris Life Sciences
Hanadi El-Achi
UT Health Houston
2022-2023
Sayak Ghatak
NCI
Bryan Iorgulescu
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ting Zhou
Memorial Sloan Kettering
2023-2024
Okechuku Valentine Nwogbo
Cleveland Clinic
Iman Sarami
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Anjanaa Vijayanarayanan
University of California – San Francisco
2004-2014
2004-2005
Cheng Cameron Yin
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2005-2006
Weiqiang (John) Zhao
Ohio State University
2006-2007
Christina Hannah
Memorial Hermann Medical Group, Houston, TX
2007-2008
Jonathan Earle
Hartford Hospital, CT
Rachel Sargent
Jannsen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
2008-2009
Pranil Chandra
PathGroup, TN
Zhuang Zuo
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2009-2010
Deqin Ma
University of Iowa
Keyur P. Patel
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2010-2011
Ashish Bains
Temple University
Angela Bartley
Trinity Health, MI
2011-2012
Shalini Verma
Roche Molecular Systems
Wesley Greaves
Nexgen Pathology, Trinidad
2012-2013
Bryce Portier
Houston Methodist Hospital
Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2013-2014
Kausar Jabbar
Beaumont Health
Rashmi Goswami
University of Toronto
Keyur P. Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellowship Program Director
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program
MD Anderson Cancer Center
6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Unit 1062
Houston, TX 77030
Email: KPPatel@mdanderson.org
Richard Yang, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Fellowship Program Director
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program
Email: RKYang@mdanderson.org
For inquiries, please contact:
Yvette Bañuelos
Program Coordinator
Phone: 713-745-4798
Fax: 713-563-3166
Email: ybanuelos@mdanderson.org
Verification of training
Requests for verification should be sent to ybanuelos@mdanderson.org.