Hematopathology Fellowship

It is my privilege to welcome you to learn about our Hematopathology Fellowship Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Consistently recognized as one of the top cancer centers in the world, and uniquely positioned within the extraordinary Texas Medical Center, MD Anderson offers tremendous opportunities and resources to hematopathology trainees.

Education is one of the core pillars of the Department of Hematopathology. The Hematopathology Fellowship Program, which began in 1988, currently has seven fellows every year. Our vision is to foster a culture where fellows have the opportunity to reach their highest potential. Our fellowship program is designed to develop and train the next generation of leaders in our field. With this explicit directive in mind, we craft the fellows’ clinical experience, educational program, research opportunities and professional development. Our Hematopathology Fellowship Program has two components: (1) a one-year ACGME accredited program, completion of which fulfills the requirements for board certification in hematopathology; (2) an additional non-accredited year designed to create a solid academic foundation and further improve diagnostic skills. Our fellows are highly involved in all aspects of our departmental operations, including patient care, research, and multidisciplinary conferences.

One of the strengths of our program is the enormous quantity and excellent quality of hematopathology cases with a good variety of common and uncommon entities.  Each year, the Hematopathology department receives about 18,000 bone marrow specimens and 4,000 lymph node and other tissue biopsy specimens. In addition, the department performs about 25,000 cytogenetic tests, 80,000 molecular diagnostic tests, and 30,000 flow cytometry immunophenotypic studies. This volume, combined with about 30 dedicated and experienced faculty members, provides a unique learning environment and opportunities for translational research.

The faculty and I are strongly committed to each fellow’s success in their fellowship and subsequent independent careers. We are fortunate to have outstanding hematopathology faculty including world-class experts and forward-thinking leaders.  Our faculty enthusiastically share their expertise through sign-out sessions, teaching conferences, research meetings and career planning.  Through dedicated teaching and mentorship, our hematopathology fellows mature into sophisticated experts in the management of neoplastic and non-neoplastic hematopathology disorders. Many of our fellows have become leaders in the field of hematopathology nationally and internationally. 

Specifically drawing upon the unwavering institutional commitment to research and innovative science, we offer fellows unparalleled exposure, involvement, and experience in hematopathology research activities. This exposure allows our
fellows to use evidence-based medicine in presentations at local/regional, as well as national/international meetings and to produce manuscripts for peer-review publications.  Our fellows gain proficiency in translational research with an emphasis on critical appraisal of the literature and research design to achieve the highest impact in health care through the accurate diagnoses of hematopathology disorders.

MD Anderson is a special place where every person is dedicated to our mission to end cancer while exhibiting the core values of Caring, Integrity, Discovery, Safety and Stewardship. We are extremely proud of our fellows as they continue to embody this spirit in their extraordinary careers.

Thank you for considering the Hematopathology Fellowship Program at MD Anderson. We look forward to further interacting with you about our fellowship our program.