About the molecular genetic pathology fellowship
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
The Molecular Genetics Pathology (MGP) fellowship is an ACGME-accredited one-year program designed to train academically oriented physician leaders with the laboratory and clinical skills required for the practice of molecular diagnostics. The program accepts applicants with residency training in pathology or clinical medical genetics. Upon completion of the program, the 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 has performed clinical next generation sequencing (NGS) using a broad array of platforms and customized panels for over a decade. The teaching faculty include more than 15 faculty with diverse subspecialty interest 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. The fellows will attend a regular series of didactic lectures and seminars. Departmental conferences include didactic lectures and troubleshooting/test development conferences. Fellows will also perform test development and translational research to prepare a manuscript acceptable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal under the supervision of a faculty member. Additionally, fellows will give several lectures to the MDL, laboratory technicians and medical technology students. Flexibility is allowed to encourage the development of special interests and expertise. The fellows gain experience in grant writing and leadership skills.
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 principles of caring, integrity, discovery, safety and stewardship.
Curriculum
This program will be centered in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at MD Anderson, with joint participation by Baylor Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, and the Medical Genetics Division at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
During the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory rotations and under the supervision of faculty, the MGP fellows will be directly involved in the clinical interpretation and troubleshooting of a wide array of molecular pathology technologies for both single-gene assays and NGS-based multigene assays (including DNA and RNA analytes, tumor-only and paired tumor-normal approaches, and tissue-based and liquid-based).
The external rotations will provide intensive training in disease categories and molecular testing of patients not frequently seen at MD Anderson, particularly for genetic disorders and infectious disease; as well as a dedicated rotation in cytogenetics at MD Anderson.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should have completed or be in the process of training in an ACGME-accredited pathology residency or medical genetics residency. At the start of MGP fellowship, applicants are required to be board eligible in anatomic pathology and/or clinical pathology (American Board of Pathology), or medical genetics (American Board of Medical Genetics), as applicable.
Fourth-year residents also may apply and use part of the fellowship to satisfy ABP requirements. Candidates with research backgrounds and/or some prior hands-on experience in laboratory diagnostics are preferred.
Please check complete GME Eligibility Requirements prior to applying.
Required application materials:
- Current curriculum vitae
- A personal statement
- Three letters of reference (one must be from current Program Director)
- Contact information: telephone or pager number and email address
- Statement of visa status, if applicable
How to Apply
Timeline for NRMP Match 2026-2027:
Fall 2024: Applicants begin submitting applications due January 1, 2025
January 1, 2025: Programs can begin interviewing applicants
February 5, 2025 12:00PM EST: Programs and applicants begin registering for the Match and sign the legally binding Match Participation Agreement
March 12, 2025 12:00PM EST: Ranking Opens
April 2, 2025 11:59PM EST: Quota Change Deadline (Quota is the number of positions your program intends to fill in the Match. Programs no longer intending to participate must withdraw by the deadline or make any change to their number of positions in the Match).
April 16, 2025 at noon, EST: Rank Order List Certification Deadline (for PDs and applicants). Rank lists cannot be edited after this.
April 30, 2025 at noon, EST: Match day!
July 2026: New Fellows start!
Application Process Q&A
The selection process for prospective fellows in Molecular Genetic Pathology is switching to the NRMP Pathology Fellowship Match for positions that begin in 2026. This document assumes you are a prospective fellow who is applying for positions beginning in 2026. Molecular Genetic Pathology will participate in a multi-specialty Pathology Fellowship Match with Hematopathology, Forensic Pathology, and possibly other subspecialties in Pathology who are considering a Match.
1. When should I apply for fellowship positions?
Your applications should be submitted to programs of your choice before January 1, 2025. You are encouraged to submit applications well in advance of January 1, 2025. Note that you can start applying to positions before registering for the NRMP Match (see below).
2. When do interviews begin?
Programs participating in the match have agreed to begin interviewing starting in January 2025.
3. Do I apply for positions through ERAS like I did for residency?
No, ERAS is not used for applications. In residency, you used ERAS to apply for positions and the NRMP to match into them. For Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship positions, only the selection process (the Match) is being handled by a central entity (the NRMP). Refer to each program’s individual website for application requirements including things like application forms and required letters of reference. Many programs utilize the CAP standard fellowship application: standardized-pathology-fellowship-application.pdf (cap.org)
4. When can I make an account and register for the Pathology Fellowship Match?
You can make an account starting February 5th, 2025.
5. How do I make an account and register for the Pathology Fellowship Match?
Follow this step-by-step guide: https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Registering_for_SMS_Match-App.pdf
6. What items/documents are required to register for the Match?
You will need your USMLE ID, NBOME, and/or AOA ID, USMLE or
COMLEX Test Scores, and AAMC ID.
7. When can I enter my rank list of programs?
Ranking opens on March 12, 2025, at noon, ET.
8. When can I no longer edit my rank list?
Ranking certification must be completed by April 16, 2025, at 9:00 PM, ET.
9. When is Match Day?
Match day is April 30, 2025, at noon, ET.
10. Can I apply to non-Match programs?
You may apply to and interview at non-Match programs. However, you must decide whether to accept a position at a non-Match program before certification within the Match (before April 16, 2025). The Match is a binding commitment. If you accept a position at a non-Match program and do not withdraw from the NRMP Match, you have committed a Match violation that may be disclosed to your medical school, current program director, designated institutional official, and other relevant parties.
11. May I ask programs to disclose their interest in me in terms of ranking preference?
Applicants must not request the program’s ranking preference or intentions. However, programs may voluntarily disclose their ranking preference or interest to you during the application process. Likewise, you may voluntarily disclose your ranking preference or interest to programs, but programs are not permitted to request your ranking preference from you.
12. How should I rank programs?
Applicants should create rank order lists based on their true preferences, the characteristics of the programs interviewed, and the perceived alignment of the applicant’s capabilities and interests with program mission, aims, and eligibility. Applicants must respect the binding nature of a match commitment and be prepared to honor the commitment if a match occurs with any program placed on a certified rank order list.
13. What if I match to a program and don’t want to go there?
Only rank programs you would WANT to attend. If you Match to a program, you have created a binding commitment to attend that program. If you cannot or will not honor the commitment, a waiver or deferral must be requested from the NRMP (see link below). Waivers are granted only in cases of ineligibility, change of specialty, or unanticipated, serious, and extreme hardship.
14. What happens if I commit a Match violation?
a. Match violations are investigated by the NRMP and serious consequences can occur. These consequences can include being barred from future Matches, and programs (even if they are not in the Match) may be barred from giving you an offer. See also the NRMP Violations policy section 6 below:
https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Violations-Policy_Ver.Aug2023.pdf
15. Where can I find more information on the Match Code of Conduct?
a. https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/NRMP-Match-Codes-of-Conduct_Applicants.pdf
b. https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/NRMP-Match-Code-of-Conduct_Programs.pdf
16. What should I do if I feel a Match Code of Conduct violation has occurred?
See the below website for reporting information:
https://www.nrmp.org/policy/reporting-and-investigation-of-violations/
17. How does the Match work?
You can also view how the algorithm works at https://www.nrmp.org/intro-to-the[1]match/how-matching-algorithm-works/.
18. What if I do not Match?
After Match Day, all programs in the Match with unfilled positions receive a list of applicants who did not Match. Applicants also receive a list of programs that did not fill. At this point, you may reach out directly to these programs to apply for and interview at these unfilled positions outside of the NRMP Match.
19. What are the benefits of using the NRMP Match?
The NRMP Match ensures professional standards in conduct are used in the selection of fellows. The Match will help make the Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship selection process more equitable and timelier.
20. Where can I find a list of molecular genetic pathology fellowships participating in the match?
21. How much does it cost to register with the NRMP Match?
The standard registration fee for applicants is $70; this includes the listing of up to 20 unique program codes on the rank order list. For more information: Match Fees | NRMP
22. Where can I find more information on the Match for Molecular Genetic Pathology?
b. https://www.nrmp.org/fellowship-applicants/
Program Leadership & Faculty
Donna Hansel, M.D., Ph.D.
Division Head, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
L. Jeffrey Medeiros, M.D.
Department Chair, Hematopathology
Victor Prieto, M.D., Ph.D.
Department Chair, Pathology
Keyur P. Patel, M.D., Ph.D., FCAP
Program Director
Sofia Garces, M.D.
Fatima Jelloul, M.D.
Andres Quesada, M.D.
Keith Sweeney, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Meet Our Fellows
Rasha Alfattal, M.D.
Andrew Sohn, M.D.
Sravanthi Lavu, M.D.
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
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.