Selective Surgical Pathology Fellowship

About the Program

The Selective Surgical Pathology Fellowship is a one-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited program in pathology with the emphasis on neoplastic diseases. The material comprises approximately 80,000 surgical specimens (including 35,000 departmental consults) and around 55 autopsies per year. The direct handling of a large volume of interesting and complicated cases by the fellows under the supervision of 70 well-known subspecialty attending anatomic pathologists provides a unique opportunity for an in-depth experience and the development of proficiency and accuracy in the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases. Regular didactic lectures are conducted by experienced attendings to emphasize diagnostic difficulties. Weekly unknown conferences are conducted by fellows, for which they receive constructive feedback from a dedicated faculty committee, which help them improve on their presentation skills. Moreover, training in the nation’s No. 1 cancer center, the fellows have opportunities to learn about personalized cancer management involving a large variety of neoplastic diseases. In addition to rotations in all subspecialties of surgical pathology (namely: breast, bone and soft tissue, head and neck, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecological, thoracic, dermatopathology and neuropathology), the program also offers rotation in a busy intraoperative consultation service catering to more than 55 surgeries a day. Rotations are also electively available in other areas such as immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostic and research laboratories, as well as other departments under the same division, such as Hematopathology.

All fellows are required to conduct an investigative study under the supervision of a mentoring pathologist. This is aided by the availability of multiple departmental and divisional research funds that fellows are eligible to apply for. Most of these projects also get accepted for national and international meetings, such as the USCAP, and the department reimburses the cost of attendance at such meetings. Participation in monthly departmental QI meeting and multidisciplinary tumor boards within each subspecialty are emphasized. The surgical specimens are routinely grossed by experienced Pathologist Assistants; however, fellows are encouraged to choose specimens to gross which would facilitate their additional learning and to develop an expertise in complicated cancer specimens. Because of the specialized and demanding nature of the material encountered, the program is best suited for the individual who has already obtained a good background knowledge and experience in general anatomic pathology.

Requirements

Candidates must be board-certified or board eligible for certification in AP or AP/CP pathology.

Please check complete GME Eligibility Requirements prior to applying.

How to Apply

Now accepting applications for unexpected openings. Email pathology-fellowship@mdanderson.org to inquire. Must be able to start on July 1^st.
Academic year 2025-26
Academic year 2026-27

Applications open for academic year 2027-28
Deadline: May 30, 2025

• CAP standardized application
• Statement of intent
  
• Current curriculum vitae (with home address, mobile phone, e-mail and visa status). All undergrad and postgraduate training must include start and end dates (mm/dd/yyyy) and PGY level, where applicable
  
• Three letters of recommendation (1 from current program director, 2 from current attendings)
  
• Letter of good standing from current program director
  
• ECFMG certificate (if applicable)
• USMLE (passed within 3 attempts)
  

All application documents should be sent as attachments in one email to pathology-fellowship@mdanderson.org by the deadline (all letters should be emailed directly from the letter writer).

Stipends

Commensurate with the candidate's level of training.