GI/Hepatic Pathology Fellowship

Fellowship Overview

As the first ACGME accredited GI/hepatic pathology fellowship program in the country, this one-year program is aimed toward the development of academically oriented surgical pathologists with a subspecialty interest in gastrointestinal and liver pathology.

The GI/liver pathology service at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania prides itself on being able to offer a busy, academically challenging experience in a very supportive environment that fosters learning and professional development. The goal is to provide a nurturing, high quality, comprehensive and flexible learning experience in all facets of GI/Pancreas and Liver pathology. To that end, the fellowship year is devoted to clinical duties including the development of research projects. The fellow is responsible for an assigned set of GI and Liver pathology cases each day and multiple conferences involving the departments of medicine, surgery, and radiology. The clinical service encounters a wide variety of cases from the very active liver transplant, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatology, and oncology programs. Through exposure to a wide array of complex GI pathology cases including surgical resection specimens and biopsies, we strive to achieve our goal by tailoring a personalized and increasingly challenging educational experience for the GI pathology fellow. A critical part of the program is Liver transplant pathology that includes analyzing critical liver biopsies and explants, and direct communication with the clinical colleagues.

An important hallmark of our program is the emphasis on the research and scholarly development of the trainee, which is facilitated by dedicated faculty mentors who are committed to the strong academic tradition of our section.  The diverse and strong academic research environment of Penn Medicine serves as a rich source from which the fellow is expected to complete one or more research projects.

We are confident that you will find this fellowship year both exciting and rewarding. Our holistic approach to pathology education compels us to teach skills beyond just microscopy and emphasize qualities that define a successful overall pathologist including communication, translation of pathology findings to patient management, acceptance of constructive criticism to improve professional development, and evidence of self-learning.

Faculty

Zhaohai Yang, MD, PhD
Emma E. Furth, MD
Kristen Stashek, MD
Zahra Alipour, MD
Rashmi Tondon, MD
Danielle Fortuna, MD
Kester Haye, MD, PhD
Robin Collingwood, MD
Timothy Chao, MD, PhD

Requirements

Successful completion of the Pathology Residency requirements for certification in Anatomic Pathology or combined AP/CP by the American Board of Pathology, and eligibility for Pennsylvania medical training license. Strong training in surgical pathology or completion of a surgical pathology fellowship prior to the GI/hepatic pathology fellowship will be an advantage.

Application

Position offered: Two fellows per year. Duration: One year. 

Documents needed: Completed application; Curriculum Vitae; Personal Statement; USMLE score report; ECFMG certificate (international); Medical school diploma; three (3) letters of recommendation (including a letter from the residency program director).

Application timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, two years prior to the start of the fellowship. The candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early.   

Visa: The program sponsors both J1 and H1b visas, depending on the candidate's qualification.