Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship

Fellowship Overview

Molecular Genetic Pathology (MGP) is the subspecialty of Pathology and Medical Genetics in which the principles, theories, and technologies of molecular biology and molecular genetics are applied to help diagnose disease, determine prognosis, monitor infections and treatment, and assess risk for genetic disorders. Molecular Genetic Pathology continues to grow increasingly essential to the practice of medicine. In the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, MGP has been recognized as an integral part of modern medical practice since 1985, when the Molecular Pathology Laboratory was founded as one of the first of its kind at a university hospital in the country. Likewise, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania was among the first training programs in the country in the early 1990s and one of the first two programs to obtain ACGME accreditation in 2002 when MGP became a recognized subspecialty. To learn more about this subspecialty, visit the Division of Precision and Computational Diagnostics page.  

Overview

The goal of the MGP program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is to train fellows in the practice of molecular genetic pathology, the application and interpretation of molecular laboratory techniques, and diagnostic laboratory administration. Over the course of the one-year ACGME accredited fellowship, the fellow gains experience in the application of molecular genetic pathology through service work, didactic lectures, resident teaching, involvement in laboratory administration, and hands-on test development and/or research projects through rotations at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Fellows are exposed to clinical genetics through rotations in pediatric and adult clinical genetics and biochemical genetics. Training includes exposure to a variety of methodologies including traditional PCR, cytogenetics and massive parallel sequencing assays. At the completion of the fellowship, the trainee will be eligible to take the Molecular Genetic Pathology Board examination.

Key Program Faculty

Division of Precision and Computational Diagnostics
Christopher Watt, MD, PhD
Guang (Geoff) Yang, MD, PhD
Jacquelyn Roth, PhD
Jennifer Morrissette, PhD
Malay Haldar, MD, PhD
Salvatore Priore, MD, PhD
Simon Chen, MD
Vivianna Van Deerlin, MD, PhD
Warren Pear, MD, PhD

Microbiology
Kyle Rodino, PhD
Laurel Glaser, MD, PhD

CHOP
Lea Surrey, MD
Minjie Luo, PhD

Program Requirements

Prior to the start of the program, fellows must have successfully completed at least two years of pathology residency or successfully complete a residency in medical genetics and genomics or be a physician certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). Fellows must also be licensed or eligible for licensure in Pennsylvania. Prior experience in genetics and/or molecular biology is recommended.

Application Process [Updated June 2023]

Available Positions: Up to three MGP fellowship positions are available each year. The duration of the fellowship is one year.

Timeline: The program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is participating in the unified timeline for the 2025-2026 Fellowship. The recruitment cycle begins in the month of June positioned two years prior to the start of the MGP fellowship. For example, the recruitment cycle for the 2025-2026 fellowship would begin in June 2023. The program officially starts accepting and reviewing applications in June of the current recruitment cycle. Applications received in the three to four months prior to a recruitment cycle are not reviewed in advance, but are held on file until the start of the upcoming recruitment cycle. *Applications are only eligible for the current recruitment cycle and will not be held or carried forward to subsequent recruitment cycles.*

Candidates being considered for the program will be asked to interview. Consistent with the unified timeline, the interviews will begin no sooner than July 31, 2023. All application materials, including supporting documents, must be received by September 18th of the current recruitment cycle. The earliest offer date for a position in the program will be October 2, 2023. For the first round of offers made on October 2, 2023, applicants will have 48 hours to accept/decline the position offered by the program. Subsequent offers made by the program do not have a defined response window. 

Additional detail about the unified timeline can be found at the following website. 

Required Documents: The following documents are needed for a complete application for the MGP fellowship program. All documents submitted by the applicant should be typed to ensure legibility. Applicants can submit their application material to the program via email (MGPFellowship@uphs.upenn.edu). Letters of recommendation should be addressed to the program directors and can be submitted to the program directly via email (MGPFellowship@uphs.upenn.edu). Contact the program with any questions about the application process. 
 
• Completed fellowship application with signature
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement
• Photo
• USMLE or COMLEX score report
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• ECFMG certificate (only for graduates of international medical schools)