Pathology - Subspecialty Surgical Pathology Fellowship
The Pathology Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital offers a one-year fellowship program in subspecialty surgical pathology. The goal is to combine in-depth training with opportunities for conducting related research, and provide a basis for a future career in academic pathology.
Scope of Training
The Pathology Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital offers a one-year fellowship program in subspecialty surgical pathology. The goal of this fellowship is to combine in-depth training in various subspecialties of surgical pathology with opportunities for conducting related research, and provide a basis for a future career in academic pathology.
The one-year fellowship is centered on active clinical services with outstanding diagnostic material to enhance the experience of the fellow. It provides an opportunity to conduct clinicopathological and translational research in the chosen area of subspecialty interest with pathology faculty members and clinical physicians.
Fellows are encouraged, and expected, to prepare one or more abstracts for presentation at annual national or international meetings and such as those of the International Academy of Pathology and its US-Canadian division.
Number of training positions available per year/per program year
Fellows may be involved in either one or up to three specialty areas including breast, bone and soft tissue, cardiovascular, ear, nose, and throat, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, obstetric and perinatal pulminary, and renal pathology.
Graduated responsibility
An attending pathologist reviews and countersigns all cases for at least the first two weeks of a service, but the expectation is that no changes should be necessary to cases that the fellow thinks are straightforward. In this way, the fellow and the program will be able to assess the fellow’s ability to function independently, while maintaining an adequate level of supervision until completely unsupervised sign out is approved.
Supervision of the fellow by the faculty
The fellows are supervised by the subspecialty unit director and the director of Subspecialty Surgical pathology (Gregory Y. Lauwers, MD).
Vacation time/Personal Time: Four weeks per year.
Trainee Selection
The subspecialty faculty and the fellowship committee review applications, and selection is based on proof of interest in the chosen subspecialty, quality of training in surgical pathology, letters of support, and potential for independent research.
Evaluation Procedures
The fellow meets twice a year with the program supervisor of the fellowship to evaluate his/her progress. Written evaluations are given to the fellow twice a year and they are kept in the fellow’s file.
- Hospital appointment given to the fellow: Graduate Assistant in Pathology
- Billing privileges are the same as for staff
- The fellows sign an annual contract
Requirements
Applicants must be Board-certified or eligible for certification in AP or AP/CP, and if a graduate of an international medical school, have a valid visa (O visa, H visa or permanent residency) and ECFMG certificate and have a full Massachusetts license prior to starting the fellowship.
Applicants for Subspecialty Surgical Pathology fellowships must 1) hold certification in Anatomic Pathology or in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology or be eligible to sit for the certification examination given by the American Board of Pathology, and be eligible for 2) employment and 3) medical licensure in Massachusetts.
Curriculum
Educational goals and objectives for the fellows to become competent diagnostic pathologists, through the acquisition of skills, knowledge and judgment reviewing approximately 4000 specimens per year depending on the particular subspecialty(s).
Schedule, format and content of didactic activities
The clinical teaching is assumed by various faculty members. During the week of clinical service by the fellow, the faculty will countersign the diagnosis for at least the first 2 weeks. During a typical sign-out week, the fellow reviews cases and makes diagnoses independently (reviewing with residents). The staff will review the cases during a one-on-one session and reassess the original diagnoses. This will amount to about 2 to 3 hours of didactic teaching. After evaluation of the progress of the fellow, she/he will be progressively allowed to sign out independently.
The fellow will be expected to participate in all educational activities of the subspecialty group, including but not limited to consensus conferences, journal clubs, and various conferences with clinicians.
While covering the clinical service, the fellow will perform literature searches and review articles when appropriate to research questions about current cases and to develop ideas for projects. The fellow has the opportunity to present the pathology at one of the weekly Clinicopathologic Conferences (published in the New England Journal of Medicine). Other activities will combine attendance at conferences, research and teaching of residents.
An organized schedule of activities is planned on a 6-month basis. The fellows are expected to attend all educational meetings and to be responsible for clinical conferences when on service.
Typical Daily Schedule when on Signout
Day | Time | Activity |
Monday - Friday | 8AM-12 PM | Signout |
Monday - Friday | 12:30PM-1: 30PM | Surgical pathology conference |
Monday - Friday (variable) | PM (variable) | Review of consultation cases with senior faculty |
Description of basic science and/or clinical research requirements and opportunities
The fellow is actively expected to assume 2 clinical projects per year. The department offers ample opportunities for special studies including extensive availability of immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnostics. Translational and/or clinical research may be undertaken as part of the ongoing investigative programs in the Department of Pathology, or as part of the programs within the numerous laboratories in the Departments of Surgery and Medicine. To support these research projects, internal departmental grants are available.
Responsibilities of the fellow, including teaching responsibilities
The Pathology service supports numerous teaching and educational activities. Those include: 1) Review of cases at the daily surgical pathology conferences; 2) attendance at the weekly molecular pathology and research conference; 3) subspecialty presentations to the residents; 4) attendance at several Harvard Medical School postgraduate courses on Surgical Pathology. The fellows are responsible for teaching residents through sign-out and presentation at the surgical pathology conference and regularly presenting cases at conferences with clinicians.
Faculty (only senior pathologist in each subspecialty area of anatomic pathology is listed):
Gregory Y. Lauwers, MD, Program Director
Robert B. Colvin, MD (Medical Renal)
Gregory Y. Lauwers, MD (Gastrointestinal)
Eugene Mark, MD (Pulmonary)
Ben Z. Pilch, MD (Head and Neck)
Drucilla Roberts, MD (Obstetric and Perinatal)
G. Petur Nielsen, MD (Bone and Soft Tissue)
Dennis Sgroi, MD (Breast/Women's cancers)
James Stone, MD (Cardiovascular)
Robert H. Young, MD (Gynecologic and Urologic)
Applications
Applications should be submitted by December 1 (18 months prior to start date; Fellowships usually commence on July 1).
Individuals interested in applying should send their Curriculum Vitae and a brief personal statement of interest and qualifications and USMLE transcript (Subspecialty Surgical Pathology fellowship applicants should indicate specific subspecialty area(s) of interest), with letters from three references including their training program director or pathology supervisor to:
Joan Ricker, Fellowship Program Administrator
Massachusetts General Hospital, Pathology Service
55 Fruit Street, Warren 219
Boston, MA 02114-2352
Telephone: (617) 643-4482
Fax: (617) 643-4045
e-mail: jaricker@partners.org
Program Director
Gregory Y. Lauwers, MD
Program Director, Subspecialty Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program
Massachusetts General Hospital, Pathology Service
55 Fruit Street, Warren 219
Boston, MA 02114
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