Clinical Chemistry Fellowship

The Laboratory Medicine department offers a two-year training program in clinical chemistry to provide Ph.D. scientists with analytical, clinical, research, and management experience towards the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) certification in clinical chemistry.

About the program

The program is designed to provide training in the operation of a clinical laboratory, analytical methodologies, instrument/method selection and evaluation, therapeutic drug monitoring, molecular diagnostics, point-of-care testing, quality control and assurance, and laboratory management and regulations. Test interpretation and clinical consultation are especially emphasized. Research projects involving method development or validation, error investigation, translational and clinical studies related to clinical chemistry are required. Fellows join training with clinical pathology residents and gain more knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases and clinical diagnosis. In addition, this program offers special opportunity to gain experience in the area of tumor markers and other cancer-related testing.

The first year of the program focuses on laboratory rotation in the area of clinical chemistry, special chemistry, TDM, and molecular diagnostics. The second year of training is to conduct consultation, quality management, and research projects. Upon completion of the program, fellows are expected to take the ABCC examination.

Application procedures

The applicant must hold a Ph.D. or M.D. in Medical Sciences and have adequate education in basic life sciences including chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology from an accredited university at the graduate level. Applicants with education obtained at institutions outside the U.S. or Canada must have their credentials evaluated for equivalency. Candidates must have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours in chemistry or biochemistry courses required for ABCC certification. Applicants should have strong interests in laboratory medicine.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and include their curriculum vitae to the program director. Upon notification, applicants will be required to submit their undergraduate/graduate transcripts and three letters of recommendation to the program director and coordinator.

Deadline: December 15 of year preceding appointment on July 1

Tobacco-free policy

As of January 1, 2015, MD Anderson’s Tobacco-free initiatives will be in place. All applicants and recruits (including trainees who are paid and benefits eligible) will be screened to ensure they’re tobacco free as a pre-employment contingency.  Rotating and short-term trainees will not be tested.

Due to the long interview and match cycles for the GME residents and fellows at MD Anderson, the policy will go into effect with appointments starting on or after July 1, 2016. GME resident and fellow candidates with an appointment starting on or after July 1, 2016 will be subject to the pre-employment drug test which will include a screen for tobacco compounds.

Anyone who tests positive for tobacco compounds, beyond what’s acceptable with tobacco cessation therapies, will not be eligible for hire. GME resident and fellow candidates who fail to meet this contingency CANNOT be appointed, and they will lose their appointment for the academic year. Candidates may reapply for the following academic year, but there are no guarantees that positions will be available as many of our GME programs are already filled for several years out.

This information is already posted on the GME institutional pages.  If you have any questions, please contact OGME@MDAnderson.org.

Faculty and research interests

Program listing