Fellowship Details & Requirements

Our GME Office has preliminary eligibility requirements that all prospective trainees must meet before applying for a training program at our institution. In addition to these criteria, our program also includes the following requirements:
 

• Applicants must have completed a 3-year AP-only or a 4-year combined AP/CP residency program in an ACGME-accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada. 
• Applicants must be board-eligible or board-certified in Anatomic Pathology (AP) or combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) by the American Board of Pathology (ABP) by the start of the fellowship. 
• A Texas Training Permit is required on Day 1 of the appointment. For additional information on eligibility requirements, please click here. 

Accepting applications for the 2029-2030 academic year, beginning January 1, 2027. 

Email pathology-fellowship@mdanderson.org to inquire. Must be able to start on July 1st of the academic year. 

Application Materials

1. College of American Pathologists (CAP) standardized application
2. Statement of intent 
3. 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. 
4. Three letters of recommendation (1 from current program director, 2 from current attendings) 
5. Letter of good standing from current program director  
6. ECFMG certificate (if applicable) 
7. USMLE (passed within 3 attempts) 

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

The Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Fellowship provides comprehensive subspecialty training in gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary pathology within a high-volume oncologic practice.  

The fellowship prepares trainees for careers in academic pathology and advanced subspecialty practice through a combination of clinical training, research opportunities, and elective experiences. 

The fellowship is organized into 13 four-week blocks, with the majority of the year spent rotating through clinical services at UT MD Anderson. During these clinical blocks, fellows gain extensive experience evaluating biopsies, complex surgical resections and consultation material related to gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases.

Training Structure: 

• 13 four-week blocks
• Dedicated research block
• Elective subspeciality rotation
• Daily faculty sign-out
• Graduated diagnostic autonomy

Clinical training at UT MD Anderson is structured around four core services:

Biopsy service 

•  Review of all gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies

Resection service 

• Review of all gastrointestinal surgical specimens, including gross evaluation and intraoperative frozen section consultation

Outside service 

• Review of referral and consultation cases from outside institutions involving gastrointestinal pathology

Liver / markerservice 

• Review of liver biopsies obtained by interventional radiology 
• Evaluation of referral and consultation cases involving pancreaticobiliary organs 
• Interpretation of immunohistochemical stains used for prognostic and predictive markers

Through these services, fellows preview cases independently, review ancillary studies and participate in daily sign-out with subspecialty faculty, developing diagnostic expertise through close interaction with experienced gastrointestinal and liver pathologists.

Fellows work closely with dedicated faculty mentors who provide individualized guidance in clinical practice, research and career development. Fellows also participate in multidisciplinary tumor boards and clinical conferences, where diagnostic findings are integrated with clinical, radiologic and therapeutic information to guide patient management.

The fellowship includes one elective block, which allows fellows to tailor their training to their academic or clinical interests. Most fellows choose to complete this elective as an outside rotation at Baylor College of Medicine at St. Luke’s Medical Center, gaining additional experience in medical liver pathology. Elective rotations may also include:

• Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology
• Breast Pathology
• Cytopathology
• Dermatopathology
• Frozen Section Hot Seat
• Genitourinary Pathology
• Gynecologic Oncology Pathology
• Head and Neck Pathology
• Immunohistochemistry
• Molecular Diagnostic Pathology
• Thoracic Pathology
• Additional research

Fellows may also arrange other approved away rotations, with approval from the Pathology Fellowship Office, during the first month of the academic year.

A dedicated research block is incorporated to support scholarly activity, quality improvement initiatives and preparation of abstracts or manuscripts for presentation at national meetings.

Throughout the fellowship year, fellows develop a graduated level of responsibility in clinical practice, including independent case review and diagnostic decision-making under faculty supervision. Fellows also gain experience in resident supervision, laboratory management, quality assurance activities, and the use of laboratory information systems and pathology databases.

This progressive training structure ensures that fellows develop the diagnostic expertise, clinical judgment, and professional skills necessary for independent practice in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology.

The program also supports participation in the Modular Pathway and the Global Cancer Care (GCC) Track, institutional initiatives that prepare trainees to address disparities in cancer prevention, research, and care worldwide.

Basic Science Research Opportunities 

The large volume and diversity of gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary specimens evaluated at UT MD Anderson provide exceptional opportunities for basic, translational and clinical research. Biospecimens obtained during routine clinical care are incorporated into institutional tissue banks and biospecimen repositories, enabling fellows to participate in laboratory-based and correlative studies that advance the understanding of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases.

Fellows benefit from the close integration of pathology with UT MD Anderson’s gastrointestinal oncology research programs, providing opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary translational studies involving colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers. Fellows may collaborate with investigators across the institution on projects focused on biomarker discovery, tumor genomics, tumor microenvironment biology and mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. These collaborations frequently support translational research initiatives and clinical trials in gastrointestinal oncology, allowing fellows to gain insight into how molecular discoveries translate into improved patient care.

UT MD Anderson provides access to numerous shared research resources and advanced core facilities, including genomic sequencing platforms, proteomics technologies, bioinformatics infrastructure and high-throughput imaging capabilities. These technologies support investigations that integrate molecular data with morphologic findings, reflecting the growing role of precision oncology in modern cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Through these collaborative environments, fellows work alongside pathologists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, oncologists, and basic scientists, contributing to research that advances the biological understanding of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases and supports the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Educational Activities 

The Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Fellowship includes a comprehensive program of didactic lectures, case-based conferences, and multidisciplinary tumor boards that support the fellow’s development as a subspecialty pathologist within a high-volume oncologic practice.

Fellows have protected educational time from 8to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday to participate in departmental conferences and lectures covering a wide range of pathology topics, including diagnostic pathology, molecular diagnostics, digital pathology and emerging advances in cancer research.  

Educational activities include:

Divisional Grand Rounds 

Weekly presentations by invited experts from UT MD Anderson and leading institutions highlighting advances in cancer biology, diagnostic pathology and translational oncology.

Pathology Didactic Conference Series 

Faculty-led lectures that address diagnostic challenges, emerging biomarkers, molecular pathology and advances in subspecialty pathology practice.

Unknown Case Conferences 

Fellows present diagnostically challenging cases they have independently reviewed, discussing differential diagnoses, ancillary testing and clinicopathologic correlations with faculty mentorship.

GI Subspecialty Teaching Conferences 

Regular GI-focused teaching sessions and interesting case conferences provide opportunities for fellows and faculty to review complex cases using multi-headed microscope discussions and collaborative diagnostic review.

Multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Tumor Boards 

GI pathology fellows participate in numerous disease-focused multidisciplinary conferences with specialists in gastroenterology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology and radiology. These conferences include discussions of complex clinical cases involving:

• Gastric cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Pancreaticobiliary tumors
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Peritoneal malignancies
• Rectal cancer
• Liver tumors and transplant-related pathology
• Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP)
• Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

 
These multidisciplinary meetings occur regularly throughout the week and provide fellows with direct insight into how pathologic findings guide clinical decision-making and treatment planning in gastrointestinal oncology. 

GI Endoscopy Conference 

A dedicated conference in which GI fellows and faculty review endoscopic biopsy cases and correlate histologic findings with endoscopic and clinical features.

Journal Clubs and Citywide Conferences 

Fellows also participate in journal clubs and collaborative conferences with trainees and faculty from institutions across the Texas Medical Center, fostering scholarly discussion and exposure to diverse diagnostic perspectives.

Together, these educational activities complement daily case review and faculty sign-out, reinforcing diagnostic expertise, multidisciplinary collaboration and academic discussion in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology.

Gastrointestinal and liver pathology services at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center support a large, multidisciplinary cancer program that includes gastroenterology, hepatology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiology. These services are closely integrated with specialized clinical programs focused on cancers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, liver and biliary tract.

The Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Section evaluates more than 20,000 gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary specimens annually, including a large number of referral and consultation cases from outside institutions. This diverse case mix provides fellows with extensive exposure to the full spectrum of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract and liver, as well as complex and diagnostically challenging cases.

As a major national and international referral center, UT MD Anderson receives a substantial volume of outside consultation material. In addition to consultation cases, fellows review biopsies and surgical specimens generated by the institution’s large gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgical oncology practice. Together, these resources provide fellows with exceptional exposure to both common and rare gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tumors encountered in tertiary oncologic practice.

Diagnostic evaluation is supported by advanced pathology infrastructure, including immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnostics and digital pathology platforms. Fellows gain hands-on experience integrating these ancillary studies into routine diagnostic practice and multidisciplinary patient care.

The Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Fellow will benefit from:

• Extensive case exposure, with more than 20,000 gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary specimens evaluated annually
• Experience reviewing both in-house surgical pathology specimens and complex referral and consultation cases
• Participation in multidisciplinary tumor boards and clinical conferences with specialists in gastroenterology, hepatology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiology
• Exposure to a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary diseases, including rare and diagnostically challenging tumors
• Access to advanced diagnostic technologies, including immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnostics and digital pathology platforms

Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Brain Metastasis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. 
Publication: The American Journal of Surgical Pathology 
Authors: Elzamly S, Alsawas M, Yousef MMG, Zhao D, Katz MH, Prakash LR, Wang H, Li Z, Wolff RA, Maitra A, Wang H.

Prognosticators for Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Who Received Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel Therapy and Pancreatectomy.
Publication: Cancers (Basel).  
Authors: Tong YT, Lai Z, Katz MHG, Prakash LR, Wang H, Chatterjee D, Kim M, Tzeng CD, Lee JE, Ikoma N, Rashid A, Wolff RA, Zhao D, Koay EJ, Maitra A, Wang H.

The Association between Sampling and Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Who Received Neoadjuvant Therapy and Pancreaticoduodenectomy. 
Publication: Cancers (Basel)  
Authors: Taherian, M, Katz, MH, Prakash, L, Wei, D, Tong, YT, Lai, Z, Chatterjee, D, Wang, H, Kim, M, Tzeng, CD, Ikoma, N, Wolff, RA, Zhao, D, Koay, EJ, Maitra, A, Wang, H. 

Integrated Pathologic Score Effectively Stratifies Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Who Received Neoadjuvant Therapy and Pancreaticoduodenectomy. 
Publication: The American Journal of Surgical Pathology 
Authors: Sohn AJ, Taherian M, Katz MHG, Prakash LR, Chatterjee D, Wang H, Kim M, Tzeng CD, Lee JE, Ikoma N, Rashid A, Wolff RA, Zhao D, Koay EJ, Sun R, Maitra A, Wang H.

Frequent synaptophysin expression in SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated carcinoma of the oesophagus: a diagnostic pitfall with therapeutic implications.
Publication: Journal of Clinical Pathology   
Authors: Elzamly S, Al-Attar MM, Taggart MW, Foo WC, Ajani JA, Maru D, Chatterjee D

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatic injury: a clinicopathologic review.
Publication: Journal of clinical and translational pathology   
Authors: Taherian M, Chatterjee D, Wang H

GRP78 expression and prognostic significance in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant therapy versus surgery first.
Publication: Pancreatology    
Authors: Tong YT, Wang H, Wei D, Prakash LR, Kim M, Tzeng CD, Lee JE, Rashid A, Koay EJ, Wolff RA, Maitra A, Katz MH, Wang H.

Expression and Potential Prognostic Value of SOX9, MCL-1 and SPOCK1 in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.
Publication: Pathology and Oncology Research 
Authors: Luo W, Nagaria TS, Sun H, Ma J, Lombardo JL, Bassett R, Cao AC, Tan D.

Clinicopathological correlation of radiologic measurement of post-therapy tumor size and tumor volume for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Publication: Pancreatology. 
Authors: Wei D, Zaid MM, Katz MH, Prakash LR, Kim M, Tzeng CD, Lee JE, Agrawal A, Rashid A, Wang H, Varadhachary G, Wolff RA, Tamm EP, Bhosale PR, Maitra A, Koay EJ, Wang H.

Modification of the 8th AJCC staging system of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Publication: HepatoBiliary Surgery and Nutrition 
Authors: Nagaria TS, Wang H.

Pathology of Treated Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Clinical Implications.
Publication: Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine 
Authors: Nagaria TS, Wang H, Chatterjee D, Wang H.

Gastroesophageal junction Paneth cell carcinoma with extensive cystic and secretory features - case report and literature review.
Publication: Diagnostic Pathology 
Authors: Luo W, Hofstetter WL, Tan D.

CDH1 Gene and Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer Syndrome: Molecular and Histological Alterations and Implications for Diagnosis And Treatment.
Publication: Frontiers in Pharmacology 
Authors: Luo W, Fedda F, Lynch P, Tan D.

Gastric cancer in the remnant stomach after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A case series.
Publication: Journal of Surgical Oncology 
Authors: Sonoda K, Samdani RT, Ikoma N, Kaya DM, Blum-Murphy M, Ajani JA, Badgwell BD, Katz MH, Rashid A, Estrella JS.

Loss of Menin Expression by Immunohistochemistry in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Comparison Between Primary and Metastatic Tumors.
Publication: Pancreas  
Authors: Samdani RT, Wasylishen AR, Halperin DM, Dasari A, Yao JC, Rashid A, Estrella JS.

Prognostic Significance of New AJCC Tumor Stage in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Neoadjuvant Therapy.
Publication: The American Journal of Surgical Pathology 
Authors: Chatterjee D, Katz MH, Foo WC, Sundar M, Wang H, Varadhachary GR, Wolff RA, Lee JE, Maitra A, Fleming JB, Rashid A, Wang H.

Choosing the right fellowship is one of the most important decisions in your professional journey. Our program offers a rigorous and enriching training experience grounded in academic excellence, high clinical volume, and national leadership in oncologic pathology. The fellowship is based at UT MD Anderson, which is consistently ranked among the top cancer centers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Training in this environment provides fellows with unparalleled exposure to complex oncologic pathology and multidisciplinary cancer care.

Our Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology faculty are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the field. As authors and contributors to major pathology textbooks, peer-reviewed journals and consensus guidelines, they help shape diagnostic standards and advance biomarker-driven precision oncology in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers. At one of the world’s largest cancer centers, fellows experience extraordinary breadth and depth in gastrointestinal, pancreatic and hepatobiliary pathology, encountering rare and diagnostically challenging tumors that are not commonly seen in other training environments. 

Fellows also play an important role in the educational mission of the department. During the fellowship year, fellows teach and mentor pathology residents and rotating trainees, reviewing cases together during preview and sign-out with faculty. This collaborative learning environment strengthens diagnostic reasoning while developing skills in teaching, leadership, and academic communication.

Fellows additionally participate in the education of medical students, visiting scholars and observership trainees, guiding them through diagnostic workflows and case discussions at the multi-headed microscope. These experiences foster professional mentorship and academic engagement within a dynamic learning environment. 

Through close faculty mentorship, structured educational activities and opportunities for scholarly research and national presentations, fellows graduate well prepared for careers in academic pathology, subspecialty practice and leadership in oncologic pathology. Our alumni have gone on to secure faculty appointments, subspecialty positions and leadership roles at leading institutions across the country.

In addition to gaining unparalleled education and training experience, UT MD Anderson trainees have access to exceptional resources and benefits to help them build meaningful careers and lead fulfilling lives.

Institutional benefits and support

GME trainees’ salary stipends are updated every year based on the ACGME’s recommendations, and because our trainees are considered workforce members, they also enjoy UT MD Anderson’s employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement planning, disability insurance and six weeks of parental leave.

Our GME House Staff Senate offers trainees the opportunity to experience a leadership role in a medical field career, and the institution’s Academic Mentoring Council provides avenues to secure tailored academic mentoring from faculty. Our GME trainees benefit from the extensive support offered to our research trainees, too; they are invited to participate in grant application workshops, apply for pilot grants to support their research ideas and receive monetary awards for securing extramural grant funding.

Trainee wellness is also of utmost importance at UT MD Anderson.

Our trainees have access to UT MD Anderson’s employee networks, fitness center and other wellness resources provided by the institution. Additionally, our Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), which provides oversight of our accredited programs, regularly assesses our trainees’ needs and implements various initiatives, such as providing free call meals and discounted parking to GME House Staff, to address those gaps. The committee even has a subcommittee entirely dedicated to supporting the wellness of our trainees.

Our efforts to ensure a welcoming and supportive education and training experience have been commended nationally. In 2023, the Office of Graduate Medical Education received the DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award, a prestigious national award that recognizes our institution for its respectful and supportive environment for delivering medical education and patient care.

Beyond UT MD Anderson

UT MD Anderson’s location has many benefits, too. Our main campus is nestled inside the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center which boasts about 10 million patient encounters each year. Many of our faculty are involved in interorganizational research collaborations, both within the TMC and across the nation, exposing trainees to groundbreaking advancements in medical care in real time.

Most importantly, the city of Houston is a great place to call home and raise a family. We are one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation. More than 145 different languages are spoken across the city, placing us behind only New York and Los Angeles. In fact, about 30% of the city’s population speaks a language other than English at home. And, paychecks here stretch farther than most U.S. metro areas, thanks to our low cost of living.

Visit our Why Houston page to learn more about our city’s affordable housing, fine dining, entertainment scene, nationally renowned museums and other great attributes.