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 has 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 appointment. 

2028-29: The UT MD Anderson GYN Pathology fellowship program position will be filled through participation in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for academic year 2028-29 and beyond. Trainees should apply using the instructions below and also register with the NRMP in order to obtain an ID number.

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

• CAP standardized application
• Statement of intent
• 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
• Three letters of recommendation (1 from current program director, 2 from current attendings)
• Letter of good standing from current program director
• ECFMG certificate (if applicable)
• USMLE (passed within 3 attempts)

All application documents should be sent as attachments in one email to GYNPath@mdanderson.org by the deadline (all letters should be emailed directly from the letter writer). All letters must be addressed to Program Director Preetha Ramalingam, M.D..  

The primary goal of our clinical fellowship program is to provide systematic training in the morphologic diagnosis of a variety of gynecologic diseases, while also equipping fellows with the knowledge and skills to pursue translational research. Fellows receive comprehensive training in all aspects of gynecologic pathology, enabling them to establish accurate diagnoses for both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions of the female genital tract. 

The well-rounded curriculum also provides opportunities for scholarly activity, including presentations at conferences and meetings, as well as publication in peer-reviewed journals. Fellows are mentored in effective communication and in working within a diverse laboratory environment. In addition, fellows gain valuable teaching and mentoring experience through close collaboration with surgical pathology fellows, rotating residents and visiting trainees. 

The Gynecologic Pathology Fellowship provides comprehensive subspecialty training in gynecologic pathology within a high-volume oncologic practice, preparing fellows for careers in academic pathology and advanced subspecialty practice.

The fellowship is organized into 13 four-week blocks, providing a balanced combination of clinical training, research experience, and elective time.

Fellows spend most of the year on the gynecologic pathology clinical service, evaluating both in-house material and referral/consultation cases from outside institutions. The service is organized into “inside” and “outside” components, providing comprehensive exposure to biopsies and surgical pathology specimens generated at UT MD Anderson, as well as referral and challenging consultation cases. Fellows independently preview cases, review ancillary studies, and participate in daily sign-out with faculty, developing diagnostic expertise through close collaboration with experienced gynecologic pathologists.

Each fellow works closely with a dedicated gynecologic pathology faculty who provides individualized mentorship throughout the year. Faculty are highly engaged in daily sign-out, research collaboration and career development, offering guidance on academic advancement, research productivity and national networking opportunities. Fellows also gain experience in intraoperative frozen section interpretation, multidisciplinary tumor board participation and effectively communicating diagnostic findings that directly impact patient management.

The fellowship includes approximately 40 weeks of clinical training, providing extensive exposure to gynecologic malignancies within a multidisciplinary environment. Fellows also participate in conference preparation and quality improvement activities, allowing them to progressively develop confidence and autonomy in areas beyond diagnostic decision-making.

The curriculum also includes two elective blocks (total 4 weeks), allowing fellows to tailor their training to specific academic or clinical interests. One elective rotation can be used to gain exposure to placental pathology at Texas Children’s Hospital, while additional elective options may include:

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

Two dedicated research weeks are also provided to support scholarly activity, including abstract submission to national meetings and manuscript preparation.

The fellowship includes a robust schedule of didactic lectures, slide conferences and case-based learning opportunities that support the fellow(s)’ development as a subspecialty pathologist in gynecologic pathology.

Educational activities include:

• Divisional Grand Rounds featuring invited speakers from UT MD Anderson and other leading institutions who present advances in pathology, translational research and cancer diagnostics
• Didactic Conferences focused on diagnostic gynecologic pathology, disease mechanisms and emerging advances in oncologic pathology
• Gynecologic Pathology Interesting Case Conference where faculty present challenging or unusual cases for a practical hand-on teaching experience
• Unknown Case Conference, which provides fellow(s) the opportunity to independently prepare and present diagnostically challenging cases under faculty mentorship
• Journal clubs and subspecialty interesting case conferences across the division, offering exposure to a broad range of pathology topics and fostering interdisciplinary discussion
• Gynecology Tumor Board Conference providing a multidisciplinary forum to review routine and complex cases with experts in gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology and radiology.

Throughout the fellowship year, gradual autonomy is emphasized, allowing fellows to progressively develop diagnostic confidence, leadership skills and independence in case evaluation.

All of our fellows have successfully completed the program and gone on to thrive in academic medicine or private practice. Many hold leadership postitions, serve on national committees or editoral boards, have authored books or book chapters and contributed to the WHO Classification of Female Gential Tumors.

Fellows routinely present their work at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) and have published original articles in high impact journals. Notably, several current faculty were former GYN fellows at our insitution, reflecting the program’s long-standing record of training leaders who advance the field.

Lawson BC, Yang RK, Euscher ED, Ramalingam P, Malpica A. TP53 Variant Allele Frequency Correlates with the Chemotherapy Response Score in Ovarian/Fallopian Tube/Peritoneal High-Grade Serous Carcinoma. Hum Pathol 115:76-83, 9/2021. e-Pub 6/2021. PMID: 34153306. 

Lawson BC, Euscher ED, Bassett RL, Liu J, Ramalingam P, Zhong Y, Fleming ND, Malpica A. A 3-Tier Chemotherapy Response Score for Ovarian/Fallopian Tube/Peritoneal High-grade Serous Carcinoma: Is it Clinically Relevant? Am J Surg Pathol 44(2):206-213, 2/2020. e-Pub 10/2019. PMCID: PMC6954274. 

Ramalingam P, Masand RP, Euscher ED, Malpica A. Undifferentiated carcinoma of the endometrium: An expanded immunohistochemical analysis including PAX-8 and basal-like carcinoma surrogate markers. Int J Gynecol Pathol 35(5):410-8, 9/2016. PMID: 26598976. 

Okoye E, Euscher ED, Malpica A. Ovarian low-grade serous carcinoma: A clinicopathologic study of 33 cases with primary surgery performed at a single institution. Am J Surg Pathol 40(5):627-35, 5/2016. PMID: 26900814. 

Masand RP, Euscher ED, Deavers MT, Malpica A. Endometrioid stromal sarcoma: A clinicopathologic study of 63 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 37(11):1635-47, 11/2013. PMID: 24121169. 

Djordjevic B, Malpica A. Ovarian Serous Tumors of Low Malignant Potential with Nodal Low-grade Serous Carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 36(7):955-963, 7/2012. PMID: 22613998. 

Djordjevic B, Malpica A. Lymph node involvement in ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential: A clinicopathologic study of thirty-six cases. Am J Surg Pathol 34(1):1-9, 1/2010. PMID: 19898226. 

Djordjevic B, Clement-Kruzel S, Atkinson NE, Malpica A. Nodal Endosalpingiosis in ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential with lymph node involvement: A case for a precursor lesion. Am J Surg Pathol 34(10):1442-8, 10/2010. PMID: 20871218. 

Chiesa-Vottero AG, Deavers MT, Veras E, Silva EG, Gershenson D,  Malpica A. Ovarian intestinal type mucinous borderline tumors: Are we ready for a nomenclature change? Int J Gynecol Pathol 29(2):108-12, 3/2010. PMID: 20173495. 

Roma AA, Malpica A. Primary retroperitoneal mucinous tumors: A clinicopathologic study of 18 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 33(4):526-33, 4/2009. PMID: 19092632. 

Kalhor N, Ramirez PT, Deavers MT, Malpica A, Silva EG. Immunohistochemical studies of trophoblastic tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 33(4):633-8, 4/2009. PMID: 19145204. 

Djordjevic B, Euscher ED, Malpica A. Growing teratoma syndrome of the ovary: Review of literature and the first report of a carcinoid tumor arising in a growing teratoma of the ovary. Am J Surg Pathol 31(12):1913-8, 12/2007. PMID: 18043048. 

Chiesa-Vottero AG, Malpica A, Deavers MT, Broaddus R, Nuovo GJ, Silva EG. Immunohistochemical overexpression of p16 and p53 in uterine serous carcinoma and ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma. Int J Gynecol Pathol 26(3):328-33, 7/2007. PMID: 17581420. 

Lewis MR, Euscher ED, Deavers MT, Silva EG, Malpica A. Metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma involving the ovary with elevated serum CA125: A potential diagnostic pitfall. Gynecol Oncol 105(2):395-8, 5/2007. PMID: 17335881 

Euscher ED, Malpica A, Deavers MT, Silva EG. Differential expression of WT-1 in serous carcinomas in the peritoneum with or without associated serous carcinoma in endometrial polyps. Am J Surg Pathol 29(8):1074-8, 8/2005. PMID: 16006803. 

Recine MA, Deavers MT, Middleton LP, Silva EG, Malpica A. Serous carcinoma of the ovary and peritoneum with metastases to the breast and axillary lymph nodes: A potential pitfall. Am J Surg Pathol 28(12):1646-51, 12/2004. PMID: 15577686. 

Albarracin CT, Silva EG, Malpica A, Luthra R, Liu J. The role of hMSH3 and hMSH6 in ovarian endometrioid carcinoma and relationship with microsatellite instability phenotype. Oncol Rep 12(6):1217-9, 12/2004. PMID: 15547740 

Euscher ED, Silva EG, Deavers MT, Elishaev E, Gershenson DM, Malpica A. Serous carcinoma of the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum presenting as lymphadenopathy. Am J Surg Pathol 28(9):1217-23, 9/2004. PMID: 15316322. 

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 assess 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.