Hematopathology Fellowship
Each year, the Hematopathology department receives about 18,000 bone marrow specimens and 4,000 lymph node and other tissue specimens. It performs 25,000 cytogenetic tests, 80,000 molecular diagnostic tests, and 30,000 flow cytometry immunophenotypic studies. This volume, combined with about 30 dedicated and experienced faculty members, provides a unique learning environment and opportunities for translational research.
The Hematopathology department's fellowship program has two components:
The Hematopathology Fellowship is a one-year ACGME accredited program, completion of which fulfills the requirements for board certification in hematopathology.
The Advanced Hematopathology Fellowship is a one-year non-accredited program, which is designed to create a solid academic foundation and further improve diagnostic skills.
Fellows benefit dramatically from completion of both programs. As a result, candidates who make a two-year commitment are preferred. However, we do make exceptions and have accepted candidates to complete only the one-year Hematopathology fellowship. Therefore, strong candidates desiring to complete only Hematopathology fellowship are also encouraged to apply.
A Letter from our Program Director
It is my privilege to welcome you to learn about our Hematopathology Fellowship Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Consistently recognized as one of the top cancer centers in the world, and uniquely positioned within the extraordinary Texas Medical Center, UT MD Anderson offers tremendous opportunities and resources to hematopathology trainees.
Education is one of the core pillars of the Department of Hematopathology. The Hematopathology Fellowship Program, which began in 1988, currently has seven fellows every year. Our vision is to foster a culture where fellows have the opportunity to reach their highest potential. Our fellowship program is designed to develop and train the next generation of leaders in our field. With this explicit directive in mind, we craft the fellows’ clinical experience, educational program, research opportunities and professional development. Our Hematopathology Fellowship Program has two components: (1) a one-year ACGME accredited program, completion of which fulfills the requirements for board certification in hematopathology; (2) an additional non-accredited year designed to create a solid academic foundation and further improve diagnostic skills. Our fellows are highly involved in all aspects of our departmental operations, including patient care, research, and multidisciplinary conferences.
One of the strengths of our program is the enormous quantity and excellent quality of hematopathology cases with a good variety of common and uncommon entities. Each year, the Hematopathology department receives about 18,000 bone marrow specimens and 4,000 lymph node and other tissue biopsy specimens. In addition, the department performs about 25,000 cytogenetic tests, 80,000 molecular diagnostic tests, and 30,000 flow cytometry immunophenotypic studies. This volume, combined with about 30 dedicated and experienced faculty members, provides a unique learning environment and opportunities for translational research.
The faculty and I are strongly committed to each fellow’s success in their fellowship and subsequent independent careers. We are fortunate to have outstanding hematopathology faculty including world-class experts and forward-thinking leaders. Our faculty enthusiastically share their expertise through sign-out sessions, teaching conferences, research meetings and career planning. Through dedicated teaching and mentorship, our hematopathology fellows mature into sophisticated experts in the management of neoplastic and non-neoplastic hematopathology disorders. Many of our fellows have become leaders in the field of hematopathology nationally and internationally.
Specifically drawing upon the unwavering institutional commitment to research and innovative science, we offer fellows unparalleled exposure, involvement, and experience in hematopathology research activities. This exposure allows our
fellows to use evidence-based medicine in presentations at local/regional, as well as national/international meetings and to produce manuscripts for peer-review publications. Our fellows gain proficiency in translational research with an emphasis on critical appraisal of the literature and research design to achieve the highest impact in health care through the accurate diagnoses of hematopathology disorders.
UT MD Anderson is a special place where every person is dedicated to our mission to end cancer while exhibiting the core values of Caring, Integrity, Discovery, Safety and Stewardship. We are extremely proud of our fellows as they continue to embody this spirit in their extraordinary careers.
Thank you for considering the Hematopathology Fellowship Program at UT MD Anderson. We look forward to further interacting with you about our fellowship our program.
Meet our Current Fellows
Advanced Hematopathology Fellows (second year)
Nicholas Dcunha, MBBS
Education
Dr. Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Nashik, India
Post graduate training
Pathology Residency (M.D. Pathology): Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Pune, India
Hematopathology Fellowship: Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
Residency in Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical Pathology): Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
Research interests
Molecular Hematopathology
Personal interests
Playing football (Soccer), exploring new Cuisines and making new friends.
Fun fact
I became a Manchester United and Portugal fan as a kid to them winning trophies. Now I'm conducting a longitudinal cohort study on disappointment, resilience and the psychological effects of extra time.
Favorite quote
"The secret of success is constancy of purpose." - Benjamin Disraeli
Ekaterina Menshikova, M.D.
Education
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Post graduate training
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta
Research interests
Hematopathologic implications and complications of CAR-T cell therapy
Personal interests
Making and decorating cakes, drinking coffee with my husband and listening to music
Fun fact
Ekaterina is pronounced Yeh-kah-teh-REE-nuh — in Russian, the letter “E” is pronounced like “Ye,” so think less “e-mail” and more “yes”
Favorite quote
“Be nice!” - a favorite saying of one of my attendings
Hematopathology (first year)
Mahreen Hussain, M.D., Chief Fellow
Education
Jinnah Medical and Dental Collage, Karachi, Pakistan
Postgraduate Training
Residency: Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Research Interests
Plasma cells
Personal Interests
Traveling
Favorite Quote
“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” - B.B. King
Sibel Ak, M.D.
Education
Inonu University, School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
Post graduate training
Residency: UTHealth Houston, Department of Pathology
Research interests
Molecular and immunologic mechanisms of T-cell lymphomas, integration of flow cytometry and molecular diagnostics in hematologic malignancies, clinicopathologic correlations in lymphoid neoplasms, and translational hematopathology.
Personal interests
Ebru (traditional Turkish water marbling), hiking, solving 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles and spending time with family.
Fun fact
I learned how to ride a bike just before starting my Pathology residency.
Favorite quote
“If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than who you are." - Master Shifu
Nourhan Ibrahim, M.D.
Education
Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Postgraduate training
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Research interests
Hematopathology, Molecular Pathology, with a particular interest in the application of molecular diagnostics to disease classification and precision medicine
Personal interests
Reading, practicing yoga and Pilates, and maintaining a balanced and active lifestyle
Fun fact
I enjoy discovering hidden culinary gems and I am always eager to try a new restaurant or cuisine
Favorite quote
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu
Tasnuva Rashid, M.D., Ph.D.
Education
Medical Degree: Ibrahim Medical College, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Master in Public Health with a focus on Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M University
Doctor of Philosophy with a focus on Infectious Disease and Genetics, UTHealth Houston
Post graduate certification in Genomics and Bioinformatics, UTHealth Houston
Post graduate certification in Data Analytics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Postgraduate Training
Anatomical and Clinical Pathology Residency: University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida
Research Interests
Integration of high-throughput molecular data, advanced image analysis, computational approaches and population-based studies to better understand the tumor biology of hematologic malignancies. Identification of novel genetic alterations and molecular targets with diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance, thereby contributing meaningfully to the advancement of personalized medicine.
Personal Interests
I am deeply passionate about health equity and global collaboration initiatives. Outside of my professional pursuits, I enjoy traveling to explore different cultures and cuisines, listening to music, cooking and gardening.
Favorite Quote
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela
Xin Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Education
Doctor of Medicine: Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
Doctor of Philosophy: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
Post graduate training
Research Fellowship: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Residency: Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York
Research interests
Mixed phenotype acute leukemia and large B cell lymphoma
Personal interests
Cooking, planting, reading comic books
Fun fact
Life as a mom of two little girls is full of joy and adventure. My older daughter is 5 years old, and she loves coloring and helping make pancakes.
Favorite quote
“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” - Emily Dickinson
Our Alumni
2021-2022
Lianqun Qiu, M.D., Ph.D.
Xiaoqiong Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Aakash, M.D.
Jeong Hee Cho, M.D.
Do Hwan Kim, M.D.
Karen A. Nahmod, M.D., Ph.D.
O. Valentine Nwogbo, M.D.
2022-2023
Aakash, M.D.
Do Hwan Kim, M.D.
Karen A. Nahmod, M.D., Ph.D.
O. Valentine Nwogbo, M.D.
Shuyu E, M.D., Ph.D.
Priyatharsini Nirmalanatham, M.D.
Sameeta, M.D.
2023-2024
Shuyu E, M.D., Ph.D.
Sameeta, M.D.
Yiannis Petros Dimopoulos, M.D.
Roman Gonta, M.D.
Xenia Parisi, M.D.
Qing Wei, M.D.
Paul Young, M.D.
2024-2025
Xenia Parisi, M.D.
Qing Wei, M.D., Ph.D.
Paul Young, M.D.
Anindita Ghosh, M.D., Ph.D.
Azeem Khan, M.D.
Peter Wanes, M.D.
Wei Wang, M.D.
2025-2026
Aneeza Irfan, M.D.
Omar Rusan, M.D.
Liangli Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Wei Wang, M.D.
Jahg Wong, M.D.
Jason Zhu, M.D.
Jie Xu, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Hematopathology Fellowship Program
Department of Hematopathology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 0072
Houston, TX 77030-4905
For additional information, please contact:
Yvette Bañuelos
Program Coordinator
Phone: 713-745-4798
Fax: 713-563-3166
Email: ybanuelos@mdanderson.org