About the molecular genetic pathology fellowship
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
The Molecular Genetics Pathology (MGP) fellowship is an ACGME-accredited one-year program designed to train academically oriented physician leaders with the laboratory and clinical skills required for the practice of molecular diagnostics. The program accepts applicants with residency training in pathology or clinical medical genetics. Upon completion of the program, the graduates are eligible for MGP board certification examination administered by the American Board of Pathology.
The program is based at the molecular diagnostics laboratory (MDL), a high-volume and high-complexity laboratory with state-of-the-art setup and a strong track record of innovation and excellence. The laboratory has performed clinical next generation sequencing (NGS) using a broad array of platforms and customized panels for over a decade. The teaching faculty include more than 15 faculty with diverse subspecialty interest in hematopathology and solid tumors.
The training is structured around a strong clinical component, including exposure to a broad range of oncologic and non-oncologic genetic testing, graduated clinical responsibilities, and preparation for independent signout. The fellows will attend a regular series of didactic lectures and seminars. Departmental conferences include didactic lectures and troubleshooting/test development conferences. Fellows will also perform test development and translational research to prepare a manuscript acceptable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal under the supervision of a faculty member. Additionally, fellows will give several lectures to the MDL, laboratory technicians and medical technology students. Flexibility is allowed to encourage the development of special interests and expertise. The fellows gain experience in grant writing and leadership skills.
Overall, the program provides a well-rounded training in molecular diagnostics, clinical consulting, academic research, regulatory compliance and laboratory management, innovative test platforms, bioinformatics, and leadership in an academic environment driven by the core principles of caring, integrity, discovery, safety and stewardship.
Curriculum
This program will be centered in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at MD Anderson, with joint participation by Baylor Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, and the Medical Genetics Division at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
During the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory rotations and under the supervision of faculty, the MGP fellows will be directly involved in the clinical interpretation and troubleshooting of a wide array of molecular pathology technologies for both single-gene assays and NGS-based multigene assays (including DNA and RNA analytes, tumor-only and paired tumor-normal approaches, and tissue-based and liquid-based).
The external rotations will provide intensive training in disease categories and molecular testing of patients not frequently seen at MD Anderson, particularly for genetic disorders and infectious disease; as well as a dedicated rotation in cytogenetics at MD Anderson.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should have completed or be in the process of training in an ACGME-accredited pathology residency or medical genetics residency. At the start of MGP fellowship, applicants are required to be board eligible in anatomic pathology and/or clinical pathology (American Board of Pathology), or medical genetics (American Board of Medical Genetics), as applicable.
Fourth-year residents also may apply and use part of the fellowship to satisfy ABP requirements. Candidates with research backgrounds and/or some prior hands-on experience in laboratory diagnostics are preferred.
Please check complete GME Eligibility Requirements prior to applying.
Required application materials:
- Current curriculum vitae
- A personal statement
- Three letters of reference (one must be from current Program Director)
- Contact information: telephone or pager number and email address
- Statement of visa status, if applicable
How to Apply
Our program participates in the Unified timeline for 2025-2026 Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship cycle to offer uniformity and fairness to the applicants.
Fellowship year: 2025-2026
- Application window: Applications are now open
- Interview window: July 31, 2023 onward
- Interview format: Virtual
- Positions Offer Date: October 2, 2023
Please email your application to ybanuelos@mdanderson.org with the following supporting documentation.
- Application
- Applicants must have an M.D. degree or equivalent
- Applicants must be a U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or a J-1 VISA. MD Anderson Cancer Center does not offer H-1B VISAs for GME Trainees
- A copy of current ECFMG Certification, if you completed medical school outside the United States
- A copy of your USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 if applicable, or Comlex scores
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three Letters of Recommendation, one letter from the Residency Program Director, two letters from an attending physician, and/or teaching faculty
Program Leadership & Faculty
Donna Hansel, M.D., Ph.D.
Division Head, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Read article
L. Jeffrey Medeiros, M.D.
Department Chair, Hematopathology
Victor Prieto, M.D., Ph.D.
Department Chair, Pathology
Keyur P. Patel, M.D., Ph.D., FCAP
Program Director
Sofia Garces, M.D.
Fatima Jelloul, M.D.
Meet Our Fellows
Keyur P. Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellowship Program Director
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program
MD Anderson Cancer Center
6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Unit 1062
Houston, TX 77030
Email: KPPatel@mdanderson.org
For inquiries, please contact:
Yvette Bañuelos
Program Coordinator
Phone: 713-745-4798
Fax: 713-563-3166
Email: ybanuelos@mdanderson.org
Verification of training
Requests for verification should be sent to ybanuelos@mdanderson.org.