Laboratory Genetics and Genomics

The BWH Department of Pathology ABMGG (American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics) fellowship is ACGME-accredited and requires a minimum of 24 months to complete.

The fellowship integrates training in both clinical cytogenetics and clinical molecular genetics into a single primary specialty. Fellows spend dedicated time on both constitutional and somatic genetics while rotating through a variety of Harvard-affiliated laboratories. Fellows also are expected to participate in a variety of didactic sessions and seminars and play an active role in new assay validation, as well as assume responsibility for carrying a clinical pager.

The overall goals of the LGG Fellowship include:

  • Teaching the principles of cytogenetics and molecular genetics as applied to diagnostic testing
  • Exposing fellows to major techniques used in both specialties
  • Providing experience in both conventional cytogenetic and cutting-edge molecular cytogenomic techniques
  • Teaching the major clinical indications for testing and the clinical implications of test results (samples types include peripheral bloods, fibroblasts, amniotic fluids, chorionic villi, hematology-oncology specimens, and solid tumors)
  • Allowing fellows to become familiar with constitutional syndromes, principles of prenatal diagnosis, and cancer cytogenetics
  • Helping fellows develop communication skills necessary for interaction with healthcare professionals and patients
  • Conveying an appreciation of issues in quality assurance necessary to management of a diagnostic laboratory
  • Conveying a range of ethical issues involved in the practice of clinical cytogenetics

Requirements

All applicants

  • CAP Standardized Pathology Fellowship Application
    • College of Pathology Common Application Form
    • Curriculum Vitae: describe all educational and professional experience.
    • Personal Statement: describe your intellectual interests and achievements and the reasons you have chosen to pursue LGG training. You are welcome to also share some of your extracurricular interests.
    • Graduate School Transcript: have official transcript(s) emailed to the address below.
    • Letters of Recommendation: at least 3 letters of recommendation should be submitted directly by referees.

Applicants from outside the US:

  • All of the above criteria
  • Graduate School Transcript:
    • Have official transcript(s) emailed to the email provided below.
    • From the ABMGG website: All individuals with a doctoral degree earned outside of the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico who are planning to sit for the certification examination are strongly urged to have the ABMGG Credentials Committee review their credentials prior to the onset of medical genetics and genomics training in an ABMGG-accredited fellowship or ACGME-accredited clinical genetics and genomics residency program for determination of equivalency of the doctoral degree.
    • ***If credential review by the ABMGG is necessary it must be completed prior to application to this program. ***
  • TOEFL:
    • From the ABMGG website: Individuals with an earned PhD degree or MD degree from a country other than the U.S., Canada, Great Britain or Australia, who are interested in applying for certification in the specialties of Clinical Biochemical Genetics or Laboratory Genetics and Genomics must take the TOEFL-iBT examination. (MDs with an ECFMG certificate are exempt from this requirement.)
    • Applicants must have the official TOEFL-iBT examination scores sent directly to the ABMGG Administrative Office by the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org). There are no exceptions to this requirement.
    • Individuals who received their undergraduate or Master's degree in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain or Australia but obtained their PhD or MD degrees elsewhere are not required to take the TOEFL exam.

How to Apply

  • The fellowship program is filled for AY 2024-2026
  • We will begin accepting applications for AY 2026-2028 in June 2025
  • All application inquiries can be sent to bwhpathologyfellowships@bwh.harvard.edu
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