Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship

The Harvard Medical School Molecular Genetic Pathology (MGP) Training Program represents a collaboration of three major Harvard teaching hospitals (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital) as well as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Broad Institute and Laboratory for Molecular Medicine. The overall goals of this one-year accredited training program are:

• Provide extensive training in molecular diagnostics and molecular genetics, including malignant disease, inherited genetic disorders, infectious disease, neoplasia and identity testing
• Provide training in the performance and interpretation of wide spectrum of molecular, cytogenetic and biochemical laboratory tests (ranging from single mutation assays to small panels to large genomic assays)
• Gain real world experience with innovative and cutting-edge technologies in molecular pathology
• Provide training as a medical consultant in Molecular Genetic Pathology to assist clinicians in the diagnosis and care of patients
• Provide training and direct exposure to laboratory management, quality assurance, troubleshooting of molecular tests, assay development and evaluation, and instrument evaluation
• Provide training and direct exposure to clinical genetic practice through active participation in genetics clinics with the aim of better understanding the clinical implications of genetic testing

Fellows achieve the following:

• A sound knowledge base of the basic science of molecular biology and molecular genetics
• Learn to integrate molecular and clinical data and calculate genetic risk
• Develop research skills and participate in a research project
• Demonstrate good communications skills with laboratory and clinical physicians, patients, technologists and ancillary staff
• Demonstrate sensitivity to ethical issues in genetics, particularly those raised by molecular diagnostic testing
• Learn principles of clinical laboratory management, assay development and strategic planning

Teaching sessions

The fellowship is integrated with the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Genetics Training Program and shares a year-long didactic program. Weekly case review conferences, didactic lecture series, case based walkrounds and journal clubs are conducted at each of the following sites:

• Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH)-Lab management/Molecular microbiology
• Boston Children's Hospital (BCH)-Pediatric molecular pathology
• Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-Data science
• Laboratory for Molecular Medicine (LMM)-Cytogenetics

Rotation sites

• BWH-3 months
• BCH-3 months
• MGH-2 months
• LMM-2 months
• Elective-(i.e., Broad Institute) 1 month

There are over 40 faculty members. Representative faculty includes the following.

Brigham and Women's Hospital:

• Lynette Sholl, MD, Molecular Diagnostics and Surgical Pathology
• Deborah Dillon, MD, Molecular Diagnostics and Surgical Pathology
• David Miller, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics
• Jonathan Nowak, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics
• Ryan Doan, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics
• Arezou Ghazani, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics
• Scott Rodig, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Immunology
• Navin Mahadevan, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Immunology
• Vinay Mahajan, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Immunology
• Daimon Simmons, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Immunology
• Sabina Signoretti, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Cancer Biology
• Laura Macconaill, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Cancer Biology
• Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Epidemiology
• Manfred Brigl, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Microbiology
• Lynn Bry, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Microbiology
• Azra Ligon, PhD, Director Cytogenetics
• Esther Baranov, MD, Molecular Diagnostics and Gastrointestinal Pathology
• Fred Bieber, PhD, Forensic Genetics
• Georg Gerber, MD, PhD, Computational Pathology
• Phillip Michaels, MD, Molecular Diagnostics and Hematopathology
• Stephanie Siegmund, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Genitourinary

Children’s Hospital:

• Marian Harris, MD, PhD, Director, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
• Alanna Church, MD, Molecular Diagnostics and Pediatric Pathology, Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program Director (BWH)
• Harrison Tsai, MD, PhD, Bioinformatics and Genitourinary Pathology

Massachusetts General Hospital:

• A. John Iafrate, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Cancer Biology
• Long Le, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Computational Pathology
• Valentina Nardi, MD, Molecular Diagnostics and Hematopathology
• Adam Fisch, MD, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Head and Neck/Endocrine Pathology

Harvard Center for Personalized Genomic Medicine:

• Matt Lebo, PhD, Director, Molecular Diagnostics
• Heather Mason-Suares, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetics; LGG Fellowship Program Director
• Hana Zouk, PhD, FACMG, Molecular Diagnostics
• Sami Amr, PhD, Molecular Diagnostics

Dana Farber Cancer Institute:

• Huma Rana, MD, MPH, Clinical Director, Cancer Genetics & Prevention

Broad Institute:

• Diana Toledo, PhD, Associate Lab Director