Medical Student Post-Sophomore Fellowship in Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital

The Role of Pathology in Contemporary Patient Care and Biomedical Research

Goals

Foundational education, hands-on experience, and translational research opportunities using the pathologic basis of disease to inform diagnosis, therapy, prevention, and research.

Opportunity

Year-long learning experience with flexible potential start dates between January 1 and July 1.

Applicants

Medical students who have completed their principal clinical experience are preferred although students at other stages (e.g. post pre-clinical experience) are also encouraged to apply. Students both with and without a long-term career interest in Pathology are likely to find this Program valuable. The experience is not available to those who have already received an MD or equivalent advanced degree.

Curriculum

In order to develop a robust understanding of disease mechanisms, the tools and consequences of pathologic diagnosis, and how pathologists collaborate with caregivers, Student Trainees will be exposed to the entire spectrum of anatomic pathology and clinical laboratory services, including advanced molecular diagnostics. Student Trainees will participate—under strict supervision functioning in a learning environment—in intra-operative consultations (frozen sections), autopsies, the evaluation of surgical specimens, body fluid analysis, management of transfusion donors and recipients, clinical laboratory activities, and participation in teaching and service conferences. Student Trainees will rotate through core general services and will also experience several of the sub-specialty services with an opportunity to focus their educational activities on areas of particular interest. A typical program will involve 6 months of Anatomic Pathology, and 3 months of Clinical Pathology (Laboratory Medicine), including a rotation in Molecular Diagnostics. Objectives will be outlined for each training block, and written feedback to the student provided at the completion of their experience.

Student Trainees will have a three-month opportunity for a clinical-translational research project to be pursued with a BWH Pathology faculty mentor. The Student Trainees will also have the opportunity to present their work at a national pathology meeting (e.g., USCAP, ACLPS), sponsored by the BWH Department of Pathology.

Requirements for Student Trainees

Maintenance of health insurance and occurrence-based liability insurance or self-insurance limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate (both usually extended through the Student Trainee’s home institution).

Living Stipend for Student Trainees

~$3,000/month for housing, food and living expenses.

Current Fellows

Madison Esposito
University of Minnesota-Duluth School of Medicine

Previous Fellows

2022-2023

Anna Bauer
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Current status: 3rd-year medical student at University of Missouri School of Medicine

Ramon Villaverde
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
Current status: 4th-year medical student at University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

2021-2022

Adam Lechner
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Current status: 4th-year medical student at University of Missouri School of Medicine

Jihane ("Jiji") Oufattole
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Current status: 4th-year medical student at University of Missouri School of Medicine

2020-2021

Madeline ("Maddie") Sauer, University of Missouri School of Medicine
Current status: 1st-year Orthopedics Resident, Washington University, St. Louis

2019-2020

Pinak Joshi, St. George's University School of Medicine
Current status: Medical Science Liaison, Cardiothoracic Care Dx

2018-2019

Sneha Gupta, West Virginia University School of Medicine
Current status: Neurology Residency, Johns Hopkins University

2017-2018

Kolin M. Meehan, West Virginia University School of Medicine
Current status: Internal Medicine Residency at Regional Medical center, Bayonet Point, FL

2016-2017

Saagar Jadeja, MD, Drexel University
Current status: Dermatologist in Media, PA (after Dermatology Residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Iny Jhun, MD, Harvard Medical School
Current status: Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellow at Stanford Health Care (following Pathology Residency at Stanford)

2015-2016

Aaron Cohen, MD, Harvard Medical School
Current status: Cardiologist at U. Mass. Medical Center, Worcester, MA (following Internal Medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Cardiology Fellowship at U. Mass.)

2014-2015

Kavita Goyal, MD, Drexel University
Current status: Dermatologist in Silver Springs. MD, affiliated with George Washington University (after Residency at University of Minnesota)

2013-2014

Jonathan Lee, MD, Harvard Medical School
Current status: Dermatology Faculty at Brigham and Women's Hospital (following Dermatology Residency at University of Pittsburgh and Fellowship at the Harvard Combined Dermatology Fellowship)

Matthew Torre, MD, Harvard Medical School
Current status: Junior Faculty in Neuropathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (following Neuropathology Fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital)

Application Process

Applicants should have a strong interest in academic medicine, and an excellent fund of clinical knowledge. Applications should include:

  • a statement of interest
  • a letter of recommendation from a clinical mentor who can speak to the student’s interests in academic medicine
  • a CV, including USMLE Step I and pre-clinical grades, if available.

Application Deadlines

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis up to 2 months prior to the proposed start date; interviews will likewise occur on a rolling basis.

Complete applications should be sent to Dr. Richard Mitchell, c/o Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115; rmitchell@partners.org

Questions

Rick Mitchell, BWH Pathology
617-525-4303
rmitchell@partners.org

APC Website

Please also visit the Opportunities in Pathology for Students page of the Association of Pathology Chairs website for a comprehensive listing of national opportunities for medical students in academic pathology departments.

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