Thoracic Pulmonary Pathology Fellowship

Overview

The Thoracic Fellowship is a collaborative program between the pulmonary and thoracic pathology services at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and fellows will rotate at both sites. This one-year fellowship aims to provide comprehensive training in lung pathology, combining the strengths and resources of both institutions to prepare fellows for academic careers devoted to the study of thoracic pathology.

The fellowship offers extensive exposure to clinical lung pathology, including both neoplastic and medical diseases. Combined, the two academic medical centers review over 5,000 lung and pleural cases per year, including biopsies and resections of lung, trachea, bronchi, pleura, mediastinal lymph nodes (non-lymphoma) and chest wall. The pulmonary service also functions as a consultant in infectious disease pathology for other units in the department. Special expertise in surgical pathology exists in lung transplant pathology, thoracic oncology including mesotheliomas, tracheal pathology, pulmonary hypertension, vasculitis, granulomatous diseases and pediatric pulmonary pathology.

Requirements

Completion of a residency program in anatomic pathology from an ACGME accredited program or equivalent.

Curriculum

Fellows will develop expertise to independently review and recognize the pathologic features of the most important and common areas in lung and pleural pathology. Fellows will be able to determine and accurately report prognostic/predictive factors in neoplastic and non-neoplastic lung/pleural disease, and to understand how this information is used to guide patient management.

Fellows will be able to competently interpret and integrate complementary immunohistochemistry and molecular studies used in tumor diagnoses and clinical management, as well as interpret lung biopsies in light of (and with correlation to) the radiologic findings in a case. They will learn to recognize pathogenic inhaled materials by polarized light examination of tissue slides and the use of electron microscopy for selected indications. Fellows will then develop testable hypotheses in the field of thoracic pathology and hone their skills to successfully carry pathology research projects to completion, thus enhancing the care of patients with thoracic disease.

The fellow will participate in all the daily activities of the thoracic pathology laboratory and will be actively involved with the thoracic staff pathologists in all the steps leading to the final diagnosis of all thoracic specimens submitted, including consults.

These diagnosis steps involve:

• Review and sign-out all lung/pleura/mediastinal pathology cases in collaboration with the thoracic pathology senior staff.
• Interpret and report immunoperoxidase studies on lung and pleural tumors.
• Teach and mentor the junior residents participating on the thoracic service in all areas of review.

How to Apply

Fellowship application form, additional application materials, and inquires should be submitted by email to: MGBPathologyfellowships@mgb.org.

We recruit two years out and will begin accepting applications in April for the corresponding academic year. There is no deadline to apply; we will continue accepting applications until we fill all positions. In the summer, information on interviews will be given to selected applicants following review of a complete application.

Application Materials

• CAP Standardized Pathology Fellowship Application
• Curriculum Vitae (must be in month/year format 00/0000)
• Personal Statement describing career goals and surgical pathology interests
• USMLE Steps 1, 2, & 3 Score Report- (Canadian physicians and Doctors of Osteopathy who are eligible for licensure may substitute documentation of successful completion of LMCC/MCCQE and COMLEX examinations, respectively, in lieu of USMLE examinations)
• Passport-style photo
• Three Letters of Recommendation (one letter must be from your current program director or department chair)
• Letters of Recommendation should be emailed by the letter writer to: MGBPathologyfellowships@mgb.org
• Copy of MD Degree (International medical graduates only)
• Copy of ECFMG Certificate (International medical graduate only)

Fellowships and Faculty Contacts

• Robert Padera, Jr., MD, PhD
• Yin (Rex) Hung, MD
• Lynette Sholl, MD
• David Hwang, MD
• Sara Vargas, MD
• Marina Vivero, MD
• Mari Mino-Kenudson, MD
• Lida Hariri, MD PhD
• Angela Shih, MD