Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship

The UCSF Departments of Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine together offer a one year ACGME-accredited Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship with the goal of developing trainees into independent Laboratory Directors and/or the next generation of academic leaders in this field.  The program has a flexible design that provides both a generalized experience, as well as the ability to focus on specific areas of interest with faculty mentors throughout the year.  The program includes training in the areas of cancer genetics (solid tumors and hematopathology), inherited diseases, infectious diseases, pharmacogenomics and cytogenetics. In addition, fellows actively participate in the clinical practice of Medical Genetics during their time in the Genetics Clinics. Fellows learn the methodologies used to perform molecular testing, how to interpret and report test results, how to develop and validate new testing techniques and methodologies, how to manage a clinical molecular pathology laboratory, financial considerations related to genetic and genomics testing, how to integrate efforts with the clinical genetics team (physicians and counselors) and how to serve as consultants to the clinical services. Training includes active use and clinical application of next generation sequencing (NGS), array technologies and low signal detection techniques (i.e. circulating nucleic acid detection).

While the fellow rotates between four different major testing labs, the schedule is structured in a flexible manner that permits participation in the key educational aspects of each individual lab’s clinical focus throughout the entire year. There is a weekly schedule of conferences that the fellow can participate in that includes patient management meetings (e.g. molecular tumor board, hereditary cancer conference, inherited disease conference, etc.) and a symposium series presented by the UCSF Institute of Human Genetics (IHG), where guest speakers from around the world are brought in to lecture. Visits to some of the numerous biotechnology firms in the Bay Area can also be arranged. Fellows are expected to actively participate in at least one academic research project, as well as test validation projects and lab management training. A second “research year” year of fellowship also can be arranged to allow for more focused and in-depth pursuits, depending on availability and the fellow’s ultimate goals and objectives.

Fellowship applicants can also try to arrange for doing this program either before or after other fellowships at UCSF, if scheduling permits.

Applicants should have completed at least two years of training and be in good standing in an ACGME-Accredited AP, CP or combined AP/CP residency program.

UCSF seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to excellence, all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Faculty Involved with Fellowship

Patrick Devine, MD, PhD
James P. Grenert, MD, PhD
Jeffry P. Simko, PhD, MD
Charles Y. Chiu, MD, PhD
Rama Yakubu, MD, PhD
Jeffrey Whitman, MD
Deepika Sirohi, MD
Georgios Deftereos, MD
Arun P. Wiita, MD, PhD
Zhongxia (Joe) Qi, PhD
Jessica Van Ziffle, PhD
Alan H.B. Wu, PhD
Hind Al Saif, MD
Stephanie E. Siegmund, MD, PhD
Igor Odinstov, MD

Wei Gu, MD, PhD (Stanford University)
James L. Zehnder, MD (Stanford University)

Requirements

Non-U.S. citizens must possess a Permanent Resident Card or an appropriate educational visa prior to starting a postgraduate medical education program at UCSF. The Department of Pathology may sponsor J1 visas.

Please refer to the website of the Medical Board of California for more details:
Medical Board of California

Certification in molecular genetic pathology is a joint function of the American Board of Pathology (ABP) and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG).

To qualify and sit for the American Board of Pathology / ABMGG certification exam in Molecular Genetic Pathology (MGP), candidates must be certified in AP/CP, AP, or CP or certified by the ABMGG (ABMGG physician diplomates may be candidates for this exam and subsequent certification on passing).  Applicants for ABP/ABMGG Board Certification in MGP must also complete at least 12 months of training in an ACGME-accredited molecular genetic pathology program (the UCSF MGP Program is accredited by the ACGME and also fulfills the ABP training requirements:  "Training programs in molecular genetic pathology are a joint and equal function of departments of pathology and departments or divisions of medical genetics. The Pathologist Applicants for ABP/ABMGG Board Certification must gain an understanding of the principles involved in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of genetic disorders and of counseling the patients and their families as delineated in the ACGME Molecular Genetic Pathology Program Requirements").  See section III of the Molecular Genetic Pathology FAQ document at the following ACGME link for more details about applicant requirements: ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education.

See American Board of Pathology Website for additional details concerning certification requirements and deadlines here.

Salary

Fellows will be appointed as a PGY-5.

For additional information concerning UCSF Fellow Salaries, Loans and Financial Resources, please see:
UCSF GME Trainee Financial Resources

Application

The UCSF Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program participates in the NRMP Match and, beginning with the 2028–2029 application cycle, will also use FellowshipsCAS, the centralized application service for fellowship recruitment.

Applicants interested in the 2028–2029 academic year must submit their application materials through FellowshipsCAS. The application cycle opens on October 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by the December 1, 2026 priority consideration date and are strongly encouraged to apply before interviews begin on January 1, 2027. Programs may continue to review applications on a rolling basis after the priority consideration date.

To begin a new application or return to an existing application, please visit the FellowshipsCAS Applicant Login Page.

Applicants who have questions about completing the FellowshipsCAS application or need technical assistance should visit the FellowshipsCAS Applicant Help Center, which includes application guides, frequently asked questions, and contact information for applicant support.

We encourage and welcome all qualified applications to the Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Training Program. This program is open to all who meet academic, professional, and interest criteria. In accordance with Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, health, or disability. For detailed information, please visit the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.

Important Dates

Timeline for the 2027 NRMP Match

For the 2028–2029 Academic Year

• October 1, 2026: FellowshipsCAS common application opens. FellowshipsCAS Applicant Login Page
• December 1, 2026: Priority consideration date. Applicants who submit by this date may have the best opportunity to be considered for an initial round of interviews.
• After December 1, 2026: Programs may continue to review applications on a rolling basis. Application deadlines and availability may vary by program.
• Before January 1, 2027: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application before the interview process begins.
• January 1, 2027: Programs may begin interviewing applicants.
• February 3, 2027, 12 p.m. ET: Programs and applicants begin registering for the Match and sign the legally binding Match Participation Agreement.
• February 24, 2027, 12 p.m. ET: Ranking opens.
• March 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota change deadline. Programs must withdraw or adjust quotas by this date.
• April 14, 2027, 9 p.m. ET: Rank order list certification deadline.
• April 28, 2027, 12 p.m. ET: Match Day
• July 2028: New fellows start.

For additional information regarding Molecular Genetic Pathology fellowship training programs, recruitment, and frequently asked questions, please visit the Association for Molecular Pathology Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Training Programs webpage.

Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellow Graduates