Cytopathology Fellowship
Each year, two positions are available in this one-year program. The fellowship provides training in all areas of cytology with a special emphasis on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) techniques including ultrasound guided biopsy, specimen triage, and smear interpretation. At the beginning of fellowship, trainees receive intensive training and supervision. They are gradually given more responsibility, and ultimately function independently with minimal faculty oversight. Fellows will have access to, and will participate in the sampling of some 4000 specimens per year collected by the FNA clinics at both UCSF and Zuckerberg San Francisco General sites. In addition, large numbers of interesting exfoliative cases are reviewed. Deep-seated lesions are accessed with imaging in collaboration with other departments, and advanced ancillary testing is routinely applied to cytologic material. Fellows also participate in daily cytopathology sign-outs, intradepartmental teaching conferences, and grand rounds.
From left to right: Ron Balassanian, Sarah Calkins, Tara Saunders, Vighnesh Walavalkar, Elham Khanafshar, Kent Truong, Lucy Han, Annemieke van Zante, Roberto Ruiz-Cordero
Not pictured: Britt-Marie Ljung, Theodore Miller, Steven Long, Poonam Vohra, Gioia Iezza, Teresa Darragh, Frederick Baehner, Vimal Krishnan, Nancy Greenland
Faculty Involved with Fellowship
Ronald Balassanian, MD
Frederick Baehner, MD
Teresa M. Darragh, MD
Georgios Deftereos, MD
Nancy Greenland, MD, PhD
Gioia Iezza, MD
Elham Khanafshar, MD, MS
Vimal Krishnan, MD
Britt-Marie Ljung, MD
Steven R. Long, MD
Peyman Samghabadi, MD
Annemieke van Zante, MD, PhD
Poonam Vohra, MD
Vighnesh Walavalkar, MD
Current & Future Fellows
2022-23
Hannah Lee, DO
Daniel Qazi, MD
2023-24
Constance Chen, MD
Nebil Mohammed, MD
2024-25
Amanda Borgen, MD
Julia Ye, MD, PhD
Requirements
Candidates must have completed three years of AP or AP/CP residency training by the start date of the fellowship.
Non-U.S. citizens must possess a permanent resident card or an appropriate educational visa prior to starting a postgraduate medical education program. The Department of Pathology may sponsor J1 visas.
Salary
Fellows will be appointed as a PGY-5.
UCSF GME Trainee Financial Resources
Application
The UCSF Cytopathology Fellowship program will adhere to the Cytopathology Fellowship Unified Application timeline and process for the 2025-2026 fellowship year and uphold all of the policies and code of conduct expectations, which are detailed here.
We accept the CAP Residents Forum Standardized fellowship application and require a curriculum vitae, personal statement of interest, three letters of recommendation sent from your writers in PDF format. Please also include a photo of yourself in jpeg, gif, or PDF format when submitting your application as well as the 2025-2026 Applicant Diversity Data form below. We will accept applications for the 2025-2026 academic year on a rolling basis. Preference is given to applications received prior to August 1, 2023.
Please fill out the application and applicant diversity data form below and submit along with the requested documents listed above and send via email ONLY to the Fellowship Program Administrator Suria Sadat.
We recommend downloading the application using the link below and opening using Adobe Acrobat software for the best user experience to complete your application and avoid issues with the fillable PDF.
Standardized Pathology Fellowship Application
2025-2026 Applicant Diversity Data
Important Dates
May 2023 to September 2023: Applications are received, preference given to applications prior to August 1st
August 14, 2023 to October 2023: Virtual Interviews will begin
October 2, 2023: First day offers will be made for 2025-2026 positions
The program does not discriminate with regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender transition status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services, including protected veterans.