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, Frederick Baehner, Vimal Krishnan, Nancy Greenland
Faculty Involved with Fellowship
Ronald Balassanian, MD
Frederick Baehner, MD
Constance Chen, MD
Carlo A. De la Sancha Verduzco, MD
Georgios Deftereos, MD
Nancy Greenland, MD, PhD
Elham Khanafshar, MD, MS
Vimal Krishnan, MD
Hannah Lee, DO, MS
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
2024-25
Amanda Borgen, MD
Julia Ye, MD, PhD
2025-26
Tushar Chakravarty, MD, MS
Timothy Gilpatrick, MD, PhD
Requirements
Candidates must have completed three years of AP or AP/CP residency training by the start date of the fellowship. A fellowship in general surgical pathology is highly recommended and candidates with strong surgical pathology training will be favored.
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 be accepting applications for the 2027-2028 academic cycle starting July 1, 2025.
To apply, please submit the CAP Residents Forum Standardized fellowship application along with your curriculum vitae, a personal statement of interest, the Applicant Diversity Data form and a photo of yourself in JPEG or PDF format. Three letters of recommendation should be sent directly from your recommenders and or program coordinator, also in PDF file format. All application materials are to be submitted in a PDF file format via email to the Fellowship Program Administrator, Suria Sadat.
For the best experience, we recommend downloading the application using the link below and opening it with Adobe Acrobat software to complete the fillable PDF form.
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.
Important Dates
July 1 to August 1, 2025: Applications are received, preference given to applications received prior to August 1st
August to September 2025: Virtual interviews will begin
End of September 2025: Offers will be made after virtual interviews are complete