About Our Fellowship


The Cytopathology Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is an intensive and comprehensive one-year program devoted to advanced training in diagnostic cytopathology. Two fellowship positions are offered each year.

Our fellowship program is rooted in patient care. The variety and volume of cytology specimens at BIDMC form the foundation of the fellows’ education. The Cytology Laboratory evaluates approximately 32,000 specimens each year, including 9,000 non-gynecologic specimens and 23,000 pap tests.

Graduated responsibility is central to our curriculum. Fellows participate in multidisciplinary conferences, perform fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies, and provide on-site adequacy evaluations for minimally invasive biopsy samples obtained by interventional radiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists and gastroenterologists. As fellows gain diagnostic experience, they will assume increasing responsibility for leading case review with residents, managing workup of cases and preparing cytology reports prior to final review of cases by the supervising pathologist.

Fellows enjoy a rich academic environment at BIDMC that is committed to teaching the next generation of physicians and to moving the field of cytopathology forward. Dedicated ‘off service’ weeks are built into the fellowship to provide opportunities for research projects and other academic pursuits in the field of cytopathology. Attendance and participation in national pathology conferences is encouraged. The Department of Pathology’s robust Quality and Patient Safety program provides trainees with guidance for developing laboratory quality improvement initiatives. Fellows will also have the opportunity to interact with the broader cytopathology community of the Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals through a joint cytopathology journal club we host with Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

We are looking for outstanding cytopathology fellows to join our vibrant community of pathology trainees, laboratory professionals and cytopathologists.

Requirements: At least three years of training in anatomic pathology or four years of combined training in AP/CP. Applicants must be eligible for a Massachusetts medical license.

Stipends: Commensurate with the level of training. 

Application Process and Timeline

For application materials and information, please contact the fellowship coordinator:
bidmc-pathologyfellowships@bidmc.harvard.edu. 

Completed applications should be received by August 31 of the year prior to fellowship training.

Program Faculty

Gamze Ayata, MD

Gamze Ayata, MD

Director of Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Fellowship

Learn more about Dr, Hecht

Jonathan L. Hecht, MD, PhD

Director of Autopsy Pathology; Director of Gynecological Pathology

Learn more about Dr. Lepe

Marcos Lepe, MD

Pathology

Imad Ahmad Nasser, MD

Director, Hepatobiliary Pathology

Michiya Nishino, MD, PhD

Michiya Nishino, MD, PhD

Director of Cytopathology Fellowship; Director of Head and Neck Pathology

Liza Quintana, MD

Liza M. Quintana, MD

Director Breast Pathology Fellowship

Matthew Rosenbaum, MD

Matthew Rosenbaum, MD

Pathology

Learn more about Dr. VanderLaan

Paul Andrew VanderLaan, MD, PhD 

Director of Surgical Pathology; Director of Cytopathology; Director of Thoracic Pathology

Helen Wang, MD

Helen H. Wang, MD, MPH, DrPH