Fellowship Programs

Cytopathology

The Department of Pathology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center offers two (2) one-year, ACGME-accredited fellowships in cytopathology, beginning July 1, annually. The program is offered at the central campus of the Detroit Medical Center - University Laboratories (DMCUL), which includes Harper University Hospital, Karmanos Cancer Center, and a large outreach Anatomic Pathology and Cytopathology lab based at Hutzel Hospital.

The cytopathology annual workload includes approximately 80,000 GYN Pap tests, including 75 percent Thin Prep specimens, 700 image guided FNAs, 3000 non-gyn specimens of all varieties, 3000 outpatient FNAs and non-gyn specimens. State-of-the-art Fine Needle Aspiration service and hands on training of performing FNA is provided. The Outreach laboratory is unique in offering both cytopathology and gyn biopsy interpretations and is staffed by 5 FTE cyto-surgical pathologists.

The rotation includes in depth exposure to gyn cytology, including biopsy, HPV and colposcopy correlation, abundant non-GYN and FNA exposure and performance of FNA procedure. Participation in laboratory management, QA/QC, hospital conferences, tumor boards and medical student teaching is expected. Fellows are encouraged to participate in clinically related research and presenting at national meetings or writing one paper. In addition, elective rotation in Molecular Diagnostic and Cytogenetic labs is available. Facilities for basic research projects are available on campus.

Position Available: Two fellowships each year [next opening 2026-27]
Requirements: Candidates must be board eligible or certified in anatomic pathology or anatomic and clinical pathology, and be eligible
for a Michigan license.
Applications: Should be completed by August 1 of the preceding year. Send CV, personal statement and three reference letters to:

Momal Chand, M.D.,
Director of Cytopathology Fellowship Program
momal.chand@wayne.edu

CC: DeAuntyana Henderson, Program Coordinator (ht2701@wayne.edu)

Hematopathology

The Department of Pathology at the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine offers two one-year, ACGME-accredited fellowships in hematopathology beginning July 1, annually.  The program is highly competitive and offers training in adult and pediatric hematopathology, and benign hematology. There are two fellows each year alternating on a weekly basis in two core rotations: (1) The bone marrow/flow cytometry rotation which includes interpretation of blood smears, body fluids, bone marrow aspirate and biopsy. This rotation also includes interpretation of flow cytometry; (2) The lymph node/consults rotation which handles in-house primary cases and outside primary/secondary consults. The training includes highly specialized and dedicated rotations in flow cytometry, special coagulation, cytogenetics and molecular genetics.

Participation in laboratory management, hospital conferences and medical student teaching is expected. Fellows participate in clinically related research, writing one or more papers.

Positions Available:  Two fellowships per year [next opening: 2026-27]
Requirements:  Board eligible or certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.
Applications: Send CV and letter of interest to:

Rajan Dewar, M.D., Ph.D., Professor
Director, Hematopathology Division and Fellowship Program
Department of Pathology
Detroit Receiving Hospital
4201 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48201
Telephone: (313) 745-3561 or 313-577-2752

Email:rdewar@med.wayne.edu

 

CC: Rachael Hone, M.Ed., Program Coordinator  rhone@med.wayne.edu

 

Forensic Pathology 

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office (WCMEO), in Detroit, Michigan, serves a population of 1,690,000 with complex and previously undiagnosed natural deaths, drug overdoses at the forefront of emerging drug trends, and traumatic deaths including homicides of every type.  In partnership with Wayne State University (WSU) and Detroit Medical Center (DMC), WCMEO has created a new one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship for two positions. 

Fellows work directly with at least seven forensic pathologists who hold WSU faculty appointments. The office is fully staffed with photographers, medicolegal death investigators, anatomic pathologists' assistants (APA), autopsy technicians, clerical staff, and IT personnel.  Fellow caseloads are capped at 250.  Fellows gain experience in courtroom testimony, specialized autopsy techniques, evisceration techniques, photography, crime scene investigation, odontology, anthropology, toxicology, and criminalistics.  Newly created rotations focusing on emerging technologies and case trends include trauma radiology and Poison Center.

WCMEO offers a full education that includes didactic and audio lectures, hands-on instruction, tutorials, and manuals.  Fellow conferences include morning and afternoon rounds, histology and toxicology unknowns, difficult cases, and Child Death Review.  Fellows are encouraged to attend and present at regional and national forensic conferences.  Fellows participate in the education of pathology residents, medical students, and APA students through instruction in the autopsy room and case presentations at bimonthly forensic pathology didactic lectures.

The affiliation with WSU / DMC allows for close relationships with many subspecialties, educational programs, and financial support for education and research.  WCMEO emphasizes programs in quality, safety and improvement, and research, with the goals of preparing a paper for peer-reviewed publication and completion of a QI/PS project during the fellowship.

Positions Available:  Two fellowships per year [next opening: 2027-28]
Requirements:  Board eligible or certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.
Applications: Send CV,  letter of interest, and three letters of recommendation to:

 

Leigh Hlavaty, M.D.
Forensic Pathology Fellowship Director
Wayne County Medical Examiner Office

lhlavaty@waynecountymi.gov

and CC: Nicole Gula, Program Coordinator (nszymanski@waynecountymi.gov) 

 

Pediatric and Perinatal

The Pediatric & Perinatal Fellowship Program at Children's Hospital of Michigan provides an intensive, high-quality, one-year ACGME-accredited training aiming at developing highly skilled pediatric & perinatal pathologists. We offer one fellowship position each year encompassing rotations in general pediatric surgical pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, perinatal pathology, and pediatric hematopathology. Elective time is available for clinical and/or research pursuits.

The strength of our program lies in the diversity of the cases. We have a busy pediatric gastrointestinal service, perinatal pathology service, and a robust heart and liver transplantation service. We pride ourselves in being part of a highly dedicated and collegial group of clinicians at Children’s Hospital of Michigan who strive to provide the best care possible to our patients. This translate into numerous tumor boards and combined conferences providing the fellow with great exposure to clinical decisions and management.

We are one of a handful programs in the United States where the fellow is actively exposed to pediatric and perinatal specimens throughout the training. The program offers a structured curriculum that gives the fellow high-quality exposure to pediatric and perinatal pathology specimens as well as perinatal and pediatric autopsies. The program consists of three highly experiences Pediatric and/or Perinatal pathologists. There are abundant opportunities for collaborative research and teaching.

Applicants must be either a current resident in an ACGME-accredited program or graduates of approved medical schools in the United Staes and Canada or hold a valid ECFMG certificate. To apply or inquire about our program, please contact the fellowship coordinator at ht2701@wayne.edu or directly e-mail the director of the fellowship program.

Brief Biography

Dr. Saad is board certified in pediatric pathology and Neuropathology. He did his residency at the University of Cincinnati with subsequent fellowship in pediatric pathology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Neuropathology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Saad is an accomplished academician with over 90 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has written three pathology books on Meningiomas in children and young adults, Tumors of Bone and Soft Tissue in Children, and the pediatric pathology book in the Pathology Survival Guides Series. His areas of interest include pediatric bone and soft tissue pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, and pediatric brain tumors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Poulik is a highly experienced and senior pediatric pathologist. She did her residency at Wiliam Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI with subsequent fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Wayne State University/Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Her primary areas of interests include cardiovascular pathology, bone and soft tissue pathology, and pediatric gastrointestinal pathology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Jacques’ primary area of interest is in perinatal pathology, particularly surgical pathology of the placenta. She has been a pathologist at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center for over 30 years and became the Associate Director of Obstetric and Perinatal Pathology at Hutzel Women's Hospital in 1993. She has also worked in support of the Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (NICHD/NIH). She has microscopically examined tens of thousands of placentas in the course of her career and has also performed over 1000 fetal and neonatal autopsies.

Her expertise in perinatal pathology allows for involvement in research that may significantly expand the understanding of the maternal-fetal-placental unit, particularly regarding the correlation between placental lesions and pregnancy outcome. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed original observations, case reports, and letters to the editor, the majority of which are in the field of perinatal pathology, including placental pathology and issues related to the fetal autopsy, as well as gynecologic pathology. She is also a member of the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group, an international group of invited research-active placental pathologists that originally convened in Amsterdam in 2014 to address the need for a consensus-determined protocol for sampling the placenta and collectively agreed upon definitions of placental lesions. The published placental gross descriptors, sampling specifications, pathologic terminologies, and diagnostic criteria provided a much-needed systematic scheme, now with worldwide implementation and also used by pathologists in general practice, improving the value of their placental pathology and perinatal autopsy reports. The Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group is now in the process of revising and updating these recommendations.

Surgical Pathology 

The Department of Pathology at the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine offers a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in surgical pathology beginning July 1, annually. The program is offered at the central campus of the Detroit Medical Center Harper University Hospital, and includes the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Hutzel Women's Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Michigan. The surgical pathology annual workload includes over 35,000 specimens with a heavy concentration in oncologic pathology. The fellowship rotations are tailored to the interests of the individual fellow with a minimum of six months allocated to the general surgical pathology service. Opportunities exist for elective rotations in gynecologic pathology, pediatric pathology, renal & transplant pathology, hematopathology, cytopathology, and neuropathology. Fellows are expected to participate in translational research activities.

Position Available: 
Requirements:  Candidates must be Board certified or eligible by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology (AP) or Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP).                             

Application: To apply send curriculum vitae, letter of interest, and three reference letters to: Fulvio Lonardo, M.D., Fellowship Director (flonardo@med.wayne.edu and cc: DeAuntyana Henderson, Program Coordinator (ht2701@wayne.edu)