A one-year fellowship in surgical pathology (five positions) is offered by the Division of Surgical Pathology.
Based in an 1103 bed tertiary care university hospital system, the program provides advanced training and responsibility in diagnostic surgical pathology through rotations which include preliminary diagnosis of all cases (hot seat), frozen section interpretation, gross room supervision, consult service and tumor boards. There is ample opportunity for research with guidance and mentorship from our experienced faculty.
In addition to our general surgical pathology fellowship, the department offers several subspecialized training tracks in surgical pathology to include: gastrointestinal pathology, breast pathology, gynecological pathology, genitourinary pathology and head and neck pathology.
Emphasis tracks Fellowship experience Frequently Asked Questions
Laboratory experience
Special laboratory expertise may be gained in Molecular Pathology/Diagnostics and Immunopathology. The laboratory examines more than 53,000 surgical specimens and 4,100 frozen sections per year.
Emphasis tracks
Breast Emphasis
Surgical Pathology with Breast Emphasis
This is a one-year program designed to build expertise in Breast Surgical Pathology. The University of Iowa is a tertiary medical center with a robust NAPBC-accredited Breast Health Center offering advanced multidisciplinary care to patients. Our Breast Health Center is part of Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Iowa, with 4 breast oncologic surgeons, 4 breast oncologists and a busy breast imaging center. The Department of Pathology examines over 1,900 breast specimens annually, including in-house biopsies, resections, and consultation cases.
The fellowship offers intensive educational exposure to breast specimens, encompassing benign lesions, high-risk lesions and malignant breast diseases of varying levels of complexity. Cases include post-neoadjuvant therapy resections, common and rare entities as well as challenging extra-mural consultations. The fellow will present at our weekly multidisciplinary breast Tumor Board and will participate in our educational conferences. It is the intention of the program to involve the fellow in case sign out later in the year and acting as a junior faculty member assuming certain guidelines are met. This fellowship represents the “Breast track” within our larger Surgical Pathology Fellowship and the fellow will rotate through preliminary diagnosis (‘hot seat’) and a busy frozen section service. There is flexibility in scheduling to accommodate individual interests as patient care and service requirements allow. Research is highly encouraged with various opportunities for clinical translational research and collaborative projects. Teaching and collaborative opportunities are available through continued interactions with the Multidisciplinary Breast Surgery Fellow.
The goal of the program is to graduate well-rounded, independent surgical pathologists, able to excel in an academic or community practice setting.
Requirements
Applications will be accepted from residents who will have had three years of straight Anatomic Pathology training or four years of combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology training. Board eligible applicants are preferred.
Stipends and Benefits
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Inquiries
Amani Bashir, MBBS
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology
Director, Breast Surgical Pathology Fellowship Track
Phone: 1-319-467-5706
Email: Amani-bashir@uiowa.edu
Laila Dahmoush, MBChB
Clinical Professor of Pathology
Phone: 1-319-356-4440
Email: Laila-dahmoush@uiowa.edu
Application Process
Please read our How to Apply page for application submission information.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Emphasis
Surgical Pathology with Gastrointestinal (GI) Emphasis
Fellowship openings have been filled for 2025–26 and 2026–27.
This one-year program is designed to provide an advanced, intensive educational experience in Gastrointestinal Surgical Pathology. The fellowship emphasizes graduated responsibility and includes a significant component of independent fellow signout. The fellow will also present at our three GI Tumor Boards (Colorectal, Hepatobiliary, Neuroendocrine) and will be integral to our weekly, pathologist-driven GI-Liver Biopsy Multidisciplinary Teaching Conference. The fellow also will rotate through four months of our General Surgical Pathology Service, with Hot Seat, Frozen Section, and Consults rotations. Research is strongly encouraged, and our faculty are highly motivated to mentor trainees in clinical and translational projects.
UI Health Care has over 50,000 Surgical Pathology accessions each year, including 11,000 in-house GI cases and over 1000 extramural consultations. The GI Pathology Service handles all in-house and consult tubal gut and liver cases, including a large volume of pediatric cases. We also have an active liver transplant program. Our GI Pathology faculty direct the Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, sign out on the Molecular Pathology Service, and participate in the nation’s first and only neuroendocrine tumor SPORE.
Requirements
Applications will be accepted from residents who will have had three years of straight Anatomic Pathology training or four years of combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology training. Board eligible applicants are preferred.
Stipends and Benefits
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Inquiries
Rostislav Ranguelov, MD
Co-Director, GI Pathology Fellowship Track
Phone: (319) 356-3264
Email: rostislav-ranguelov@uiowa.edu
Andrew M Bellizzi, MD
Co-Director, GI Pathology Fellowship Track
Phone: 1-319-356-4436
Email: andrew-bellizzi@uiowa.edu
Application Process
Please read our How to Apply page for application submission information.
General Surgical Pathology
General Surgical Pathology
A one-year fellowship in general surgical pathology is offered by the Division of Surgical Pathology. Based in an 1103 bed tertiary care university hospital system, the program provides advanced training and responsibility in diagnostic surgical pathology through rotations which include preliminary diagnosis of all cases (hot seat), frozen section interpretation, gross room supervision, consult service and tumor boards. There is ample opportunity for research with guidance and mentorship from our experienced faculty.
In addition to our general surgical pathology fellowship, the department offers several subspecialized training tracks in surgical pathology to include gastrointestinal pathology, breast pathology, gynecological pathology, genitourinary pathology and head and neck pathology.
Special laboratory expertise may be gained in Molecular Pathology/Diagnostics and Immunopathology. The laboratory examines more than 58,000 surgical specimens and 4,100 frozen sections per year.
Requirements
Applications will be accepted from residents who will have had three years of straight Anatomic Pathology training or four years of combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology training. Board eligible applicants are preferred.
Stipends and Benefits
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Inquiries
Amani Bashir, MBBS
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology
Phone: (319) 467-5706
Email: amani-bashir@uiowa.edu
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
Email: sheena-hovey@uiowa.edu
Application Process
Please read our How to Apply page for application submission information.
Genitourinary Emphasis
Surgical Pathology with Genitourinary Emphasis Program
The Department of Pathology at UI Health Care is offering a one-year Surgical Pathology with Genitourinary (GU) Emphasis Fellowship with advanced training in diagnostic urologic pathology, starting July 1, 2025.
We receive 50,000 surgical pathology specimens each year, including 3000 GU specimens, encompassing urinary bladder, prostate, kidney, testicular and penile biopsies and resections. In addition, we receive consultations from the affiliated Veterans Hospital and extramural consultations. We have an active group of 6 GU oncologic surgeons, 2 GU oncologists, who are part of the NCI-designated Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The fellowship is designed to prepare the fellow to practice as a consultant in GU pathology in an academic or private practice setting. The fellow will review in-house cases, consultation cases and participate in frozen sections of urology specimens. It is the intention of the program to involve the fellow in case sign out later in the year, acting as junior faculty member assuming certain guidelines are met.
The fellow is expected to present at the multidisciplinary GU Tumor Board, to actively participate in resident teaching and is strongly encouraged to pursue research projects. The university of Iowa is considered a national leader in diagnosing and treatment of bladder cancer, providing ample research opportunities.
This fellowship represents the “GU track” within our larger Surgical Pathology Fellowship and will include rotations in preliminary diagnosis (hot seat) and a busy frozen section service. Opportunities to rotate on other subspecialty areas in surgical pathology will be available.
Requirements
Applications will be accepted from residents who will have had three years of straight Anatomic Pathology training or four years of combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology training. Board eligible applicants are preferred.
Stipends and Benefits
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Inquiries
Laila Dahmoush, MBChB
Clinical Professor of Pathology and Urology
Director, Genitourinary Surgical Pathology Fellowship Track
Phone: (319) 356-4440
Email: Laila-dahmoush@uiowa.edu
Amani Bashir, MBBS
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology
Phone: (319) 467-5706
Email: Amani-bashir@uiowa.edu
Application Process
Please read our How to Apply page for application submission information.
Gynecologic Emphasis
Surgical Pathology with Gynecologic Emphasis
This one-year fellowship is designed to build expertise in Gynecologic Surgical Pathology, emphasizing graduated responsibility and including a component of independent fellow sign out. UI Health Care is the largest center in the state for Gynecologic Oncology patient care, with six gynecologic oncology surgeons, weekly Tumor Boards, and 6000 gyn-specific surgical cases, including cases from busy vulvovaginal disease and colposcopy clinics, as well as a high-risk OB/NICU with an additional 1200 perinatal surgical cases per year.
The fellow will participate in work-up of in-house gynecologic pathology cases as well as extramural consultation cases. This fellowship represents the "Gyn track" within our larger Surgical Pathology Fellowship, and the fellow will garner strong general skills rotating through high-volume Hot Seat and Frozen Section services. There is flexibility in scheduling to accommodate individual interests in other subspecialties.
Research is supported and highly encouraged with various opportunities for clinical translational research as well as collaborative projects with our Gynecologic Oncology colleagues.
The University of Iowa is a tertiary medical center with an NCI-designated CoC/ACS-accredited Cancer Center and advanced multidisciplinary patient care. We have over 50,000 Surgical Pathology accessions each year, as well as a strong cytopathology program with over 10,000 gynecologic pap tests per year.
Requirements
Applications will be accepted from residents who will have had three years of straight Anatomic Pathology training or four years of combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology training. Board eligible applicants are preferred.
Stipends and Benefits
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Inquiries
Megan Samuelson, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology
Director, Gynecologic Surgical Pathology Fellowship Track
megan-samuelson@uiowa.edu
1-319-353-6796
Dan Griffin, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology
daniel-griffin@uiowa.edu
1-319-467-6175
Application Process
Please read our How to Apply page for application submission information.
Surgical Pathology with Head and Neck Emphasis
Head and Neck Surgical Pathology
This one-year program is designed to give in-depth experience in head and neck pathology to prepare the candidate for future work in either an academic head and neck pathology setting or in community practice with strong proficiency in head and neck pathology. It is the intention of the program to involve the fellow in case sign out later in the year and acting as a junior faculty member assuming certain guidelines are met.
The Department of Pathology serves the 800-bed UI Health Care providing a rich variety of over 2350 head and neck pathology cases from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Department of Oral Surgery and Hospital Dentistry. The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery is consistently in the top 10 training programs in the country. We receive consultative material from the affiliated Iowa City Veterans Hospital. The fellowship includes rotations in head and neck focused cytopathology. Head and neck rotations will include review of a diverse mix of cases,including biopsies major otorhinolaryngologic resections for nonneoplastic and oncologic conditions, and material from referred patients. The fellow will work up cases from our national consult service in head and neck pathology and work closely with colleagues in Oral Pathology in the University College of Dentistry where there is abundant cross-sharing and viewing of odontogenic cases.
The Department of Pathology has a very strong cytopathology program providing the fellow exposure to cytologic diagnoses in head and neck. The fellowship represents the head and neck pathology track within our larger Surgical Pathology fellowship and includes rotations in preliminary diagnosis ("hot seat"), and a busy frozen section service. Opportunities to rotate on other subspecialty areas in surgical pathology will be available.
The Head and Neck Fellow will have a major role in presentation at the weekly Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Head & Neck Tumor Board. The fellow will be expected to develop a clinical translational research project at the direction of a faculty member. The Department of Pathology can support studies in molecular techniques, immunohistochemistry, or case review.
Requirements
Applications will be accepted from residents who will have had three years of straight Anatomic Pathology training or four years of combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology training. Board eligible applicants are preferred.
Stipends and Benefits
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Inquiries
Anand Rajan KD, MBBS, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Director of Surgical Pathology
Directory of Digital Pathology
Director, Head and Neck Surgical Pathology Fellowship Track
Phone: 319-353-6541
Email: anand-rajand@uiowa.edu
Application Process
Please read our How to Apply page for application submission information.
Fellowship experience
Rotations
All rotations are done at UI Health Care. The core of training is provided by the clinical rotation core accounting for the vast majority of the training year. This core consists of frozen section, “hot seat,” gross room supervision, and consultation case rotations. During the frozen section rotation, the fellow is responsible for assessing, preparing and interpreting frozen sections with the assistance of ancillary staff and house staff, under supervision from faculty.
The primary fellow function during the gross room supervision rotation is responsibility for oversight of more junior house staff in their specimen grossing activities. In addition, they cover after hour frozen sections with faculty backup. The “hot seat” rotation necessitates an evaluation of all slides generated for the day with the issuing of a preliminary diagnosis, which is available to medical center personnel. The consult case rotations deal with difficult cases submitted to the faculty for their expert opinion or review of those cases where the patient is being referred to UI Health Care for definitive therapy.
Elective time
Elective time can be utilized for research as well as rotations covering other sub-disciplines such as dermatopathology, immunopathology, or molecular pathology.
Education/Conferences
The fellows are required to staff various tumor board conferences presenting the pertinent pathological findings from patients being discussed. In addition, there is a weekly conference with the Director of Surgical Pathology where cases are discussed as well as issues pertaining to laboratory administration, personnel supervision and other topics relevant to the early days of surgical pathology practice.
The fellows also present Surgical Pathology Gross and Microscopic Conference to the residents twice annually. They are encouraged to participate in the daily conference schedule as their clinical assignments permit with some of these activities representing didactic type presentations given by faculty for house staff.
Program accreditation
The Surgical Pathology fellowship training is directly associated with our residency program which is ACGME-accredited program # 300-18-21-116.