Hematopathology Fellowship

About the Program

Our Hematopathology Fellowship includes one year of clinical training in the practice of hematopathology.

Clinical training includes:

  • bone marrow pathology
  • surgical hematopathology (lymph nodes, spleens)
  • laboratory hematology/coagulation
  • molecular pathology
  • immunopathology

A variety of observational and clinical pathologic studies can be pursued during the clinical year. Research projects may relate to any of the clinical training areas listed above. Presentation at Pathology Grand Rounds is a requirement of the fellowship. 

Program Accreditation

The Hematopathology Fellowship at UI Hospitals & Clinics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Information specific to program requirements for a pathology training program may be found at the ACGME’s Pathology Residency Review Committee.

FAQ

What Pathology fellowships are available at Iowa? 

There are fellowships available in surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, microbiology, blood/bank transfusion medicine, and molecular pathology.

How is vacation time handled?

 Fellows have 15 weekday vacation days a year. Professional leave for meetings is negotiated on an individual basis. Leave is granted for National Board exams and American Board of Pathology exams but not for board preparation courses. For job interviews or board preparation courses, each house staff member will be allowed five working days of leave. Additional days taken for job interviews or board preparation courses must use vacation.

What about fringe benefits such as book/travel funds?

 Each fellow is given $1500/year for books/journals, meetings or memberships. Travel to national conferences is paid for by the department for fellows presenting abstracts.

How well do Iowa fellows fare in finding jobs after training?

 The established reputation of excellence in training at the University of Iowa, combined with the recent trend of increasing demand and aging of current pathologists, has meant a tremendous opportunity for fellows from our program. All departing fellows in recent years have had no difficulty getting offers for desirable positions in both academic and private settings.

Schedule

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Immunology Lab (Cytogenetics)

Coagulation Lab

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Molecular Pathology Lab

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Immunology Lab (Cytogenetics)

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Heme Lab (Bone Marrow/Lymph Nodes)

Research Lab (Elective)

Rotations

All rotations are done at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Fifty-five percent of the rotation schedule is done on bone marrow and lymph nodes services with additional service scheduled in flow cytometry, coagulation, molecular pathology, cytogenetics, and research elective.

Education/Conferences

Name of Conference

Frequency
Hematology/Blood Bank Conference Weekly – Sept - May
Coagulation Conference Weekly
Lymphoma Conference Weekly
Unknown Conference Weekly
Grand Rounds Weekly – Sept - May
Clinical Pathology Morning Report Weekly
Pediatric Bone Marrow Conference Weekly
Journal Club Monthly
Clinical Pathology Didactic Conference Weekly – 2 months/year

How to Apply

How to Apply for 2025-2026

If you are interested in applying to the Hematopathology Fellowship Program, please send or email to Donna Palmer a cover letter, CAP Standardized Pathology Fellowship Application, current curriculum vitae, personal statement, medical school Dean’s letter, three letters of recommendation that include one from the pathology residency director and two additional faculty, USMLE(3) scores, copy of ECFMG certificate (applies to international medical graduates only), copy of Permanent Visa (if applicable), and copy of medical school diploma.

Applications will be accepted until fellowship position(s) are filled.

How to Apply for 2026-2027

For fellowship match application information, see https://www.society-for-hematopathology.org/web/education-fellowship-match.php and https://www.nrmp.org/fellowship-applicants/

Priority Deadline

Applications generally accepted up to 18 months prior to start of the fellowship year, until position is filled.

Eligibility for Fellowship

Applications will be accepted from residents who have had two to four years of straight anatomic or clinical pathology training, from residents who have three to five years of combined anatomic and clinical pathology training, or from graduating medical students who wish to integrate subspecialty training with anatomic or clinical pathology residency training.

Certification Requirements

Medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process which serves multiple purposes for the trainee and the public.

Certification is

  • one mission of the training program to produce trainees who meet board eligibility criteria;
  • distinguishes a physician as someone with a distinct level of expertise;
  • provides more opportunities when applying for employment;
  • a commitment to life-long improvement for providing the best patient care; and
  • elevates physicians into the ranks of doctors committed to the highest standards of healthcare.

For more information visit the American Board of Pathology for specifics on board certification requirements.

The Interview

We will use Zoom to interview candidates as soon as the recommendation letters and application package is completed. The Fellowship Coordinator will contact the applicant to set up the interview. Orientation for all new fellows begins on July 1, so you must be available for that start date and be licensed in Iowa by June 30.

 

Our People

Our people are the heart of our program. From the reception desk to the laboratory technicians, from the gross room to the molecular laboratory, from the blood bank to the FNA clinic, from the resident room to the faculty offices, you will find our people in our department interested and eager to help you become the best pathologist you can be.

At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, teachers and researchers in our profession. We provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals while maintaining an open-door philosophy and collegial atmosphere.

Feedback is important to us, so feel free to use this QR code for anonymous comments.  

 

Current Fellow

No Fellow for 2024-2025

 

Past Fellows

Vijay Kumar, MBBS (2023-2024)

MBBS: Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College - Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan, 2008-2014
Residency: P/CP, University of Mississippi Medical Center - Jackson, MS 2019-2023
Current Position: PChippenham Hospital, Richmond, VA
 

Olga Sazonova, MD (2022-2023)

MD: Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, 2000-2006
Residency: AP, University Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada 2014-2022
Current Position: Private practice, CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches - Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Quebec, Canada

Renee Eigsti, portrait

Renee Eigsti, MD (2021-2022)

Medical School:  BA, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 2005-2009; MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kan., 2011-2015
Residency:  AP/CP, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 2015-2019
Fellowship:  Surgical Pathology Fellowship, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 2019-2020
Current Position:  Pathologist, Pathology Services of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Christina Hodgson, portrait

Christina Hodgson, MD (2020-2021)

Education: BA, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 2005-2009
Medical School: MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kan., 2011-2015
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 2015-2019
Fellowship: Surgical Pathology Fellowship, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 2019-2020
Current Position:  Pathologist, MAWD Pathology, Lenexa, Kan.

Aditi Vidholia, MBBS

Aditi Vidholia, MBBS (2019-2020)

Medical School:  MBBS, University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, India, 2002-2006
Residency:  AP/CP, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, 2015-2019
Current Position:  Radiation Research, University of Iowa College of Medicine

Craig Dunseth, MD

Craig Dunseth, MD (2018-2019)

Medical School: University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Medicine, Springfield, Mo., 2009-2013
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2013-2017
Fellowship: Surgical Pathology, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2017-2018
Current Position: Pathologist, Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, Mo.

Matthew Keeney, MD (2017-2018)

Medical School: Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, Calif., 2009-2013
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2013-2017
Current Position: Pathologist, Winfield Pathology Consultants, Winfield, Ill.

Aaron Reinke

Dennis "Aaron" Reinke, MD (2016-2017)

Medical School: Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, Calif., 2012
Residency: Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, Calif., 2012-2016
Current Position: Pathologist, Pathology Associates of North Texas PA, Wichita Falls, Texas

Michelle Kurt-Mangold, MD (2015-2016)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010-2014
Additional Training: Surgical Pathology, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2014-2015
Current Position: Pathologist, Pathology Associates, Dubuque, Iowa

Bryan Steussy, MD (2014-2015)

Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010-2014
Current Position: Pathologist, UnityPoint Health & St. Luke’s, Sioux City, Iowa

Douglas Lynch, MD (2013-2014)

Medical School: University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, S.D., 2009
Residency: AP/CP, University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, S.D., 2009-2013

Current Position: Pathologist, Sanford Health Pathology Clinic, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Benjamin Koch, MD (2011-2012)

Medical School: University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Minneapolis, 2006
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2006-2010

Additional Training: Surgical Pathology Fellowship, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010-2011
Current Position: Pathologist, Essentia Health, Duluth, Minn.

Shannon Gabriel-Griggs, MD (2010-2011)

Medical School: University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Minneapolis, 2006
Residency: AP/CP, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2006-2010
Additional Training: Surgical Pathology Fellow, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 2011-2012
Current Position: Pathologist, Physicians Laboratory, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Fellowship Leaders

Program Director

Carol Holman
Carol J. Holman, MD, PhD
Clinical Professor
Section Director, Hematopathology
200 Hawkins Drive - 6229 Roy Carver Pavilion
Iowa City, IA 52242-1009
Phone: 319-356-3981
Email: carol-holman@uiowa.edu

 

Fellowship Coordinator

Donna Palmer, portrait

Donna Palmer
200 Hawkins Drive
C684 General Hospital
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-356-0319
Fax: 319-384-9613
Email: donna-palmer@uiowa.edu