A one-year fellowship in surgical pathology (five positions) is offered by the Division of Surgical Pathology. Based in a 860 bed tertiary care university hospital, 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 53,000 surgical specimens and 4,100 frozen sections per year.
The Surgical Pathology fellowship training is directly associated with our Pathology residency which is ACGME-accredited program # 300-18-21-116.
All rotations are done at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. 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 Hospitals & Clinics for definitive therapy.
Elective time can be utilized for research as well as rotations covering other sub-disciplines such as dermatopathology, immunopathology, or molecular pathology.
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.
The opportunity to participate in research is provided within the structure of the program and is encouraged. In addition, the fellow may elect to spend any elective time pursuing research projects.
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.
A one-year fellowship in general surgical pathology is offered by the Division of Surgical Pathology. Based in a 860 bed tertiary care university hospital, 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 53,000 surgical specimens and 4,100 frozen sections per year.
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.
Amani Bashir, MBBS
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology
Phone: (319) 467-5706
Email: Amani-bashir@uiowa.ed
The Department of Pathology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) 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.
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.
Commensurate with level of training. The Graduate Medical Education Office website contains specific information regarding stipends and benefits.
Laila Dahmoush, MD
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
Please send or email a cover letter, CAP Standardized Pathology Fellowship Application, current curriculum vitae, personal statement, medical school dean's letter, 3 letters of recommendation, USMLE scores, copy of ECFMG certificate (if applicable), copy of permanent visa (if applicable), and copy of medical school diploma to:
Donna Palmer, BBA
Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Pathology (C684 GH)
University of Iowa Health Care
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
Email: donna-palmer@uiowa.edu
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.
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.
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, M.D.
Clinical Professor of Pathology
Phone: 1-319-356-4440
Email: Laila-dahmoush@uiowa.edu
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.
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics has 45,000 Surgical Pathology accessions each year, including 10,000 in-house GI cases and 350 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 have an active liver transplant program. Our GI Pathology faculty also direct the Clinical Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, sign out on the Molecular Pathology Service, and participate in the nation’s first and only neuroendocrine tumor SPORE.
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.
Rostislav Ranguelov, M.D.
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
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. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 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.
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.
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
This one-year program is designed to give in-depth experience in head & 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 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 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 and a CLIA-certified Molecular Pathology Laboratory. Head and neck rotations will include review of a diverse mix of cases (biopsies, minor and 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 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 presentations and participation in 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 can support studies in molecular techniques, immunohistochemistry, or case review.
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.
Anand Rajan KD MBBS MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Director, Head and Neck Surgical Pathology Fellowship Track
Phone: 319-353-6541
Email: anand-rajand@uiowa.edu
Robert A. Robinson MD PhD
Professor and Vice Chair of Anatomic Pathology
Phone: 319-356-4163
Email: robert-a-robinson@uiowa.edu