Houston Methodist Hospital, an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and Texas A&M Medical College, offers an ACGME-accredited (Selective Pathology) Ophthalmic Pathology Fellowship training program for physicians who have completed pathology specialty training, or are undertaking ophthalmology training, and are interested in pursuing a career in ophthalmic pathology or ophthalmology and related research. The fellowship program faculty includes certified pathologists, certified cytopathologists and hematopathologists, and certified ophthalmologists.

One one-year fellowship position is available each academic year under the directorship of Patricia Chévez-Barrios, MD. The fellowship is tailored for each fellow’s background to ensure adequate training. For example, pathology trained fellows will have rotations in the ocular plastics/oncology service or other ophthalmology service, while ophthalmology trained fellows will have rotations in surgical pathology. Elective rotations in flow cytometry, molecular genetic pathology, and HLA are included for all fellows. Fellows will have the opportunity to review ocular specimens (adult and pediatric) that include enucleated eyes, exenterations of the orbit, eyelid, conjunctiva, lacrimal sac, lacrimal gland, orbit and intraocular biopsies.

Cytology training is part of the program and includes interpretation of vitrectomy specimens, anterior chamber taps, corneal and conjunctival scrapings, and occasional fine needle aspirations of intraocular lesions. In addition, fellows will have the opportunity to review outside consultations of ophthalmic pathology cases that are routinely received in the department. The department has a fund available to support research projects (immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and other molecular pathology techniques) or case series reports for interested fellows during the year of training. One-month elective rotations (up to three) include a wet lab experience in the ocular research laboratory at Houston Methodist Research Institute. The fellows will attend and participate in didactic lectures, grand rounds, the retinoblastoma tumor board, and neuropathology/ophthalmic pathology case conference.

Stipend

Commensurate with level of post-graduate training. For more information, visit our GME Compensation and Benefits page.

Requirements

Pathology candidates must have completed at least two years of residency training in anatomic pathology, preferably AP or AP/CP board-eligible or certified. Opthalmology candidates must have completed at least two years of opthalmology residency training, preferably opthalmology board-eligible or certified. Opthalmology-trained candidates must be a PGY-3 or higher. Candidates must be eligible for a Texas Physician-in-Training permit or hold a Texas full physician licensure.

Application Deadline

Deadline for application is December 31 of the year prior to the intended fellowship year, which begins July 1.