Hematopathology Fellowship Program

Program Faculty

LoAnn C. Peterson, MD (Director of Hematopathology)
Charles L. Goolsby, PhD (Director of Flow Cytometry)
William J. Karpus, PhD (Flow Cytometry)
Paul Lindholm, MD (Director of Coagulation)
Beverly P. Nelson, MD (Hematopathology)
Anjen Chenn, MD   (Director of Diagnostic Molecular Biology)
Daina Variakojis, MD (Hematopathology)
Amy Chadburn, MD (Hematopathology) (Director of Hematopathology Fellowship Program)
Yi-Hua Chen, MD (Hematopathology)
Maria Proytcheva, MD  (Director, Hematology Laboratories
          Children’s Memorial Hospital)

Description: The Department of Pathology offers a one to two year fellowship program that includes both diagnostic and investigative hematopathology.   The goal of the Hematopathology Fellowship Program is to provide the hematology fellow with the knowledge and skills to be a clinically competent hematopathologist including expertise in diagnosis and interpretation, pathogenesis of disease processes, clinical consultation, research, and laboratory administration and management.  The program is structured so that the fellow actively participates and is given graduated responsibility in laboratory hematology, bone marrow pathology, lymph node workup and interpretation, immunohistochemistry, coagulation, flow cytometry, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and molecular pathology.  The fellow is expected to participate in research projects in collaboration with the hematopathology faculty.  Opportunity for a second year is available to those who desire more in-depth research and diagnostic experience in hematopathology.

In the first year, the hematopathology fellow spends approximately four months in the Hematology/Bone Marrow Laboratory.  During that period, the fellow gains expertise in routine and specialized hematology tests including the interpretation of blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, and biopsies as well as cytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping.  Any cytogenetic and molecular analyses performed on these specimens are correlated with and integrated into the final diagnoses.

The fellow also spends approximately three months on a flow cytometry rotation that includes lymph node and solid tissue workup and interpretation.  During this time the fellow completes a curriculum that provides basic information in flow cytometry, as well as the analysis and interpretation of the flow cytometric immunophenotyping. In addition, the fellow participates in the processing, analysis, and interpretation of lymph nodes and other biopsies from the time they are received in the laboratory to the final written report.  Interpretation includes morphology, flow cytometry immunophenotyping, immunohistochemistry, and if indicated, molecular and cytogenetic analysis.

The Hematopathology program includes about one month in basic molecular biology techniques as applied to hematopathology.  The fellow assumes clinical and laboratory responsibility in the molecular diagnostics laboratory that provides testing for hematopoietic malignancies, infectious diseases and inherited disorders.  Current methods for evaluation and diagnosis of leukemias and lymphomas include various polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for detecting chromosomal translocations and monoclonality.  Assays for inherited disorders, such as Factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin mutation, and hemochromatosis are also offered.

The fellow spends one month in the Coagulation Laboratory.  The emphasis of this rotation is on the appropriate workup of patients with coagulation disorders, interpretation of laboratory results, and clinical consultation.

In the first year, approximately three months are devoted to a research project.  The research project is continued throughout the year, but the three-month rotation is designed for concentrated time in investigative techniques.  The fellow is expected to complete a project and to submit the results for presentation at a national pathology meeting and publication in a refereed journal.  The research interests of the hematopathology faculty include the biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the molecular pathogenesis of acute leukemia, and the role of T cells in autoimmune diseases.  Opportunity exists for a 2nd year program for individuals who want to pursue a more in-depth research.  Opportunity also exists for collaborative projects with other faculty directing excellent research laboratories within the Department of Pathology and with clinical faculty.

The hematopathology fellow works closely with the clinicians at our institution, acting as a consultant to housestaff and attending physicians especially those in the Division of Hematology/Oncology.  In addition, the fellow coordinates and participates in case presentations at the weekly Clinical Case Conference held with the Hematology / Oncology Division.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital has a general AP/CP pathology residency program, and these residents rotate in the laboratories with the hematopathology fellow.  The hematopathology fellow functions as mentor/teacher to the residents.  The hematopathology fellow also acts as consultant to pathology residents and staff on the autopsy service, surgical pathology, cytopathology, and other sections of clinical pathology.  The fellow regularly presents cases at a weekly conference for residents and staff in clinical pathology.  They also present articles at our monthly Journal Club and coordinate the Cytogenetics / Molecular Pathology Conference.

In the Hematology/Bone Marrow Laboratory, the fellow acts as medical director under the supervision of Dr. LoAnn Peterson.  The fellow also participates in CAP surveys conducted at NMH or as inspector at other institutions.  In addition, the fellow participates in the development and institution of new procedures, the revision of existing procedures, and in the quality assurance activities within the department.

Requirements: The candidate must be Board eligible or certified in either clinical pathology or anatomic pathology; combined training is preferred.

Stipends: The stipend is determined by previous pathology training and experience.

Applications: Send correspondence to

Amy Chadburn, MD
Department of Hematopathology
Northwestern University
Ward 3-140
303 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Phone: (312) 926-7947
Fax: (312) 926-0560
E-mail: achadburn@northwestern.edu