Hematopathology Fellowship
The hematopathology division at Northwestern consists of a collaborative team of ten core faculty members, which includes seven clinician-educators, two physician-scientists, and one scientific director. Our hematopathology fellowship program is designed to provide fellows with comprehensive experience across the full range of diagnostic hematopathology, including bone marrow pathology, nodal and extranodal hematopathology, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, peripheral blood smears, laboratory hematology, body fluids, cutaneous and pediatric hematopathology, hemoglobinopathies, and coagulation studies. Alongside a substantial volume of clinical work, the division is also involved in numerous high-quality basic and translational research projects, educational initiatives, and quality improvement efforts. Our fellows are highly involved in all aspects of our divisional operations, and as such, the program takes pride in its longstanding track record of training successful hematopathologists.
The fellowship is designed to benefit highly motivated candidates to get extensive training in hematopathology at a state-of-the-art academic medical center in the heart of beautiful downtown Chicago. Thank you for considering the Hematopathology Fellowship Program at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.
We will start accepting applications for the 2028-2029 academic year in April 2026. At present, we are not taking part in the NRMP hematopathology match. Interested applicants can send their application materials to hemepathfellowship@northwestern.edu
Associate Program Director
Associate Professor, Pathology (Hematopathology), Medical Education
Clinical Experience
The fellows spend ~36 weeks of their fellowship on the three core rotations of bone marrow pathology, tissue hematopathology, and flow cytometry. The fellows spend an additional 10 weeks in aggregate rotating through several ancillary rotations, including cytogenetics/FISH, molecular hematopathology, pediatric hematopathology, coagulation, and dermatopathology. In addition, the fellows are allotted ~5 weeks of elective time that can be spent on a clinical area of their choosing or research activities.
Each year, the hematopathology division receives ~2000 in-house bone marrow biopsies, ~1100 in-house tissue specimens, ~1200 second opinion referral cases, ~4200 in-house and ~2500 outside flow cytometry cases, ~7500 peripheral blood smear reviews, ~3900 hemoglobin electrophoresis evaluations, ~1100 body fluid reviews, and ~450 Sézary cell counts. The hematopathology fellows play a central role in all clinical services. They also work closely with the clinicians, acting as consultants to house staff and attending physicians and as mentors/teachers/consultants to pathology residents.
Educational Curriculum and Conferences
The fellowship provides a structured year-long educational program for the fellows, which includes lectures, case-based teaching sessions, and unknowns sessions. Fellows are required to present cases at multidisciplinary conferences and deliver scientific or educational presentations throughout the course of the year. In addition, fellows participate in the biweekly hematopathology consensus conference, where attendings discuss their challenging cases.
Didactics:
- Hematopathology fellow didactics (every Wednesday, 11 AM-12 PM)
- Resident CP cases + Heme lectures (1-2/month, Mondays or Fridays, 8:00-9:00 AM)
- Fellows’ career development seminars (9/academic year, Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 PM)
Consensus Conference:
- Hematopathology consensus conference (every Tuesday & Thursday, 10-11 AM)
Multidisciplinary conferences:
- Lymphoma tumor board (every Friday, 11 AM-12 PM)
- Hemepath Conference Series (every Tuesday, 12:30-1:30 PM)
Educational/Scientific presentations:
- Journal club presentation (1-2/academic year)
- Cytogenetics/Molecular case presentation (1/academic year)
- Fellows’ unknowns teaching session for residents (1/academic year)
- Quality improvement project completion summary (1/academic year
Research and Quality Improvement
The fellows are required to participate in hematopathology-related research project/s in collaboration with the hematopathology faculty and are encouraged to present their data at national conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals. At the beginning of the academic year, fellows are presented with various research ideas and opportunities. Once fellows decide their project/s, they are encouraged to submit their research proposals to obtain departmental research funding. The fellowship program has a strong history of producing high-quality manuscripts that are first authored by our fellows.
Recent fellow publications:
- Vadasz B, Zak T, Aldinger J, et al. "Accelerated" chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL): unraveling the biological gray zone of CLL/SLL in the era of novel therapies. Virchows Arch. 2025;486(4):739-750. doi:10.1007/s00428-024-03920-7
- Elhodaky M, Duckett D, Santana-Santos L, et al. Clinicopathological and global methylation profiling of acute myeloid leukemia with mutations in NPM1 and clonal hematopoiesis-related genes. Leuk Lymphoma. Published online April 25, 2025. doi:10.1080/10428194.2025.2495105
- Zak T, Santana-Santos L, Gao J, et al. Prognostic significance of copy number gains of MYC detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in large B-cell lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2024;65(1):26-36. doi:10.1080/10428194.2023.2264429
The fellows are also required to complete a quality improvement project of their choosing during the academic year and present their completion summary in May before graduation.
Recent fellow quality improvement projects:
- A lean workflow for complex hemoglobinopathy workup in the hematology lab (Dr. Taylor Zak 2023-24)
- Whole Slide Imaging for Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards: Reshaping a Lymphoma Conference at a Large Academic Medical Center (Dr. Brian Vadasz 2024-25)
- Digital hemepath fellowship guidebook (Dr. Mostafa Elhodaky 2024-25)
Other fellowship requirements:
- Fellow In-Service Hematopathology Examination (FISHE): Take part in the FISHE exam; 2/year (Fall and Spring)
- Patient Safety/Risk Management activity: File at least 1 QIR or NETS report + attend a simulated patient safety session
- Proficiency testing: Take part in at least 1 CAP proficiency testing
- CAP inspection: Take part in a mock CAP lab inspection
- Bone marrow biopsy procedures: Perform 5 biopsies/year and log in the ACGME procedure log
Stipends and Benefits
The stipend corresponds to the year of postgraduate training. Hematopathology fellows receive four weeks (20 days) of required paid vacation annually, 10 days of paid sick leave each year, and 5 educational days per year. They also receive $3,000 for travel and book expenses, with an extra $3,000 available if their research proposal is accepted, which can be used for completing research projects, publication fees, and travel expenses. Find stipend information via the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University site.
Requirements
Candidates must be enrolled in an ACGME accredited CP or AP/CP residency program in the US. Combined AP/CP training is preferred.
Application Process
At present, we are not taking part in the NRMP hematopathology match. Prepare an application package with the following items:
- CV
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation (must come directly from referees)
- USMLE scores 1, 2 and 3
Submit application package and letters of recommendation via email to hemepathfellowship@northwestern.edu
Why Northwestern?
Housestaff training through McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University provides diverse and challenging clinical experiences and world-class education located in the heart of the beautiful city of Chicago.
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