The Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship provides intensive, focused, advanced training in all aspects of gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas and biliary tract disease, including transplant with opportunities for clinical research. The GI service (approximately 10,000 cases annually) includes a full range of neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions, with special emphasis on inflammatory bowel diseases, colon cancers, gastric dysplasia/carcinoma, celiac disease and Barrett’s esophagus. We have an active pancreas service (more than 100 pancreatic resections/year) and liver service (more than 250 biopsies and resections/year). The fellow is also exposed to cytopathologic specimens from esophageal ultrasound-guided aspirations from the GI and pancreatobiliary tracts.

The fellow participates with three fellowship-trained GI/liver pathologists in sign-out of GI and liver surgical and biopsy material, frozen sections and consultation cases. The fellow previews all cases and provides preliminary diagnosis to the clinicians. The position is structured for graduated responsibility to the level of junior faculty, and sign-out privileges may be granted during the second half of the fellowship. The fellow may also take a few weeks of call during the year as an acting attending on the Surgical Pathology service. 

The trainee also supervises the gross room, teaches rotating pathology residents and is actively involved in resident teaching via interesting slide conferences and didactic lectures. They also present at the weekly GI/liver tumor board meetings. Funded research opportunities are available within the department, and fellows are expected to present their research at national meetings.

 

To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must have:

  • Completed a four-year AP/CP residency or a three-year AP residency
  • Board-certification or be board-eligible in AP or AP/CP
  • A California medical license before beginning the fellowship
  • U.S. citizenship or have fulfilled residency or visa requirements before starting the fellowship. We honor J-1 visas but not H1-B visas.

Your application should include the following:

  • UCI CAP standardized application with supplemental form
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Dean’s letter (MSPE)
  • Medical school diploma with English translation
  • USMLE scores (Step 1, Step 2CK, Step 2CS and Step 3) or COMLEX scores (Level 1, Level 2-CE, Level 2-PE and Level 3)
  • ECFMG (if applicable)
  • Previous ACGME training certificates (if applicable)

Interview Process

Interviews are arranged by an email invitation after a thorough review of completed applications. Interviews will occur between August 2024 and September 2024. We do not participate in the Unified Approach. 

 

The 2024-25 and 2025-26 positions have been filled. Interviews for July 2026 to June 2027 positions will occur between August 2024 and September 2024.

A medical team in a meeting
  • Gain and demonstrate proficiency in knowledge and understanding of diseases affecting the gastrointestinal, hepatic and pancreatobiliary tracts.
  • Interact with clinicians, residents, interns and students in consultation, providing education to those outside of our specialty.
  • Recognize gastrointestinal/hepatic/pancreatobiliary pathology (clinical, endoscopic, radiographic and pathologic) and create a differential diagnosis.
  • Become involved in the management of patients with gastrointestinal/hepatic/pancreatobiliary disorders, incorporating history, physical examination and laboratory, radiographic and pathologic data as they pertain to the case.
  • Participate in divisional and multidisciplinary conferences.
  • Perform scholarly research activities with appropriate research mentorship — aiming at presentation at national meetings and manuscript submission to high-impact journals.

Benefits & Salary

Fellows receive 24 days of vacation. Benefits that apply to Gastrointestinal Pathology fellows include two white coats provided for the entire training, a $120 per month meal allowance for the UCIMC Cafeteria and up to $1,500 in reimbursements for education and conference fees. Fellows also receive additional benefits that are valid strictly from July 1 to June 30 each year of training. Funding is not rolled over year to year.

 

For current information regarding fellow salary and healthcare benefits, please visit the Residents & Fellows Salary, Benefits, Policies page on our UCI Graduate Medical Education website.

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Moonlighting is permitted to only non-J-1 visa holders. Time spent moonlighting will count toward the 80-hour per week work limit.

Vishal Chandan, MD
Vishal Chandan, MD

Program Director, Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship

Program Director, Selective Surgical Pathology Fellowship

For more information about our Pathology Fellowship programs, please contact:

Ellie Hunt
Fellowship Coordinator
hunte2@hs.uci.edu

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 101 The City Drive
Orange, CA 92868