Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine offers a one-year, in-depth, non-ACGME-accredited fellowship training in gastrointestinal and hepatic pathology. Home Education Department Programs Pathology & Laboratory Medicine: Education & Training > Fellowship Programs Pathology & Laboratory Medicine: Education & Training > Fellowship Programs > Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship Program Overview 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. Application Process Applications for July 2026 positions will be accepted beginning June 1, 2024. Please submit application and letters electronically (PDFs) to Ellie Hunt, fellowship coordinator, at hunte2@hs.uci.edu. The program accepts one GI pathology fellow per year. UCI establishes PGY levels for new fellows based on the successful completion of all prerequisite training required for entry into your fellowship program. 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. Goals & Objectives 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. Moonlighting Moonlighting is permitted to only non-J-1 visa holders. Time spent moonlighting will count toward the 80-hour per week work limit. Current & Past Fellows Current Fellow Sherehan Zada, MD Sherehan Zada was born and raised in Syria. She earned her medical degree at the University of Aleppo, followed by a four-year dermatology residency training at the Public Health Program at Aleppo. She moved to the United States after completing her residency and decided to continue her education in the States. She did several rotations in pathology and family medicine and decided to continue her journey in the field of pathology. Dr. Zada pursued AP and CP at UCI, and currently she is completing a gastrointestinal and liver fellowship at UCI. She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her family. Past Fellows 2022-23: Ali Afsari, MD – Post-fellowship position: Assistant Professor at George Washington University, D.C. 2021-22: Whayong Lee, MD – Post-fellowship position: Assistant Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin 2020-21: Ahmad Charifa, MD – Post-fellowship position: Private Practice in Irvine, California 2019-20: Wenchang Guo, MD – Post-fellowship position: Private Practice in Northern California Program Leadership Vishal Chandan, MD Program Director, Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship Program Director, Selective Surgical Pathology Fellowship Connect with Us For questions about our Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship program, please contact our fellowship coordinator. Contact Us