Selective Surgical Pathology Fellowship

The fellow should provide compassionate, appropriate and effective care for treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.

The fellow will demonstrate the ability to:

• Organize and prioritize case material.
• Communicate with other clinicians about patients and family members with compassion and courtesy.
• Gather appropriate and accurate clinical information to make appropriate clinical-pathologic correlations.
• Interpret diagnostic information and test results within the clinical context for effective patient management.
• Demonstrate technical, interpretation and communication skills in frozen section/intraoperative consultations.
• Demonstrate skills in interpretation of gross, histologic and ancillary test findings (e.g., flow cytometry, immuno- and histochemistry, and molecular studies).
• Demonstrate accuracy and promptness in case diagnosis and management. 
• Use clinical decision-making concepts and techniques in interpreting results.
• Advise clinicians on the choice of clinically appropriate, cost-effective tests.
• Advise clinicians on appropriate follow-up for unexpected results.

Fellows should be knowledgeable and dedicated to learning established and evolving sciences and applying them to patient care.

The fellow will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of normal and abnormal pathologic processes in general surgical pathology and their medical application and correlation.
• Ability to synthesize pathologic and clinical/radiologic information to form accurate differential diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment. 
• Participation in active learning by thoroughly investigating new cases with background reading and preparation before sign-out.
• Familiarity with established and evolving techniques and their applications to pathology. 
• Expertise in a subspecialty area of interest and include diagnostic and investigative techniques.
• Understanding of protocol-driven workups as applicable to various subspecialties. 

Fellows should investigate and evaluate their own patient care practices and appraise and assimilate scientific evidence to improve practices. 

The fellow will demonstrate:

• Ongoing identification and remediation of gaps in personal medical knowledge.
• Recognizing, correcting and learning from one’s own errors.
• Ability to locate, evaluate and incorporate evidence from scientific studies (medical literature) for continuous self-learning and to investigate clinical questions. 
• Ability to utilize available information technology to support workup and diagnosis (pathology databases, digital photography, etc.).
• Understanding of and ability to apply the principles of quality control and quality assurance.
• Ability to identify process improvements that may minimize opportunities for medical errors.

The fellow will demonstrate the ability to:

• Facilitate willingly and effectively the learning of others (medical trainees, clinicians and laboratory staff).
• Formulate accurate, concise and clinically useful reports.
• Function effectively as a member of the clinical care team with fellow clinicians, nursing and laboratory staff, and administrative personnel.
• Use appropriate modes of communication (direct, telephone, email and written) in a timely and effective manner.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in written documents, including legible handwriting.
• Present effective, concise and coherent conferences with effective listening, verbal and presentations skills.

Fellows should be accountable and adhere to principles of medical ethics by respecting and protecting patients’ best interests.

The fellow will demonstrate:

• Commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development.
• Knowledge and understanding of ethical and confidential issues affecting patient care.
• Sensitivity and responsiveness to a patient’s culture, age, gender, disabilities and diversities.
• Dependability and professionalism in work ethic and participation in conferences and work assignments.
• Knowledge of one’s own limitations and willingness to seek appropriate help when necessary.
• Positive responses to criticism.
• Respectful behavior toward all patients and medical personnel, including punctuality and courtesy.
• Professional demeanor in appearance and interactions with others, including acceptance of responsibility, responding effectively to criticism and taking initiative. 
• Ability to practice timely responses and accountability to the needs of patients, families and clinicians.

Fellows should understand healthcare practices in the broader context and at the hospital, stage and national levels.

The fellow will demonstrate:

• Understanding of the role of the diagnostic clinician in the healthcare system and the importance of reliable, cost-effective and timely results in clinical decision-making.
• Ability to work with clinicians, administrators and others to determine the role of diagnostic testing in specific situations to optimize patient outcomes.
• Familiarity with CAP and HIPAA standards for practice management.
• Understanding of basic reimbursement mechanisms and federal/state regulatory requirements, including kickbacks and compliance with Medicare/Medicaid.
• Understanding and participation in quality improvement/quality assurance activities. 
• Ability to practice cost-effective laboratory utilization that does not compromise quality care.
• Understanding of the importance of recognizing epidemiologically important infectious and genetic disease.
• Participation in multidisciplinary Tumor Boards.

Jeffrey Chang, MD

Jeffrey Chang grew up in Orange County, California and completed his BA at Biola University. He earned his MD at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada and completed his AP/CP residency at University of Alabama, Birmingham. In his spare time, Jeffery enjoys spending time with his family, reading and golfing. After his training, he plans to become a surgical pathologist

Maryam Ahmadi, MD

Maryam grew up in Isfahan, one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in Iran. She earned her MD degree from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and worked in Iran for a couple of years as an emergency medicine doctor. After moving to the US, she started research projects on pathology at UCI which led her toward the beautiful world of purple and pink of pathology. She did her pathology residency at SUNY Downstate in New York. After that, she decided to come back to California to grow her passion for pathology in the friendly environment of UCI with the beautiful weather of California. Maryam loves her family and enjoys spending time with them, traveling, socializing and exploring nature in her free time.

2022-23:

Truc Tran, MD, and Gabriel Giannini, MD

2021-22:

Sally Tanakchi, MD, and Tahmineh Haidary, MD

2020-21:

Yan Hu, MD, and Sonia Veran-Taguibao, MD

2019-20:

Caleb Cheng, MD

2018-19:

Ifegwu Ibe, MD