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Surgical Pathology Fellowship

We typically offer two to three fellowship positions annually. The fellowship is filled for 2025-2026. We are currently accepting applications for 2026-2027.

Program Description

The UNC School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine offers one-year Fellowship/Clinical Faculty Instructorships in Surgical Pathology. The training year is intended for board-eligible or board-certified anatomic pathologists who want progressive responsibility and to develop excellent diagnostic skills in surgical pathology in an academic practice environment.

Graduated responsibility is a hallmark of our department’s residency and fellowship programs. This fellowship is a hybrid fellowship-instructorship position with an emphasis on independent sign-out responsibility for the majority of the year. Fellows begin with an initial period of supervision in working up the full range of Surgical Pathology cases, and progress to independent sign out of a full volume service in a busy academic medical practice. Fellows are credentialed for independent sign-out in the fall. During the spring semester of full independent sign-out workload, fellows may choose 1-2 subspecialties of particular interest for additional concentration or continue through all services for a more general experience. The flexibility of the spring allows for a uniquely tailored experience during this critical time of training before our fellows embark on their career as a practicing pathologist.

 

Program Structure

  • July-August: fellows rotate through each subspecialty service – breast, gynecologic oncology, OB/GYN, GI/liver biopsies, large GI resections, head and neck/thoracic/endocrine, genitourinary, and bone/soft tissue – working closely with their faculty attending, without independent sign out responsibilities
  • September-October: fellows move to independent sign out via review of outside cases for patients referred to UNC before treatment or for second opinion. Participation in daily tumor boards is paired with the rotations on the outside consultation/referral service.
  • November-December: fellows progress to independent sign out of approximately half a normal faculty workload (shared with another fellow or faculty member)
  • January-June: fellows sign out a full workload for approximately 12 weeks during the spring semester, with options to customize their service to focus on 1 or 2 subspecialties. Faculty members with subspecialty expertise are available for all areas and work closely with the fellows to develop diagnostic and reporting skills.

The Surgical Pathology Division at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill will accession approximately 40,000 cases per year. Complex oncology resections are emphasized. These numbers do not include cytology, hematopathology, dermatopathology or nephropathology cases. There are opportunities for elective experiences in any area of pathology.

Frozen section coverage is integrated into each week as a part of every service (approximately 4-5 hours/week of coverage). There are no responsibilities for grossing or autopsies, and there is minimal overnight call (taken from home with telepathology available, 2 weeks total for the year). The fellowship schedule also includes generous off service time (10-12 weeks) that can be used for electives or research. All work is performed on the main campus in Chapel Hill.

Individuals completing this fellowship have gone on to a variety of positions, both in private practice and academic settings, including subspecialty sign-out. This fellowship provides a wonderful opportunity to develop skills and confidence in independent sign-out required to succeed in any high volume, high complexity practice environment.

Program Requirements

Applicants must possess an MD or DO degree, be board-eligible/board-certified in Anatomic Pathology, and be eligible for medical licensure in North Carolina and appointment to the faculty of UNC Healthcare.

Stipends

Fellowship stipends are commensurate with postgraduate year of training, with an increase during the Instructorship appointment.

Applications

Timeline: We will begin accepting applications annually in June (approximately 22 months before the anticipated July start date). Interviews are typically performed June through August.

Please send the following materials to the program director, Dr. Steven Johnson, at steven.johnson@unchealth.unc.edu

  • The Standardized Application for Pathology Fellowships from the College of American Pathologists
  • A short cover letter expressing your interest in the fellowship
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three (3) current letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your Program Director)
  • ECFMG certification if applicable

Program Director

Steven M. Johnson, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Director of Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program
CB 7525 UNC Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7525

Phone: 984-974-7768
Email: steven.johnson@unchealth.unc.edu

Faculty Members