Medical Students
Clerkship
Overview
The Department of Pathology offers a four-week introductory pathology clerkship for students interested in exposure to the fields of anatomic and/or clinical pathology (see PATH 302A). A more advanced elective that can be customized for in depth, longer-term exposure to one area of pathology is also available (see PATH 398A). Rotation locations include Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the Palo Alto VA and our Hillview Avenue Laboratory.
The Department of Pathology also participates in the Stanford Clinical Opportunity for Residency Experience (SCORE) Program. SCORE recognizes that Stanford Medicine’s ideal of true community engagement is unlikely to occur without a workforce that is diverse in many ways. This includes individuals who are underrepresented in medicine, socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged, and others whose backgrounds and experiences would diversify their clinical fields. For more information please visit the SCORE website.
If you are interested in enrolling in one of our clerkship courses, please complete the departmental application form.
Clerkship Courses
Contact
Gabby Barela
Clerkship Coordinator for
PATH 302A (CP) and PATH 398A
gbarela@stanford.edu
Tel: 650-721-5755
Post-Sophomore Fellowship
Overview
The Department of Pathology at Stanford offers a 12-month fellowship for up to two medical students between their pre-clinical and clinical years or after their first clinical year of medical school. The goal of the program is to offer fellows a broad exposure to the practice of pathology in an academic medical center. A key feature of the program is flexibility to accommodate the individual interests of each student; however, the typical program consists of six months of research and six months of clinical service. One of the clinical months is elective. This month may be used to explore an area of subspecialty interest. Possible areas of elective study in anatomic pathology include dermatopathology, neuropathology, renal pathology, lymph node pathology, forensic pathology or cytology. Students interested in gaining exposure to clinical pathology (also known as “laboratory medicine”) may elect to rotate through clinical laboratories, focusing on:
- “Wet” Hematopathology (peripheral blood smears, bone marrow aspirates and biopsies)
- Flow Cytometry
- Cytogenetics
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization
- Molecular Medicine
- Clinical Chemistry
- Transfusion Medicine
- Microbiology
- Virology
For Stanford medical students, the six months of research performed during the Pathology fellowship may in part satisfy the requirements of an approved Scholarly Concentration (SC). Students are strongly encouraged to identify a research mentor and develop a research proposal that may be submitted to the Committee on Medical Student Scholarship (CMSS). If approved, the student is awarded funds which can supplement the Pathology stipend. The CMSS meets once a quarter to consider proposals. It is recommended that students apply in the quarter prior to the beginning of the post-sophomore year fellowship on July 1. The research mentor need not be in the Pathology Department. The Department of Pathology will provide a stipend for the enrolled students, commensurate with first year graduate student stipend. The students will receive $1,000 for their educational expenses upfront. In addition, the students can request up to $2,000 for conference-related reimbursements (refer to Pathology Handbook: Conference Reimbursement Policy). Health insurance will also be covered by the department.
Deadlines
Applications should be received prior to February 15 for fellowships beginning the upcoming July but will be accepted until positions are filled.
Applying
Applicants must have satisfactorily completed the preclinical curriculum and be interviewed by the faculty prior to starting the fellowship. The usual start date is July 1.
Required documents:
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- List Three names of references
Please complete the form and upload required documents below.
John Higgins, MD
Co-Director, Post Sophomore
Fellowship Program
john.higgins@stanford.edu
Tel: 650-723-7211
Kelly Ernst, MD
Co-Director, Post Sophomore
Fellowship Program
kellyernst@stanford.edu
Tel: 650-723-7211
Unpaid Internships
Non-Stanford Students
Unpaid internship opportunities are available to non-Stanford University medical students. Unpaid internships can be virtual or on-site and are limited to 6 months. Students can receive academic credit for a course of study or class if it supports the training being received at the School of Medicine under the supervision of a faculty member (or their designee). Alternatively, the training can prepare the individual for future, not current coursework. If an internship is used to obtain academic credit, a training plan that outlines the school's expectations and learning objectives must be provided.
Criteria for Internships:
- Training is for the benefit of the intern, not the university
- Stanford gains no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern
- Intern does not displace regular, temporary, or casual employees
- Intern is not entitled to a job when the assignment is concluded
- Intern understands they are not entitled to wages for time spent intraining
- Due to Stanford policy, prospective interns may not be related to a staff/faculty member within the department
Students interested in research experience at Stanford are encouraged to reach out to a lab of their choice. Review the list of our labs.
If you are considering providing an opportunity for an internship and for more information on the process and questions regarding unpaid internships, please contact Jessica Mondragon at jessxm@stanford.edu. Please note, internships must be approved by the SoM HRG before an individual starts an internship.
Visiting Student Researchers
Non-Stanford Students
A Visiting Student Researcher appointment provides students the opportunity to engage in research on the Stanford campus using Stanford research facilities. Such instances might include a student at another university who is engaged in graduate-level research in a field of interest to the faculty member, or a person doing a laboratory rotation as part of a more extensive research study or grant.
Students interested in a Visiting Student Research (VSR) appointment with a Pathology faculty at Stanford are encouraged to reach out to a lab of their choice. Review the list of our labs in the department.
If you are interested in onboarding a VSR and for more information on the process and criteria, please contact Jessica Mondragon at jessxm@stanford.edu.
Independent Study
Stanford Students - Path 399 or Equivalent
Stanford students are eligible to participate in a Pathology lab by enrolling in an independent study course. Students interested in research experience at Stanford are encouraged to reach out to a lab of their choice. Review the list of labs. Please note enrolling in an independent study course may impact your tuition as tuition is based on enrolled units. You can find tuition details here.
If you have any questions, contact Jessica Mondragon at jessxm@stanford.edu..
Assistantship
Stanford Students
Stanford offers teaching and research assistantships to students within Stanford. Research assistantships provide students the opportunity to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Teaching Assistants work with a faculty member who has primary responsibility for a course, or assists a group of students in several courses. To determine assistantship eligibility, please contact your home department.
Prior to beginning an assistantship, the Student Services Team will verify eligibility with the students home department. If you are interested in onboarding a Master student for an RAship, contact Jessica Mondragon at jessxm@stanford.edu.