Breast Pathology Fellowship

Overview

With the high level of complexity of breast pathology cases and the evolving role of the pathologist as a “diagnostic oncologist,” breast pathology has become a highly desirable area for pathologists to have specialty expertise.

At Stanford we offer a dedicated ACGME-accredited Breast Pathology Fellowship that will provide in-depth training in breast pathology with the goal of becoming a specialist in the field.

The Stanford Breast Pathology Service is rich with both routine breast pathology (including ancillary studies like HER2 FISH testing) and advanced consultative material to learn from.

The breast pathology fellow will also have opportunities for learning in a multidisciplinary setting from leaders in the field of breast oncology, surgery, imaging, and radiation oncology.

Graduated responsibility opportunities include a Junior Attending rotation, presenting at breast tumor boards, teaching opportunities, and service as a point person and consultant on breast-pathology-related issues.

Elective and research time can be used to pursue additional subspecialty training in other areas (such as molecular pathology) or to work on research projects.

Departmental resources and support are available for clinicopathologic and translational research projects.

The Department of Pathology accepts up to two breast pathology fellows per year.

Canadian applicants: Canadian nationals may substitute documentation of successful passing scores on LMCC examinations in lieu of USMLE.

Stanford Health Care establishes PGY levels for new fellows based on the successful completion of all prerequisite training required for entry into your fellowship program. Stanford does not recognize additional training beyond the prerequisite training requirements when establishing the PGY level for entry into the program.

Kimberly Allison, MD

Professor of Pathology
Program Director for Anatomic & Clinical Residency Training Program
Director, Breast Pathology Service
Director, Breast Pathology Fellowship Program
Vice Chair of Education for Pathology

Rotations

During their year long fellowship, Breast Pathology Fellows will spend their time on the following rotations:

Breast service fellowship rotation (breast pathology consults, in house overflow cases, second reviews, tumor board coverage, HER2 FISH and other ancillary studies, overall service point person)
“Junior Attending” rotation (fellow reviews breast cases with assigned residents at “sign-out” and works up cases as if going to finalize independently, with hand-off to breast pathology faculty for report finalization and discussion)
Clinical breast imaging and surgery experience
Hotseat (preliminary review of all cases prior to resident with focus on breast bench)
Frozen section rotation
Surgical pathology selectives
Research
Elective
Vacation and educational/conference leave (4 weeks total)

Foreign Students & Visa Sponsorship

Canadian Visa Requirements

Graduates of Canadian medical schools will be placed on ECFMG sponsored J-1 visas. They are not required to take the qualifying examinations such as FMGEMS, NBME, and USMLE in order to obtain their visas.

Note: At this time, the government of Canada is restricting approval of physicians wishing to obtain clinical training outside Canada. SHC is unable to obtain a J-1 visa without the consent of the Canadian government.

Non-Canadian Visa Requirements

All trainees in residency and clinical fellowship programs will be placed on ECFMG sponsored J-1 visas.

Stanford Hospital and Clinics (SHC) does not sponsor such trainees for the H-1B visa. ECFMG requires a valid ECFMG certificate obtained by successful completion of their qualifying examinations (VQE, FMGEMS, NBME, or USMLE) coupled with the appropriate English language examination to be eligible for a visa.

Allow 120 working days for ECFMG to process an initial visa.

For further information, please contact:
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
Tel: [215] 386-5900

California Medical License

California law states that all U.S. and Canadian graduates are required to obtain a California medical license before starting a fellowship at Stanford.

If you have any questions please visit the Stanford Medicine Graduate Medical Education (GME) and/or the California Medical Board website for more information.

Stipends

2022-2023 Stanford Stipends and Bonuses (Effective 9/5/22)

Year	Annual	Per Month
I	$74,027.20	$6,168.81
II	$77,771.20	$6,480.81
III	$83,657.60	$6,971.33
IV	$88,400.00	$7,366.53
V	$93,953.60	$7,829.32
VI	$98,092.80	$8,174.24
VII	$103,604.80	$8,633.57
VIII	$108,326.40	$9,027.03

All pathology clinical fellows will annually receive a taxable housing allowance in the amount of $10,000 from the Department of Pathology. Fellows will receive the first half of the pathology housing allowance in their September paychecks and the second half of the allowance in their February paychecks.

From the Stanford Health Care GME Office, new fellows will receive a one-time $3,000 payment to assist with moving expenses, a one-time $1,000 for cell phone allowance, an annual educational allowance of $2,000, and a 1% annual bonus based on completion of a Quality Improvement project. A housing allowance of $7,200 (paid monthly at $600) per year is also provided. All allowances are subject to appropriate taxes.

Stipends depend upon the postdoctoral level of training and are equal to the general residency stipends at Stanford University Hospital.

Bonuses

*All allowances are subject to appropriate taxes.
+ Housing allowances will not be provided during any period of extended training.

Item	Detail
Annual educational allowance $2,000*	Paid in November providing, all required HealthStream and EPIC/LINKS modules are completed by house staff's assigned deadline
Cell phone allowance $1,000*	Automatically added to paycheck in July
Food allowance $10 per day (shifts of 12 hours or longer for clinical rotations only at SHC & LPCH)*	Payments made on last paycheck of each month Meal money is taxable income
Housing stipend $7,200 per year (paid as $600 monthly)*+	Automatically paid on 1st paycheck of each month
Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance provided	Eligible to participate on house staff's hire date
Moving allowance (new hires only) $3,000*	Automatically added to a paycheck in August
1% annual bonus based on completion of a Quality Improvement Project*	Automatically paid at the end of each academic year in June
Cost of initial CA MD license and renewals	Paid upon reimbursement submission for academic year expense occurrence
Cost of initial DEA and renewals	Paid upon reimbursement submission for academic year expense occurrence
Cost of USMLE Part Ill for Interns	Paid upon reimbursement submission for academic year expense occurrence

For more information please go to: Stanford Healthcare/Stipends & Bonuses

Applying

Deadlines:

We are no longer accepting applications for 2025-26. Currently, the next open position is for 2026-27. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis

Required Materials:

Completed Standardized Application for Pathology Fellowships form (CAP with supplemental available below) with your signature
Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Cover letter and/or personal statement
3 letters of recommendation
Photo

Please submit application and letters via email (pdf preferred) to:

Markell Stine
Fellowship Program Coordinator for Breast Pathology
E: markell@stanford.edu
T: [650] 497-6371

CAP Standardized Application (w/supplemental) for Pathology Fellowships

Visit the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for more information on the application process

Contact

Breast Pathology Faculty

Kimberly Allison, MD

Professor of Pathology
Program Director for Anatomic and Clinical Residency Training Program
Director, Breast Pathology Service
Director, Breast Pathology Fellowship Program
Vice Chair of Education for Pathology

Dr. Allison specializes in breast pathology. As Director of Breast Pathology, she oversees the operations of the service, participates in multidisciplinary breast discussions on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and directs training of residents and the breast/GYN fellow on the service.

Stanford Profile

Gregory Bean, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pathology

Dr. Bean is an Assistant Professor who specializes in breast pathology. He completed Anatomic Pathology residency and breast fellowship training at the University of California San Francisco. His research interests include molecular characterization of breast cancer subtypes and precursors. He is also involved with the training of residents and the breast fellows on the service.

Stanford Profile

Richard K. Sibley, MD

Professor of Pathology (Emeritus)

Dr. Sibley is a Professor of Pathology at Stanford University. He completed Anatomic Pathology residency and Renal Pathology fellowship at the University of Chicago followed by Surgical Pathology fellowship at Stanford. His clinical work and research focus encompasses medical & transplant renal and hepatic pathology.

Stanford Profile

Megan Troxell, MD, PhD

Professor of Pathology
Co-Director, Post-Sophomore Fellowship in Pathology
Director, Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program

Dr. Troxell is a Professor of Pathology at Stanford University Medical Center. She completed Anatomic Pathology residency followed by surgical pathology and renal/immunohistochemistry fellowships at Stanford. Her clinical work encompasses GU, medical/transplant renal, and breast pathology, with research interests in each of these areas.

Stanford Profile

Rob West, MD, PhD

Professor of Pathology

Dr. West specializes in breast pathology. He is involved with the training of residents and the breast fellows on the service and attends multidisciplinary breast discussions on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in the medical school and hospital. He also runs a NIH funded research laboratory that focuses on breast cancer.

Stanford Profile

Current Breast Pathology Fellows [2023-24]

Lixia Bai, MD, PhD

Medical School: Dalian Medical University
Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Taylor Salisbury, MD

Medical School: University of British Columbia
Residency: University of British Columbia/Vancouver General Hospital

Graduated Breast Pathology Fellows

Class of 2023

Rabia Bhalli, MD
Medical School: Army Medical College - National College of Science and Technology
Residency: George Washington University Hospital

Parisa Najafzadeh, MD
Medical School: Islamic Azad University, Terhan Medical Branch
Residency: LAC+USC Medical Center
Past Fellowship: Surgical Pathology, LAS+USC Medical Center

Class of 2022

Class of 2021

Class of 2020

Class of 2019

Class of 2018

Puneeta Vasa, MD
Medical School: Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center
Residency: Georgia Regents University
Surgical Pathology Fellowship: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cytopathology Fellowship: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Wendy Mackerricher, BMBS
Medical School: University of Limerick
Residency: University of Arizona

Class of 2017

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