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)
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.
Current Breast Pathology Fellows [2024-25]
Alex Dussaq, MD, PhD
Medical School: University of Alabama School of Medicine
Residency: Stanford University
Joanna Solarewicz, DO, MS
Medical School: A.T. Still University
Residency: Rush University