The mission of our ACGME-accredited training program is to prepare physicians for the specialized practice of Blood Banking & Transfusion Medicine. Upon completion of our program, trainees will be qualified and ready to take on the responsibilities of Medical Director of a transfusion service, either hospital-based or at a regional blood center.

Transfusion medicine has evolved into the clinical practice of a multi-dimensional field that incorporates elements of blood banking, immunohematology, apheresis, cell therapy, coagulation, and hematology.

Our hospital-based transfusion service provides a full exposure to adult, obstetric, pediatric, and neonatal patients in the inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings. Practical experience is gained through antibody identification and complex serologic evaluations, transfusion reactions, blood component inventory analysis, apheresis consultations and procedures, massive transfusion support, and reference lab cases. Stanford’s fellowship offers access to a hospital-based Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) and close association with our blood supplier, Stanford Blood Center. An important component of the transfusion medicine-training program, both in practical experience and in core curriculum, occurs at the Stanford Blood Center and through its medical and technical staff. Fellows will rotate at the Blood Center and take call for issues relevant to donor screening and testing.

Additional rotations provided by the fellowship include experience within the HLA laboratory, stem cell collection & processing, coagulation, and RBC special studies. The program provides access to several additional opportunities within the Department of Pathology or other clinical areas and the flexibility to tailor a training program that aligns with each fellow’s career goals.

The Transfusion Medicine Fellowship accepts applicants from qualified candidates. To be eligible you must be board certified or eligible in a primary specialty (Clinical Pathology, Hematology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, or Anesthesiology) for certification by the American Boards of Pathology.
 

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 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.

We accept applications for the fellowship approximately 24 months preceding the start of the fellowship.

Required Materials:    

1. Completed Standardized Fellowship Application form (CAP) with signature & photo
2. Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Cover letter and/or personal statement
   
4. Three letters of recommendation

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

Kaia Pham
Administrative Associate
Email: kaiap@stanford.edu

and

Mrigender Virk, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology
Director, Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Program
Email: msvirk@stanford.edu

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

Mrigender Virk, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology
Director, Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Program
Email: msvirk@stanford.edu

Rachael Buenafe-Jacinto
Residency Fellowship Program Coordinator
Email: rjacinto@stanford.edu

Lisa Wong, MD
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: Stanford University School of Medicine

Rakesh Sethapati, MBBS
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center

Christopher Shin, MD (2023-2024)

Josh Nicholas, MD (2023-2024)

Junaid Wali, MBBS (2023-2024)

Dr. Mrigender Virk completed his residency in Anatomic & Clinical Pathology at Georgetown University before joining Stanford for his Transfusion Medicine Fellowship. After completion of the fellowship, Dr. Virk joined the Department of Pathology as a Clinical Assistant Professor for Transfusion Medicine.

More information about Dr. Virk