Applications: Applications should be submitted no later than October 1 prior to the intended fellowship start date of July 1. UNC Hospitals' Housestaff Contract and Policies are available online for review.

To apply, please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references to the Program Director at the address below.

The goal of the MGP fellowship is to produce physicians with special expertise in molecular pathology who are competent clinical consultants on issues related to the application of DNA/RNA technology in a wide variety of clinical settings. The trainees are made ready to direct clinical or research laboratories by applying the knowledge and skills that they have acquired in molecular diagnostics, in research, and in laboratory administration. Their fundamental understanding of genomics and of hybridization technologies prepares them to continue to read the literature, understand new molecular methods that are introduced in future years, apply those methods to solve practical clinical problems, and become lifelong learners.

Training in Molecular Genetic Pathology is provided through didactic seminars; hands-on experience with laboratory techniques; preparation of clinical cases for sign out under the supervision of qualified faculty; interaction with clinicians, counselors, and laboratory scientists; and research projects.

Specific Objectives of the Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship are:

Following 6 months of structured training, the schedule becomes more flexible in order to accommodate the fellow’s previous training, experience, and career goals. Clinical elective rotations may be chosen in any of the three core molecular laboratories or in services where molecular assays are applied to only a small proportion of cases, such as autopsy, forensics, toxicology, cytopathology, surgical pathology, neuropathology, dermatopathology, hematology, coagulation, blood bank/transfusion medicine, immunopathology, chemistry, biochemical laboratory, newborn screening lab, prenatal triple testing lab, prenatal clinic, and medical genetics clinic. These rotations build upon existing clinical rotations for our AP/CP and genetics residents and subspecialty fellows, with the caveat that the MGP fellow is expected to emphasize the role of molecular diagnostics in medical practice and in understanding disease pathogenesis in the area. This emphasis is demonstrated through active case acquisitions and through conference presentations.

To demonstrate their clinical experience, the fellow must maintain a logbook of molecular cases in which they were substantially involved. A case is defined as the complete evaluation of a patient or a specimen, including oversight of laboratory testing, interpretation of results, preparation of report for signout, and clinical consultation. Also included is direct participation in clinic/inpatient visits with laboratory consultation regarding indications for testing or transmission of lab results. A minimum of 150 cases must be acquired to meet the requirement for MGP board certification. These cases should reflect a breadth of experience with regard to molecular technologies (PCR, rtPCR, LCR, Southern blot, PTT, sequencing), and disease types (inherited, cancer, infectious, HLA, and identity).