SURGICAL PATHOLOGY FELLOWSHIP VIDEO from UNM Health Sciences on Vimeo.
The University of New Mexico Health Science Center (UNM HSC) is a 500-bed tertiary medical center in Albuquerque, NM.
This one-year fellowship is designed to provide practice-level experience and responsibility in diagnostic surgical pathology including extensive training in all major areas of surgical pathology (gastrointestinal, gynecologic, head and neck, breast, bone and soft tissue, genitourinary, etc.).
UNM HSC is the only academic medical center in the state of NM, ensuring a vast variety of interesting, complex, and unusual cases across all major subspecialties. The program offers graduated responsibility to independently render frozen section interpretation, communicate with clinical teams regarding critical diagnoses, and review subspecialized consultation material. Capable fellows will be transitioned to junior attending status with independent sign-out responsibilities during the latter half of the year.
The combination of abundant material and knowledgeable, subspecialized faculty with broad expertise makes our program an excellent fellowship experience. This fellowship will provide the fellow with the necessary skills and experience to transition to thrive in any setting (academics or private practice).
Research opportunities are also available and encouraged. Fellows are encouraged, and expected, to prepare one or more abstracts for presentation at annual national or international meetings.
Elective months of additional advanced training (if desired) in subspecialty areas such as GI pathology, Breast/GYN pathology, head and neck pathology, cytopathology, neuropathology, and cytopathology are available.
New Mexico's mild four-season climate and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities (excellent biking, hiking, fishing, and skiing) combined with a rich cultural heritage and great local cuisine complement to these educational opportunities.
The fellow is required to present 2-3 unknown slide conferences during the academic year. In addition, the fellow will present at various interdisciplinary conferences at the UNM NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Samuel Reynolds, MD, Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program Director
Samuel Reynolds, MD, has a subspecialty interest in lung, thoracic and sarcoma pathology. He completed a cytopathology fellowship in addition to his pathology residency here at UNM.
Anthony Cretara, MD
Anthony Cretara, MD, specializes in GI pathology having completed a GI, pancreas, and hepatobiliary fellowship at the University of Utah.
Nadja Falk, MD
Nadja Falk, MD, trained at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed cytopathology and surgical pathology fellowships at MD Anderson Cancer Center, with a focus on breast pathology.
Aysha Mubeen, MD
Aysha Mubeen, MD, completed a gynecologic/genitourinary pathology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a cytopathology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Her areas of specialty include genitourinary, gynecologic, and cytopathology.
Karen SantaCruz, MD
Karen SantaCruz, MD, completed her neuropathology training at the University of California Irvine. Her expertise is in brain tumors and the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases.
Marlena Chavez, PA
Marlena Chavez, PA, is our senior pathology assistant and brings great enthusiasm and passion for training residents and fellows.
Ruzbeh Mehta, PA
Ruzbeh Mehta, PA, splits his time between the University Hospital Gross Room and the Office of the Medical Investigator. He is excited by his work with clinical trainees in surgical and forensic pathology.
Emily Volpicelli, PA
Emily Volpicelli, PA, part of our pathology assistant team, enjoys sharing her breadth of experience with residents and fellows.
“The number of interesting and challenging cases was surprising and that provided great material for learning. Faculty members were always approachable to review interesting cases. The frozen section elective was a particularly valuable and fun experience as a preparation for future practice.”
| Year | Fellow | Position after training |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 - 2024 | Merry Spradling, DO | Faculty at Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center, MA |
| 2022 - 2023 | Ryland Richards, MD | Faculty at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, NH |
| 2021 - 2022 | Nathan Ryan, MD | Delta Pathology Group, Shreveport, LA |
| 2020 - 2021 | Catherine Nicka, MD | General Surgical Pathology Practice, CA |
| 2019 - 2020 | Aaron Rupp, MD | Private Practice, Lexena, KS |
| 2018 - 2019 | Nathan Tokuda, MD | Hawaii Pacific Health, Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue, HI |
| 2017 - 2018 | Colleen “Kelly” Goff, MD | Visiting Assistant Professor, UNM Pathology, Albuquerque, NM |
| 2016 - 2017 | Nour Yadak, MD | Assistant Professor, Methodist University Hospital, Memphis, TN |
| 2014 - 2015 | Amer Mahmoud, MD | Clinical Assistant Professor, Pathology Associates of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM |
| 2013 - 2014 | Mona Elsakka, MD | Pathologist, Phoenix, AZ |
| 2012 - 2013 | Giovanni Insuasti-Beltran, MD | Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR |
| 2011 - 2012 | Carmen Frias Kletecka, MD | Assistant Professor of clinical pathology, LSU, New Orleans, LA |
| 2010 - 2011 | Arthur D. Somoza, MD | Southern Ohio Medical Center, Portsmouth, OH |
| 2008 - 2009 | Melissa A. Myrsiades, MD | Tri-City Medical Center, Oceanside, CA |
| 2007 - 2008 | Allen H. Leung, MD | Clinical Assistant Professor, NYU School of Medicine |
| 2006 - 2007 | Nancy Kang-Davis, MD | Pathologist, Slidell, LA |
| 2004 - 2005 | Lian Bonds, MD | Pathologist, Denver, CO |
Mohammad A. Vasef MD, Aaron Auerbach MD FRCPC Dipl. Epid. Diagnostic Pathology: Molecular Oncology. Amirsys, Salt Lake City, 2015.
T.J. Bocklage, R.H. Quinn, B.P. Schmit, C.F. Ver schraegen. Bone and Soft Tissue Tumours: A Multidisciplinary Review with Case Presentations. JP Medical Publishers, 2014.
Successful completion of a combined four years in Anatomic Pathology/Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) or three years, AP only Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited pathology residency program. US citizenship or permanent residency (green card) is required. A full New Mexico medical license will be needed.
Commensurate with the applicant's year of postgraduate training. Travel and book allowances are provided.
Apply Here and submit:
Virtual interviews will be scheduled for selected candidates once all required application materials are received.
Address Letters of Recommendation To:
Samuel Reynolds, MD, Program Director
Contact Information:
Kristen Broesder, Medical Education Program Manager
Email: KBroesder@salud.unm.edu
Phone: 505-925-0516