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.
Shweta Agarwal, MD, FCAP, Assistant Professor, Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program Director
Shweta Agarwal, MD, trained at the University of Oklahoma and completed a cytopathology fellowship at the University of San Francisco and a head and neck pathology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
David Martin, MD
David Martin, MD, has a special interest in gastrointestinal and liver pathology. He completed a fellowship in gastrointestinal and liver pathology at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Samuel Reynolds, MD, Associate Professor
Samuel Reynolds, MD, has a subspecialty interest in lung pathology and cytopathology. He completed a cytopathology fellowship here at UNM.
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.
Emily Volpicelli, PA
Emily Volpicelli, PA, our junior pathology assistant, enjoys sharing her breadth of experience with residents and fellows.
Merry Spradling, DO
Degree: DO from Arizona College of Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale AZ
AP/CP Residency: Centura Health at Penrose-St. Francis
“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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
We are proudly participating in the Unified Approach and Common Timeline for surgical pathology and surgical pathology subspecialty fellowship recruitment.
For more information on the Surgical Pathology Unified Approach visit: https://apc.memberclicks.net/surgpath-recruitment-page. This page has the Unified Approach Guidelines for 2025-2026, Code of Conduct, FAQs, and tips for applicants.
Important Dates:
August 14, 2023: start of interviews for 2025-2026 positions (All interviews will be virtual)
October 2, 2023: First day offers will be made for 2025-2026 positions
Interested eligible pathologists should contact:
Kristen Broesder, Medical Education Program Manager
Email: KBroesder@salud.unm.edu
Phone: 505-925-0516
Apply Here and submit:
Virtual interviews will be scheduled for selected candidates once all required application materials are received.
Address Letters of Recommendation To:
Shweta Agarwal, MD, FCAP, Program Director