Post-Sophomore Fellowship Program

Interested in spending a year functioning like a pathology resident?  Finding out what we really do? This is an exciting opportunity offered though the UW Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology for two (2) UW Medical Students to take a year out of medical school and spend the year like a first year pathology resident at the University of Washington. This is an entry level one-year project appointment for University of Washington students in a Medical Degree Program (MD Program). Eligible candidates will have finished or will be finishing their foundation phase (between their 2nd and 3rd or 3rd and 4th year of medical school) and are interested in pursuing pathology studies, research, and clinical practices.  

Post-Sophomore Fellows function like a first year pathology resident in Seattle, with essentially the same responsibilities and requirements including making diagnoses, using a microscope, writing reports, grossing tissue, signing out cases with pathologists, doing autopsies, spending time doing electives (clinical, research, or teaching) and teaching medical students. Fellows spend the year in Seattle at the various hospitals covered by UW Pathology (UW, Harborview, VA).Post-Sophomore Fellows work closely with our residents, fellows and faculty and have the opportunity to rotate through services in both anatomic and clinical pathology, including but not limited to:

  • Surgical Pathology
  • Hematopathology
  • Autopsy Pathology
  • Coagulation
  • Neuropathology
  • Microbiology
  • Cytopathology
  • Chemistry 
  • Dermatopathology
  • Molecular Genetic Pathology
  • Genitourinary Pathology
  • Virology 
  • Transfusion Medicine
  • Immunology

 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are University of Washington Medical Students in current good standing who have taken and passed USMLE Step 1 prior to starting the fellowship. Preferred candidates are interested in pursuing Pathology studies, research, and clinical practices.

Medical students who participate in the program are considered “on leave” with the University of Washington School of Medicine; all loans are deferred during the program, and there is no tuition or financial aid penalty. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the details of this status with their registrar, and the financial aid department, and Brenda Martinez, the Director of Proactive Advising (somproadv@uw.edu, 206.543.9345). 

 

Application

We will accept applications ia Embark online portal on Septmeber 1st.  Applications should be received prior to November 15th for fellowships beginning the following academic year but will be accepted until positions are filled. Your application is complete when we receive the following:

  • Your application is considered complete once your online form is filled out and the following materials uploaded:
    • CV
    • Personal Statement (1-2 pages)
    • Letter of Recommendation (applicant to register letter writer through Embark)
      • Your letter writer should be someone who can speak to your clinical interests and experience. Often this is your medical school advisor, a faculty member you've worked closely with or a faculty member you've rotated with.
  • Letter of Good Standing (e-mailed directly from the UW SOM registrar's office to uwpthres@uw.edu)

Once applications have been received and reviewed, the program will reach out to candidates to schedule interviews, and provide the opportunity to shadow current Post-Sophomore Fellows and residents.

 

Upcoming Events

We will be having an open house for those interested in the Post-Sophomore Fellowship.  You will have an opportunity to speak with current and past PSFs.

DATE: Open House will take place in the fall.

Salary and Benefits

Post-Sophomore Fellows receive a salary of 61,872 ($5,156 per month) and enjoy 3 weeks of vacation (15 weekdays), 1 paid personal holiday and accrue sick leave as part of their appointment. The program also observes 11 holidays per year. Additional position benefits are outlined on the UW Human Resources page here.

Fellows will also receive funds for reimbursement:

  • $450 fund for professional development (updated from Open House video due to appointment type)
  • $2,300 fund for traveling to conferences to present or take part in advocacy work
  • Poster printing is covered if your poster is accepted and you are presenting at a conference

Fellows will also receive free subscriptions to ExpertPath and PathPrimer for the duration of the program.

Post-Sophomore Fellows are also encouraged to participate in the Doctor for a Day (DFAD) program. Time commitment is roughly 5 hours a month. More information about the program can be found here.

About 50% of people that opt to do a pathology fellowship end up going into pathology. However, the 50% that don't go into pathology have come out of the program with a fantastic foundation in the mechanism of disease, and an experience that residency programs very highly rate.Questions? Contact Us

2023 PSF Open House Presentation

 

Contacts

Rebecca Treger
Director, Post-Sophomore Fellowship

Oliver Chang, MD
Director, Post-Sophomore Fellowship

Sonya Ahuja
2023-24 Post Sophomore Fellow
Maryam Karim
2023-24 Post Sophomore Fellow
Priscilla Natcher
2022-23 Post Sophomore Fellow
Kia Gianni Thigpen
2022-23 Post Sophomore Fellow

L'Oreal Kennedy
2021-22 Post Sophomore Fellow

Jennifer Jensen
2021-22 Post Sophomore Fellow

Joanna Liao
2020-2021 Post Sophomore Fellow

Tessa Olmstead
2019-20 Post-Sophomore Fellow
Daniel Quinlan
2018-19 Post-Sophomore Fellow
Neurology Resident, Oregon Health Sciences University
Melissa Wong 
2019-20 Post-Sophomore Fellow
Brandi Davis
2016-17 Post-Sophomore Fellow
Pathology Resident, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Miles McDonough
2017-18 Post-Sophomore Fellow
Emergency Medicine Resident, UCSF Fresno
uwpthres@uw.edu
Post-Sophomore Fellowship Program Coordinator
Box 357470
Phone: 206.685.1624
FAX: 206.543.3644
University of Washington
Pathology Residency Program
1959 NE Pacific, Box 357470
Seattle, WA 98195-7470