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:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
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 this online form is filled out and the following materials uploaded:
- CV
- Personal Statement (1-2 pages)
- Letter of Recommendation (e-mailed directly from the faculty to uwpthres@uw.edu)
- 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.
Stipend and Benefits
Post-Sophomore Fellows receive a stipend of $49,836 ($4,153 per month) and enjoy 21 days of vacation time off (15 weekdays, 6 weekend days), 1 paid personal holiday and accrue sick leave as part of their appointment. The program also observes 10 holidays per year. Additional position benefits are outlined on the UW Human Resources page here.
Fellows will also receive a $350 stipend for professional development purposes, $1,600 fund for traveling to conferences to present or take part in advocacy work and are provided with free ExpertPath and PathPrimer subscriptions 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.
Our Current Fellows
![]() |
Joanna LiaoHello! I am a UW School of Medicine student (between my MS2 and MS3 years) and am this year's post-sophomore pathology fellow. My interest in pathology was heightened while studying for Step 1, and I wanted to take some time to better understand the pathophysiology of disease. The UW Pathology department has amazing teachers and a fantastic staff; it's been a great experience thus far. In my free time I enjoy having virtual game night with friends (currently playing Among Us, which I'm terrible at), binge watching Netflix, yoga, and spending time with my significant other and cat |
![]() |
L'Oreal KennedyL'Oreal Kennedy is Certified Nurse-Midwife and Nurse Practitioner currently in her second year of medical school at the University of Washington. She earned her BA in Social Welfare and DNP at the University of Washington and Accelerated BSN from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to coming to medical school, she worked in reproductive endocrinology and infertility for three years as an RN and then nurse practitioner and went on to found the high risk breast cancer screening clinic at Valley Medical Center. She is certified in hereditary cancer genomics, clinical breast exams, and patient navigation in breast cancer care. Her passions include equity and justice for Black populations, hereditary cancer genomics, as well as cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment - particularly in the Black community. In her free time she enjoys traveling and engaging in outdoor activities with her husband and two children. |
![]() |
Jenny JensenHello, I’m Jenny Jensen, a Washington native and UWSOM 2nd year student. It’s an honor to be joining my wonderful colleague L’Oreal Kennedy as a 2021/2022 post-sophomore fellow in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology. I am looking forward to this invaluable first-hand experience and taking a few small steps in the shoes of a pathologist-in-training. When I’m not thinking about medicine, I spend my time climbing or skiing, sharing these joys with friends, and trying to make the outdoors a more equitable and accessible resource. |
Questions? Contact Us
Contacts | |
---|---|
Lisa Koch, MD, PhD |
Oliver Chang, MD |
Brian Shirts, MD, PhD Director, Post-Sophomore Fellowship |
Tessa Olmstead 2019-20 Post-Sophomore Fellow |
Daniel Quinlan |
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 |