Surgical Pathology (Soft Tissue/Bone) Fellowship

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The Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado offers a one-year fellowship program in Surgical Pathology (Soft Tissue/Bone) based at the University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus. The program design provides a unique experience and offers broad exposure to both pediatric and adult soft tissue pathology. The UCH sarcoma multidisciplinary clinic sees hundreds of complex patients every year that are discussed at weekly tumor boards.  Reflecting the broad scope, expertise, and growth of the institution's related surgery and clinical oncologic services, our group sees the entire range of medical and oncologic mesenchymal diseases. Our University of Colorado Hospital is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of Colorado, and one of only four in the entire Rocky Mountain Region. Our vast catchment area has led to a rapid increase in clinical activity, where we are leaders in accrual for international sarcoma clinical trials.  The current soft tissue surgical pathology faculty at the University of Colorado Hospital includes Drs. Michael R. Clay, Jeffery Schowinsky, Carrie Marshall, and Sanjana Mehrotra.

In addition to rotating through the bone and soft tissue service at the University of Colorado, the fellow will gain exposure to the entire breadth of pediatric mesenchymal disease with regular rotations at the Children’s Hospital Colorado. The Children’s Hospital Colorado is the #9 pediatric cancer hospital in the US with over 12,000 surgical pathology cases per year. This rotation offers exposure to unique challenges and differential diagnoses not encountered in adult soft tissue pathology, and includes multiple weekly case conferences and tumor boards that review pediatric soft tissue cases. The current soft tissue surgical pathology training faculty at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado include Drs. Jennifer Black and Michael Arnold.

The field of soft tissue pathology is rapidly changing with the application of molecular studies. As such, in addition to anatomic pathology rotations, the fellow will be exposed to sub-specialty rotations in molecular diagnostics, preanalytic variables in molecular testing, and fluorescent in-situ hybridization. Rotations at the Colorado Genetics Laboratory, Colorado Molecular Correlates Laboratory, and the Children’s Hospital Colorado Precision Diagnostics Laboratory will ensure diverse exposure to multiple techniques and patient populations.

Rotating through the bone and soft tissue services, the fellow will individually work-up cases in a self-directed manner. This will be closely followed with feedback and instruction obtained during the faculty's regular clinical practice workflow.  Elective time is available to complete research projects or rotate through other pathology sub-specialties.  Appropriate individuals may be offered the opportunity to progress during their fellowship year to an instructor-fellow position with sign-out privileges. Over the course of their time in the fellowship program, the fellow will be responsible for submitting at least an abstract for national presentation. Teaching is an important part of the fellowship program, and the fellow will be involved in the education of medical students, residents, and our clinical colleagues.

In addition to the core clinical practice outlined above, the fellow will be integrated into the services’ ancillary clinical activities.  The fellow will participate in the weekly sarcoma multidisciplinary clinical conferences for both UCH and CHCO in which we provide consultant services. In addition, the fellow will have the ability to participate in weekly interesting case and consultation conferences at both institutions.

Requirements:

Applicants must have graduated from an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy, be eligible for medical licensure in the State of Colorado and be board-eligible or board-certified in AP or AP/CP by the start of the fellowship term.

Applications:

The Surgical Pathology - Soft Tissue/Bone Fellowship Program participates in the NRMP matching system. Applications for the 2026-27 fellowship year will be accepted until January 1st, 2025.

For application deadlines and openings see: Fellowship Programs Information​ ​

University of Colorado Department of Pathology Website: http://pathology.ucdenver.edu