Molecular Diagnostics Fellowship Program

Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Training Objectives and Duties

Objectives

  1. To become thoroughly familiar with the theory, performance, clinical interpretation and cost-effective utilization of molecular assays in inherited, infectious and neoplastic diseases and to develop facility at providing a clinical consultative liaison based on this knowledge.
  2. To become competent in laboratory preparation and handling of nucleic acids using current technologies and instrumentation. This includes genomic DNA and RNA preparation from peripheral blood, tissue and archival samples, restriction endonuclease digestion, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from DNA and RNA, DNA sequencing, and other molecular hybridization assays as necessary and appropriate for clinical application or research.
  3. To become familiar with basic administrative, technical, safety and quality control issues important for the operation of a clinical laboratory service in the area of Molecular Genetic Pathology.
  4. To understand the interface between molecular assays and clinical cytogenetics by conventional and newer methods.

Responsibilities

  • Clinical Responsibilities
    1. Serve as the primary professional staff contact for laboratory users requiring information of a medical or detailed nature; assist residents in performing this consultative function (see Teaching below). This may include follow-up calls to clinicians for additional information or to arrange the provision of additional samples.
    2. Oversee the preliminary review of new cases coming into the laboratory to facilitate planning and effective provision of laboratory services to users.
    3. Provide follow-up of assay progress and reporting of preliminary and final results to clinicians as requested or by phone when the case is completed.
    4. Review final assay results independently and with laboratory attending, draft preliminary or final reports for LIS.
    5. Assist with laboratory administrative projects as assigned.

  • Conferences and Meetings

    1. With the rotating resident, participate in presentation of data at weekly Division Professional Staff Conference, handle periodic scheduled presentation by the Division at the Thursday noon Clinical Genetics Conference
    2. Present as requested at other intra-Divisional or outside conferences (e.g. weekly hematopathology conference, Diagnostic Pathology Conference)
    3. Present as scheduled at Current Topics in Clinical Pathology Conference at noon Tuesdays. Other conferences within or outside the department as assigned (e.g. weekly hematology conference, continuing education, for clinical research projects, etc.)
    4. Participate in regular and special Division administrative meetings to gain familiarity with laboratory administrative issues.

  • Investigation and Development
    1. In the initial year of training, participate in developmental and/or applied clinical research projects of interest to the Division (e.g. development or improvement of assays, application of existing or new assays to defined patient populations, and other studies in molecular genetic pathology).
    2. Continue investigative projects of a clinical, translational or basic nature in subsequent training.
    3. Write up results of developmental/clinical research activities for publication as appropriate including abstracts for scientific/medical meetings.

  • Teaching Responsibilities
    1. Assist in general orientation of rotating and returning senior residents to the Division and its clinical services; this includes initial oversight of resident interactions with clinical users to provide residents an introduction to the consultative functions of a molecular genetic laboratory physician
    2. Assist as requested in Division of Pathology Department teaching of medical students
    3. Function as a continuing medical education resource for Division technical staff

Fellow Instruction

Fellow instruction and learning takes place in several contexts:

  1. Responsibility for active clinical case material and clinical conference presentation
  2. Individual interactions with faculty and professional staff surrounding clinical responsibilities and laboratory administration
  3. Individual interactions with faculty and professional staff surrounding laboratory projects
  4. Attendance at Division, Departmental and other Medical Center Conferences or outside scientific meetings
  5. Literature available in the laboratory, via faculty/staff recommendations, and self initiative

Evaluation

Interactions in clinical service, laboratory projects and conference presentations form the basis for evaluation in the general areas described on the Department of Pathology Resident/Fellow evaluation Form including the following general areas:

  1. Performance of duties
  2. Knowledge of medicine, pathology and molecular genetic pathology
  3. Presentation skills at conferences
  4. Interpersonal skills
  5. Research skills and productivity
Input is solicited from all teaching faculty as well as laboratory staff in evaluating the fellow. Input from other Departmental faculty and clinical users is also incorporated as appropriate.

Primary Training Faculty and Staff

  • Marie C. DeFrances, MD, PhD - Director, MGP Fellowship Program; Assistant Director, Division of Molecular Diagnostics
  • Yuri Nikiforov, MD, PhD - Director, Division of Molecular Anatomic Pathology
  • Marina Nikiforova, MD - Director, Molecular Anatomic Pathology Laboratory
  • Simion Chiosea, MD - Attending Faculty, Division of Molecular Anatomic Pathology
  • Jianhua Luo, MD, PhD - Director, High Throughput Genome Center; Attending Faculty, Division of Molecular Anatomic Pathology
  • Geeta Mantha, PhD - Program Manager, Molecular Anatomic Pathology Laboratory
  • Zoltan Oltvai, MD, PhD - Attending Faculty, Division of Molecular Diagnostics
  • Tim D. Oury, MD, PhD - Attending Faculty, Division of Molecular Diagnostics
  • Denise Pollett, Ph.D. - Program Manager, Division of Molecular Diagnostics