Cytopathology Fellowship Program
Program Overview
The Cytopathology Fellowship Program at UC Davis is designed to provide comprehensive training in diagnostic cytopathology, with a strong emphasis on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, surgical pathology, and clinical correlation. Fellows gain extensive experience with a wide spectrum of FNA and exfoliative cytology specimens in our medium-volume, high-diversity cytopathology laboratory.
For the 2023–2024 academic year, the laboratory processed:
- Gyn (Pap) cases: 9,190
- Non-Gyn exfoliative cytology cases: 3,301
- FNA cases: 2,540
- Rapid on-site FNA cases: 1,502
Fellows actively participate in our weekly FNA clinic, where they develop proficiency in performing ultrasound-guided FNAs. A dedicated month is reserved for honing rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) skills for FNAs performed by other proceduralists. Fellows also have two elective months, with one month often devoted to research.
Number of Fellows: 1 per academic year
Vacation: 20 working days
Book allowance and meeting travel allowance: As per UC Davis GME policies
Rotations
- Cytology/Sign-out: 9 months
- ROSE (Rapid On-Site Evaluation): 1 month
- Electives: 2 months (up to 1 month may be research)
- Weekly thoracic tumor board
- Monday 9–10 a.m. FNA clinic
- Primary Pap screening
Teaching, Education, and Research
- Participation in the Anatomic Pathology (AP) Residency Lecture Series
- Active involvement in AP and Clinical Pathology (CP) Journal Clubs
- QA/QI Project: Fellows are expected to submit a brief abstract to a national meeting and/or publish an article
- Fellow-led unknown slide sessions for residents (quarterly)
- Interesting case presentations at monthly departmental cytopathology meetings
Program Director
Candidate must be board-eligible or certified in Anatomic Pathology at the time s/he begins the fellowship program.
ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Cytopathology (PDF link)
The Cytopathology fellowship position for 2027-2028 has now been filled. We will be participating in Intro to The Match | NRMP fellowship match for the 2028-2029 academic year. The applications will open through NRMP in April 2027.
Timeline for NRMP Match 2028-2029
Applications will be accepted: Starting December 1, 2026.
Interview invites: Rolling basis to continue from January to the end of February 2027.
Completed applications consist of the following and must include all gaps of time regardless of professional or personal:
- CV/Resume
- CAP standardized form: CAP Fellowship Application (PDF link)
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation, please address to Swikrity U Baskota, M.B.B.S., M.D., Director, Cytopathology Fellowship (Original letters do not need to be sent via regular mail if emailed directly from author or program coordinator); and letter of interest or intent.
Please submit all application materials to Damaris Rodriguez, Fellowship Program Coordinator at: pathfellowships@health.ucdavis.edu.
Additional Details
- Match Opens (NRMP Account Registration): February 3, 2027
- Rank Order List Opens: March 10, 2027
- Quota Change/Withdrawal Deadline: March 31, 2027
- Rank Order List Certification Deadline: April 14, 2027
- Match Day: April 28, 2027
- Training Begins: ~ July 1, 2028
For further and Up-to-date information, follow this link: Cytopathology Fellowship Match - American Society of Cytopathology
