Message From Vice Chair for Education – Suzanne Z. Powell, MD

Our residency program is accredited by the ACGME for 20 trainee positions, with a rotating approval for 2 additional positions each year, and we usually recruit 5 - 6 trainees annually. We have 13 fellowships, 12 that are accredited by the ACGME and the 13th, in Clinical Chemistry, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry. Our most recent fellowship is in Liver and GI and recruitment is underway for the next academic year!

Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with Texas A&M College of Medicine and serves as a training site for MS3 and MS4 medical students. In addition, Houston Methodist Hospital houses a medical school program, also with Texas A&M, in Engineering Medicine. The medical students from both programs may rotate in our department, and our trainees have the opportunity to interact with and teach these students.

Recruitment is a special time for us, and we look forward to meeting you! U.S. News & World Report has named Houston Methodist Hospital the Best Hospital in Texas for 15 years in a row and recognized us as a nationally ranked Honor Roll hospital 10 times.

Our clinical pathology services (blood banking/transfusion medicine, hematopathology, microbiology, and clinical laboratory services, including molecular diagnostics) and anatomic pathology services (surgical pathology and subspecialties, cytopathology and autopsy service) are second to none. The residency program provides two daily conferences, at 8 am and noon. Our Friday morning didactic anatomic pathology conference is broadcast throughout the Texas Medical Center and to another institution outside of the state of Texas. Our Monday morning unknown conference can be viewed digitally through RecutClub.com. We welcome your participation and review of our unknown cases!

Our program offers a Resident Research Track that is tailored to each candidate’s skills, interests, and expertise. An additional application form (beyond ERAS) is required.

The residency program is structured to meet the needs of each individual in the context of requirements set by the ACGME for training and the American Board of Pathology for certification. Anatomic and Clinical Pathology rotations are mixed throughout the years of training, and interested candidates may enter training in AP/CP, AP/NP, AP-only, or CP-only tracks. Interest in the CP-only track should be declared, as there is a separate matching program for that track. The other options are contained in the general match. Outside required rotations are at the Harris County Institute for Forensic Sciences, and pediatric focused rotations at Texas Children’s Hospital. These rotations include surgical pediatric pathology, hematopathology, and blood banking/transfusion medicine and coagulation. Our upper-level residents (at the PGY3 and PGY4 levels) rotate at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Autopsy and Surgical Pathology.

The program is structured to develop graduated responsibility in all areas of Pathology. Residents participate in leadership and management activities in the department, and are critical elements in the preparation for CAP Accreditation of the laboratories. A myriad of other elective opportunities are available.

We create a supportive educational setting that provides for individual growth and development for all. Our residents are involved in hospital committees, GME committees, and volunteer activities sponsored by the hospital system and we encourage their participation in committee activities in organized pathology when possible. We look forward to hearing from you, and we welcome any questions you may have regarding any of our programs.

Our programs offer research opportunities that include departmental Micro-Grant Proposals that are reviewed several times each year and utilization of the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI), a major biomedical research center supporting clinical and translational research, and our own Pathology Research Core within the HMRI. Residents and fellows are encouraged to participate in research collaborations with faculty. Our residents and fellows receive financial support for presenting their work at region and national meetings and in publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions about our program.

Vice Chair for Education,

Dr. Suzanne Z. Powell

Message From Chief Resident – Santos Acosta Martinez, MD

What makes Houston Methodist such a rewarding place to train is the combination of exceptional clinical exposure and an outstanding culture of collegiality.

Our residents see a high volume of cases across both anatomic and clinical pathology, including challenging and complex pathology that pushes you to think critically and continually expand your knowledge. The breadth of cases and subspecialty expertise here has given me the confidence to approach increasingly difficult diagnostic problems while developing a strong foundation for whatever career path comes next.

When choosing a residency program, the quality of the people is just as important as the quality of training. I have been fortunate to learn from faculty who are approachable, invested in resident wellness and genuinely excited to teach. Our residents work closely together and consistently support one another, creating an environment that is both collaborative and enjoyable. That sense of camaraderie makes a demanding residency feel much more manageable and makes coming to work each day something I look forward to!

As chief resident, I am grateful for the opportunity to represent a program that combines rigorous training with a strong sense of community. Houston Methodist has given me the clinical experience, mentorship and relationships that have shaped my growth as a pathologist, and I am proud to call it home for my residency training.

Santos Acosta Martinez, MD
Chief Resident, PGY-3
saacostamartinez@houstonmethodist.org

Message From Chief Resident – Chris Moroz, MD

Choosing a residency program is one of the most important decisions in a physician’s training. I was looking for a place that would challenge me academically while also supporting my personal and professional growth, and at Houston Methodist I found exactly that.

Our program provides excellent training in both anatomic and clinical pathology, with exposure to a broad spectrum of cases ranging from common diagnoses to rare and complex entities. Located in the Texas Medical Center, Houston Methodist offers a unique environment with high case volumes, multidisciplinary collaboration and faculty who are leaders in their subspecialties. Just as important is the program’s culture of curiosity, mentorship and teamwork. As chief resident, I have seen firsthand how supportive faculty and colleagues promote both academic development and confidence in clinical decision-making. This strong foundation has also created excellent opportunities for fellowship training and future career development.

Outside of the hospital, Houston has been a wonderful place to live during residency. You will never run out of great food to try, cultural events to attend and fun things to enjoy outside of work. Looking back, choosing Houston Methodist was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I am grateful for the training and relationships that continue to shape my career.

Christopher Moroz, MD
Chief Resident, PGY-4
cmoroz@houstonmethodist.org

Message From Chief Fellow – Dawn Roselio Imperio, MD

While applying to pathology residency, I had two goals: come back to Texas and be a part of the best training program in Texas. I accomplished both at Houston Methodist. Not only have I received invaluable pathology training with exposure to a wide range of surgical specimen types and access to next door institutions in the Texas Medical Center, but I have been extensively involved with the laboratory and clinicians during clinical pathology rotations. And, best of all, I have made lifelong friends and connections with co-residents and faculty.

As a previous resident and now a cytopathology and chief fellow, I strongly believe the culture at Houston Methodist contributed to my success. The faculty are very supportive of our education and career goals, as well as with our lives outside of the hospital. Our wonderful coordinators are so helpful with everything — from the first day of onboarding to our last day of training and completing our exit tasks, and everything in between!

The relationships among the residents make for an encouraging and fun learning environment. In speaking with previous trainees, now successful pathologists, who have come through our program, I’ve gathered the same message: Houston Methodist will prepare you for anything. Although I can only imagine what my training at a different program would be, I am very thankful for my experience at Houston Methodist.

Dawn Roselio Imperio, MD
Chief Fellow, PGY-5
dcroselio@houstonmethodist.org

How to Apply

For residency applications: Graduates of Texas Medical Board (TMB)-approved medical schools, including international schools, seeking their first postdoctoral appointment are selected through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). All candidates must be eligible for a TMB physician-in-training permit. Applications will be accepted via ERAS through December 31st of the previous academic year, and all necessary documentation must be received by that date.

ERAS link for qualified applicants: www.aamc.org

For fellowship applications: Fellowship candidates may apply directly with the Department. Below are our fellowship applications available for download. For fellowship candidates, you are welcome to use either one of the application forms.

• Application for Non-Match, Transfer Applicant, or Fellowship Applicant (.pdf)
• Standardized Application for Pathology Fellowships (.pdf) 

Drug and Tobacco Screening

Matched Residents/Fellows seekers will be tested for nicotine and drug usage during the post-offer physical.

If a resident/fellow tests positive for nicotine use, including nicotine gum and patches, the offer will be rescinded, and individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in a free Houston Methodist-provided tobacco cessation program. Residents/fellows wishing to reapply after testing positive for nicotine may do so 90 days after the date the initial offer was rescinded.

If the resident/fellow tests positive for drug use, the offer will be rescinded. Residents/fellows wishing to reapply after the drug screening is positive may do so one year after the date the initial offer was rescinded.

Background Check

Prior to employment start date, job seekers must complete a criminal background check.

Houston Methodist trainees have completed fellowships in hematopathology, blood banking/transfusion medicine, HLA, cytology, surgical pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, genitourinary pathology, neuropathology, molecular genetic pathology, dermatopathology, bone and soft tissue pathology, oncologic surgical pathology, ophthalmic pathology, and pediatric pathology at the following institutions:

• Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles
• Emory University
• Houston Methodist Hospital
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City
• Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City
• Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• University of Texas at Houston
• University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
• Washington University

Houston Methodist trainees are now practicing in the following locations:

• Emory University
• Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
• Henry Ford Medical Center
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Northshore LIJ/Hofstra Health System
• Northwestern University, Chicago
• Temple University
• Ohio State University
• Tulane University
• Université de Montréal
• University of Arkansas
• University of California, Davis
• University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville
• University of Kentucky
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio
• Vanderbilt University
• Austin (private practice)
• Dallas (private practice)
• Houston (private practice)
• Phoenix (private practice)
• San Antonio (private practice)