Residency Applicant Information

Train with UTMB Pathology

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Department of Pathology offers a comprehensive, supportive, and academically rigorous residency experience designed to prepare future leaders in pathology. For the 2027-2028 academic year, our program will fill six (6) residency positions through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

Eligibility Requirements

Medical school seniors and all other applicants receive residency appointments through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Graduate of an accredited medical school in the United States or Canada, or
• Graduate of a foreign medical school with ECFMG certification
• Submit all PGY-1 applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
• Have successfully passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 or COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2, preferably on the first attempt
• International medical graduates are encouraged to have prior U.S. clinical experience
• Applicants who graduated from medical school more than five years ago will be considered only under exceptional circumstances
• Non-U.S. citizens must meet all requirements for United States J-1 visa eligibility

Selection Process

UTMB Pathology receives approximately 700 applications annually from highly qualified candidates nationwide and abroad.

From this applicant pool, approximately 70-80 candidates are selected for interviews. Interviews are conducted virtually from late October through mid-January, providing applicants with the opportunity to meet faculty members, program leadership, and current residents.

Following the interview season, the Residency Admissions Committee convenes in February to conduct a comprehensive review of all interviewed applicants and determine the program's final rank order list for submission to the National Residency Matching Program.

Apply Through ERAS

All applications for PGY-1 positions must be submitted through the ERAS system. We encourage interested applicants to review eligibility requirements carefully and submit a complete application for consideration.

Positions Available (2027-2028): 6
Application Service: ERAS
Match Program: NRMP
Applications Received Annually: ~700
Interview Invitations: 70-80 Applicants
Interview Season: Late October to Mid-January

We look forward to reviewing your application and learning more about your interest in joining the UTMB Pathology Residency Program.

Welcome from the 2026-2027 Chief Residents

Thank you for your interest in the UTMB Pathology Residency Program!
Thank you for your interest in the UTMB Pathology Residency Program!As the chief residents for the 2026–2027 academic year, we wanted to share a little about why we love our program and why we think UTMB is such a great place to train in pathology.

Supportive Work Culture & Safe Learning Environment
One of the things we appreciate most about UTMB is the supportive and collaborative culture. Residency is challenging, but here you are surrounded by people who genuinely want you to learn and succeed. Our faculty are approachable, invested in teaching, and always willing to talk through a case or answer questions. Our pathologists’ assistants and lab staff are also a huge part of our education and are incredibly helpful as we learn the day-to-day flow of pathology. Your co-residents and fellows are another major strength of the program. Everyone remembers what it feels like to be new, and people are very willing to help each other out. It is a place where you can ask questions, make mistakes, and grow without feeling like you have to know everything on day one.

Opportunities for Professional Growth
UTMB gives residents a lot of opportunities to grow into the kind of pathologist they want to become. Our program has a strong focus on Diagnostic Management Teams, or DMTs, which teach us to think beyond the slide and connect the pathology findings with the clinical and radiologic picture. This helps build both diagnostic skills and communication skills, especially when discussing cases with clinical teams. Research is not required, but it is definitely encouraged, and there are plenty of ways to get involved. Residents publish case reports, work with clinical departments, present at meetings, and participate in translational research. There are also many opportunities to teach, whether through medical student education, resident lectures, or simply helping each other during sign-out and conferences.

Diversity
Our residency includes U.S. medical graduates, both MD and DO, as well as international medical graduates from many different backgrounds. Our faculty are also very diverse. This makes the program feel welcoming and gives us the chance to learn from people with different training experiences, cultures, and perspectives.

Flexibility in Training
UTMB offers several training tracks, including AP/CP, AP-only, CP-only, and physician-scientist pathways. There is also elective time built into training, depending on your track, which gives residents the chance to explore their interests and tailor their experience.

Residents also have the opportunity to rotate at institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Center. Our program leadership is open to feedback and continues to make changes based on resident input, which is something we really value.

A strong track record
UTMB residents regularly present at state and national meetings, publish scholarly work, and match into excellent fellowships. Recent fellowship matches have included places such as MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, the NIH, Johns Hopkins, and Yale University.

Many residents also choose to stay at UTMB for fellowship or later join the faculty, which says a lot about the training environment and the relationships built here.

Digital pathology
Another exciting part of training at UTMB is our use of digital pathology. All in-house surgical pathology and autopsy slides are reviewed digitally, so we are truly training in a digital workflow. This makes it easier to review prior cases, share slides for teaching, capture images, and work more efficiently with the clinical information available in EPIC. We currently use Philips whole-slide imaging integrated into EPIC, which allows us to access clinical history, imaging, reports, gross photos, and scanned slides in one place.

Unique Patient Population & Location
UTMB serves a broad and unique patient population, including both the general population and patients from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. This gives residents exposure to a wide variety of pathology and clinical scenarios. We are also located on Galveston Island, less than an hour from Houston. Living here gives you the benefits of being near a major city while also enjoying coastal life, beaches, wildlife, water activities, and more affordable housing. Galveston is also a major cruise port, so we see patients from many different places. Although UTMB has multiple campuses, most of our residency training takes place on the Galveston campus.

These are just a few of the reasons we love our program. We hope you consider the UTMB Pathology Residency Program for Match 2026, and we are excited to meet you during the interview season.

Mashal & Dmitrii