Established in 1995, the University of Arizona College of Medicine Post-Sophomore Fellowship (PSF) Program provides an intensive, year-long educational experience for medical students seeking to deepen their understanding of the mechanisms of human disease before beginning their clinical training. The program is currently directed by Dr. Erika Bracamonte. To date, the Department of Pathology has mentored more than 50 Post-Sophomore Fellows.

The fellowship is designed for enrolled University of Arizona College of Medicine students who have completed their preclinical curriculum and are preparing to enter their clinical years. Applicants must have successfully completed their first 1½ years of medical school and must pass the USMLE Step 1 examination before beginning the fellowship.

During this intensive year, fellows gain a comprehensive understanding of both anatomic and clinical pathology through hands-on clinical experience, structured rotations, research opportunities, and close mentorship from pathology faculty and residents. The program is intended for students who want to challenge themselves academically, maximize their medical school experience, and develop a deeper appreciation for how pathology informs diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

Post-Sophomore Fellows participate in rotations throughout the Department of Pathology alongside pathology residents. Experiences include surgical pathology, hospital-based and forensic autopsy, hematopathology, clinical pathology, and dedicated research and elective time. Fellows also have abundant opportunities to work closely with faculty and residents, attend and participate in multidisciplinary conferences, and explore the many career opportunities available within pathology and related fields.

By the end of the fellowship year, each fellow will have gained in-depth exposure to the practice of anatomic and clinical pathology and a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying human disease. The experience also provides fellows with an opportunity to refine their career goals and develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them throughout their medical careers.

Approximately one-third of our Post-Sophomore Fellowship graduates have gone on to pursue careers in pathology. All graduates have successfully matched into competitive residency and fellowship programs across a broad range of medical specialties and subspecialties. Students who complete the fellowship through the Department of Pathology graduate with Distinction in Pathology.

The Department of Pathology provides a stipend to each fellow, and fellows maintain full-time student status through the University of Arizona College of Medicine throughout the fellowship year. Upon completion of the program, Post-Sophomore Fellows matriculate back into the medical school curriculum and begin their clinical clerkships.

Students interested in learning more about the University of Arizona Post-Sophomore Fellowship Program are encouraged to contact Dr. Erika Bracamonte at erikab@pathology.arizona.edu.

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