Houston Methodist Hospital

Program Co-Director	Program Co-Director	Program Admin
Roger L. Bertholf, PhD, DABCC, FADLM	Xin Yi, PhD, DABCC, FADLM	Ramona (Mona) Abrego
Medical Director of Clinical Chemistry | Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine	Co-Director of Clinical Chemistry | Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute	Program Coordinator
rlbertholf@houstonmethodist.org	xyi@houstonmethodist.org	RAbrego@houstonmethodist.org
(713) 441-3294	(713) 441-4288	(713) 441-9027

About the Program

One two-year fellowship slot is available every two academic years. The first year of the program is an introduction to and rotation through the various laboratories providing clinical services to the hospital and outpatient center. These laboratories include the core laboratory, diagnostic immunology, point-of-care testing, and satellite laboratories. Elective rotations in selected laboratory areas of interest will also be provided. Major equipment in these laboratories includes the Roche 8100 automated chemistry system, Abbott Architect, Sebia capillary electrophoresis system, and multiple LC/MS-MS instruments. The fellow will study proper testing procedures (specimen collection and processing), methodology, and clinical correlation of testing. Small research projects including, but not limited to, method development and clinical case studies will also be assigned.

The second year will focus on management, on-call duty, and self-initiated research approved by the program director. During this time, the fellow will gradually assume greater responsibilities in the clinical service laboratories. The fellow will review and address laboratory management and patient care problems. The fellow is expected to obtain board certification in clinical chemistry by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) by the end of the fellowship.

Program Requirements

To be considered for the program, prospective fellows must have:

1. Doctoral or medical degree(s) in clinical chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, medicine, molecular biology, toxicology, pharmacology, physiology, or genetics from an accredited university.
2. Minimum of 30 semester hours (undergraduate or graduate level) of coursework in biochemistry or chemistry to qualify for certification by the ABCC.
   • If a candidate’s academic credentials are obtained outside the United States, they must be deemed equivalent by an appropriate education evaluation agency.

Previous experience in clinical chemistry is not required but strong interests in laboratory medicine and research is expected.

To Apply

Applications are accepted at any time, but no applicants will be formally interviewed until after September 1st of the year prior to beginning the fellowship in July.

The application packet must include:

1. Completed application form
2. Letter of interest; submitted to the program coordinator, Ramona Abrego
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Copies of credentials
5. Transcripts (undergraduate & graduate)
6. Three letters of reference

Training Level

Postdoctoral Training Level
Number of positions available per year: 1 every other year
Duration of program: 2 years
Approximate annual salary or stipend: PGY Scale
Source of funding: Departmental Funds
Current number of trainees: 1
Number of past graduates: 6

Faculty

David Bernard, MD, PhD	Chemistry, Hematology, Informatics, Management
Roger L. Bertholf, PhD, DABCC	General Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology
Paul Christensen, MD	Clinical Chemistry, Informatics
Sridevi Devaraj, PhD, DABCC	Pediatric Clinical Chemistry
Qing H. Meng, MD, PhD, DABCC	Clinical Chemistry
Tara Miller, MD	Hematopathology
Randall Olsen, MD, PhD	Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics
Jessica Thomas, MD	Molecular Diagnostics
Xin Yi, PhD, DABCC	General Clinical Chemistry, Immunodiagnostics, Mass Spectrometry
Arthur Zieske, MD	Hematology, Urinalysis