Message from Program Director
Westchester Medical Center is a 652-bed academic hospital in Valhalla, NY. It serves as a regional hub of tertiary and quaternary care for a distinct and diverse community of more than 2.4 million people in the Hudson Valley. Our residency is one of the long-standing training programs for Pathology in the United States.
Our Pathology Residency Program provides a unique educational experience and affords training that prepares our residents for either an academic- or a community-based career pathway. We are affiliated with New York Medical College. NYMC offers a variety of medical, dental and graduate degree programs in Life and Laboratory sciences. This affiliation affords access to robust opportunities for teaching, mentorship and professional development.
What is new? In order to appeal to a newer generation of learners, our program has invested in significant program improvements, including the acquisition of current electronic educational resources, and whole slide images obtained from scanning our slides utilized in our routine conferences and curriculum.
We are expanding our curriculum in molecular pathology and validating a number of new assays in molecular genetic pathology. Residents have the opportunity to participate in these validations and incorporate molecular genetics in their day-to-day learning.
Motivated by our junior residents, we are in the process of starting a data and AI Laboratory, aligning this initiative with changing workflow in many areas. Residents have the opportunity to utilize the new tools available, experiment with these newer technologies and expand their learning horizons. Our residents participate in research projects, quality improvement and patient safety projects and journal clubs.
Fouzia A. Shakil, MD, PhD
Program Director, Westchester Medical Center Pathology Residency
Associate Professor of Pathology
Attending Pathologist (Surgical Pathology and Hematopathology)
Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Program Overview
The Pathology Residency at WMC was accredited in 1951 by the ACGME. Our program is accredited for 12 training positions in the combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (4 year AP/CP Track), Anatomic Pathology (3 year AP Only Track) or Clinical Pathology (3 year CP Only Track). The combined training track integrates both anatomical and clinical pathologic training throughout all four years. Anatomic pathology training includes surgical pathology, autopsy pathology, hematopathology, renal pathology, neuropathology, cytopathology, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and forensic pathology. Clinical pathology encompasses clinical chemistry, hematology, transfusion medicine, transplant immunology, flow cytometry, medical microbiology, immunology, serology, laboratory management and informatics.
All pathology residents participate in yearly research projects. The projects often lead to poster and platform presentations at national conferences, which residents are encouraged to attend. Expenses related to such conferences are reimbursed. For residents who wish to gain additional experience in pathology research, the Valhalla campus and the Cancer Research Institute offer the opportunity to participate in a number of ongoing projects under the direction of a departmental faculty member. The residents have full access to the library facilities of New York Medical College and its online subscriptions. They attend monthly meetings of New York Pathological Society and Westchester Pathology Society in addition to daily departmental conferences and certain clinical conferences. The chief residents and qualified senior residents may receive appointments as Instructors in the Medical College and participate in the education of sophomore medical students.
How to Apply
We will accept four residents for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please submit applications through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System) – click here.
We review all applications from a holistic point of view taking into account scores, experiences, personal interests, skills, number of publications, research, etc. Qualified applicants will be identified to be interviewed. We will be conducting virtual interviews via Thalamus for 2025-2026 recruitment season.
Application Requirements
- Personal statements
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
- Medical School Transcript
- MSPE (Medical School Performance Evaluation) or Dean’s letter
- USMLE 1, USMLE 2 Scores, USMLE 3 (preferable)
- ECFMG (Electronic Certificate for Foreign Medical Graduates), if applicable
Contact Us
Macy Pavilion, 1416│100 Woods Road Valhalla, NY 10595
(O) 914.493.5289 │(F) 914.493.574
Jennifer Trinidad
Program Manager
Current Residents
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Mala Jain, MD – Government Medical College Surat
Mala completed her MD in Pathology at Government Medical College Surat, India, after attending medical school at Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, India. She also had the opportunity to conduct research at Memorial Sloan Kettering before joining Westchester Medical Center. Mala’s primary areas of interest include gastrointestinal pathology, gynecological pathology, and molecular pathology. Outside of medicine, she enjoys quilling art and sketching, blending creativity with her scientific passions.
- Harjot Mann, DO – Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Harjot graduated from Wayne State University with a BS in Biochemistry and a Masters in Basic Medical Sciences. He earned his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He enjoys playing chess and video games in his free time.
- Elena Metrikova, MD – First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov
Elena earned her medical degree from First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov in Russia. She then worked as a pediatrician in Moscow before joining Boston University for research on vascular pathologies associated with diseases such as cancer and kidney failure. In her free time, Elena enjoys figure skating, hiking and playing the piano.
- Haiyan Qiu, MD, PhD – Qingdao University College of Medical Science
Haiyan earned her medical degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China before undertaking postdoctoral training at the Pathology Department of UCSF. Following this, she contributed to several translational projects within therapeutic companies and participated in multiple pathology observerships. Her journey eventually led her to WMC, where she continues to pursue her passion for pathology. Dr. Qiu demonstrates a keen interest in both Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology. During her free time, she indulges in cooking, watching movies, parenting, and community volunteering.
- Tasleem Banu, MD – Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences
Tasleem did a home country residency in pathology from Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, India. She worked as a Specialist Clinical Pathologist in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and as an Assistant Professor at Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India before joining residency. She is interested in Oncopathology and molecular pathology.
- Manel Bouchama, MD – University of Algiers Faculty of Medical Science- Algiers-Algeria
Manel earned her medical degree from the University of Algiers Faculty of Medical Science in Algiers, Algeria, where she laid the foundation for her career in healthcare. Following her graduation, Manel completed a residency training in medical oncology in Algeria. Later she joined the Toledo Clinic Cancer Center, OH, as a Clinical Research Coordinator, where she contributed significantly to studies focused on molecular biology and liquid biopsy, emphasizing precision medicine and early cancer detection. She enjoys walking in trails, spending time with family and friends and travelling the world.
- Manisha Regmi, MD – California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine
Manisha earned her medical and M.D degree in pathology from Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS), Nepal. Following this, she worked as a Lecturer in Pathology in various medical colleges back home, guiding undergraduates and post-graduates in the field of pathology. Later, her dream of pursuing a career in Pathology in the United States led her to Westchester Medical Center. She has a keen interest in the field of Oncopathology and Hematopathology. In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature and hiking.
- Sayed Shahabuddin Hoseini, MD, PhD – Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Shahab graduated from Tehran University of Medical Sciences with an MD, and received his PhD in Molecular medicine from the Hannover Medical School in Germany. He has published in the areas of immunology and immunotherapy.
- Kuaybe Karakus Gulen, MD – Uludag Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Turkey
Kuaybe completed her residency in anatomic pathology in Istanbul. She has a strong passion for women’s health and is currently pursuing a fellowship in Women’s Health Pathology. Outside of her professional interests, Kuaybe enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, swimming, and traveling. She also finds joy in reading and expressing her creativity through painting.
- Garrett Smith, MD, PhD – University of Florida College of Medicine, USA
Garrett graduated from Davidson College with a BS in neuroscience, and received his MD and a PHD in neuroscience from the University of Florida. He has published in fields of neuroplasticity, nerve agent countermeasures, neuroscience of aging, and neuroradiology.
Past Residents
- Mohamed Elnagdy, MBBC – University of Cairo, Faculty of Medicine, Egypt, Fellowship: Neuropathology Fellowship, MD Anderson, Houston, TX
- Sravanthi Lavu, MBBS – Andhra Medical College, India, Fellowship: Molecular Fellowship, MD Anderson, Houston, TX
- Lakshmisree Akhila Vemulakonda, MBBS – Katuri Medical College, Guntur, India, Fellowship: Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Soumya Mikkilineni, MD – Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, India, Hematopathology Fellowship in Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, Attending, University of Missouri
- Mozibur Rahman, MD, MPH, PhD – Dhaka Medical College, Fellowship: Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship, Northwell Health, NY
- Helena Tomac Pavosevic, MD – University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia, Fellowship: Gastrointestinal and General Surgical Pathology, Columbia University, NY
- Sidra Zaheer, MD – Dow Medical College, Pakistan, Fellowship: Hematopathology Fellowship, New York University, NY, Molecular Pathology Fellowship, Columbia University, NY
- Haiyan Li, MD – Peking University Health Science Center, China, Fellowship: Oncologic Surgical Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
- Marcelo Cassini, MD, PhD, Chief Resident 2020-2021 – Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Fellowship: Cardio-Pulmonary Pathology at NYU (New York University), Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology at The Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont
- Kemin Xu, MD, PhD – Jiangxi Medical College JiangXi, China, Fellowship: Hematopathology, New York University (NYU), Fellowship: Molecular Genetics, Cornell University
- Qiqi Ye, MD, PhD, Chief Resident 2020-202 – Fudan University, China, Fellowship: Breast Pathology, MD Anderson, Houston, TX
- Rugved Pattarkine, MD, Chief Resident 2019-2020 – Smolensk state medical academy, Smolensk, Russia, Fellowship: Transfusion Medicine, David Geffen School of medicine at UCLA (University of California Los Angeles)
- Sarwat Gilani, MD, Chief Resident 2019-2020 – Foundation University Medical College (FUMC)
- Dana Marie Razzano, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine
- Shamima Sultana, MD, PhD – Dhaka National Medical College & Hospital
- Alexandra Budhai, MD – Ross University School of Medicine
- Christian Salib, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine
- Sina Zomorrodian, DO – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Taliya Farooq, MBBS – Allama Iqbal Medical College
- Faisal Saeed, MBBS – King Edward Medical University
- Galam Khan, MD – Sher-E-Bangla Medical College
- Eric Vail, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine, Fellowship: Molecular Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Molecular Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Esther Yoon, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine, Fellowship: Women’s Pathology, NYU Langone Health
- Sabina Hajiyeva, MD – Azerbaijan State Medical University
- Faisal Huq Ronny, MD – Dhaka Medical College, Fellowship: Hematopathology, NYU Langone Health
- Pallavi Khattar, MD – Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, Fellowship: Hematopathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Surgical Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Maheen Hossain, MD – University of Dhaka, Fellowship: Surgical Pathology – Long Island Jewish Medical Center (2015)
- Boaz Kurtis, MD – Sackler School of Medicine, Fellowship: Molecular Genetic Pathology – Columbia University (2015), Dermatopathology – Cockerell University (2016)
- Kashan Khalid, MD – Khyber Medical College, Fellowship: Surgical Pathology – Staten Island University (2015)
- Xiaoyong Zheng, MD – Third Military Medical University
Our Clinical Locations
Westchester Medical Center
Westchester Medical Center shares its leafy campus with New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY, approximately 20 miles north of New York City. It is a Level 1 Trauma and Burn Center and a major hub for specialized care referrals. Here, we take care of patients from a very large catchment area stretching from the northern border of New York City to the Catskill Mountains.
Westchester Medical Center has a pediatric hospital (Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital) with eight dedicated pediatric operating rooms as well as many other non-operating room anesthetizing sites, including MRI, radiation and nuclear medicine, and endoscopy. The Ambulatory Care Pavilion, which opened in July 2019, added many anesthetizing locations, both OR and Non-OR.
Construction is underway on the 128-bed state-of-the-art Critical Care Tower, a $220 million project that when completed will span 162,000 square feet over five floors. Our caseload includes a full profile of cardiac, interventional pulmonary and thoracic, complex orthopedic, neurosurgical and solid organ transplant interventions, to name the busiest services. We have a large heart failure and ECMO referral program. Trauma orthopedics and surgery provide our residents a great variety of “open” cases. Residents participate in minimally invasive and robotic interventions in gynecologic-oncology, urology, colorectal, endocrine and thoracic surgery, as well as complex cardiac and neurological endovascular interventions, both pediatric and adult. The Acute and Chronic Pain Management care rotations cover both the pediatric and adult inpatients and outpatients, including complex consultations for patients in the Burn ICU.