Transfusion Medicine Fellowship
The UT San Antonio offers a one-year Transfusion Medicine Fellowship that is fully accredited by the ACGME. The fellowship accepts one trainee per academic year with a structured curriculum and dedicated teaching staff. During training, the fellow receives training in immunohematology, histocompatibility, paternity testing, donor center supervision, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion therapy, hemostasis, flow cytometry, and molecular pathology. The training is based upon participation of daily activities, consultations, various elective experiences as well as didactic teaching. The primary teaching site is a tertiary care teaching hospital, University Hospital System (UHS), which is a 800+ bed teaching hospital that provides transfusion services to diverse adult and pediatric patient populations:
- Trauma (Level I trauma center)
- Solid organ transplant (liver, lung, kidney, pancreas)
- General surgery and Specialty surgery services
- Hematology & oncology
- High risk obstetrical program
- High risk neonatal program (NICU Level I-IV)
- General acute care and intensive care units
At UHS, annually, over 18,000 red cell units, 8,000 plasma units and 4,000 platelet doses are transfused. In addition, Transfusion medicine oversees the therapeutic apheresis program, where over 400 therapeutic apheresis procedures and red cell exchanges are performed annually for various diseases. The hospital based donor services collects whole blood and apheresis-based allogeneic blood products from over 5,000 donors annually. A fellowship-affiliated hospital located across the street from the primary site (Multispecialty and Research Hospital) is a center for bone marrow transplantation. Exposure to the operations of a larger scale donor center, donor infectious disease testing and allogeneic tissue is provided at the subsidiaries of BioBridge Global, which is located 5 miles from the primary site.
Requirements: ACGME accredited residency completion with Board eligibility or certification in clinical pathology, internal medicine, pediatrics or other related fields.
Number of positions: One per academic year
Recruitment Status:
- Applications are accepted approximately 21-33 months in advance of the training year
- Interviews will generally be offered to candidates in September – early November the calendar year prior to start date of training year (Example: September 2026 for academic year staring July 2028)
- Positions are generally offered within 1 week or less of completed interview
- If there are unfilled positions, applications are accepted until December 1st, 7 months in advance of the start date (Example: Dec 1, 2026 application deadline for start date of July 2027)
- Candidates should inquire with Program Coordinator for available positions
- Please contact Program Coordinator for information on required application materials
Facilities: University Hospital, South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, & Multispecialty and Research Hospital
Stipends: Commensurate with level of training
Information on Living in San Antonio
Current Transfusion Medicine Fellows:
Regina Tirbeni, MD Tirbeni@uthscsa.edu
Medical School: UTMB Galveston
Hometown: Grand Prairie, Texas
Why Pathology?: I was drawn to pathology because it is a broad field of medicine that requires knowledge of all organ systems down to a microscopic level. I like that there are many areas that you can choose from to subspecialize in. It leaves a lot of possibilities in terms of a career and even a lot of flexibility.
Why did you choose UT San Antonio?: I chose UT San Antonio’s pathology program because of its warm and welcoming environment. I could tell that they really encourage and believe in their residents. I also like how well-structured the residency program is.
What do you like about living in San Antonio?: I like the history and culture of San Antonio. There is so much to do. It’s a very exciting and fun place to be.
Matthew Pokorney Pokorneym@uthscsa.edu
Medical School: UTMB Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Why Pathology? One thing I really love about pathology is that we are able to provide answers to important clinical questions that guide treatment decisions. Pathology is foundational to medicine and the work we do impacts every patient in some way. I also like the fact that it is very objective, full of surprises, and humbling. Always something new to learn! Why did you choose UT Health San Antonio? I completed my undergraduate training through UT Health in the Medical Laboratory Science program and worked at both the VA and University Hospital after graduating. The work environment was always collegial both at UT Health and the affiliated hospitals. When given the opportunity to complete transfusion medicine fellowship, I knew this was where I belonged. What do you enjoy about living in San Antonio? One thing I love about San Antonio is that there is always something to do. Whether enjoying random events that take place downtown or enjoying nature at one of our parks, there is never a dull moment. Most importantly though are all of the amazing people I have met since living here.
Applications
Send inquiries to:
John Daniels, J.D., D.O.
Director of Transfusion Medicine
Department of Pathology
UT San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
Contact:
Allyssa Metz
GME Program Coordinator
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
UT San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive MC 7750
San Antonio, TX 78229
Voice: 210-567-4115
Email: Metza@uthscsa.edu