McGovern Medical School opens applications for new master’s program

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The application period opened Oct. 9 for the 2027 fall semester for a new Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

The new master's program is a 24-month, full-time program designed to prepare students for careers as pathologists’ assistants. The curriculum combines foundational biomedical science, specialized didactic instruction, and comprehensive clinical training in anatomic pathology.

“Launching the Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant studies program represents an exciting expansion of how McGovern Medical School is preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said LaTanya Love, MD, dean of McGovern Medical School and H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professor in the Medical Sciences. “Pathologists’ assistants play an essential role in the diagnostic process, and this program will allow us to build on the expertise of our faculty and clinical partners to provide exceptional training while helping meet a growing workforce need. We are proud to welcome these students to McGovern Medical School and look forward to seeing the impact they will have on patient care throughout their careers.”

The education students receive includes training in gross examination, dissection, sampling of surgical specimens, performance of autopsies, and specimen photography.

“In the face of a nationwide pathologist shortage, the pathologists' assistant profession is growing and evolving, and we at UTHealth Houston want to be an active part of the solution,” said Amer Wahed, MD, chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Distinguished Chair in Molecular Pathology at the medical school. “What better place to train the next generation of pathologists’ assistants than here, at UTHealth Houston in the Texas Medical Center?”

Application requirements and process

Interested applicants can apply between Oct. 9 and Feb. 1, 2027, with classes beginning in August. Applications should be submitted online through the Centralized Application Service for Advancing Health Professionals and include:

• A resume or CV
• Official transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• A short essay of 200 words or less describing the role of a pathologists’ assistant

More information about the Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant program and application requirements can be found online. A virtual Q&A session is also scheduled for noon Nov. 11.