pathadvantage | 08/20/2025At PathAdvantage, accurate diagnosis is the foundation of exceptional care— and pathologist Erika Fong, M.D., plays a critical role in making that possible.
Dr. Fong earned her medical doctorate from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, School of Medicine with honors. After medical school, she relocated to Houston where she undertook residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Baylor College of Medicine serving as Chief Resident. Subsequently, Dr. Fong completed a Fellowship in Surgical Pathology at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
After completing her fellowship, she worked in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She subsequently joined Caris Life Sciences and worked in the area of molecular oncology — which specialized in performing molecular profiling of solid tumors for the personalized treatment of cancer — before joining PathAdvantage in 2013. Dr. Fong is board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology and specializes in the pathology of the endometrium.
Our interview below gives a glimpse of Dr. Fong’s impressive life behind the scenes, beyond her invaluable expertise behind the microscope.
PathAdvantage: Where are you from?
Erika Fong, M.D.: I was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
PA: What inspired you to pursue this career?
EF: Growing up, I considered many different career paths—from teaching to music to engineering. However, it wasn’t until I took biology in high school that my passion for medicine truly emerged. I was fascinated by how the human body functions.
PA: Did you always want to practice Pathology?
EF: My interest in pathology specifically developed during medical school when I took histology and pathology courses. I especially enjoyed looking under the microscope and studying diseases at the cellular level.
PA: What is your favorite aspect of being a pathologist?
EF: My favorite part of being a pathologist is supporting my fellow clinicians by providing accurate diagnoses that help guide patient care. It’s incredibly rewarding to play a role in uncovering the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms or detecting diseases at an early stage.
PA: Hardest part?
EF: The hardest part is that pathology often operates behind the scenes, and many patients are unaware of the vital role we play in their diagnosis and treatment.
PA: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
EF: I feel a deep sense of pride and fulfillment every time I help a clinician diagnose a patient and guide their treatment plan. Knowing that my work makes a difference in patient care is incredibly rewarding.
PA: What is a book you think everyone should read?
EF: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
PA: What is an interesting fact about you?
EF: My grandfather immigrated from China to Mexico, which sometimes surprises people when they hear my last name. Fong is actually my family name, and it often sparks curiosity about my heritage.
PA: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
EF: I enjoy photography, watercolor painting, Broadway shows, and traveling.