Curriculum

The three-year Hematology Oncology fellowship program at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine is designed to equip fellows with skills in research and the clinical practice of benign and malignant hematology, solid tumors, and bone marrow transplantation. During their rotations, fellows are exposed to a broad, diversified range of patient cases through intensive inpatient and outpatient experience under the close supervision of experienced specialists (Breast, Head and Neck, GU/GI, and Lung Cancers, Thrombosis, Hemoglinopathies, TTP).

Clinical training is conducted at Montefiore Medical Center, Jacobi Medical Center, and Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center. The hematology/oncology fellows' responsibilities include outpatient, inpatient and consultation services in oncology, hematology and hematologic malignancies. Fellows are required to complete 18 months clinical rotations to satisfy the American Board of Internal medicine (ABIM) requirements for subspecialty boards in hematology and oncology. The following is a typical rotation schedule of the first 18 months of clinical training for the hematology/oncology fellow:

Fellows fulfill 18 months of clinical rotations, with ample options to customize their individual training path in the second and third years under the guidance of their mentor. They participate in basic science (i.e. stem cell biology, molecular biology, and molecular causes of tumorogenesis in colon mucosa), and molecular translational studies, in addition to clinical hematology and oncology research or they may choose clinical electives.

Electives:

• Breast/GYN/Cytokine Service: Fellows dedicate a one-month period of time performing in-patient consultations and evaluating outpatients in the faculty practices of Dr. Joseph Sparano (Director, Breast Medical Oncology), Dr. Gary Goldberg (Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology). Fellows attend specialized conferences including multidisciplinary breast and gynecological oncology conferences.
• Gastrointestinal Oncology: Fellows devote one month to evaluating in-patient consultations and evaluating outpatients in the faculty practice of Dr. Andreas Kaubisch.
• Aerodigestive Oncology: Fellows spend a one-month period of time on the Thoracic Oncology service, directed by Dr. Roman Perez-Soler/Dr. Rasim Gucalp. Fellows also spend one afternoon with Dr. Steven Keller, Director of thoracic surgery to learn the surgical approach to aerodigestive cancers and one afternoon with Dr. Linda Haramati, Department of Radiology, to learn role of CT scans, MRI, and other radiological techniques in the management of aerodigestive malignancies. Fellows also evaluate in-patient consultations and outpatients in the faculty practice of Dr. Missak Haigentz (Director, Head/Neck Oncology Program). Head and Neck Service fellows attend specialized conferences, including a multidisciplinary head and neck conference directed by Dr. Richard Smith.
• Radiation Oncology Service: Fellows experience a one-month rotation evaluating in-patients and outpatients with a radiation oncology attending.
• Hematopathology: Fellows attend morphology sessions under the mentorship of Dr. Howard Ratech, Director of Hematopathology. This elective is combined with Radiation Oncology.
• Pediatric Oncology: Fellows have the opportunity to obtain specialized training in Pediatric Oncology under the direction of Dr. Richard Gorlick.
• Palliative Care: Fellows have the opportunity to obtain specialized training in palliative care, particularly symptom management in cancer patients under the direction of Dr. Sean O'Mahoney and a multi-disciplinary palliative care team. The palliative care program recently established a palliative care fellowship program.
• New Drug Development/Phase I Trials Program: Fellows spend one month in the phase I trial unit, learning the basic clinical pharmacology as it applies to cancer drugs and early clinical trials methodology. Fellows also obtain knowledge of the basics of antineoplastic drugs and their pharmacology, and have the opportunity to participate in development of novel drug studies.
• General Oncology: Fellows experience a one-month rotation in practice settings with general oncologist (Dr. Lakshmi Rajdev) and other subspecialty attendings (Dr. Haigentz, Dr. Perez-Soler, and Dr. Sparano) at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center/Montefiore Medical Center. Fellows have the opportunity to obtain the knowledge of management of a variety of malignancies, as well as provision of medical care and economic analysis of such care in this age of limited resources.
• Elective Rotation in Hematology: Fellows who wish to have an additional exposure to hematology dedicate one month to attending the established teaching conferences and being active participants with written work and presentations. They also attend the weekly research conferences where work in progress is reported. They then rotate through the service and the attending's private clinic sessions for a one-on-one Preceptorship.
• Transfusion Medicine: This time is dedicated to the assessment of transfusion preparation, administration, and complications. Fellows gain hands-on experience with apheresis and stem cell collection/storage. They may also attend the New York Blood Center transfusion course.