Retiring from medicine: Knowing when it's time to get out - The DO

Hematology And Medical Oncology Fellowship

The Saint Louis University Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology offers a three-year subspecialty residency that places an emphasis on inpatient and outpatient care, as well as developing the teaching and research skills of our trainees.

Launch SlideshowHematology Oncology Fellows at a gathering

The mission of Saint Louis University's Hematology & Medical Oncology Fellowship program is to train a new generation of hematologists and oncologists in cutting-edge, research-based, patient-centered care.

We aim to provide mentorship and career-oriented guidance to ensure that our trainees are prepared to pursue careers in academia, research, or community practice. We strive to produce fellows who are confident in their practice and well-prepared for ABIM: Hematology and Oncology board certification. We aspire to cultivate a culture of well-being, collegiality, and positivity to promote academic pursuit.

This broad-based educational opportunity explores all aspects of solid tumors and malignant and nonmalignant hematologic disorders, as well as bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplantation.

Program Overview Requirements

Entrance into the program requires three years of internal medicine residency training at a United States institution with resulting board eligibility in internal medicine. After completing the program, trainees are board eligible in both hematology and medical oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Hematology and Medical Oncology Subspecialty Residency Program Hematology and Medical Oncology Training

First-year trainees practice inpatient care and consult skills, and see patients in the outpatient clinic. During their second year, trainees rotate through subspecialty clinical assignments in disciplines such as radiation oncology, immunopathology, gynecologic oncology, hemostasis laboratory, nuclear medicine and blood banking. Third-year trainees refine their patient care skills and focus on the research and development of clinical studies.

Trainees are also educated in chemotherapy administration and safety precautions, as well as procedures such as bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, bone marrow harvest, and various laboratory procedures. Throughout their three years, trainees attend many educational lectures and multidisciplinary conferences and regularly give their own presentations. They attend national conferences such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology meetings.

Our subspecialty residents continually have exposure to clinical research studies during their training. Trainees are expected to produce abstracts and a manuscript and/or protocol by the end of their third year.

Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program

Four fellowship positions in hematology and medical oncology are available yearly to physicians eligible for the American Board of Internal Medicine certifying examination. A minimum two-year fellowship is required for completion of training in either hematology or oncology. The third year of fellowship is required for certification in both subspecialties. The first year of fellowship training consists principally of clinical experience with the rotations through the in-patient and consultation services.

In addition, each fellow is assigned to two half-days per week in the Hematology/Oncology ambulatory clinics, working with one faculty member and their patients for 6 months to a year and rotating with another clinic in two to four-month blocks. First-year fellows also do one month of Coagulation and one Hematopathology month.

The second year of fellowship provides advanced clinical, teaching and research responsibilities. Second-year fellows are expected to devote the majority of their time to either clinical or basic research. 

The third year of fellowship is available for those fellows who have an interest in pursuing a career in academic medicine, and those who wish to become board certified in both hematology and oncology. The majority of the third year will be devoted to basic clinical research and advanced clinical training. Third-year fellows also do one month of Gyn-Onc.

Requirements

Clinical hematology and/or oncology rotations involving (1) primary patient care and (2) directing care as a consultant involved with a medical care team

Electives – participating on a health care team that provides important service for the hematology and/or oncology patients, but is generally not run by a hematologist or oncologist (e.G., hematopathology, Gynecologic Oncology, etc.)

Participation in care provided in an outpatient clinic setting

Participation in an after-hours call schedules

Participation in clinical conferences (i.E., Monday Morning Case Presentation Conference, Tuesday and Thursday Core Curriculum Conference, Hematology/Oncology Grand Rounds, Tumor Board, and 'Heme Path' review)

Participation in clinical Journal Club 

First-year fellows present two M&M conferences per year 

Attendance at didactic Introductory Summer Lecture Course (approx. 17-20 lectures per year)

Second and third-year fellows conduct a Quality Improvement Project and participate in at least one research project with a mentor

Evaluation

Monthly evaluation of the fellow by the faculty member who attended the clinical service for that month

Evaluation based on ACGME competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism; and systems-based practice

Semi-annual evaluation by clinic attending

Semi-annual overall assessment by Program Director based on the above evaluations, conference participation, learning portfolio, and input from the Clinical Competence Committee

Periodic self-evaluation by Fellows

Semi-annual evaluation of research by a mentor (2nd and 3rd year)

Periodic evaluation by NP's, social workers and other healthcare professionals

Periodic evaluation by patients

Fellows must also meet the ACGME's Hematology and Oncology Curricular Milestones. View these milestones to learn more.

Division Of Hematology And Medical Oncology

Physician Interests

Our physicians' interests include breast cancer, lymphomas, leukemias, head and neck tumors, GI malignancies, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, sarcomas, melanomas and myeloma. Additional interests include autoimmune diseases, both autologous and allogeneic bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplantation, as well as thrombotic and bleeding disorders.

Hemostasis and Thrombotic Disorders Program

SLU's hemostasis and thrombotic disorders program includes the Regional Hemophilia Treatment Center and Coagulation Reference Laboratory.

Our transplant team uses resources such as the National Marrow Donor Program, International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, and Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry. Our trainees also have an opportunity to learn management of conditions related to transplantation, such as graft versus host disease and immune system dysfunction.

---