Program Description

The purpose of our program is to train highly competent, compassionate clinicians destined for success in an academic environment.  In addition to their ability to providing excellent clinical care, our graduates will be well prepared to engage in meaningful research and advance the field of pediatric hematology and oncology.  To achieve these goals we aim to provide:

  1. A strong clinical training program
  2. Exposure to basic, translational, and clinical research
  3. Opportunities to develop superior teaching skills
  4. Strong mentorship and proactive career development

Year One

The first year of fellowship focuses primarily on the development of clinical competency, along with a basic introduction to research and identification of a scholarly research project.

During this year, the fellow spends seven non-consecutive months on inpatient rotation – five months on the combined UIC/Rush inpatient hematology-oncology service and two months on the Stroger inpatient/outpatient combined service. The fellow also spends two months on hematology-oncology outpatient service, where the fellow will attend clinics at UIC and Rush. Regularly attended clinics include the UIC and Rush Hematology/Oncology clinics, UIC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, UIC Sickle Cell Acute Care Clinic, the Rush Comprehensive Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center, and the UIC Long Term Cancer Survivor Clinic. The fellow will also have one month of educational experience in hematopathology, neuro-oncology and pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant. One month of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant experience is at the University of Chicago.

The first year fellow experience also includes one month devoted strictly to research methods and scholarly project development. During this time the fellow will explore research interests and develop a research plan with the guidance of the Program Director. The fellow will also spend time meeting with potential research mentors. A Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC) will be selected, and a primary research mentor will be identified. The fellow is not limited to pursuing research being conducted by Hematology-Oncology faculty, but will be encouraged to evaluate basic, translational, and clinical research programs being conducted in the larger UIC and Rush University communities. During the first year, the fellow is exposed to multiple aspects of clinical research including enrollment of patients on treatment protocols and procedural and ethical issues inherent in managing patients on institutional and multi-institutional protocols.

During the first year, experience will be gained with both acute and chronic problems in pediatric hematology-oncology patients through their weekly continuity clinic. All fellows will have their own patient cohort to follow longitudinally during their three years of fellowship. As the patient’s primary physician, the fellow is expected to become adept at leading family conferences, providing palliative care, and addressing the psychosocial aspects of serious disease. These clinical experiences have been designed to ensure that the fellow meets all of the ACGME clinical experience guidelines.

The first year fellow will have home on call responsibilities two weeknights per week, and one weekend per month.

Year Two

During the second year, the fellow’s experience is shifted to a primary focus on research, while maintaining critical clinical skills.

The first six months of the fellow’s second year is devoted solely to research, giving the fellow protected time to conduct their research. Regular meetings with the fellow’s primary mentor and the Program Director are expected to assess the fellow’s progress.

In addition to regular meetings with fellow’s primary mentor, the fellow is required to meet with their Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC) a minimum of twice a year to have an independent evaluation of the fellow’s research progress.

Based on the fellow’s progress during the first half of the year, the fellow may choose up to four weeks of clinical time in either (1) an elective or (2) inpatient service. The timing of the clinical work will be decided between the fellow and the Program Director.

The second year fellow will continue to attend their weekly continuity clinic, and will continue to have home on call responsibilities one weeknight per week, and one weekend per month.

Year Three

During the third year, the fellow’s experience is focused on completion of research, preparation for the ABP Certifying Examination in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and successful transition to their first clinical attending position.

The first six months of the fellow’s third year is devoted to completion of research activities in preparation for their results to be presented at a national meeting. Regular meetings with the fellow’s primary mentor and the Program Director are on-going.

The fellow is required to meet with their Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC) a minimum of twice a year to have an independent evaluation of the fellow’s research progress. The SOC will require a scholarly product in the form of well-developed manuscript draft as a requirement for graduation from the fellowship.

Based on the fellow’s progress, the fellow may choose to augment their clinical skills with time in either (1) an elective and/or (2) inpatient service. The fellow will serve on the inpatient service as the “Acting Attending” in order to prepare the fellow for their first position as a clinical attending. The timing of the clinical work will be decided between the fellow and the Program Director.

The third year fellow will continue to attend their weekly continuity clinic, and will continue to have home on call responsibilities one weeknight per week, and one weekend per month.