The fellowship program of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology-Stem Cell Transplant at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine is aimed at the trainee whose goal is a career in academic medicine. Fellows receive training in an accredited program focused on developing medical knowledge, clinical skills and judgment, self-assessment and improvement skills, proficiency in communication, professional attitudes and behavior, competence performing medical procedures, research skills, teaching proficiency, humanistic qualities, and a commitment to scholarship. During the three-year training program, time is distributed to ensure that fellows develop both clinical and research expertise. The program provides approximately 12 to 18 months exclusively for clinical work followed by 18 to 24 months of protected time for hypothesis-driven research.
Clinical training provides experience in all aspects of diagnosis and management of hematologic and oncologic diseases and in stem cell transplantation. During the first year, fellows spend eight to 10 months on the hematology-oncology-stem cell transplant inpatient service and in the outpatient clinics at Children’s Memorial Hospital (CMH), and the fellows are always encouraged to take lead roles in directing patient care. In addition, trainees provide consultations to the emergency department and other pediatric and surgical specialties, thereby gaining familiarity with the hematologic and oncologic manifestations of a broad spectrum of pediatric illnesses. First-year fellows also complete rotations in the clinical laboratories, radiation oncology, stem cell transplantation, and neuro-oncology.
Fellows develop a cohort of patients and provide continuity-care and follow up for these patients in their half-day per week hematology and half-day per week oncology clinics. Throughout the training program, fellows share night and weekend on-call responsibilities, thereby gaining experience with acute problems and emergencies.
In the second year, fellows turn their attention to individual hypothesis-driven research projects. Research projects may address clinical or basic science questions related to the field of pediatric hematology-oncology-stem cell transplant. Fellows interested in academic careers in clinical research may obtain Master’s of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) degrees from the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Early on in the program each fellow establishes a relationship with a faculty mentor and by the end of the first year will have identified a specific research project. Research may be conducted on Northwestern University's Evanston campus, the Chicago campus of the Feinberg School, or the Children’s Memorial Medical Center campus. A National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored Clinical Oncology Research Training Grant obtained by the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University provides a mechanism for identifying laboratories.
At the beginning of the second year, fellows formally present the background, design, and methods of their research projects to the faculty and later in the second year present progress reports of results. In the third year with ongoing work, fellows prepare abstracts for presentation at scientific meetings and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
During the second and third years of the program, fellows continue to follow their patients in their hematology and oncology clinics.
Fellows participate in a wide range of conferences throughout their training. The weekly fellow conference covers topics in the fields of pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplantation. In addition, a series of core lectures are presented to the fellows early in their first year of training, covering acute and emergent problems in hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant.
Throughout the three-year training program, fellows participate in Tumor Board and Hematology Board, which include presentations of new and current cases, discussions of plans for patient management and follow up, and reviews of the literature. Other conferences include Brain Tumor Board, Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Research Conference, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology-Stem Cell Transplant Radiology Conference, Oncology Journal Club, Stem Cell Transplant Journal Club, Stem Cell Transplant Conference, Coagulopathy Journal Club, and the Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds. Fellows may also attend ongoing seminar series through the Feinberg School and the Children’s Memorial Research Center (CMRC).
All fellows complete a core departmental fellowship curriculum that includes statistical analysis and study design, bioethics, and the development of skills in scientific writing and presentation.
Fellows are encouraged to attend one scientific meeting each year with funding provided. Funding for travel to additional meetings may be available for fellows who are invited to present their research.
Fellows are provided three weeks of vacation annually.
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Pediatric Hematology-Oncology