Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Clinical Expertise

Overview

Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program Overview

The fellowship program of the Division of Hematology/Oncology is a training program leading to board eligibility in Hematology and Medical Oncology (three years). The program is designed to produce superior subspecialists who are prepared for careers in academic medicine or clinical practice.

Clinical and Research Experience

The Medical Oncology training emphasizes methods of diagnosis, staging, management and treatment of solid tumors. The Hematology training focuses on coagulation, hematologic malignancies, anemias, hemoglobinopathies, and qualitative and quantitative disorders of leukocytes and platelets. All fellows rotate with in-patient BMT service. Elective rotations include radiation oncology, hematopathology, gynecologic oncology and coagulation. All fellows participate in educational conferences and are required to engage in clinical or laboratory research projects with members of the faculty. A maximum of 12 months is available for focused clinical/basic science research.

Applicants must have three years of accredited postgraduate education in internal medicine and must be eligible for or have passed the ABIM examination.

Rotations

Available Rotations

Hospital/Inpatient Experience

• Loyola Hematology service
• Loyola Oncology service
• Hines VA Hematology/Oncology service
• Loyola BMT-ICU

Consultative Experience

• Hematology Consults (benign and malignant heme)
• Oncology Consults (performed while rotating on the inpatient Oncology wards)
• Hines VA Hematology/Oncology Consults

Elective Rotations

• Blood Bank
• Hematopathology
• Gynecologic Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Subspecialty Clinics (optional)
• Transition to Practice (2nd/3rd year fellows only) * new 2018

Continuity Clinic Experiences

• One-half day weekly continuity Heme/Onc clinic at Hines VA, longitudinal x 3 yrs
• One-half day weekly subspecialty faculty clinics at LUMC (6 month blocks)
• Fellows on VA rotations run half-day New Consult clinic weekly

Research Experience

• Research Methodology/Background (FY-1)
• QI training (through IHI Open-School) (FY-1)
• Mentorship meetings (Quarterly x3 years)
• Protected time for research project development and implementation (10-12 mos, FY2-3.)  Additional 4th year for dedicated research/grant development can be arranged for select fellows.

Schedules

Sample Schedules

Typical First Year Schedule

• 8 Hospital months:
  • 4-5 inpatient service rotations (LUMC + VA)
  • 1 Bone Marrow Transplant Unit rotations (LUMC)
  • 2 consult rotations (LUMC + VA)
• 4 Elective months:  
  • 2-3 Elective rotations (see below)
  • 1-2 Research blocks (Research methodology/background, QI)

Typical Second Year Schedule

• 6-7 Hospital months:
  • 3 inpatient service rotations
  • 1 Bone Marrow Transplant Unit rotation
  • 2-3 consult rotations
• 5 Elective months
  • Combined elective and/or research time

Typical Third Year Schedule

• 3-4 Hospital months
  • 1-2 inpatient service rotations
  • 1 Bone Marrow Transplant Unit rotation
  • 1-2 consult rotations  
• 8 Elective months
  • Transition to Practice rotation
  • Electives
  • Research
  • Optional time for additional subspecialty clinics or community practice rotations as needed for career planning

Facilities

Practice Facilities

Fellows become experienced in the acute and longitudinal care of patients with hematologic and oncologic diseases as they rotate through the inpatient, outpatient and consultation services of Loyola University Hospital and Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital and the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center. Loyola’s Division of Hematology/Oncology is a member of the Southwest Oncology Group, which provides fellows with an opportunity to participate in leading-edge treatment protocols for the management of malignant diseases.