Clinical Rotations, Curriculum & Training Sites

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, coagulation and community practice. 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.

Available Clinical Rotations

Hospital/Inpatient Experience

• Loyola Medicine Hematology/Oncology service
• Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital hematology/oncology service
• Loyola Medicine BMT-ICU

Consultative Experience

• Hematology consults (benign and malignant heme)
• Oncology consults (performed while rotating on the inpatient oncology wards)
• Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital hematology/oncology consults

Elective Rotations

• Blood bank
• Hematopathology
• High Dose Therapy Unit (outpatient post-BMT and acute leukemia management)
• Gynecologic oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Palliative care
• Subspecialty clinics (optional)
• Transition to practice (second/third year fellows only)
• Community Care
• Sickle Cell Management

Continuity Clinic Experiences

• One-half day weekly continuity hematology/oncology clinic at Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital, longitudinal x 3 years
• One-half day weekly subspecialty faculty clinics at Loyola University Medical Center (six 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 x three years)
• Protected time for research project development and implementation (10-12 mos, FY2-3.) Additional fourth year for dedicated research/grant development can be arranged for select fellows.

Typical & Sample Schedules

Typical First-Year Schedule

• Eight hospital months:
  • Four to five inpatient service rotations (Loyola University Medical Center and Hines VA)
  • One bone marrow transplant unit rotation (Loyola University Medical Center)
  • Two consult rotations (Loyola University Medical Center and Hines VA)
• Four elective months:
  • Two to three elective rotations (see below)
  • One to two research blocks (research methodology/background, QI)

Typical Second-Year Schedule

• Six to seven hospital months:
  • Three inpatient service rotations
  • One bone marrow transplant unit rotation
  • Two to three consult rotations
• Five elective months:
  • Combined elective and/or research time

Typical Third-Year Schedule

• Three to four hospital months:
  • One to two inpatient service rotations
  • One bone marrow transplant unit rotation
  • One to two consult rotations
• Eight elective months:
  • Transition to practice rotation
  • Electives
  • Research
  • Optional time for additional subspecialty clinics or community practice rotations as needed for career planning

Training 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 at Loyola University Medical Center, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center (located on the Loyola University Medical Center campus) and Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.

Loyola’s Division of Hematology/Oncology is a member of each of the major cooperative groups including SWOG, NRG and ECOG/Alliance, which provides fellows with an opportunity to participate in leading-edge treatment protocols for the management of malignant diseases.