Fellowship Training Program

The fellowship program in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology is a three year Pediatric Sub-Board approved fellowship, designed for individuals who plan to pursue a full-time career in academic pediatric hematology/oncology. The program provides a broad clinical experience as well as significant research opportunities. Special research interests, whether clinical or in basic science, are met through the resources of the entire Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Feinstein Institute of Medical Research (FIMR)as well as those of the Division.

We believe that clinical fellow training is best accomplished through primary responsibility for patient care, which is the emphasis of the first year. Fellows develop a cadre of primary patients for whom they act as the primary oncologist over the duration of their training program. They take responsibility for all aspects of their care under the supervision of attending physicians. They are responsible for supervision of residents on the inpatient service and are expected to take meticulous, detail-oriented care of their patients. Self-initiated learning and teaching of residents is then complemented by case-based attending teaching on rounds as well a core curriculum and several weekly conferences.

Clinical training comprises: 4 months of inpatient oncology; 2 months of inpatient hematology/consultation; 2 months of stem cell transplantation; 2 months of outpatient services including specialty clinics and 2 months of electives including clinical laboratories and radiation oncology. At least 22 months will be devoted to either laboratory or clinical research. One month per year of vacation is allotted.

Research training should prepare the fellow for their desired academic career, be it independent laboratory investigator, translational scientist, clinical scientist, clinician/clinical researcher or clinician educator. The 22 month research experience is then designed according to the fellow's goals, with the assistance of the research mentor.

The laboratory experience is designed as a substantive post doctoral position for M.D., Ph.D. fellows and as an intensive introduction to laboratory science for those with a less formal scientific background. The goal of research experience is to put the fellow in a competitive position to receive funding for more extensive training. Those individuals committed to a laboratory research career should seriously consider a fourth year of training, culminating in a PhD degree.

Clinical research training is designed to meet the specific needs and interests of the fellow. An original clinical study should be designed under the tutelage of the mentor, examining the different aspects and challenges of clinical research. This will eventually be submitted to Scientific review and the IRB. A second retrospective study complement the first. This track is expected to include a Masters in Clinical Research at the FIMR beginning in 2011.Fellows desiring a career in medical education will have a program designed including participation in the curriculum for Hofstra University Medical School, which will open its doors in 2011 to their first class.

At the completion of the three year fellowship, individuals will be equipped to function independently on the clinical level and to pursue their academic research interests on the junior faculty level with the ultimate goal of being an independent investigator, researcher, and clinician in pediatric hematology/oncology and stem cell transplantation.

APPLICATION:
Interested candidates will be asked to submit an application and supporting letters through ERAS portion of these applicants will be interviewed and have an opportunity to personally evaluate our program. Only highly qualified applicants are considered. All inquiries should be directed to Mark P Atlas, M.D., (matlas@lij.edu/ 718-470-3460).