Fellowship

Hematology-Oncology – Fellowship - Research Training – New York City – Montefiore Medical Center

Hematology Oncology fellows at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine receive an exceptional education in the methodology, execution, and interpretation of studies through rigorous clinical and basic research training. Since its establishment in 1959, our fellowship program has distinguished itself with greater emphasis on active clinical research than most other institutions. Under the supervision and mentorship of a faculty of nearly 30 experts, this intense investigative foundation prepares fellows to participate in and lead effective research teams and become outstanding academic and clinical practice leaders.

Clinical and Basic Research Opportunities

Our Thrombosis and Sickle Cell Programs and Cancer Center have greatly enhanced fellows' research projects for the past 30 years, resulting in a myriad of new developments in diagnostic techniques, medications, procedures, and healthcare discoveries. The Thrombosis Center houses one of the largest thrombosis prevention treatment programs in the nation, and the Cancer Center, which receives NCI funding, is a nationally-recognized resource site for various pilot studies that advance to cooperative group clinical trials. More than 400 patients are accrued each year to participate in clinical trials.

Additionally, our Cancer Center programs span a wide range of basic and translational research fields. Programs encompass: the immune system, viruses in cancer, tumor cell membranes at the biochemical, molecular, and functional levels, cell growth at the levels of membrane receptors and downstream signaling molecules and transcription. We also have translational research programs in anticancer drug development that employ structural biology technologies to target novel protein sites. The Stem Cell Center is involved with stem cell niche, hematopoietic stem cell, leukemic stem cell, breast and prostate cancer stem cell. The medical school laboratories are open to research project in immunology, epigenetics, and drug developments.

Each fellow completes two projects during his or her training period:

  • Clinical Seminar:  All fellows are required to present a seminar in their final year based on a scholarly literature review of a specific topic of their choosing. Faculty members are available to provide direction.
  • Clinical or Laboratory Research Project:  All fellows are strongly encouraged to engage in at least one clinical or laboratory research project that will ideally culminate into an oral presentation first delivered to faculty and peers, then at a national or regional meeting as a poster or oral presentation.

Our faculty is available to assist fellows in customizing a training program that meets their individual goals. We are pleased to report that the fellows' diligent research has produced multiple young investigator awards over the past several years as well as publications (see recent graduates' publications.

Lectures and Conferences

The research experience is augmented by lectures and core conferences, including weekly multidisciplinary tumor board meetings, which enable fellows to participate in new patient cases, review pathology and radiographic studies, and discuss the management for each. Attendance is mandatory at our Oncology Core Conferences for fellows on an oncology rotation and at our Hematology Core Conferences for those on a hematology rotation. Likewise, attendance at the following core and clinical case conferences is required for fellows conducting specific rotations:

Core Conferences (and their frequency)

  • Core Curriculum Conferences (weekly)
  • Grand Rounds
    • Hematology Grand Rounds (weekly)
    • Albert Einstein Cancer Center Grand  Rounds(monthly)
  • Journal Clubs
    • Hematology Journal Club (every 2 weeks)
    • Oncology Journal Club (every month)
  • Oncology Clinical Research Conference (monthly)
    Hematology Research Conference (monthly)
  • Oncology Basic Science Conference (monthly directed by Dr. Amit Verma)

Other Clinical Case Conferences

  • Oncology
    • Liver — GI Tumor Board (weekly)
    • Upper GI and Pancreas Tumor Board (weekly)
    • Colorectal Tumor Board (weekly)
    • Breast Tumor board (weekly)
    • Leukemia-Lymphoma Conference (every 2 weeks)
    • Neuro Oncology Tumor board (weekly)
    • Gynecological Oncology Tumor Board (weekly)
    • Genitourinary Tumor Board (monthly)
    • Molecular Oncology Tumor board (monthly)
  • Hematolog
    • Faculty Interesting Case Conference (every 2 weeks)
    • Fellow Interesting Case Conference (every 2 weeks)
    • Thrombosis Case Conference (every 2 weeks)
    • Lymphoma Conference (weekly)
    • Transfusion Medicine Conference (every 2 weeks)
    • Hematopathology Conference (twice monthly)
    • Morphology (bone marrow and blood smear) Conference (weekly)

We also have a formal curriculum addressing ethical, medico-legal, well-being and socioeconomic issues integrated into the program. The principal components include: core lectures, psychosocial oncology rounds, pain management and palliative care lectures. There are routine discussions with social workers, and instruction on blood product approval protocols. There is a GME on balance/quality of life balance as well as stress management and resilience training. These are offered to all training programs in the institution.

Fellowship