a PDF version of the Full Hematology Oncology Curriculum

Introduction to the UIC Hematology/Oncology Fellowship 

Welcome New Fellows! We have compiled this nuts & bolts guide for you that will hopefully ease your 

transition. It is by no means exhaustive, so if you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us. 

Home Base 

Most of us consider our section office a home base (Office of the Section of Hematology & Oncology, 8 th 

floor Clinical Sciences Building, 840 S Wood). Here you will find your mailboxes, a fellow’s office with 

computers and a phone, our main conference room, and some of the Attendings’ offices. Rowena 

Peralta and Cindy Bernabe, our Departmental Administrative Assistants, Onesima Martinez, the 

section's Administrative Director, and Elizabeth Hammerschmidt, our Fellowship Coordinator, are also 

located here. They can help you with everything, including pagers, scheduling issues, mail, and even 

advice. 

Elizabeth Hammerschmidt ‐ (312) 996‐9424, hammerea@uic.edu 

Rowena Peralta ‐ (312) 996‐1581, peralta2@uic.edu 

Cindy Bernabe ‐ (312) 413‐4260, cberna5@uic.edu 

Onesima Martinez ‐ (312) 413‐9287, onesima@uic.edu 

Helpful Links 

Hospital Employee Portal 

https://employee.hospital.uic.edu/ 

Once you log into this site, you can access the hospital paging directory in the menu on the right‐hand 

side of the page. You will also need to access hospital applications like powerchart and cerner through 

this page. 

Center for Clinical and Translational Science 

http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/CCTS/ 

The university has many resources that fellows are able to complete free of charge while they are 

training at the university. The university’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science provides fellows 

with the opportunity to pursue an intensive summer program, certificate program, or Masters of 

Science in Clinical and Translational Science through its REACH (Research Education And Careers in 

Health) Program. 

Masters of Public Health Program 

http://www.uic.edu/sph/admissions/how‐to‐apply‐degrees 

Fellows are also able to pursue a Masters of Public Health while they are in training at UIC. The 

university offers both an online program as well as a traditional classroom program with classes in the 

afternoons and evenings. Fellows will need to apply through the SOPHAS website. 

UI Clinical Trials Listing 

http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=506244&pageId=9729019 

UI Cancer Center Website 

http://www.chicago.medicine.uic.edu/cancercenter 

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IRB training website 

http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/protocolreview/irb/education/index.shtml 

Schedule 

(You will receive the Fellows Annual Rotation schedule from Elizabeth Hammerschmidt) 

‐‐The fellowship starts July 1 st (this is the exception; we usually switch on the 2 nd of each month) 

‐‐Each fellow covers his/her own service on holidays, unless privately arranged with another fellow. 

‐‐Weekend coverages: 

UIC Onc and VA Onc cover each other 

UIC Stem Cell and UIC Heme Consults cover each other, as well as cover VA Hematology 

VA Hematology/Hemepath has no weekend call (covered by Stem Cell and UIC Heme as above) 

Mt. Sinai covers it own weekends (worked out between you and the Attending) 

‐‐Each fellow usually has at least 2 weekends off per month (or at least 4 days per month, depending on 

the circumstances). 

Paging System: 

To page from on campus: Dial 136, then listen to instructions 

To page from off campus: Dial 312‐996‐2242, then listen to instructions 

If you get paged to 

3‐xxxx, dial these 5 digits if in house. If outside: dial (312) 413‐xxxx 



NOTE: VA pages are also 5‐xxxx, so it is sometimes confusing which hospital is paging you. If in house at 

the VA: dial these 5 digits as is. If outside, e.g. from UIC: dial (312) 569‐xxxx 

ROTATING PAGERS 

Services may page you via the Rotating Pagers (not actual pagers, but numbers assigned to us) 

ALL UIC ONCOLOGY Admissions, Consults, and Sickle Cell Admissions: 7557 

ALL UIC HEMATOLOGY Admissions and Stem Cell questions: 7985 

ALL UIC HEMATOLOGY Consults: 7447 

VA (Rotating 24 Hour Pager) for Consults – 312‐921‐9804 

Mt Sinai: 1551 

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When you are on a particular UIC service, make sure to forward all pages from that service’s pager 

number to your own pager. 

This can be done 2 ways: 

1. call UIC operator 6‐7000 and ask them to do it 

2. dial 136 (from in house, or 312.996.2242 from off campus), enter *xxxx (an asterisk followed by 

the service’s pager #), then listen to instructions 

for example: 

say you are covering UIC Oncology/Sickle Cell 

dial 136 

dial *7557 

listen to instructions (it will be 3 for covering or referral, 1 for covering, then enter YOUR 

pager #). 

henceforth, any pages to 7557 will go directly to your personal pager. 

***We need to make sure that these virtual numbers are always forwarded to someone’s pager 

(hopefully the right person). Services get irritated when they page a number and no one is on the 

receiving end. We fought hard to get these rotating numbers and we should try to maintain their 

efficacy. With the former system of call schedules and personal pagers assigned to services that change 

monthly, we were all getting erroneous pages too frequently (and too late at night). 

Mt. Sinai has its own paging system with its own idiosyncrasies (see below) 

Continuity Clinics (Starting Monday, July 2, 2008) 

(You will receive a clinic assignment schedule from Elizabeth Hammerschmidt) 

‐ University Clinics are located in the Outpatient Oncology Center, 1801 W. Taylor, Suite 1E 

‐ VA Clinics are located in the Jessie Brown VA – 6 West taking the Damen Elevators 

Each fellow carries at least 2 half‐day clinics per week. 

For the incoming 1 st years, at least one of these will be a VA clinic. 

The current fellows have arranged it so that there will be two senior fellows in each VA General 

Hem/Onc clinic for the first 6 months to help ease transitions. 

This means each 1 st year fellow will start with one VA General Hem/Onc clinic and at least one 

UIC Subspecialty clinic per week for the first 6 months. 

Bear in mind, you may have clinic conflicts while rotating at Mt. Sinai; your continuity clinic 

assignments (maximum of 2 clinics) take precedence over any clinics conducted at Mt. Sinai. 

Conferences: 

At the beginning of each month, Elizabeth will send out a monthly calendar that includes all monthly 

meetings and conferences in the section. She will also send out weekly emails prior to each meeting 

with the topic and location. Didactics, Journal Clubs, and Heme Path Lectures are regularly scheduled, 

which you should attend at least 80% of the time (RRC requirement). 

Monday: 

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12:00 PM: Tumor Board; 3 rd floor COMRB 

Tuesday: 

7:15 AM: Breast Tumor Board (every other Tuesday) Hospital Room 3117 

7:30 AM: Didactic Session; 9th Floor Conference Room, 937 CSB 

8:00 AM: Internal Medicine Grand Rounds; 1 st floor Auditorium COMRB 

12:00 PM: Research Conferences; 5 th or 6 th floor COMRB 

Wednesday: 

11:00 AM: VA HCC Tumor Board, VA Radiology Conference Room 

3:00 PM: Ear Nose and Throat Conference, 3rd Floor ENT Clinic Conference Room 

Thursday: 

7:30 AM: Head/Neck Tumor Board, OCC Rad Onc Conference Room 

2:30 PM: BMT Conference, BMT Unit in Hospital 

5:00 PM: Chest Tumor Board, 9th Floor CSB 

Friday: 

7:00 AM HCC Tumor Board, Hospital 2513 

7:30‐8:30 AM Didactic series, 9th Floor Conference Room, 937 CSB 

8:30‐9:30 AM Didactic series, 9th Floor Conference Room, 937 CSB 

(Every other Friday ‐ alternates with Hematopathology Conference) 

8:30‐9:30AM Heme Path conference in pathology conference room, 258 CSB 

ASCO and ASH 

‐‐2 professional societies to consider joining. Most of the fellows have joined either or both. 

‐‐ASCO members receive the Journal of Clinical Oncology; membership is quarterly; annual meeting is 

usually late May/early June; more info at www.asco.org 

‐‐ASH members receive Blood; membership on a rolling basis; annual meeting is usually early December; 

more info at www.hematology.org 

‐‐Clinical rotations continue to be covered by fellows during these conference periods, while the lecture 

schedule is adjusted for them 

Suggested Reading 

‐‐DeVita is the standard Oncology text, and either Hoffman or Williams are excellent Hematology texts 

‐‐Some books are donated by drug reps; ask Judy for details 

‐‐For daily stuff, The Washington Manual of Oncology or the Bethesda handbook of clinical oncology are 

highly recommended, and the Manual of clinical hematology is decent as well. A good chemotherapy 

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guide is worth having nearby (the need for this varies from rotation to rotation; sometimes the books 

are readily available in the specific hospital). 

‐‐Websites that may be useful are www. nccn.org and www.oncologyse.com. 

‐‐Ask Onesima Martinez, in the HemOnc office, what the procedure is for accessing your book fund 

Admission procedure 

In order to admit a patient to the UIH, a PIN (Patient intake notification) needs to be filled out. 

‐ A PIN is ordered through Gemini (Order menu, patient intake notification) 

When doing a direct admission from the patient’s home (i.e. not through the ED) or from clinic, you are 

responsible for calling Bed‐Control (6‐0335), the admitting fellow, and notifying either 8 West for 

Oncology Admissions or 8 West Stem Cell Unit for Onc and Heme admissions, respectively. 

An alternative way is to fill out a form although this is now discouraged. This form is sent via fax or 

computer to the admission and bed control offices and a bed is assigned. 

If a patient comes through the ER, the ER will enter a PIN. If a patient comes as a direct admission from 

the clinic, your or the clinic RNs enter it. If a patient needs to be transferred from an outside hospital, 

you need to do it (or the resident on call if you are not in house). The ER is a different story: some 

admissions are questionable, and the work up is often incomplete. Be very thorough in your questions 

and request Xrays and other studies prior to accepting the patient. 

Transfers from outside hospitals are frequent and work as follows: the attending from the OSH calls you 

out of the blue via your pager and presents the case to you. You can ultimately decide if you want to 

accept the patient. However, if you feel uncomfortable with the transfer, you should talk to your 

attending first before accepting/rejecting. Usually, the transfers are legitimate and we should live up to 

the standard of a referral hospital. 

Some guidelines: 

- We usually do not accept cancer patients who do not have a tissue diagnosis (eg “has a chest 

mass”). These patients get admitted to medicine for initial work up and then we are consulted once a 

diagnosis is made. 

- We usually do accept patients with a definitive diagnosis and active oncologic issues from 

outside institutions even if they have not been seen by one of our attendings before. 

- We generally do not accept patients without any insurance coverage – clear this with the on‐ 

service attending. 

On call: 

You are on call 2 out of the usual 4 monthly weekends. In addition to rounding on your service, you take 

the call from home and help the in‐house residents over the phone with any issues that may arise. You 

also direct admissions from the ER, which works as follows: an ER resident, who presents a case to you, 

pages you. You ask questions and then decide to admit or need further studies prior to deciding. 

Always ask whom they see in clinic (attending). 

‐ The oncology fellow covers patients with an established oncological diagnosis or patients with sickle 

cell anemia. 

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‐ Please be aware of the terminated and suspended patient relationships who should not be 

allowed admission to the sickle cell service. However, these patients can be admitted to the general 

medicine service. 

‐ The BMT/heme fellow covers patients with leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myelomas, TTP/ITP, or 

patients who have had bone marrow transplants. 

You may get calls from the ER for a patient who is appropriate for another service, and the referral 

should be made to the appropriate fellow on call. If a patient is to be admitted, ask the ER resident to 

call the SPECIALTY M.O.D. – this is the senior resident on call who is responsible for all the heme, onc, 

liver and GI admissions overnight/weekends. You should make an effort to call the MOD as well, to 

convey your impression and initial plan. Then, a few hours later, the resident will call you and discuss 

the case and plan with you in more detail. 

The ICU is a closed unit, and only the ICU fellows/attendings have admission rights. If you like to admit a 

patient to the unit, you need to talk to the ICU fellow 

Checking Consults: 

At UIC, you will be proxied the consults for oncology and hematology. 

Check the proxy list on the left hand side of the main menu. 

There you will see patient name, medical record number, reason for consult, consulting 

physician, and a contact pager #. 

At VA, you have to log onto the GUI website (this is different from the CPRS medical chart we usually 

use. 

Log on and type “ph” 

Then “ser” for services menu 

Then heme‐onc consults (you can type hem and it is selection #1) and select the date range 

(typically from “t‐1” to “t”) 

Research: 

Prior to beginning your research, as a first year fellow you will be required to complete IRB training 

modules Investigator Training 101 and HIPPA training. As a second year fellow you will be required to 

complete an addition module, Continuing Education in Human Subject Protections to complete the IRB 

training. If you are planning to continue in academic research IRB training must be renewed every 2 

years. 

IRB training website: 

http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/protocolreview/irb/education/index.shtml 

LMS Training: 

As part of being a State of Illinois Employee, you will periodically receive emails for online courses to 

take to keep up‐to‐date with State Requirements. Such topics include fire safety, professionalism, etc. 

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You will be given an link to sign on to your personal LMS access and can perform these modules at your 

convenience but before the deadline. These modules are enforced by the State of Illinois and they can 

withhold your paycheck until you are uptodate. 

Chemotherapy Orders: 

At the VA, orders are entered through the GUI/CPRS system in the pharmacy orders menu. 

At UIC, on the inpatient services, a chemotherapy note is required along with ordering the medications 

through the Gemini Order system. 

It is important that you follow the strict template guidelines as below: 

CHEMOTHERAPY NOTE (EXAMPLE) 

Regimen: Cisplatin 80 mg/m2 IV day 1 

5FU at 1000 mg/m2 day 1 through day 4 

Patient: 52 y/o male with stage III (T1N2) lymphoepitelioma of the nasopharynx, s/p induction therapy 

with single agent cisplatin (day 1,22,43) and concurrent radiation (completed 5/8/03). Now admitted 

for chemotherapy with cisplatin/continuous 5FU. 

Measurements: Ht 5'6" Wt 125 lbs BSA 1.6 m2 

Chemotherapy Orders: 

Hydration: NSS at 500 cc/h x 2 hours, then NSS at 125 cc/h prior to chemotherapy 

Premedication: 

1. Ondansetron 24 mg PO one hour prior to cisplatin 

2. Dexamethasone 20 mg PO one hour prior to cisplatin 

Chemo: 

1. Cisplatin 130 mg (80 mg/m2) IVPB; mix in 250 cc NSS and run over 2 hours starting 6/9/03 at 1800 

2. 5FU 1600 mg (1000 mg/m2) IVPB; mix in 1000 cc NSS and over 24 hours as continuous infusion for 4 

days, starting 6/9/03 at 2000. 

References: 

Al‐Sarraf, M et al. Chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal 

cancer: Phase III randomized intergroup study 0099. J Clin Oncol 1998; 16:1310 

Side effect profile: 

1. 5FU: 

‐myelosuppression 

‐mucositis, diarrhea, N/V, anorexia 

‐dermatitis, nail changes, dry skin, 

erythema, photosensitivity, 

hyperpigmentation, rash, hand‐foot 

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syndrome (paresthesia, erythema, and 

swelling of palms and soles), alopecia 

‐cerebellar syndrome 

‐myocardial ischemia 

‐tear duct stenosis, blurred vision, 

phtophobia 

‐anaphylaxis, vein pigmentation, fever, 

thrombophlebitis, epistaxis 

2. Cisplatin: 

‐myelosuppression 

‐nephrotoxicity with hypokalemia, 

hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia 

‐nausea and vomiting 

‐ototxicity 

‐neurotoxicity 

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UIC Consult Note Requirements: 

One of the documentation requirements for consults is that the name of the physician who requested 

the consult must be documented in your consult note (both for inpatient and outpatient consults). 

University Audit recently looked at outpatient consults to determine if the proper documentation 

existed in the patient's medical record. A large number of consults did not document the name of the 

physician who requested the consult. Documenting the requesting department is not acceptable (eg. 

referred from Transplant). 

Documentation Tips 

This is a request for consultation from Dr. ____ regarding evaluation of _______ 

Dr _______ requested a consult for evaluation of ________ 

For outpatient consult visit, also include who the primary care physician is and address/fax number. 

Once you have written the note, forward it to review by Claudette Battle asking her to fax it to the 

referring and primary care physician. 

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Important Numbers: 

HOSPITAL ROTATIONS 

UICH ONC ROTATION 

8 West: 413‐8416, 8418, 8420 

7 East: 996‐6161 

Lab Results: 996‐4440 

ER: 996‐8177 

Specialty MOD on call Pager: 2724 

Specialty intern on call Pager: 2725 

UICH SICKLE CELL ROTATION 

Bone Marrow Biopsies: 3‐9482 

8 West: 413‐8416, 8418, 8420 

7 East: 996‐6161 

ICU: 996‐4008 


ER: 996‐8177 


UICH HEM CONSULT ROTATION 

MICU: 996‐4008 

8 West: 413‐8416, 8418, 8420 

7 East: 996‐6161 


ER: 996‐8177 



HOSPITAL FACILITIES AT UIC 

Blood Bank 6‐3980 

Bone Marrow 3‐9482 

HemePathology 3‐0285 

Hematology/Oncology Clinic 5‐1626 

Lab Results (Outpatient) 6‐4440 

Outpatient Oncology Pharmacy 6‐6985 

Radiology 6‐0275 

CT Scan 6‐0238 

MRI 6‐9200 

Nuclear Medicine 6‐3965 

Bed Control: 996‐0335 

Onc Clinical UIC: 355‐1625 

PharmD on call pager: 4958 

Specialty clinic at VA: 569‐7288 

Surgical Pathology: 413‐0096 or 996‐3886 

XRT: 996‐3630 





XRT: 996‐3630 

Bed Control: 996‐0335 

Onc Clinical UIC: 355‐1625 




XRT: 996‐3630 

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Pathology (Hematology) 

Dr. Fredrick Behm 6‐3150 

Dr. Sally Campbell‐Lee 6‐1350 

Pathology (Surgical) 6‐3874 

Radiation Therapy 6‐3700 

Radiation Oncology 6‐3630 

VA ROTATION 

VA extensions are 5xxxx, which means 312‐569‐xxxx if you’re calling from outside the hospital 

(NOTE: “5” is also used in UIC extensions, which means 312‐355‐xxxx) 

VA operator: 569‐8387 

Admitting: 56177 

Blood flow lab: 56776 

CT: 57597 

ER: 56241 

Hoptel: 58003 

IP radiology: 56655 

Lab: 57277 

MRI: 56650 

Nuc med: 56431 

Onc office: 56442 

Path: 56692 

IP pharmacy: 56886 

OP pharmacy: 57244 

Clinic scheduling: 57291 

U/S: 56491 

Liz: 389‐6590 (pager) 

Dr. Reddy: 708‐216‐8777 #14439 

Hines VA: 23456 

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Program Policies and Procedures for Residents’ Duty Hours and Work Environment 

Absences – Rotation and Clinic Coverage: If you are unable to be present for your rotation or clinic for 

any reason you are responsible for covering your own absence. Contacting the department 

Administrative Assistant or Fellowship Coordinator is not an acceptable alternative for finding coverage, 

except in the case of a serious, last‐minute emergency. you should have a copy of the contact list and 

schedule available on your PDA/email etc so you know who else you can call in case of illness, etc. You 

are expected to contact each person and report a failure to cover to the Chief Fellow and Attending only 

after all other possibilities have been exhausted. 

Mt. Sinai Rotation: Our rotation at Mt. Sinai hospital is off‐site and by contract you are only allowed to 

cover two half‐day clinics at the UIC/VA. This is so you can be at Mt. Sinai participating in their services 

and conferences. To reduce stresses on fellows, you are excused from UIC conferences during your Mt. 

Sinai rotation (except Friday morning didactics), but you should make an effort to attend when possible. 

Mercy Hospital Rotation: same applies as for Sinai (see above) 

Working from Home: Fellows on Research (or any other rotation) are NOT allowed to work from home. 

If a fellow has an extenuating circumstance, the Program Director may approve on a case‐by‐case basis. 

However, in absence of special permission, fellows are expected to be on‐campus during regular 

business hours, M‐F and during non‐clinical and light clinical elective rotations. 

Arriving Late/Leaving Early: Any report from attendings or research mentors of unexcused lateness to 

rounds, clinic or the lab, or leaving early without your supervisor’s approval will result in a meeting with 

the Program Director. Pending the outcome of this meeting, the fellow may have a note regarding 

professionalism placed in his or her permanent file, or other disciplinary actions may be taken 

depending on the circumstance and history of the fellow. 

Pager/Call : We have created call and rotation schedules in adherence with the ACGME duty hours 

requirements. Fellows on call in clinical rotations are expected respond in a timely manner at all times. 

Fellows who do not answer call without a sufficient explanation will be subject to disciplinary actions. 

Duty Hour and Fatigue Monitoring: The duty hours will comply with the ACGME guidelines. Duty Hours 

are strictly enforced to provide time away from patient care duties. At any time a fellow feels that their 

work hours exceed the duty hours, or are feeling stressed or fatigued he/she must notify the Program 

Director or Fellowship Coordinator immediately. 

A fellow shall: 

Not exceed total 80 duty hours, including on‐call time from home 

Not work for more than 12 hours during a calendar day 

Receive a full 24 hour period free of clinical responsibility, including pager call (Sunday 8 AM to 

Monday 8 AM) 

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Fellow performance and fatigue will be monitored using the same policy developed for house‐ 

staff fatigue monitoring. 

Duty Hour and Fatigue Monitoring: Fellows are required during each clinical rotation to log duty hours 

in New Innovations. Duty hours are monitored by the Program Coordinator. 

Service Coverage Responsibilities: You are responsible for covering your service at all times. If for any 

reason you need to switch a rotation, you are responsible for finding a fellow who is willing to switch 

with you. All changes to the schedule need to be approved by the Program Coordinator and Chief 

Fellow, and potentially by Dr. Peace. 

Holiday Coverage: 

Each fellow covers his/her own service on holidays, unless previously arranged with another 

fellow. In this instance, you must let the program coordinator know who is covering your shift 

so schedule modifications can be made. 

Weekend Coverage: 

UIC Onc and VA Onc cover each other (UIC onc fellow covers their own service every 1 st and 3 rd 

weekend of the block; that weekend the NU fellow should be covering the VA. VA onc fellow 

covers UIC onc inpatient AND the VA every 2 nd and 4 th weekend of the month) 

UIC Stem Cell and UIC Consults cover each other (inpatient heme/transplant service and urgent 

heme consults on weekends) 

VA Hematology/Hemepath/Blood Bank/Mercy have no weekend call 

Mt. Sinai covers its own weekends: fellow rounds one day of the weekend, attending rounds 

the other. Check with the attending each week which day you need to round. 

Each fellow usually has at least 2 weekends off per month or at least 4 days off per month 

depending on the circumstances. 

Conference Coverage: 

Clinical rotations continue to be covered by fellows during conferences and lectures. If for any 

reason you are unable to attend your assigned clinic you are responsible for finding coverage 

and relying that information to the program coordinator and attending 

Clinic coverage for vacation/Sinai/Mercy: 

In the past fellows were responsible for finding their own clinic coverage for vacation, Sinai, and Mercy. 

Most fellows agreed they would prefer to have assigned coverage for these rotations. Everyone is 

expected to help out and cover the clinics they are assigned to. 

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Moonlighting: (Refer to GME Policy XXXVI) 

a. No resident may be engaged in moonlighting unless he/she is licensed for unsupervised medical 

practice in the state where the moonlighting occurs. 

b. No resident may engage in moonlighting without obtaining his own liability insurance for the 

moonlighting activities. 

c. Residents on J‐1 visas may never moonlight. 

d. A resident wishing to moonlight must obtain prior written permission from his/her program director. 

The program director’s statement must be retained in the resident’s file. 

e. It is the responsibility of the institution hiring the resident to moonlight to determine whether 

appropriate licensure is in place, whether adequate liability coverage is provided, and whether the 

resident has the appropriate training and skills to carry out assigned duties. 

f. Violation of the moonlighting policy is subject to disciplinary action. If a program director allows a 

resident to moonlight, he/she must provide written permission prior to any moonlighting activity. The 

program director's statement must be retained in the resident's file. 

If moonlighting occurs within the home institution or in sites that are used by the educational program 

(“in‐house” moonlighting), the time must be counted toward the 80‐hour per week duty hours limit. 

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Overall Educational Goals for the Program 

Goals 

The overall goals of the program are for fellows to master the basic principles of hematology and 

medical oncology to be clinically competent in the care of patients with benign and malignant 

hematological disorders and neoplastic disorders. In addition, we strive to train competent physicians 

to acquire the necessary skills for the evaluation and interpretation of basic or clinical research in the 

field of hematology and medical oncology. 

Objectives 

The Section of Hematology/ Oncology adheres to the ACGME Core Curriculum which encompass 

scholarship and Life Long Learning; Physicians as Teacher and Communicator; Personal and Professional 

Development and Medical Practices Issues. The following sections outline the outcomes of the core 

curriculum of the section of hematology/oncology. 

The UIC Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program provides the opportunity to gain competence or 

expertise in the performance and (where applicable) interpretation of the following: 

1. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, including preparation, staining, examination, and interpretation 

of blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, and touch preparations and interpretation of bone 

marrow biopsies. 

2. Measurement of the complete blood count, including platelets and white cell differential, using 

automated or manual techniques with appropriate quality control. 

3. Administration of chemotherapeutic agents and biological response modifiers through all 

therapeutic routes. 

4. Management and care of indwelling venous access catheters. 

5. Therapeutic phlebotomy 

6. Therapeutic thoracentesis and paracentesis 

7. Serial measurement of palpable tumor masses 

Correlation of clinical information with cytology, histology, and imaging techniques 

1. Application and understanding of Genetic and molecular testing 

2. The program provides experience in or observation of the following: 

3. Apheresis procedures 

4. Performance and interpretation of partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, platelet 

aggregation, and bleeding time 

5. Bone marrow and peripheral stem cell harvest for transplantation 

6. Fine needle aspiration and biopsy 

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Specific Program Content 

The Fellows receive formal instruction, clinical experience, and opportunities to acquire knowledge in 

the following: 

1. Morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of blood, marrow, lymphatic tissue, and the spleen 

2. Basic molecular and pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapy of diseases of the 

blood, including anemias, diseases of white cells, and disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis 

3. Etiology, epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, pathology, staging, and management of 

neoplastic disorders 

4. Immune markers, immunophenotyping, cytochemical studies, and cytogenetic and DNA analysis 

of neoplastic disorders 

5. Molecular mechanisms of neoplasia, including the nature of oncogenes and their products 

6. Chemotherapeutic drugs, biologic products, and growth factors and their mechanisms of action, 

pharmacokinetics, clinical indications, and limitations, including their effects, toxicity, and 

interactions 

7. Multiagent chemotherapy protocols and combined modality therapy in the treatment of 


8. Principles and application of surgery and radiation therapy in the treatment of neoplastic 

disorders 

9. Management of the neutropenic and/or immunocompromised patient 

10. Effects of systemic disorders, infections, solid tumors, and drugs on the blood, blood‐forming 

organs, and lymphatic tissues 

11. Allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation and the nature and management of 

post‐transplant complications 

12. Indications and application of imaging techniques in patients with blood and neoplastic 

disorders 

13. Pathophysiology and patterns of solid tumor metastases 

14. Principles of gynecologic oncology 

15. Pain management in the cancer patient 

16. Rehabilitation and psychosocial management of patients with hematologic and neoplastic 

disorders 

17. Hospice and home care for the cancer patient 

18. Recognition and management of paraneoplastic disorders 

19. The etiology of cancer, including predisposing causal factors leading to neoplasia 

20. Cancer prevention and screening 

21. Leading an active multidisciplinary tumor board 

22. Tests of hemostasis and thrombosis for both congenital and acquired disorders and regulation 

of antithrombotic therapy 

23. Treatment of patients with disorders of hemostasis and the biochemistry and pharmacology of 

coagulation factor replacement 

24. Transfusion medicine, including the evaluation of antibodies, blood compatibility, and the use of 

blood component therapy and apheresis procedures 

25. Personal development, attitudes, and coping skills of physicians and other health‐care 

professionals who care for critically ill patients 

26. Human immunodeficiency virus‐related and other immunodeficient states associated 

malignancies 

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27. Management of chemotherapy related toxicities including nausea and vomiting, neuropathy, 

and fatigue 

Ambulatory Care Setting 

Fellows will assess and manage patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders in the ambulatory 

care setting and in‐ hospital setting 

1. Fellows will learn interpersonal skills with patients and health providers by establishing personal 

relationship, ascertain patient goals, and patient compliance, in addition to effectively 

communicating the plan of treatment for patients. 

2. Gather pertinent information by enhancing their medical interviewing skills, time management 

skills, and the use of patient records and other clinical information sources. 

3. Document patient encounters through patient history, physical data, Laboratory/ radiologic 

data, and treatment plans. 

4. Gather proper documentation of medications, including chemotherapy, antibiotics, and blood 

products prescribed or administered. 

5. Plan and coordinate follow‐up care, gain knowledge of the referral mechanisms, and knowledge 

of the extended care system. 

6. Demonstrate the ability to act as a patient advocate. 

Consultative Medicine 

1. Provide an effective consultation and communicate effectively with the person requesting 

consultation, review patient charts, provide prompt responses and recommendations, and be 

able to identify the responsibility for executing a plan or follow‐up. 

2. Fellow will learn to also request an effective consultation, by identifying clear and specific 

questions for the consultant, provide necessary clinical information to the consultant, and 

communicate results to the patient. 

SPECIFIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

A. Patient‐ Centered Medical Care 

Fellows will demonstrate proficiency in the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide patient 

care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of patient health problems. 

UIC Hematology and Oncology fellows will: 

1. Communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting 

with patients and their families. 

2. Gather essential and accurate information about their patients. 

3. Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient 

information and preferences, up‐to‐date scientific evidence and clinical judgment. 

4. Develop and carry out patient management plans. 

5. Counsel and educate patients and families. 

6. Use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education. 

7. Perform competently all medical and invasive procedures considered essential for the area of 

practice. 

8. Provide healthcare serviced aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health. 

17

9. Work with health care professionals, including those from other disciplines, to provide patient 

focused care. 

B. Medical Knowledge and Scholarship 

Fellows will demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate 

(e.g. epidemiological and social behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge through 

research and teaching. 


1. Demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations. 

2. Know and apply the basic and clinically supportive sciences which are appropriate to their 

disciplines. 

3. Demonstrate knowledge of how illness and injury effect function and quality‐of‐life and utilize 

that information to improve patient care. 

4. Demonstrate scholarship through a faculty‐mentored research or education project, and 

disseminate the findings through appropriate channels. 

5. Contribute to teaching of colleagues at University of Illinois at Chicago, and participate in 

activities to improve their own teaching skills. 

6. Demonstrate integrity, clarity, and insight in written and oral presentations. 

7. Develop skills for disciplined and ongoing learning to stay up‐to‐date with medical knowledge. 

8. Articulate the ethical, legal and social responsibilities of medical knowledge. 

C. Practice Base Learning and Improvement 

Fellows must be able to investigate and evaluate their patient care practices, appraise and assimilate 

scientific evidence and improve their patient practices. 


1. Analyze practice experience and perform practice‐based improvement activities using a 

systematic methodology. 

2. Locate, appraise and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their patient’s health 

problems. 

3. Obtain and use information about their own population of patients and the larger population 

from which their patients are drawn from. 

4. Use information technology to manage information, access on‐line medical information; and 

support their own education. 

5. Facilitate the learning of students and other healthcare professionals. 

D. Interpersonal and Communication Skills 

Fellows must be able to demonstrate interpersonal and communications skills that result in effective 

information exchange and teaming with patients, their patients families, and professional associates. 

18


1. Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients. 

2. Use effective listening skills and elicit and provide information using effective nonverbal, 

explanatory, questioning and writing skills. 

3. Work effectively with others as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional 

group. 

E. Professionalism 

Fellows must be able to demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, 

adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to diverse patient population. 


1. Demonstrate Respect, compassion, and integrity; a responsiveness to the needs of patients and 

society that supersedes self‐interest; accountability to patients, society and the profession; and 

a commitment to excellence and on‐going professional development. 

2. Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of 

clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent and business practices. 

3. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender, and disabilities. 

F. System Based Practice 

Fellows must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context of system of health 

care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value. 

UIC Hematology/Oncology fellows will: 

1. Understand how their patient care and other professional practices affect other health care 

professionals, the health care organization, and the larger society and how these elements of 

the system affect their own practice. 

2. Know how the types of medical practices and delivery systems differ from one another, 

including methods of controlling health care cost and allocating resources. 

3. Practice cost‐effective health care and resource allocation that does not comprise quality care. 

4. Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities. 

5. Know how to partner with health care managers and health care providers to assess, 

coordinate, and improve health care and know how these activities can affect system 

performance. 

G. Quality Assessment 

1. Understand the principles and objectives of quality assessment of procedures and clinical care. 

19

Demonstrate the knowledge of the process of quality assessment and use of outcome data to improve 

quality assessment and use of outcome date to improve quality of care. 

20

Hematology/Oncology Consult Rotation 

University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System 

I. Educational Goals (knowledge, skills, attitudes) 

The educational goals of the hematology/oncology consult (H/O consults) rotation at UIH is to prepare 

fellows to act as qualified consultants in the sub‐specialty, specifically in the setting of a hematology and 

oncology consultation service at a tertiary hospital. 

Fellow Year 1: 

First year fellows rotate on the H/O consults service usually for 1 to 2 months over the entire first year. 

Therefore, it is expected that they will develop greater and greater knowledge and skills in the field of 

hematology and oncology. Fellows need also adopt the right attitudes to make this rotation successful. 

Knowledge 

Hematology and oncology consultants are mostly called upon for their expert knowledge in the broad 

and complex fields of solid tumors as well as malignant and benign hematologic disease. H/O consults 

include a broad spectrum of diseases and differential diagnoses that are seen in a tertiary referral 

center. 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must acquire a lot of new knowledge in hematology and 

oncology, mostly during this and other consult rotation. Because there is much to learn, this process 

takes time, and the depth of knowledge must increase progressively. At every stage of their training, 

fellows need to challenge themselves by reading further about patients they evaluate on the service. 

They should actively look for relevant articles about any unfamiliar situation. Progressively, they must 

develop expertise at recognizing the major clinical syndromes, use anti‐neoplastic therapy effectively, 

and learn about the major tumors in some details. 

More specifically, first year fellows need to learn about all the areas of knowledge listed below. Within 

each area of knowledge, they should first learn the information most relevant to the care of their 

patients. They should read regularly about their patients either from the established hematology and 

oncology texts (all available on line through the University library) or from review articles published 

frequently in either hematology or oncology journals (such as Blood and the Journal of Clinical 

Oncology) or core internal medicine journals (New England Journal of Medicine). 

During the first year of their fellowship, fellows need build their differential diagnosis trees (including 

the benign diseases that mimic malignant ones) and learn the most important diagnostic and 

therapeutic approaches to common malignancies and hematologic conditions. 

As fellows become increasingly knowledgeable, they improve the quality of their teaching and 

consultations. They also become more independent over time, although attending back‐up is available 

24/7 and must be sought for any unfamiliar situation. 

21

Skills 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must acquire new skills in the fields of hematology and 

oncology. They are already familiar with these skills in the context of general internal medicine. 

1. How to obtain a comprehensive history, perform a good physical exam, and focus the history 

and physical examination for major hematologic and oncologic conditions 

2. How to gather important data from the electronic medical records, looking for information on 

vital signs, prior antineoplastic therapy, other medications, laboratory data (including blood 

counts and pathology reports), imaging studies, and surgical findings. 

3. How to seek more information from other persons, including family members, outside hospitals 

who transferred the patient (primary or hematology/ oncology physicians, pathology 

laboratories), patient’s primary care physician, hospital physicians at UIC (primary team, 

surgeons about OR findings not documented fully in the record, other consultants about their 

opinions) 

4. How to select appropriate tests to help with medical decisions 

5. How to use the relevant information to develop an assessment and diagnostic and therapeutic 

plan 

6. How to interpret special laboratory tests such as serological tests, PCR tests, cytogenetic tests, 

coagulation tests or biopsy results, paying attention to the positive and negative predictive 

values of these tests. 

7. The indications for performing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy as a diagnostic test in the 

assessment of abnormal blood counts. 

8. How to obtain and transport clinical specimens in an appropriate manner 

9. How to offer phone advice that is relevant and to the point, while knowing when a curbside 

consultation is not appropriate and a full consultation is required 

10. How to lead the team of fellow, resident(s) and student(s) in order to be effective in order to 

complete the clinical tasks within a reasonable time 

11. How to review the medical literature to gather evidence supporting patient care decisions 

12. How to teach the medical students and residents on the consultation team 

13. When it is appropriate to transfer patients to the inpatient hematology or oncology services and 

to be a liaison between general medicine and specialist services in these instances. 

Fellow Year 2 and 3: 

Second and third year fellows rotate on the H/O consult service usually for 1‐2 months. Typically, they 

are already familiar with many of the areas of knowledge and skills required for this rotation. Still, they 

will emphasize further their supervision of the team (Team Leaders), and their involvement with 

teaching residents and students (Clinical Teachers). Senior fellows should be seen as role models by the 

more junior members of the team and consulting services. 

Knowledge 

At this level of training, fellows need develop a deeper knowledge of the areas of listed below. They 

should already be familiar with most diagnoses being evaluated. They will explore the recent literature 

22

to deepen their level of understanding of interesting cares. Within the areas of knowledge, they will 

select the areas they do not know as well for improvement. 

Skills 

Fellows in the second and third year of their fellowship must perfect their skills. The most important 

may be for the senior fellow to function as a junior attending in many ways. They manage the 

consultation team in a more independent manner, although still under the supervision of the attending 

on service. They should be capable of providing reasonable diagnostic and therapeutic plans in most 

consultations except in the most complex cases. 

Areas of Knowledge 

Fellows will learn about many of these areas of knowledge during the three‐year fellowship, but will 

need to supplement their knowledge by reading about areas of knowledge not addressed during the 

training. Fellows review this list to identify any gap in their knowledge. 

I. Basic Principles 

1. Basic Laboratory Concepts and Techniques 

a. Role of DNA, RNA and proteins in normal cellular processes 

b. Concepts of translation and transcription in normal cellular processes 

2. Pharmacology 

a. Pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, metabolism, route of administration, indications, 

dosages, and toxicities of pharmacologic and biologic agents. 

b. Current experimental therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies, radioimmunotherapy, etc. 

c. Working knowledge of the mechanism of new drug development and approval process. 

3. Clinical Laboratory Techniques 

a. Automated complete blood count with white blood cell differential 

b. Hemoglobin electrophoresis 

c. Reticulocyte count 

d. Osmotic fragility 

e. Red blood cell (RBC) enzyme assays 

f. Specific techniques for microscopic identification of RBC parasites 

g. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) 

h. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood, bone marrow, body fluids, lymph nodes and other tissues 

i. Cytogenetics, including fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH) 

j. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time 

k. Coagulation factor and inhibitor assays 

l. Bleeding time 

m. Platelet function studies 

n. Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) assays 

o. Tissue (e.g. HLA) typing 

p. Southern blot 

q. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 

r. Reverse transcriptase – PCR (RT‐PCR) 

23

s. Serum and urine protein electrophoreses and immunoelectrophoreses and/or immunofixation 

t. Hematopathology tissue assessment techniques, including standard morphologic evaluation 

and the use of immunostaining 

u. Blood banking techniques of cross‐matching, antibody identification, direct antiglobulin test 

and indirect Coomb's test 

v. Apheresis, plasmapheresis, plateletpheresis, leukopheresis 

w. Therapeutic phlebotomy 

x. Exchange transfusion 

y. Immunocytochemistry 

z. Cytochemistry 

4. Transfusion Medicine 

a. Knowledge of the procedures used to collect, evaluate and prepare blood products 

b. Components of blood products typically administered to patients, including red blood cell 

(RBC) preparations, platelet preparations, granulocyte preparations, fresh frozen plasma and 

cryoprecipitate. 

c. Various methods by which these blood products can be handled and prepared 

d. Clinical indications for use of specific blood products 

e. Potential risks associated with the administration of various blood products. 

a. allergic (anaphylactic) reactions 

b. graft versus host disease 

c. introduction of infectious organisms 

d. alloimmunization 

e. delayed transfusion reactions 

f. hemolytic reactions 

g. febrile reactions 

f. alternatives to blood product therapies. 

g. mechanism by which apheresis can be used to isolate and collect specific blood components 

h. use of emergent plasmapheresis (as used in TTP) and leukapheresis (as used in AML) 

i. methods used for peripheral blood stem cell collections. 

5. Radiation Therapy 

a. Basic principles of radiation biology. 

b. Basic approaches of administering radiation therapy, including the different radiation source 

types 

c. Short‐term toxicities and the potential long‐term consequences of radiation therapy (e.g. 

secondary malignancies, coronary artery disease). 

d. Interactions of radiation therapy with medications, including antineoplastic pharmacologic 

agents 

6. Normal Hematopoiesis 

a. Working understanding of hematopoiesis including: 

a. Stem cell plasticity, embryology and differentiation 

b. Erythropoiesis 

c. Leukocyte differentiation, maturation and trafficking 

d. Basics of lymphocyte biology 

e. Thrombopoiesis 

24

. Understanding of cell surface receptor and cell surface protein changes in normal 

development and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. 

c. Understanding of the role of growth factors and cytokines. 

d. Knowledge of hemoglobin synthesis 

e. Knowledge of normal platelet development and the role of thrombopoietin and other platelet 

growth factors. 

II. Red Blood Cell Disorders 

1. Anemias 

a. Production Disorders 

Nutritional Deficiencies 

Anemia of Chronic Disease 

Red Cell Aplasia and Hypoplasia 

Sideroblastic Anemias 

b. RBC Destruction Disorders (Hemolytic Anemias) 

Hemoglobinopathies 

Thalassemias 

Sickle Cell Anemia 

Other Congenital Hemoglobinopathies 

c. Hemolytic Anemias 

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias 

Metabolic Enzyme Deficiency Hemolytic Anemias 

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 

RBC Membrane Disorders 

Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemias 

Non‐autoimmune, Acquired Hemolytic Anemias 

d. Erythrocytosis 

e. Porphyrias 

f. Hemochromatosis 

2. White Blood Cell Disorders 

a. Granulocyte Dysfunction Disorders 

b. Granulocytopenia 

c. Lymphopenia and Lymphocyte Dysfunction Syndromes 

d. Leukocytosis 

3. Platelet and Megakaryocyte Disorders 

a. Hereditary Platelet Disorders 

b. Acquired Platelet Function Disorders 

c. Thrombocytopenia 

Decreased Platelet Production 

Increased Destruction or Consumption of Platelets 

d. Thrombocytosis 

25

e. Anti‐Platelet Function Drugs 

4. Bone Marrow Failure States 

a. Aplastic Anemia 

III. Hemostasis 

1. Normal Mechanisms of Hemostasis 

2. Bleeding Disorders 

3. Thrombotic Disorders 

a. Heparin‐induced Thrombocytopenia 

b. Antiphospholipid Syndrome 

4. Pharmacologic Manipulation of Bleeding and Thrombosis 

IV. Complications of Malignancies 

1. Febrile Neutropenia 

2. Tumor Lysis Syndrome 

3. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation 

4. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome 

5. Spinal Cord Compression 

6. Mucositis 

7. Paraneoplastic Disorders 

V. Management and treatment of hematologic neoplastic disorders 

4. Chronic Myeloproliferative Diseases 

a. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 

b. Polycythemia Rubra Vera 

c. Chronic Idiopathic Myelofibrosis 

d. Essential Thrombocythemia 

2. Acute Myeloid Leukemias 

3. Myelodysplastic Syndrome Disorders 

4. B‐cell Neoplasms 

a. B‐Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma 

b. Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia) 

c. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma 

d. Hairy Cell Leukemia 

e. Plasma Cell Disorders 

26

f. Plasma Cell Myeloma (Multiple Myeloma), Plasmacytomas and 

g. Other Plasma Cell Disorders 

h. Amyloidosis 

i. B‐cell Lymphomas 

j. B‐cell Proliferations of Uncertain Malignant Potential 

k. Post‐transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorders 

5. T‐cell and NK‐cell Neoplasms 

a. Adult T‐cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 

b. Mycosis Fungoides, Sezary Syndrome and Cutaneous T‐cell Lymphoma 

c. T‐cell Lymphomas 

6. Hodgkin’s Disease 

7. Histiocytic and Dendritic Cell Neoplasms 

8. Mastocytosis 

VI. Management and treatment of individual cancers 

1. Head and neck cancers 

2. Lung cancer and mesothelioma 

a. Small‐cell lung cancer 

b. Non–small‐cell lung cancer 

c. Mesothelioma 

3. Gastrointestinal cancers 

a. Esophageal cancer 

b. Gastric cancer 

c. Colon cancer 

d. Anal cancer 

e. Hepatobiliary cancers 

f. Pancreatic cancer 

4. Genitourinary cancers 

a. Renal cell cancer 

b. Urothelial cancers 

c. Penile cancer 

d. Prostate cancer 

e. Germ cell tumors 

5. Gynecologic malignancies 

a. Ovarian cancer 

b. Uterine cancer 

c. Cervical cancer 

d. Vulvar and vaginal cancers 

27

6. Breast cancer 

7. Sarcomas 

a. Bone sarcomas 

b. Soft tissue sarcomas 

8. Skin cancers 

a. Melanoma 

b. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers 

9. Endocrine cancer 

10. Central nervous system malignancies 

11. Carcinoma of unknown primary site 

Overview of the Rotation: 

During this rotation, fellows work with an attending, one or more resident(s) and medical student(s) to 

offer consultations in hematology and oncology. The consult team takes care of very sick and very 

complex patients. Over the course of the rotation, fellows see quite a significant number of new 

consultations and follow‐ups. 

II. Core Competencies and Curriculum 

Teaching Methods / Clinical Encounters 

During this rotation, fellows evaluate inpatients referred to the H/O consultation service. This 

consultation service deals with all patients except those with sickle cell disease. Patients are first 

evaluated by one medical student, resident, or fellow, then discussed when possible with the fellow, and 

finally presented formally to the attending and the rest of the team. Prior to the presentation, whenever 

a case is difficult, unusual, or challenging, fellows and residents will locate and print an article that 

addresses the problem being evaluated. 

This rotation values and emphasizes teaching. Frequently, every person on the team participates in 

teaching: attendings, fellows, residents, and medical students. Students who review the literature about 

one of their patients may present a short summary to the group. Students interested in hematology/ 

oncology may chose to review an antibiotic or antibiotic group and present a short summary to the 

group. Fellows teach during short lectures to the team usually when the attending is not present. 

Attendings teach both during sitting rounds (presentation of new consultations and follow‐up problems) 

and during walking rounds (at the bedside). They also present “mini‐lectures”, and more formal lectures 

on the topic of their choice. Frequently, the fellow or one member of the team will request a specific 

topic. 

28

Patient Characteristics / Disease Mix 

The patient mix is very broad on this service. The degree of illness severity is variable. Many patients are 

evaluated in one of the intensive care units: medical ICU, surgical ICU, and neurosurgical ICU. Others are 

evaluated on the wards within the medical, surgical, OBGYN, psychiatry. Benign hematology problems 

make up a significant number of the consults from these services. These consults are generally for 

common problems abnormalities in the complete blood count or screening coagulation tests. Less often 

diagnoses such as TTP and hemophilia will be encountered. Patients with known malignant diagnoses 

will be seen by the consult service if they are in hospital and not in the inpatient oncology or stem cell 

services. Patients may also be newly diagnosed with malignant disease on general medicine or surgical 

services. 

Procedures and Skills 

The only invasive procedure performed by this service is bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Some 

procedures are performed during this rotation, while others may only be performed during other 

rotations. The diagnostic and therapeutic procedures required on this service are: 

1. Performance and interpretation of peripheral blood smears. This will be evaluated by the 

supervising attending during consult rounds. 

2. Performance and interpretation of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. 

3. Evaluation of solid tumors at diagnosis and after treatment by the use of diagnostic imaging 

Hematology and oncology consultants frequently recommend the performance of invasive procedures 

such as biopsies. Therefore, attending physicians will advise that the trainees properly explain any 

invasive procedures performed to the patient, discuss the possible risks and discomforts of the 

procedure, and obtain informed consent. 

Faculty Supervision 

Fellow ability to clinically approach problems in hematology and oncology will be judged by the 

supervising attending physician during the H/O consult rotation. The attending physicians will outline 

the goals of the rotation to the fellows early during the rotation and provide feedback mid‐rotation and 

at the end of the rotation. Importantly, they will report to the Program Director any significant problem 

that is identified so that early corrective action can be implemented. They will complete a formal 

evaluation through the “New Innovations” software in a timely manner once they receive a request via 

e‐mail. 

Methods of evaluation 

At the end of the rotation, the attending physician will receive a “New Innovation” formal evaluation 

form by e‐mail and will complete this evaluation within a reasonable time. The New innovation 

evaluation form allows documentation of the fellow competency (competencies: patient care, medical 

knowledge, professionalism, and interpersonal and communication skills). The evaluation should be 

discussed with the fellow at the end of the rotation. 

29

Fellows document milestones of their training: interesting cases, presentations, unusual or new 

situation faced on the service, etc. in their portfolios. They will also complete an attending evaluation 

trough New Innovations. 

Attitudes / Behaviors 

Patient Care: fellows must provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the 

treatment of hematologic and oncologic disease. They must communicate effectively and demonstrate 

caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients; gather accurate information about their 

patient; advise diagnostic and therapeutic plans based on patient information, up‐to‐date scientific 

evidence, and clinical judgment; use information technology to support patient care decisions; work 

with health care professionals, including those from other disciplines, to provide patient‐focused care 

Medical Knowledge: fellows must demonstrate knowledge about basic and clinical sciences in the area 

of hematology/ oncology, and apply this knowledge to patient care. 

Practice‐Based Learning and Improvement: fellows must be able to investigate and evaluate their 

patient care practices, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and improve their patient care 

practices. They must locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their 

patients’ disease; apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical 

studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness; use information technology 

to manage information, access on‐line medical information; and support their own education; facilitate 

the learning of students and other health care professionals 

Interpersonal and Communication Skills: fellows must demonstrate interpersonal and communication 

skills that result in effective information exchange especially within the team and when acting as 

consultants to other physicians. They need work effectively with others as a member and leader of the 

hematology/ oncology consultation team. 

Professionalism: fellows must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, 

adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population. They must demonstrate 

respect, compassion, and integrity; a commitment to excellence and on‐going professional 

development; a commitment to ethical principles; sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, 

age, gender, and disabilities 

System‐Based Learning: fellows must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger 

context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care 

that is of optimal value. They are expected to practice cost‐effective health; advocate for quality patient 

care, and assist patients in dealing with system complexities 

Resources 

1. UIC medical library. http://library.uic.edu/ 

2. The Medical library holds numerous journals and older volumes of journals that are relevant to 

hematology and oncology, and are not accessible on line 

3. Key Oncology Websites 

4. American Society of Clinical Oncology 

www.asco.org 

Professional society website with extensive educational resources 

30

5. National Comprehensive Cancer Network 

www.NCCN.org 

Extensive step by step guidelines on each malignancy as well as supportive care 

6. Chemoregimen.com 

www.Chemoregimen.com 

Online resource to help search for appropriate antineoplastic regimen by disease type 

7. Chemoorders.com 

www.Chemoorders.com 

Online resource to help search for appropriate treatment regimens and aid in correct 

prescribing of antineoplastic agents 

8. Oncology Stat 

www.Oncologystat.com 

Educational website with links to articles and presentations, including journal watch section 

9. Key Hematology Websites 

10. American Society of Hematology (ASH) 

www.hematology.org 

Professional society website with educational and teaching resources for fellows as well as links 

to publications as information on upcoming meetings 

11. ASH image bank 

http://ashimagebank.hematologylibrary.org/ 

Extensive collection of images of normal and abnormal hematopoietic cells 

12. ASH self assessment program 

http://www.ash‐sap.org/ 

Free text for hematology trainees on benign and malignant hematology with self assessment 

questions for each chapter 

13. Bloodline.net 

http://www.bloodline.net/ 

Reference site with links to online hematology resources including journal watch section 

Conferences: 

Fellows are expected to attend the conferences of the fellowship teaching curriculum throughout their 

training. All fellows are expected to participate in the discussions during these sessions. This includes: 

Didactic conference (7.30‐8.30am Friday mornings and 7.30‐8.30am every other Tuesday) 

Journal club (8.30‐9.30am on Friday morning alternating with hematopathology conference) 

Hematopathology conference (8.30‐9.30am on 2 nd and 4 th Friday of every month) 

In addition attendance is required at monthly research meetings of the section and monthly clinical 

trials meetings. 

Fellows should also attempt to attend Tumor Board (Monday 12‐1pm) and Thoracic multidisciplinary 

conference (Thursday 5‐6pm). 

31

Inpatient Hematology/ Stem Cell Transplant Services 



The educational goals of the joint service of inpatient hematology and stem cell transplant (SCT) rotation 

at UIH are: 

1. To allow fellows to acquire insights into the care of patients undergoing high dose 

chemotherapy and allogeneic or autologous transplantation 

2. To obtain a high degree of exposure to management of patients with lymphoma, leukemia and 

myeloma. 


First year fellows rotate on the SCT service for approximately 1‐2 months. This is an intensive rotation 

and it is expected that fellows will quickly gain knowledge and skills in malignant hematology and stem 

cell transplant. 

Knowledge 

In this rotation fellows will be expected to increase their knowledge in the complex fields of malignant 

hematology and stem cell transplant. This includes several uncommon disorders which are treated with 

modalities which may not be familiar to the first year fellow. Fellows in the first year of their fellowship 

must acquire a lot of new knowledge in this area. Because there is much to learn, this process takes 

time, and the depth of knowledge must increase progressively. At every stage of their training, fellows 

need to challenge themselves by reading further about patients they evaluate on the service. They 

should actively look for relevant articles about any unfamiliar situation. Progressively, they must develop 

expertise at recognizing the major clinical syndromes and their treatment. 



patients. They should read regularly about their patients either from established texts (available on line 

through the university library) or from review articles published frequently in either hematology journals 

or core internal medicine journals. 




32

Skills 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must acquire new skills in the fields of hematology and 

oncology. They may already be familiar with these skills in the context of general internal medicine. 


and physical examination for major hematologic and oncologic considitions 


vital signs, prior antineoplastic therapy, other medications, laboratory data (including blood 

counts and pathology reports), imaging studies, and surgical findings. 


who transferred the patient (primary or hematology/ oncology physicians, pathology 

laboratories), patient’s primary care physician, hospital physicians at UIC (surgeons about OR 

findings not documented fully in the record, other consultants about their opinions) 



plan 

19. How to interpret special laboratory tests such as serological tests, PCR tests, cytogenetic tests, 

coagulation tests or biopsy results, paying attention to the positive and negative predictive 

values of these tests. 

20. The indications for performing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy as a diagnostic test. 

21. How to obtain and transport clinical specimens in an appropriate manner. 

22. How to lead the team of fellow, resident(s) and student(s) in order to be effective in order to 

complete the clinical tasks within a reasonable time 


24. How to teach residents on the service 

Fellow Year 2 and 3: 

Second and third year fellows rotate on the SCT service for approximately 1‐2 months. Typically, they 

are already familiar with many of the areas of knowledge and skills required for this rotation. Still, they 

will emphasize further their supervision of the team (Team Leaders), and their involvement with 

teaching residents (Clinical Teachers). Senior fellows should be seen as role models by the more junior 

members of the team. 

Knowledge 

At this level of training, fellows need develop a deeper knowledge of the areas of listed below. They 



select the areas they do not know as well for improvement. 

33

Skills 





consultations except in the most complex cases. 


Fellows will learn about many of these areas of knowledge in hematology during the three‐year 

fellowship, but will need to supplement their knowledge by reading about areas of knowledge not 

addressed during the training. Fellows review this list to identify any gap in their knowledge. Although 

the focus of this rotation is upon malignant hematology and stem cell transplant many areas relevant to 

benign hematology and solid tumor oncology may also be emphasized. 

II. Basic Principles 

7. Basic Laboratory Concepts and Techniques 

g. Role of DNA, RNA and proteins in normal cellular processes 

h. Concepts of translation and transcription in normal cellular processes 

8. Pharmacology 

d. Pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, metabolism, route of administration, indications, 

dosages, and toxicities of pharmacologic and biologic agents. 

e. Current experimental therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies, radioimmunotherapy, etc. 

f. Working knowledge of the mechanism of new drug development and approval process. 

9. Clinical Laboratory Techniques 

aa. Automated complete blood count with white blood cell differential 

bb. Hemoglobin electrophoresis 

cc. Reticulocyte count 

dd. Osmotic fragility 

ee. Red blood cell (RBC) enzyme assays 

ff. Specific techniques for microscopic identification of RBC parasites 

gg. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) 

hh. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood, bone marrow, body fluids, lymph nodes and other tissues 

ii. Cytogenetics, including fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH) 

jj. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time 

kk. Coagulation factor and inhibitor assays 

ll. Bleeding time 

mm. Platelet function studies 

nn. Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) assays 

oo. Tissue (e.g. HLA) typing 

pp. Southern blot 

qq. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 

rr. Reverse transcriptase – PCR (RT‐PCR) 

ss. Serum and urine protein electrophoreses and immunoelectrophoreses and/or immunofixation 

34

tt. Hematopathology tissue assessment techniques, including standard morphologic evaluation 

and the use of immunostaining 

uu. Blood banking techniques of cross‐matching, antibody identification, direct antiglobulin test 

and indirect Coomb's test 

vv. Apheresis, plasmapheresis, plateletpheresis, leukopheresis 

ww. Therapeutic phlebotomy 

xx. Exchange transfusion 

yy. Immunocytochemistry 

zz. Cytochemistry 

10. Transfusion Medicine 

j. Knowledge of the procedures used to collect, evaluate and prepare blood products 

k. Components of blood products typically administered to patients, including red blood cell 

(RBC) preparations, platelet preparations, granulocyte preparations, fresh frozen plasma and 

cryoprecipitate. 

l. Various methods by which these blood products can be handled and prepared 

m. Clinical indications for use of specific blood products 

n. Potential risks associated with the administration of various blood products. 

a. allergic (anaphylactic) reactions 

b. graft versus host disease 

c. introduction of infectious organisms 

d. alloimmunization 

e. delayed transfusion reactions 

f. hemolytic reactions 

g. febrile reactions 

o. alternatives to blood product therapies. 

p. mechanism by which apheresis can be used to isolate and collect specific blood components 

q. use of emergent plasmapheresis (as used in TTP) and leukapheresis (as used in AML) 

r. methods used for peripheral blood stem cell collections. 

11. Radiation Therapy 

a. Basic principles of radiation biology. 

b. Basic approaches of administering radiation therapy, including the different radiation source 

types 

c. Short‐term toxicities and the potential long‐term consequences of radiation therapy (e.g. 

secondary malignancies, coronary artery disease). 

d. Interactions of radiation therapy with medications, including antineoplastic pharmacologic 

agents. 

12. Normal Hematopoiesis 

a. Working understanding of hematopoiesis including: 

f. Stem cell plasticity, embryology and differentiation 

g. Erythropoiesis 

h. Leukocyte differentiation, maturation and trafficking 

i. Basics of lymphocyte biology 

j. Thrombopoiesis 

b. Understanding of cell surface receptor and cell surface protein changes in normal 

development and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. 

35

i. Understanding of the role of growth factors and cytokines. 

j. Knowledge of hemoglobin synthesis 

k. Knowledge of normal platelet development and the role of thrombopoietin and other platelet 

growth factors. 

II. Bone Marrow Failure States and Aplastic anemia 

1. Bone marrow failure states 

a. Clinical characteristics of the inherited and congenital forms of bone marrow 

b. Demonstrate the ability to provide a differential diagnosis and the acquisition of practical 

knowledge of the role of medications, other drugs and environmental pathogens (including 

chemicals and infectious diseases) in the development of bone marrow failure states. 

2. Aplastic Anemia 

a. Diagnosis of aplastic anemia. 

b. Understanding of the indications and risks of various treatment approaches (including stem 

cell transplantation, anti‐thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, other immune mediators) 

III. Hematologic Neoplastic Disorders 

Have understanding and knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of the following diseases 

1. Chronic Myeloproliferative Diseases 

e. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 

f. Polycythemia Rubra Vera 

g. Chronic Idiopathic Myelofibrosis 

h. Essential Thrombocythemia 

2. Acute Myeloid Leukemias 

3. Myelodysplastic Syndrome Disorders 

4. B‐cell Neoplasms 

l. B‐Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma 

m. Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia) 

n. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma 

o. Hairy Cell Leukemia 

p. Plasma Cell Disorders 

q. Plasma Cell Myeloma (Multiple Myeloma), Plasmacytomas and 

r. Other Plasma Cell Disorders 

s. Amyloidosis 

t. B‐cell Lymphomas 

u. B‐cell Proliferations of Uncertain Malignant Potential 

v. Post‐transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorders 

5. T‐cell and NK‐cell Neoplasms 

d. Adult T‐cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 

e. Mycosis Fungoides, Sezary Syndrome and Cutaneous T‐cell Lymphoma 

f. T‐cell Lymphomas 

36

6. Hodgkin’s Disease 

7. Histiocytic and Dendritic Cell Neoplasms 

8. Mastocytosis 

9. Complications of Hematologic Malignancies 

a. Febrile Neutropenia 

b. Tumor Lysis Syndrome 

c. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation 

d. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome 

e. Spinal Cord Compression 

f. Paraneoplastic Disorders 

VI. Palliative Care 

1. Pain Management 

a. Practical competency in managing pain in patients with hematologic disorders. 

b. Understanding of the pharmacology, indications, dosage, administration potential toxicities 

and potential interactions of narcotics 

c. Practical competency in the indications and use of nonpharmacologic methods for treating 

pain. 

2. Nutrition 

a. Practical competency for the role of nutrition in the care of patients with hematologic 

disorders. The trainee should understand the physical and psychological significance, and 

limitations, of nutrition in hematologic disease. 

3. Hospice/End‐of‐Life Care 

a. Practical competency in discussing and delivering end‐of‐life care and counseling to those 

patients whose hematologic diseases are leading to the patient's death. 

b. Understanding of the types of end‐of‐life care that can be delivered by different health care 

models, including in‐home hospice, residential hospice and other nursing services and 

settings. 

VII. Bone Marrow Transplantation/Stem Cell Transplantation 

1. Working knowledge of the basic, cellular and molecular biology of hematopoiesis and 

BMT/SCT. 

2. Understanding of tumor immunology and the biologic and immunologic relationships 

between a donor's hematopoietic cells and host. 

3. Knowledge and practical competency of the indication and role of autologous, full intensity 

allogeneic, low intensity allogeneic and tandem BMT/SCT in the management of 

hematologic diseases. 

4. Be familiar with the role of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) in identifying 

unrelated stem cell donors. 

37

5. Knowledge of the preparative regimens used in anticipation of autologous and allogeneic 

BMT/SCT. 

6. Understand the method of collecting and handling bone marrow and peripheral stem cells 

for transplantation. 

7. Understand the approaches used to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells to the peripheral 

blood 

8. Practical competency of the process of performing autologous and allogeneic BMT/SCT. 

9. Understand the need for prophylactic and supportive care measures in patients undergoing 

BMT/SCT. 

10. Understand approaches to preventing infectious diseases 

11. Understand the use of immunosuppressive therapies to prevent or decrease graft‐versus‐ 

host disease 

12. Understand the complications that can occur post‐transplant, including marrow 

engraftment failure, acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease, opportunistic infections, 

veno‐occlusive disease, and others. 


During this rotation, fellows work with an attending, one resident and 2 interns to cover patients on the 

inpatient hematology service. The fellow and attending with the assistance of a mid‐level practioner are 

also be responsible for the care of inpatients undergoing autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant. 

Patients on this joint service are often very sick and of a high level of acuity. 



During this rotation, fellows evaluate inpatients on the service on a daily basis. This service deals with all 

hematology inpatients except those with sickle cell disease. Patients admitted to the service are first 

evaluated by the resident, intern or fellow, then discussed when possible with the fellow, and finally 

presented formally to the attending and the rest of the team. Prior to the presentation, whenever a case 

is difficult, unusual, or challenging, fellows and residents will locate and print an article that addresses 

the problem being evaluated. 


teaching: attendings, fellows and residents. Fellows teach during short lectures to the team usually 

when the attending is not present. Attendings teach both during sitting rounds (presentation of new 

consultations and follow‐up problems) and during walking rounds (at the bedside). They also present 

“mini‐lectures”, and more formal lectures on the topic of their choice. Frequently, the fellow or one 

member of the team will request a specific topic. 


The patient mix is predominantly patients with malignant hematologic disorders who are in hospital for 

treatment of the underlying disease or for complications of their disease/ treatment. The degree of 

38

illness severity is variable. Patients may be evaluated in the intensive care units. Otherwise patients are 

evaluated on the wards or within the bone marrow transplant unit. Less often diagnoses such as TTP and 

hemophilia will be encountered. Patients will often have known diagnoses however occasionally 

patients with newly diagnosed hematologic malignancies are admitted to the service or transferred from 

outside institutions, 


Several invasive procedures are performed on this service. The diagnostic and therapeutic procedures 

required on this service are: 

4. Performance and interpretation of peripheral blood smears. 

5. Performance and interpretation of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy for diagnosis and 

staging. 

6. Performance of lumbar puncture and instillation of intrathecal chemotherapy 

7. Access of ommaya reservoir and instillation of intraommaya chemotherapy 

Frequently the performance of invasive procedures such as biopsies and insertion of central lines will be 

recommended to patients. Therefore, attending physicians will advise that the trainees properly explain 

any invasive procedures performed to the patient, discuss the possible risks and discomforts of the 

procedure, and obtain informed consent. 


Fellow ability to clinically approach problems in hematology will be judged by the supervising attending 

physician during the hematology/ SCT rotation. The attending physicians will outline the goals of the 

rotation to the fellows early during the rotation and provide feedback mid‐rotation and at the end of the 

rotation. Importantly, they will report to the Program Director any significant problem that is identified 

so that early corrective action can be implemented. They will complete a formal evaluation through the 

“New Innovations” software in a timely manner once they receive a request via e‐mail. 










39



treatment and the prevention of hematologic and oncologic disease. They must communicate 

effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients; gather 

accurate information about their patient; advise diagnostic and therapeutic plans based on patient 

information, up‐to‐date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment; use information technology to 

support patient care decisions; work with health care professionals, including those from other 

disciplines, to provide patient‐focused care 


of hematology/ oncology, and apply this knowledge to patient care. 











hematology/ oncology consultation team. 









care, and assist patients in dealing with system complexities 

Resources 

14. UIC medical library. http://library.uic.edu/ 

40

1. The Medical library holds numerous journals and older volumes of journals that are relevant to 

hematology and oncology, and are not accessible on line 

2. Key Oncology Websites 

1. American Society of Clinical Oncology 

www.asco.org 

Professional society website with extensive educational resources 

2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network 

www.NCCN.org 

Extensive step by step guidelines on each malignancy as well as supportive care 

3. Chemoregimen.com 

www.Chemoregimen.com 

Online resource to help search for appropriate antineoplastic regimen by disease type 

4. Chemoorders.com 

www.Chemoorders.com 

Online resource to help search for appropriate treatment regimens and aid in correct 

prescribing of antineoplastic agents 

5. Oncology Stat 

www.Oncologystat.com 

Educational website with links to articles and presentations, including journal watch section 

3. Key Hematology Websites 

1. American Society of Hematology (ASH) 

www.hematology.org 

Professional society website with educational and teaching resources for fellows as well as links 

to publications as information on upcoming meetings 

2. ASH image bank 

http://ashimagebank.hematologylibrary.org/ 

Extensive collection of images of normal and abnormal hematopoietic cells 

3. ASH self assessment program 

http://www.ash‐sap.org/ 

Free text for hematology trainees on benign and malignant hematology with self assessment 

questions for each chapter 

4. Bloodline.net 

http://www.bloodline.net/ 

41

Conferences: 

Reference site with links to online hematology resources including journal watch section 

Fellows are expected to attend the conferences of the fellowship teaching curriculum during this 

rotation. All fellows are expected to participate in the discussions during these sessions. This includes: 

Didactic conference (7.30‐8.30am Friday mornings and 7.30‐8.30am every other Tuesday) 

Journal club (8.30‐9.30am on Friday morning alternating with hematopathology conference) 

Hematopathology conference (8.30‐9.30am on 2 nd and 4 th Friday of every month) 

In addition attendance is required at monthly research meetings of the section and monthly clinical 

trials meetings. 

Specific to this rotation, fellows are required to attend and help direct multidisciplinary rounds on 

Thursday at 2.30pm. Fellows will present the patients currently on the service and give updates on their 

clinical condition 

42

UIC Inpatient Oncology Service 



The educational goals of the Inpatient Oncology Service at UIH are to prepare fellows to act as 

qualified sub‐specialty physicians in the setting of primary solid tumor diseases. Fellows should 

display competency in the treatment and management of the complications that may arise as a 

result of their disease and the treatments themselves. 


First year fellows will typically have 2‐3 months of Inpatient Oncology Service at UIH. During their 

time on service it is important for them to become more familiar with the general practices of 

oncology and patient management. 

Knowledge 

Oncologist should have an in‐depth knowledge base of the various disease states with the field. 

During the first year of training it is important for the fellow to familiarize themselves with the basic 

pathophysiology of each disease state. During their time on service fellows will learn the staging for 

each disease sub‐type and general aspects in treatment and monitoring of disease status. The 

fellow will also be the first in‐line to field questions from other services as to how to workup and 

make diagnosis in patients who present with likely malignancy. 

Skills 

Fellows in the first year of fellowship must acquire new skills in the field of oncology. They are 

already familiar with these skills in the setting of general internal medicine. 

1. How to obtain a comprehensive history, perform a good physical exam, and focus the 

history and physical examination for each major oncologic disease 

2. How to gather important data from the electronic medical records, looking for information 

on symptoms at presentation, clinical course, labs/imaging and prior treatment the patient 

has received up to this point 

3. How to seek more information from other persons, including family members, outside 

hospitals who transferred the patient (primary or oncologists, labs, imaging and pathology) 


5. How to use the relevant information to develop an assessment and diagnostic and 

therapeutic plan 

6. How to lead the team of fellow, resident(s) and student(s) in order to be effective in order 

to complete the clinical tasks within a reasonable time 



9. How to present cases seen on the Inpatient Oncology service at case conferences 

43

Fellow Year 2+3: 

Second and third year fellows rotate on Inpatient Oncology service 1‐2 months during the year. They 

should be familiar with basic disease pathology and physiology. During their second and third years 

fellows should now be focusing appropriate treatment strategies and management of acute toxicities 

either from the disease or the therapies themselves. 

Knowledge 

At this level of training, fellows need to develop a deeper knowledge of the areas of listed below. They 


to deepen their level of understanding of interesting cases. Within the areas of knowledge fellows 

should identify and actively pursue areas they do not know as well for improvement. 

Skills 

Fellows in the second and third years of fellowship must perfect their skills. The most important may be 

for the senior fellow to function as a junior attending in many ways and be able to run service in an 

independent manner, although still under the supervision of the attending on service. They should be 

able to provide reasonable diagnostic and therapeutic plans in most consultations except in the most 

complex cases. 


Will be learned throughout the three years of fellowship. 

Basic Principles of Oncology Diagnosis and Management 

1. Basic science and pathogenesis of specific tumor type 

a. Risk factors 

2. Epidemiology of specific tumor types 

a. Geographic variations 

b. Gender differences 

3. Pathophysiology 

a. Understanding the molecular and evolving physiologic traits of specific tumor types 

4. Introduction to chemotherapy 

a. Indications 

b. Pharmacokinetics 

c. Side effect profiles 

d. Drug interactions 

e. Contraindications 

f. Dose adjustments 

5. Introduction to targeted/immunotherapy 

a. Indications 

b. Pharmacokinetics 

c. Side effect profiles 

d. Drug interactions 

44

e. Contraindications 

f. Dose adjustments 

Major Clinical Syndromes 

- Anal Carcinoma 

- Bladder Cancer 

o Bladder Cancer 

o Upper Tract Tumors 

o Urothelial Carcinoma of the Prostate 

- Bone Cancer 

o Chondrosarcoma 

o Ewing’s Sarcoma 

o Osteosarcoma 

- Breast Cancer 

o Noninvasive 

o Invasive 

o Phyllodes Tumor 

o Paget’s Disease 

o Breast Cancer During Pregnancy 

o Inflammatory Breast Cancer 

- Cancer of Unknown Primary 

- Central Nervous System Cancers 

o Adult Low‐Grade Infiltrative Supratentorial Astrocytoma/Oligodendroglioma 

o Adult Intracranial Ependymoma 

o Anaplastic Gliomas/Glioblastoma 

o Limited (1‐3) Metastatic Lesions 

o Multiple (>3) Metastatic Lesions 

o Leptomeningeal Metastases 

o Primary CNS Lymphoma 

o Metastatic Spine Tumors 

o Meningiomas 

- Cervical Cancer 

- Colorectal Carcinoma 

o Colon Cancer 

o Rectal Cancer 

- Esophageal Cancer 

- Gastric Cancer 

- Head and Neck Cancers 

o Cancer of the Lip 

o Cancer of the Oral Cavity 

o Cancer of the Oropharynx 

o Cancer of the Hypopharynx 

o Cancer of the Nasopharynx 

o Cancer of the Glottic Larynx 

o Cancer of the Supraglottic Larynx 

o Ethmoid Sinus Tumors 

o Maxillary Sinus Tumors 

45

o Unresectable/Recurrent/Persistent Head and Neck Cancer 

o Occult Primary 

o Salivary Gland Tumors 

o Mucosal Melenoma 

- Hepatobilliary Cancer 

o Hepatocellular Carcinoma 

o Gallbladder Cancer 

o Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma 

o Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma 

- Kidney Cancer 

- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma 

- Melanoma 

- Neuroendocrine Tumors 

o Carcinoid Tumors 

o Islet Cell Tumors (Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors) 

o Neuroendocrine Unknown Primary 

o Adrenal Gland Tumors 

o Pheochromocytoma 

o Poorly Differentiated (High Grade or Anaplastic)/Small Cell 

o Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Type 1 

o Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Type 2 

- Non‐Melanoma Skin Cancers 

o Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer 

o Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans 

o Merkel Cell Carcinoma 

- Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer 

- Ovarian Cancer 

o Epithelial Ovarian Cancer 

o Borderline Epithelial Ovarian Cancer 

o Less Common Ovarian Histologies 

- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma 

- Prostate Cancer 

- Small Cell Lung Cancer 

o Small Cell Lung Cancer 

o Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors 

- Soft Tissue Sarcoma 

o Extremity 

o Retroperitoneal/Intra‐Abdominal 

o Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) 

o Desmoid Tumors 

- Testicular Cancer 

- Thymic Malignancies 

- Thyroid Carcinoma 

o Nodular Evaluation 

o Papillary Carcinoma 

o Follicular Carcinoma 

o Hurthle Cell Neoplasm 

o Medullary Carcinoma 

46

o Anaplastic Carcinoma 

- Uterine Neoplasms 

o Endometrial Cancer 

o Uterine Sarcoma 


The Inpatient Oncology Service is a high pace clinical rotation. During the rotation, fellows work with an 

attending, one resident, one intern and medical student(s). It is the responsibility of the fellow to 

ensure that the team is appropriately managing the acute needs of the patients on service. 



During this rotation, patients will be evaluated by medical students, residents and the fellow. It is the 

responsibility of the fellow to engage the team with specific aspects of each patient as teaching topic. 

Fellows will also direct the team in formulating an organized and appropriate plan of care for each 

patient prior to final presentation to the attending. Each teaching topic will be supported by current 

literature and clinical guidelines. Each member of the team (medical students, residents and fellow) will 

also be responsible for 1 powerpoint presentation on an oncologic topic during the rotation. Each 

presentation should be 20 minutes. 


The patient mix is very broad on this service. Patients have newly diagnosed malignancies, currently 

undergoing treatment, complications of therapy or have chronic issues related to their 

cancer/treatment. Patients come from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. 


Fellow ability to clinically approach patient’s disease status will be judged by the supervising attending 

physician during the rotation. The attending physicians will outline the goals of the rotation to the 

fellows early during the rotation and provide feedback mid‐rotation and at the end of the rotation. 

Importantly, they will report to the Program Director any significant problem that is identified so that 

early corrective action can be implemented. They will complete a formal evaluation through the “New 

Innovations” software in a timely manner once they receive a request via e‐mail. 


47



evaluation form allows documentation of the fellow competency (competencies: patient care, 

medical knowledge, professionalism, and interpersonal and communication skills). The evaluation 

should be discussed with the fellow at the end of the rotation. 




Medical students and residents rotating on the service complete an evaluation of the fellow’s teaching 

abilities adapted from the ACGME toolbox. 



treatment oncologic diseases. They must communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and 

respectful behaviors when interacting with patients; gather accurate information about their patient; 

advise diagnostic and therapeutic plans based on patient information, up‐to‐date scientific evidence, 

and clinical judgment; use information technology to support patient care decisions; work with health 

care professionals, including those from other disciplines, to provide patient‐focused care 


of oncology, and apply this knowledge to patient care. 




patients' disease; apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical 







oncology team. 




48


age, gender, and disabilities. 




care, and assist patients in dealing with system complexities. 

Resources 

NCCN.ORG 

‐Website provides up to date guidelines for evaluation, staging, treatment and follow up 

of all oncologic diseases 

Chemoregimen.com 

‐Provides various chemotherapies depending on patient’s diagnosis and stage of disease 

ASCO.org 

‐American Society of Clinical Oncology website 

49

Hematology & Oncology Consultation Services and Longitudinal Clinic 

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center 


The educational goals of the Hematology & Oncology rotations and outpatient clinic at the Jesse Brown 

VA Medical Center are to prepare fellows to act as qualified physicians to provide longitudinal care in 

the outpatient setting as well as consultants, specifically in the setting of a hematology‐oncology 

consultation service at a tertiary hospital. 


First year fellows rotate on the Hematology & Oncology services usually for 3 to 4 months. Therefore, it 

is expected that they will develop greater and greater knowledge and skills in the field of hematology 

and oncology. Fellows need also adopt the right attitudes to make this rotation successful. In addition 

to the inpatient rotations, first year fellows will be managing a diverse outpatient population in both 

oncology and hematology diseases with 1 to 2 half day clinics per week at the VA Medical Center. The 

outpatient clinic is not disease specific so this will also first year fellows to be exposed to a broad 

diversity of hematology and oncology diseases early on in their training. 

Knowledge 

Hematology‐oncology consultants are mostly called upon for their expert knowledge in the broad and 

complex field of hematology and oncology. “General hematology and oncology disease” includes a 

broad spectrum of diagnoses. Fellows will also follow patients admitted from the longitudinal clinic as 

inpatients to better understand the major complications of hematology and oncology diseases as well as 

toxicities of treatment that require close supervision in an inpatient setting. 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must acquire a lot of new knowledge in general hematology 

and oncology. Because there is much to learn, this process takes time, and the depth of knowledge must 

increase progressively. At every stage of their training, fellows need to challenge themselves by reading 

further about patients they evaluate on the inpatient service and longitudinal clinic. They should actively 

look for relevant articles about any unfamiliar situation. Progressively, they must develop expertise at 

recognizing the major clinical syndromes and treatment options. Fellows must also learn how to 

coordinate information and care between surgeons, radiation‐oncologists, and pathologists. During the 

outpatient and inpatient experiences, fellows will also learn what toxicities to expect, how to prevent 

them, and how to treat any that may arise from chemotherapy or the primary disease. In the 

longitudinal clinic, patients will be followed for 6 to 12 months by a specific fellow from diagnosis 

onwards to gain a better understanding of disease course, treatment options, and complications of 

different diseases. 

50



patients. They should read regularly about their patients either from the Hoffman’s Textbook of 

Hematology and Devita’s Textbook of Oncology(available on line, with regular updates) or from review 

articles published frequently in either oncology journals (such as Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, 

and British Journal of Oncology), hematology journals (such as Blood, British Journal of Hematology, 

Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation), or core internal medicine journals (New England Journal of 

Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, Journal of the American Medical 

Association). 

During the first year of their fellowship, fellows need to build their differential diagnosis trees in 

hematology and oncology, initial workups required to stage a disease, and the most important 

diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to common hematology and oncology diseases and clinical 

situations. These include hematology problems such as coagulation disorders, cell count abnormalities 

as well as more common oncology diagnoses such as lung cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. 

First year fellows will focus on the initial work up of new hematology and oncology diagnoses such as 

staging, whom and when to treat based on disease and patient’s ECOG status, and when palliative care 

or hospice is indicated. 




Skills 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must acquire new skills in the field of hematology & oncology. 

They are already familiar with these skills in the context of general internal medicine. 


and physical examination for each hematology or oncology disease syndrome 


medications, laboratory data (including labs to monitor disease such as tumor markers, labs to 

follow toxicity from treatment such as renal and liver function, complete blood counts, and 

molecular biology results), imaging studies, and surgical findings of recent or relevant surgical 

procedures. 


who transferred the patient (primary or hematology‐oncology physicians, hematology and/or 

pathology laboratories), patient’s primary care physician, hospital physicians at UIC (primary 

team, surgeons about OR findings not documented fully in the record, other consultants about 

their opinions) 

4. How to determine a patients performance status based on ECOG grading. 


51


plan 

7. How to interpret special laboratory tests, such as tumor markers, PCR tests, genetic studies, or 

biopsy results, paying attention to the positive and negative predictive values of these tests. 

8. How to perform and interpret bone marrow aspirations and biopsies. 

9. How to perform and interpret lumbar punctures to obtain CSF for analysis and to administer 

intrathecal chemotherapy. 

10. How to provide guidance on indications and types of red blood cell, platelet, and white blood 

cell transfusions and for indications and quantity of phlebotomy to perform. 

11. How to interpret blood bank reports to understand the safety and potential complications of 

transfusion. 

12. How to monitor responses to transfusions and know when and how to treat potential 

complications of transfusion. 

13. How to obtain and transport clinical specimens in an appropriate manner 

14. How to offer phone advice that is relevant and to the point, while knowing when a curbside 

consultation is not appropriate and a full consultation is required 

15. How to lead the team of fellow, resident(s) and student(s) in order to be effective in completing 

clinical tasks within a reasonable time 



18. How to present cases seen on the hematology‐oncology service at case conferences 

19. How to discuss end of life issues with patients and family members. 

Fellow Year 2 & 3: 

Second year fellows rotate on the hematology‐oncology consultation service usually for 1 to 2 months. 

Typically, they are already familiar with many of the areas of knowledge and skills required for this 

rotation. Still, they will emphasize further their supervision of the team (Team Leaders), and their 

involvement with teaching residents and students (Clinical Teachers). Senior fellows should be seen as 

role models by the more junior members of the team and consulting services. 

Knowledge 

At this level of training, fellows need to develop a deeper knowledge of the areas of listed below. They 



select the areas they do not know as well for improvement. They will emphasize further hematology and 

oncology diseases that are more complicated to treat such as leukemias as well as a better 

understanding of the therapeutic options, what evidence is behind them, and creating more 

complicated treatment plans required for advanced malignancies or when first line therapy fails. 

Skills 



52



consultations except in the most complex cases. Second and third year fellows should also perfect their 

skills for bone marrow aspiration and biopsies as well as lumbar punctures being familiar with the 

different patient positioning for the procedures based on the patient’s clinical status. As fellows 

progress through their second and third year, they will also learn how to use research skills to answer 

unknown areas of hematology and oncology. This includes both clinical and laboratory research that are 

available at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. 


Fellows will learn about many of these areas of knowledge in hematology‐oncology during the three‐ 

year fellowship, but will need to supplement their knowledge by reading about areas of knowledge not 

addressed during the training. Fellows review this list to identify any gap in their knowledge. 

FYI first‐year fellow objective 

FYII second‐year fellow objective 

FYIII third‐year fellow objective 


The Hematology‐Oncology Consult Rotation is a high pace clinical rotation. During this rotation, fellows 

work with an attending, one or more resident(s) and medical student(s) to offer consultations in 

hematology and oncology diseases to guide the care of patients with hematology or oncology disorders. 

The hematology‐oncology disease team takes care of very sick and very complex patients. Over the 

course of the rotation, fellows see quite a significant number of new consultations and follow‐ups. 

The outpatient clinic is also a very high pace rotation. The fellow follows his or her own clinic list, seeing 

new patient consultations/referrals, creating differential diagnoses and appropriate work up testing, an 

devising a treatment plan with the approval of the 1‐2 attendings supervising the clinic. The fellow also 

learns how to coordinate the care plan with the hematology‐oncology nurses and pharmacist in both the 

outpatient and inpatient setting. 



During this rotation, fellows evaluate outpatients and inpatients referred to the hematology‐oncology 

consultation service and also follow hematology or oncology patients admitted from the longitudinal 

clinic. This consultation services deal with all patients in the Jesse Brown Medical Center. Patients are 

first evaluated by one medical student, resident, or fellow, then discussed when possible with the 

fellow, and finally presented formally to the attending and the rest of the team. Prior to the 

53

presentation, whenever a case is difficult, unusual, or challenging, fellows and residents will locate and 

print an article that addresses the problem being evaluated. Pathology specimen and peripheral blood 

smears should be reviewed with the pathologist and heme‐pathologist, respectively, either prior to the 

presentation or as a team during rounds. 


teaching: attendings, fellows, residents, and medical students. Students, residents, and fellows present 

cases at conferences, usually presenting their own patients. Students who review the literature about 

one of their patients may present a short summary to the group. Students interested in hematology‐ 

oncology may chose to review a particular hematology or oncology disease or chemotherapy agent and 

present a short summary to the group. Fellows teach during short lectures to the team usually when the 

attending is not present, for example on hematology or oncology diseases commonly seen on the 

general medicine service. Attendings teach both during sitting rounds (presentation of new 

consultations and follow‐up problems) and during walking rounds (at the bedside). They also present 

“mini‐lectures” usually on chemotherapy or common hematology or oncology diseases, and more 

formal lectures on the topic of their choice. Frequently, the fellow or one member of the team will 

request a specific topic. Abnormal or difficult cases will be presented at multi‐disciplinary conferences 

(e.g. lung diseases at the chest tumor board conference, head and neck cancer cases at the weekly head 

and neck conference, and hematology diseases at heme‐pathology conference). Fellows or residents 

present the case with the attending available for guidance and the fellow and residents learn how to 

formulate treatment plans with a team of physicians from different backgrounds. 


Being at a Veteran’s Hospital, the majority of patients seen are male. Thus cases seen in high 

frequencies in men will be most studied. This offers a unique opportunity because whenever there are 

high frequencies of specific diseases, then broad presentations arise of those diseases. Patients will 

present with a wide spectrum of stages of disease, complications or severity of that disease, and the 

different treatment options and success rates. There is also a wide age range of patients so both 

hematology and oncology diseases of the young and elderly adults will be seen and treated. The degree 

of illness severity is variable. Many patients are evaluated in one of the intensive care units: medical ICU, 

surgical ICU, and neurosurgical ICU. Others are evaluated on the wards within the medical, surgical, or 

psychiatry areas. Many new diagnoses of malignancies will be made in the hospital and the proper 

differential diagnosis, workup and staging will be managed by the hematology‐oncology service. The 

consultation service also evaluates many patients with coagulation disorders or blood cell count 

abnormalities seen on laboratory testing. 

A unique opportunity at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center is that there is a palliative/hospice service 

available which allows fellows to learn when it is appropriate to start end‐of life and comfort care, how 

to coordinate care with palliative/hospice nurses, and the setting where this kind of care can be 

provided. Social work teams are also available to help patients’ with their home needs as per the 

severity of their disease or complications of therapy. 

54

A heme‐pathologist is available throughout the day so that bone marrow and peripheral blood smear 

specimens can be reviewed with teaching points from an expert. There is also a centralized computer 

system and radiograph system allowing unique opportunities for research in better understanding 

diseases. 


Procedures specific to the hematology‐oncology subspecialty include bone marrow aspirations and 

core biopsy and lumbar punctures with intrathecal chemotherapy administration. These procedures 

are performed during the inpatient consultation rotation. 

The diagnostic and therapeutic procedures required for Hematology‐Oncology are: 

1. Performance and interpretation of peripheral blood smears: Determining cell counts and 

morphologies of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells. This will be evaluated by the 

supervising attending during Consult rounds as well as in consultation with a heme‐pathologist. 

2. Bone marrow aspiration and core biopsy. 

3. Interpretation of bone marrow aspiration and core biopsy slides. This will be evaluated by the 

supervising attending during Consult rounds as well as in consultation with a heme‐pathologist. 

4. Interpretation of special testing on pathology specimens including genetic and molecular 

studies. 

5. Institution of chemotherapy. 

6. Monitoring response to chemotherapy 

Hematology‐Oncology consultants also frequently recommend the performance of invasive procedures 

to help with diagnosing or monitoring disease. Therefore, attending physicians will advise that the 

trainees properly explain any invasive procedures performed to the patient, discuss the possible risks 

and discomforts of the procedure, and obtain informed consent. 

Additional procedural skills will be determined by the trainee’s personal preference and practice 

expectations. 


55

Fellow ability to clinically approach hematology and oncology disease syndromes will be judged by the 

supervising attending physician during the clinic and inpatient consult rotation. The attending 

physicians will outline the goals of the rotation to the fellows early during the rotation and provide 

feedback mid‐rotation and at the end of the rotation. Importantly, they will report to the Program 

Director any significant problem that is identified so that early corrective action can be implemented. 

They will complete a formal evaluation through the “New Innovations” software in a timely manner 

once they receive a request via e‐mail. 









through New Innovations. 

Medical students and residents rotating on the service complete an evaluation of the fellow’s teaching 

abilities adapted from the ACGME toolbox. 



treatment, monitoring of, and prevention of hematology‐oncology diseases. They must communicate 




support patient care decisions; work with health care professionals, including those from other 

disciplines, to provide patient‐focused care 

Medical Knowledge: fellows must demonstrate knowledge about basic and clinical sciences in the areas 

of hematology and oncology diseases, and apply this knowledge to patient care. 






56






hematology‐oncology consultation team. 






System‐Based Learning: fellows must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the 

larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide 

care that is of optimal value. They are expected to practice cost‐effective health; advocate for quality 

patient care, and assist patients in dealing with system complexities 

57

General Hematology and Oncology Service 

MacNeal Hospital Rotation/ UIC Cancer Center at MacNeal 

Description of the Rotation 

During the fellowship, fellows will rotate at MacNeal Hospital for an average of 4 weeks per year of 

fellowship. This rotation provides fellows the opportunity to practice hematology‐oncology in an urban 

community teaching hospital. Patients at MacNeal are frequently non‐English speaking, minorities, 

undocumented, and lack formal health insurance (diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds). Fellows will 

perform inpatient consultations on both hematology (benign and malignant) and oncology topics on 

patients from all services (medical, surgical, Rehab, psychiatry, OB, etc). Fellows will participate in 

weekly Tuesday tumor board and be responsible for teaching of the house staff. Fellows are expected 

to participate in the clinics. 

Educational Goals (knowledge, skills, attitudes) 

The educational goals of the General Hematology and Oncology rotation at MacNeal Hospital are to: 

‐ to provide clinical training experiences in Hematology in the context of a community hospital 

environment with an ethnically diverse referral population. 

‐ to provide clinical training experiences in Medical Oncology in the context of a community hospital 

environment with an ethnically diverse referral population. 

‐ to provide training experiences in the conduct of clinical research in the context of a community 

hospital environment with an ethnically diverse referral population. 

‐to enhance systems based learning in the context of a community hospital with a preponderance of 

managed care patients. 

‐to sensitize trainees to the special needs and concerns of patients from diverse ethnic and cultural 

backgrounds. 


The rotation at MacNeal Hospital will provide fellows with exposure to a wide variety of 

hematology/oncology patients in the setting of community hospital. This rotation provides a diverse 

and intensive outpatient and inpatient experience. It will allow fellows to provide primary care to 

patients and to participate in clinical research efforts in the community setting. 

The strength of the MacNeal Hospital rotation is that it focuses on community which has a diverse 

ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Hematology/Oncology practice sees a variety of tumors and 

hematological conditions. 

Rotation 

Fellows rotate at MacNeal service for 1 month/year. Therefore, it is expected that they will develop 

greater and greater knowledge and skills in the field of general Hematology and Oncology. 

Faculty 

Fellows will be supervised by UIC Faculty at MacNeal. The currently faculty include Sandeep Chunduri, 

MD (Medical Director/Fellowship director at MacNeal) and John Berry, MD 

The attending physicians will outline the goals of the rotation to the fellows early during the rotation 

and provide feedback mid‐rotation and at the end of the rotation. 

58

Evaluation 






Miscellaneous 

Call: The fellow will take call daily (Monday thru Friday) from 8 AM until 5:00 PM. This will 

include all hospital calls (consults, nursing questions). Overnight call (5:00 PM until 8:00 AM will 

be handled by either Dr. Chunduri or Dr. Berry. Weekend call will be decided on the start of the 

rotation between the fellows and the individual attendings. 

Pager Numbers: Dr. Berry 708‐324‐0242; Dr. Chunduri 708‐324‐0734. The fellow will have a 

MacNeal pager which will be shared amongst the fellows 

Office Location: 6801 West 34 th Street, Berwyn 60402; 708‐484‐8400 

Outpatient: Both Drs. Chunduri and Berry generally see patients every day. Usually the fellow 

makes sure the new consults and follow up inpatients are evaluated and then proceeds to clinic. 

Clinics generally start at 8:30‐8:40 AM. Fellows will maintain their continuity clinic at the Jesse 

Brown VA while rotating at MacNeal. The fellow will be excused to attend two ½ day continuity 

clinics at UIC or the VA. For the remainder of the day the fellow shall report to MacNeal 

Hospital/UIC Cancer Center. Fellows who have 3 clinics a week will be assigned coverage for 

one of those while rotating at MacNeal. 

ID Cards: You must obtain an ID card that is issued by MacNeal. MacNeal GME will help you 

with this. 

Parking: Your MacNeal ID will allow you to get into the parking structure. Again, the GME will 

help with this. 

Medical Records: The outpatient clinic uses Cerner. All documentation must be in the chart 

within 24 hours (this is different than the main campus). MacNeal Hospital also used an EMR for 

labs and radiology reports. Currently, charts are being utilized for inpatient notes and 

consultations. 

59


General Hematology and Oncology Service 

Mercy Hospital Rotation 

The educational goals of the General Hematology and Oncology rotation at Mercy hospital are to 

(i) develop fellow’s skills in the area of comprehensive care of cancer patients and in the diagnosis and 

management of hematological disorders in both in‐patient and outpatient settings at a tertiary 

community hospital. 

(ii) Train fellows in the specifics of hematopathology, radiation oncology, blood banking and gynecology 

oncology. 


During this rotation, fellows evaluate inpatients referred to the hematology and oncology consultation 

service and patients admitted to hematology and oncology service. Patients are first evaluated by one 

medical student, resident, or fellow, then discussed when possible with the fellow, and finally presented 

formally to the attending and the rest of the team. Prior to the presentation, whenever a case is 

difficult, unusual, or challenging, fellows and residents will locate and print an article that addresses the 

problem being evaluated. 


teaching: attendings, fellows, residents, and medical students. Students, residents, and fellows present 

cases at conferences, usually presenting their own patients. Students who review the literature about 

one of their patients may present a short summary to the group. Students interested in infectious 

diseases may chose to review an antibiotic or antibiotic group and present a short summary to the 

group. Fellows teach during short lectures to the team usually when the attending is not present, for 

example on infections commonly seen on the general medicine service. Attendings teach both during 

sitting rounds (presentation of new consultations and follow‐up problems) and during walking rounds 

(at the bedside). They also present “mini‐lectures” usually on antibiotics or common infections, and 

more formal lectures on the topic of their choice. Frequently, the fellow or one member of the team will 

request a specific topic. 


The rotation at Mercy Hospital will provide fellows with exposure to a wide variety of 

hematology/oncology patients in the setting of a busy inner city, community hospital. This rotation 

provides a diverse and intensive inpatient and outpatient experience. It will allow fellows to provide 

primary care to patients and to participate in clinical research efforts in the community setting. Fellows 

are encouraged to concentrate on a specialized are of hematology or oncology. 

The strength of the Mercy Hospital rotation is that it focuses on community teaching and the patient 

population comprises of the surrounding ethnic groups. The Hematology/Oncology practice sees a 

variety of tumors and hematological conditions. A limitation of the program is the amount of BMT 

transplant conducted at the Mercy site. The base program (UIC) will provide the BMT transplants to 

patients seen at Mercy Hospital. 

60


First year fellows rotate on the Mercy hospital service for 1 month. Therefore, it is expected that they 

will develop greater and greater knowledge and skills in the field of general Hematology and Oncology. 

Fellows need also adopt the right attitudes to make this rotation successful. 

Knowledge 

Hematology and Oncology consultants are mostly called upon for their expert knowledge in the broad 

and complex field of Hematology and Oncology. “General Hematology and Oncology” includes a broad 

spectrum of hematology and oncology conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must acquire a lot of new knowledge in general hematology 

and oncology, during their Mercy rotation. Because there is much to learn, this process takes time, and 

the depth of knowledge must increase progressively. At every stage of their training, fellows need to 

challenge themselves by reading further about patients they evaluate on the service. They should 

actively look for relevant articles about any unfamiliar situation. Progressively, they must develop 

expertise at recognizing the major clinical syndromes, use anti‐neoplastic therapy effectively, and learn 

about the major pathology in some details. 



patients. They should read regularly about their patients either from the DeVita Principles and Practice 

of Oncology (available on line, with regular updates) or from review articles published frequently in 

hematology and oncology journals (such as Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood) or core internal medicine 

journals (New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, 

Journal of the American Medical Association). 




Educational Objectives: 

1. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with hematologic 

malignancies 

2. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with breast cancer 

3. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with lung cancer, 

mesothelioma or other thoracic malignancies. 

4. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with genitourinary 

malignancies 

5. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with gastrointestinal 

malignancies 

6. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with head and neck 

malignancies 

61

7. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with brain, spinal 

cord, and other rare neurologic malignancies and CNS metastatic disease 

8. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with gynecologic 

malignancies 

9. Learn diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to new and complex patients with bone and soft 

tissue sarcomas 

10. Pathology and Radiology correlations 

62

Hematology/Oncology Consults Rotation 

Mount Sinai Hospital 

Description of the Rotation: During the fellowship, fellows will rotate at Mount Sinai Hospital for an 

average of 4 weeks per year of fellowship. This rotation provides fellows the opportunity to practice 

hematology‐oncology in an true urban community hospital which has a very different patient population 

that that seen at UIC, the VA, or Mercy Hospital. Patients at Mt. Sinai are frequently non‐English 

speaking, minorities, undocumented, and lack formal health insurance. Fellows will perform inpatient 

consultations on both hematology (benign and malignant) and oncology topics on patients from all 

services (medical, surgical, Rehab, psychiatry, OB, ect). Fellows will participate in Mt. Sinai’s weekly 

Thursday tumor board and be responsible for teaching the Mt. Sinai housestaff. When time allows, 

fellows will also help out in the daily outpatient hematology oncology clinic. 

I. Educational Goals (knowledge, skills) 

The educational goals of the Mt Sinai rotation are to prepare fellows to act as qualified 

consultants in the sub‐specialty, specifically in the setting of a general hematology oncology 

consultation service at an urban community hospital. 

A. Fellow Year I: First year fellows rotate on the Mt Sinai service usually after they have had 

at least 4‐5 months of rotations at UIC and the VA. It is expected they will already have 

some knowledge of basic heme onc and how to approach a consultation and be moderately 

comfortable performing bone marrow aspiration and biopsies by the time they start here at 

Mt Sinai. 

Fellows need also adopt the right attitudes to make this rotation successful. 

1. Knowledge: while the spectrum of conditions seen at Mt. Sinai is wide and varied, 

the majority of consults will be new diagnoses of solid tumors, the continued care of 

patients with an established malignancy, anemia, thrombocytopenia, DVT/PE/other 

thrombotic events. First year fellows will be expected to read about all cases they 

are following to build their knowledge base. They should become familiar with the 

presenting signs and symptoms of various hematologic/oncologic disorders. They 

should be able to recognize a heme onc emergency and take the necessary 

immediate actions for good clinical care of the patient. They should be able to 

assemble all the clinical information on the patient and pose a potential “next best 

step” in either management or diagnosis to the attending. They should be able to 

write chemotherapy orders with some supervision. They should be familiar with the 

staging and prognosis of various malignancies and know the optimal first line 

therapies for common tumor types. 

First year fellows will cover the general UIC heme onc fellowship knowledge 

objectives (listed below) as theses specific topics arise on the Mt. Sinai consultation 

service, with emphasis on breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, head and neck cancers 

and lymphomas. The first year fellow should be moderately comfortable with the 

following knowledge objectives by the end of the rotation. 

UIC heme onc fellowship knowledge objectives: 

1. Morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of blood, marrow, lymphatic tissue, and the spleen 

63

2. Basic molecular and pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapy of diseases of the 

blood, including anemias, diseases of white cells, and disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis 

3. Etiology, epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, pathology, staging, and management of 


4. Immune markers, immunophenotyping, cytochemical studies, and cytogenetic and DNA analysis 

of neoplastic disorders 

5. Molecular mechanisms of neoplasia, including the nature of oncogenes and their products 

6. Chemotherapeutic drugs, biologic products, and growth factors and their mechanisms of action, 

pharmacokinetics, clinical indications, and limitations, including their effects, toxicity, and 

interactions 

7. Multiagent chemotherapy protocols and combined modality therapy in the treatment of 


8. Principles and application of surgery and radiation therapy in the treatment of neoplastic 

disorders 

9. Management of the neutropenic and/or immunocompromised patient 

10. Effects of systemic disorders, infections, solid tumors, and drugs on the blood, blood‐forming 

organs, and lymphatic tissues 

11. Indications and application of imaging techniques in patients with blood and neoplastic 

disorders 

12. Pathophysiology and patterns of solid tumor metastases 

13. Principles of gynecologic oncology 

14. Pain management in the cancer patient 

15. Rehabilitation and psychosocial management of patients with hematologic and neoplastic 

disorders 

16. Hospice and home care for the cancer patient 

17. Recognition and management of paraneoplastic disorders 

18. The etiology of cancer, including predisposing causal factors leading to neoplasia 

19. Cancer prevention and screening 

20. Leading an active multidisciplinary tumor board 

21. Personal development, attitudes, and coping skills of physicians and other health‐care 

professionals who care for critically ill patients 

22. Human immunodeficiency virus‐related and other immunodeficient states associated 

malignancies 

23. Management of chemotherapy related toxicities including nausea and vomiting, neuropathy, 

and fatigue 

2. Skills: It is expected that 1 st year fellows already be moderately comfortable with 

bone marrow aspiration and biopsy procedures by the time they rotate at Mt. Sinai. 

Other general UIC heme onc fellowship core skills (listed below) will be covered as 

these procedures arise on the Mt. Sinai consultation service. The first year fellow 

should be moderately comfortable with the following skills by the end of the 

rotation. 

UIC heme onc fellowship skill set: 

1. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, including preparation, staining, 

examination, and interpretation of blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, and 

touch preparations and interpretation of bone marrow biopsies. 

64

2. Measurement of the complete blood count, including platelets and white cell 

differential, using automated or manual techniques with appropriate quality 

control. 

3. Administration of chemotherapeutic agents and biological response modifiers 

through all therapeutic routes. 





8. Lumbar puncture and administration of intrathecal chemotherapy 

B. Fellow Year II: Second year fellows rotate on the Mt Sinai service for 4‐6 weeks. As they 

have completed at least one year of training in heme onc, it is expected that they now have 

a greater knowledge and skill set than year 1. 

1. Knowledge: Second year fellows will be expected to know the evidence behind major 

therapeutic interventions for the common tumor types seen at Mt Sinai (i.e. breast, 

lung, colorectal, head and neck, and lymphoma). They will be expected to present at 

tumor board and give lectures to the housestaff on various topics in heme onc when 

asked. They should be able to propose a management plan for the patient independent 

of discussion with the attending. They should be able to write chemotherapy orders 

with minimal supervision or edits by the attending. They should be comfortable 

discussing end of life issues with patients and their families. They should become 

familiar with rarer tumor types and clinical scenarios (i.e. neuroendocrine tumor, acute 

leukemia, sarcomas). They should be familiar with the treatment of relapsed/refractory 

malignancies and identify patients appropriate for clinical trial. 

Second year fellows will cover the general UIC heme onc fellowship knowledge objectives 

(listed above) as theses specific topics arise on the Mt. Sinai consultation service, with 

emphasis on breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, head and neck cancers and lymphomas. The 

first year fellow should be very comfortable with the above knowledge objectives by the 

end of the rotation. 

2. Skills: It is expected that 2nd year fellows be very comfortable with bone marrow 

aspiration and biopsy procedures by the time they rotate at Mt. Sinai. They should also 

be moderately comfortable with lumbar puncture and the administration of intrathecal 

chemotherapy. Other general UIC heme onc fellowship core skills (listed above) will be 

covered as these procedures arise on the Mt. Sinai consultation service. The second 

year fellow should be very comfortable with the above skills by the end of the rotation. 

C. Fellow Year III: Third year fellows rotate on the Mt Sinai service for 4 weeks. As they have 

completed at least two years of training in heme onc, it is expected that they are very 

knowledgeable in the diagnosis and management of a patient with malignancy. 

1. Knowledge: They will be expected to take on a greater teaching role to housestaff and 

be able to supervise procedures. They will be able to implement a management plan that 

follows the standard of care and practice evidence based medicine with minimal supervision 

65

from the attending. They will be able to write chemotherapy orders that are error free. 

They should have an even more extensive knowledge of rarer tumor types and treatment of 

relapsed/refractory malignancies. They should be able to perform as a heme onc consultant 

almost completely independently from the attending. 

Third year fellows will cover the general UIC heme onc fellowship knowledge objectives 

(listed above) as theses specific topics arise on the Mt. Sinai consultation service, with 

emphasis on breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, head and neck cancers and lymphomas. The 

first year fellow should be proficient with the above knowledge objectives by the end of the 

rotation. 

2. Skills: It is expected that 3nd year fellows be proficient with bone marrow aspiration 

and biopsy procedures by the time they rotate at Mt. Sinai. They should also be very 

comfortable with lumbar puncture and the administration of intrathecal chemotherapy. 

They should be able to instruct and supervise housestaff in the performance of these 

procedures successfully. Other general UIC heme onc fellowship core skills (listed 

above) will be covered as these procedures arise on the Mt. Sinai consultation service. 

The third year fellow should be proficient with the following skills by the end of the 

rotation. 


A. Teaching Methods / Clinical Encounters: 

At Mt Sinai, fellows will evaluate patients referred to the hematology oncology 

consultation service with a wide variety of benign hematology, malignant hematology, 

and solid tumor cases. There will be 1‐2 Mt. Sinai residents also on the service who will 

help the fellow see consults. The fellow will see consults independent of the resident if it 

is very busy and the resident will discuss cases he/she sees with the fellow before 

attending rounds. Prior to the presentation, whenever a case is difficult, unusual, or 

challenging, fellows and residents will locate and print an article that addresses the 

problem being evaluated. 

Rounds are conducted with the attending on service at the bedside and teaching can 

occur at the bedside on PM rounds or during the day in clinic. Fellows will usually be 

asked to present at tumor board at least once during their 4 week rotation and may be 

asked to give a noon conference on a topic in heme onc to the Mt. Sinai Internal 

Medicine residents. 

B. Patient Characteristics / Disease Mix: 

The large advantage and unique aspect the Mt Sinai rotation brings to the UIC 

hematology oncology fellowship is the patient mix. Most patients are Hispanic, African 

American, or another minority. Many are non‐English speaking, undocumented, have no 

formal health insurance, and lack familial and social support. Some may be homeless. 

Providing quality cancer care to this marginalized group of patients is the mission of Mt. 

Sinai; here fellows learn how to provide excellent care to people despite their race or 

socioeconomic status. Given their lack of access of healthcare and screening, many 

patients seen here have much more advanced disease than seen at UIC or other sites 

fellows rotate at. Fellows will learn how to communicate with patients about sensitive 

issues such as the diagnosis of cancer, end of life issues, pain control, keeping in mind 

their cultural and educational barriers to understanding. 

66

C. Procedures/Skills: As listed above, the UIC Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program 

provides the opportunity to gain competence or expertise in the performance and (where 

applicable) interpretation of the following: 

1. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, including preparation, staining, examination, 

and interpretation of blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, and touch 

preparations and interpretation of bone marrow biopsies. 

2. Measurement of the complete blood count, including platelets and white cell 

differential, using automated or manual techniques with appropriate quality 

control. 

3. Administration of chemotherapeutic agents and biological response modifiers 

through all therapeutic routes. 





8. Lumbar puncture and administration of intrathecal chemotherapy 

Heme onc fellows will be expected to be able to explain to patient undergoing 

any procedure the risks and benefits, alternatives to procedures, reason for 

performance of procedure, and to obtain informed consent for any invasive 

procedure including the administration of oral or intravenous chemotherapy. 

D. Faculty Supervision 

Fellows will be supervised by Mt. Sinai heme onc attending Dr. Pam Khosla (section chief) 

and Dr. Keith Schulman. The attending physicians will outline the goals of the rotation to 

the fellows early during the rotation and provide feedback mid‐rotation and at the end of 

the rotation. Importantly, they will report to the Program Director any significant 

problem that is identified so that early corrective action can be implemented. They will 

complete a formal evaluation through the “New Innovations” software in a timely 

manner once they receive a request via e‐mail. 

E. Methods of evaluation 

At the end of the rotation, the attending physician will receive a “New Innovation” formal 

evaluation form by e‐mail and will complete this evaluation within a reasonable time. The 

New innovation evaluation form allows documentation of the fellow competency 

(competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, professionalism, and interpersonal and 

communication skills). The evaluation should be discussed with the fellow at the end of 

the rotation. 

Fellows will also complete an attending evaluation trough New Innovations. Fellows 

should ask residents or students who have rotated with them at Mt Sinai for feedback as 

well, especially in regards to their teaching abilities. 

F. Attitudes / Behaviors 

67


treatment and the prevention of hematologic diseases and malignacies. They must communicate 




support patient care decisions; provide immunization advice and counseling about preventing the 

spread and acquisition of infectious diseases; work with health care professionals, including those from 

other disciplines, to provide patient‐focused care. Given the patient population at Mt. Sinai, fellows 

must be even more sensitive to barriers to knowledge or understanding i.e. education level or language 

barriers. Fellows should make every effort to use an official interpreter every time they encounter a 

non‐English speaking patient, including but not limited to taking the history, discussing diagnoses, 

therapies, procedures. Fellows should make sure non‐English speaking patients have 

information/resources in the patient’s native language available on various malignant conditions and 

chemotherapy drugs that will be given. 


of hematology oncology, and apply this knowledge to patient care. 




patients’ diagnosis; apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical 



the learning of students and other health care professionals. 




infectious disease consultation team. 





age, gender, and disabilities. 




care, and assist patients in dealing with system complexities. At Mt Sinai, fellows will learn the obstacles 

and solutions to deliver quality cancer care to uninsured patients. 

68

G. Resources 

1. Education Books: Each year ASH and ASCO publish review articles prepared by the 

chairs of the Education sessions at the annual meetings of the societies. The ASH 

Education book, Hematology is referenced in PubMed. Links are available on the 

Societies’ website. 

2. ASH‐SAP: Provided by ASH to all first year fellows, and when new editions are 

published a copy is provided to all current fellows. Available online for free to all 

fellows in UIC’s heme onc program 2010‐2011 (the program has signed each fellow up 

for this online access). This is an excellent review material as well as a source for an 

excellent annotated bibliography in hematology. 

3. ASCO‐SEP: Medical Oncology Self‐Assessment Program, available for purchase. 

4. Textbook: Hoffman‐ Hematology‐ Basic Principles and Practices 

5. Textbook: Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology: available in UIC outpatient clinic. 

6. Useful websites: The American Society of Hematology and the American Society of 

Clinical Oncology maintain websites that address educational needs and pertinent 

curricular issues for trainees in Hematology and Medical Oncology. Both sites provide 

a detailed curriculum and prioritized reading list. 

7. www.nccn.org 

The National Cancer Center Network provides an extensive and frequently updated 

set of evidence‐based guidelines for the management of wide variety of human 

malignancies. National Cancer Institute provides general information related to 

cancer. This range of information includes patient care guidelines for the common 

tumors, basic biology of tumorigenesis, update of current trials, and research funding 

opportunities 

8. www.chemoregimen.com 

List of common chemotherapy regimens for wide variety of tumors with references 

9. https://hccapps.musc.edu/hemonc/carboplatin_dose_calculator.htm 

Carboplatin dose calculator 

10. www.adjuvantonline.com 

The purpose of Adjuvant! is to help health professionals and patients with early 

cancer discuss the risks and benefits of getting additional therapy (adjuvant therapy: 

usually chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or both) after surgery. 

H. Conferences at Mt. Sinai: may change periodically, check with the attendings when you 

start the rotation. Fellows are expected to attend or participate in the following 

educational experiences. 

69

1. Tumor Board Thursday: Noon‐1pm 

2. Medicine Resident, heme onc Lecture 3 rd Tuesday: Noon‐1pm 

3. Visiting Lecture Mon or Tues, once a month 

4. Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Conference 3 rd Monday: 1‐1:30pm 

I. Nuts and Bolts of Mt. Sinai Rotation 

Location: Mount Sinai 

Duration: 4 to 6 weeks per year, fellows are expected to arrive at 8:30am 

Call: The fellow assigned to this rotation is on first call Monday‐Friday and rounds one day of the 

weekend (either Sat or Sun, depending on which day the on service attending wants off). Dr. Khosla 

generally prefers to have the fellow round Sat and she rounds Sun. Dr. Hire generally prefers to round 

on Sat and have the fellow round Sun. This should be confirmed with them at the beginning of the 

rotation. 

Hospital floors: 

Main floor: ER, cafeteria 

2 nd floor SICU, Surg stepdown; surgical and gyn patients on 2N 

3 rd Floor Gen Med pts; radiology 

4 th Floor Peds, L&D 

5 th Floor Telemetry,Gen Med, Mother/Baby 

6 th Floor Gen Med, Oncology pts (in‐pt chemo only on 6N); Psych 

8 th Floor MICU/CCU; Heme lab 

9 th Floor Internal medicine offices 

Attendings: 

Dr. Pam Khosla MSH pager 1699 

Dr. Erwin Hire MSH pager 1251 

Dr. Keith Schulman 

Description 

The fellow, together with the medical resident (and medical student if present), will be responsible for 

all new consults and follow‐up patients on the service. It is desirable that the fellow provide team 

leadership, direction, and teaching to the junior team members. The rotation at Mt. Sinai Hospital will 

provide fellows with exposure to a wide variety of hematology/oncology patients in the setting of a busy 

inner city community hospital. This rotation provides a varied and intensive inpatient and outpatient 

experience and will allow the fellow to provide care to these patients. 

The fellow works with the Mt Sinai resident/s, and medical students. Patients are either consults (fill out 

consult sheets found in the fellow’s office/on the patient’s floor) or clinic patients of the attendings 

(followed by medicine residents in house, but a note needs to be written on them by the heme onc 

consult team every day, even on weekends). Daily notes are written on the consult patients and rounds 

are done daily with the attending. There is no inpatient oncology service. Consults are called to the 

fellow or Attending by Medicine office (x6552), or by the floor team. Use a consult sheet to record the 

70

H&P. All charting at Sinai is paper. Labs, reports, and dictated consults appear on a computerized 

system, Meditech. Orders have recently been made electronic through Meditech and need to be 

entered by the primary service or you can ask the Sinai resident rotating with you to enter orders. 

Occasionally you will have a consult at Schwab Rehabilitation center, which is across the street from the 

hospital. 

The average inpatient load for the team is 10‐15 patients, and 15‐20 patients in the outpatient clinic. 

Case and Pathology Mix: 

Inpatient‐ 30% 

Outpatient‐ 70% 

Solid Tumors‐70% 

Liquid Tumors ‐10% 

Benign Hematology‐ 20% 

Fellows are expected to participate in the Mt. Sinai clinics. Both Drs. Khosla and Hire generally see clinic 

patients every day and see new consults with you and the team in between their outpatients or after 

clinic. Check with the attending on service how they want you to split your time between the in‐ and 

outpatients. Usually the fellow makes sure the new consults and follow up inpatients are taken care of, 

then goes to clinic to see if the attending needs help with seeing outpatients. They may occasionally 

page your to come help out in clinic if there is an interesting pt or if it gets very busy down there. 

Fellows will maintain their continuity clinic at the Jesse Brown VA while rotating at Sinai. The fellow will 

be excused from Mt. Sinai to attend two ½ day continuity clinics at UIC or the VA. For the remainder of 

the day the fellow shall report to Mt. Sinai Hospital. Fellows who have 3 clinics a week will be assigned 

coverage for one of those while rotating at Sinai. 

* Baring the continuity clinic or program directors approved absence, any and all time off needs prior 

approval from Sinai Health System’s fellowship site director, Pam Khosla, MD. 

ID Cards: You must obtain an ID card that is issued by Mt. Sinai; you can request one through the 

Medicine office (9th floor x6552). 

Parking: You also hold the Sinai parking card which is required for entry and exit; pass this to next fellow 

with sign‐out and key to the office on 3 rd floor. Beware, the parking lot fills up by 9am and you will then 

need to use the Valet services on the roof, if you can’t find a space. Valet service is free. 

Offices: Offices are located on the third floor‐ take the B elevators (from the entrance, that’s all the way 

down the main hallway and to your right). Make a Left when you get off the elevators and walk past an 

intersecting hallway. You will see offices on your right hand side. There is no private fellows office, but 

we have access to an office K351 (last door on the right, next to the fire exit), shared with the clinical 

trials staff, to store belongings. This office is adjacent to the Attending office on the 3rd floor of Kurtzon 

Building 

71

You will be responsible for holding the key, pager, and parking access card and passing it to next fellow 

on service with sign‐out. 

IMPORTANT SCHEDULING INFORMATION 

To schedule an inpatient bone marrow biopsy, call the Heme lab 6783 the day before to schedule. You 

MUST pre‐order the bone marrow tray, syringes, gloves, lidocaine, and heparin under patient’s Doctor’s 

Orders to be at the bedside for the procedure the next morning. The bone marrow techs work 9‐11am 

only. MSH heme path requests 3 tubes of aspirate; first pull un‐heparinized 1cc for slides, 2nd pull 

heparinized 2.5cc, 3rd pull heparinized 2.5cc 

Outpatient bone marrows: Traditionally the fellow as done all the outpatient bone marrows. These are 

set up by the clinic MA’s and they will page you when the patient is ready. They will take care of 

notifying the tech and bringing all the supplies. 

72

Blood Bank/ Transfusion Medicine Rotation 


Description 

The blood bank/transfusion medicine rotation provides the hematology/oncology fellow exposure to a 

wide array of problems encountered by personnel within an active blood bank service. The laboratory 

evaluation of patients with various types of blood disorders will be learned during this rotation. In 

addition, the fellow will learn techniques of therapeutic apheresis and will gain understanding in the 

principles of stem cell pheresis. It is the fellow’s responsibility to maximize the benefit you gain from 

this experience. A great deal of independent reading is required of the fellow. 

Dr. Sally Campbell‐ Lee will coordinate the Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine rotation. The Blood 

Bank/Transfusion Medicine laboratory supplies blood components, plasma derivatives and tissues to the 

hospital clinical departments. Basic and advanced immunohematologic procedures are performed to 

provide the most suitable blood components. The Blood Donor and Hemotherapy Center provides 

clinical and donor apheresis services as well as therapeutic apheresis consultations. 

During the three years of fellowship, the fellow will rotate for 2 weeks on blood bank/Transfusion 

medicine, usually during the 1 st year. 

I. Educational Goals (knowledge, skills): The following topics are available in Blood 

Bank/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Syllabus; Referenced Chapters refer to the main 

reference material: Technical Manual, most recent edition, American Association of Blood 

Banks (AABB); ask the blood bank fellow on service at the time of your rotation for access 

A. Knowledge 

1. BLOOD DONATION AND COLLECTION: 

Demonstrate knowledge of current eligibility criteria for blood donors 

List all donor screening tests required by FDA 

Understand current donor reentry algorithims 

Contrast eligibility requirements for allogeneic and autologous donors 

2. Immunohematology: 

a. RED CELL BLOOD GROUP ANTIGENS AND ANTIBODIES (Chapter 13 – 15) 

Describe the genes coding for antigens in the ABO system 

Describe the characteristics of anti‐A and Anti‐B antibodies 

Describe the Bombay phenotype and its clinical significance 

Demonstrate ability to distinguish clinically significant from insignificant RBC specific antibodies 

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Become proficient in evaluating patients with immune mediated and non immune mediated 

hemolytic anemia and in the testing and transfusion management of these patients 

b. Identification of red cell alloantibodies (Chapter 19): 

Demonstrate knowledge of specialized test methods in immunohematology including elution, 

absorption and use of enzymes 

Interpret difficult antibody panels including those containing multiple Alloantibodies, 

autoantibodies and antibodies to high frequency antigens 

c. PLATELET SPECIFIC ANTIGENS AND ANTIBODIES (Chapter 16): 

List three platelet antigens that are of clinical significance 

Describe two methods used in detecting platelet antibodies 

3. BLOOD BANK METHODS: 

Pre‐transfusion testing (Chapter 18): 

List three sample labeling requirements for samples submitted for pre‐transfusion testing 

Describe the purpose and methods used in ABO forward and reverse typing 

Describe the method used for routine testing for D antigen 

Describe the method used for the detection of unexpected antibodies to red cell antigens 

Describe two types of crossmatch method used and the conditions under which a method is 

selected 

List three differences in pre‐transfusion testing requirements for infants comparing to adults 

Transfusion reaction work‐up: 

Show detailed knowledge of the clinical evaluation of transfusion reactions and related testing 

and management 

4. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: 

Component transfusion: 

Describe the indication and dosage of red cell transfusion for adult and pediatric patients 

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Describe the indication and dosage of platelet transfusion for adult and pediatric patients 

Describe the indications and dosage FFP and cryoprecipitated AHF 

Describe the indications and dosage of granulocytes 

Describe the indications washed red cells/platelets, irradiated red cells/platelets, leukoreduced 

red cells/platelets and CMV‐seronegative red cells/platelets 

Describe the indication and dosage for Rh immunoglobulin (IM and IV formulations) 

Review the process of five emergency release of blood products investigations 

Platelet issues: 

Describe the clinical and laboratory features, and management of Neonatal Alloimmune 

Thrombocytopenia (NAIT) 

List four non‐immune related causes for platelet refractoriness 

Describe the role of HLA antibodies in platelet transfusion 

Describe three strategies in preventing immune‐mediated platelet refractoriness 

Describe three steps in diagnosing immune‐mediated platelet refractoriness 

Describe three strategies for managing patient with immune‐mediated platelet refractoriness 

Transfusion reactions: 

Evaluate and provide interpretation for twenty transfusion reaction work‐ups 

Describe the clinical and laboratory features, and management of acute hemolytic transfusion 

reactions, delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, septic transfusion reactions, severe allergic 

transfusion reactions, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion related fluid 

overload, non‐hemolytic febrile reaction and mild allergic transfusion reactions 

Describe the clinical/laboratory features, prevention and management of transfusion associated 

graft verses host disease (TaGVHD). 

Describe the clinical/laboratory features, prevention and management of transfusion associated 

CMV infection 

Describe the clinical and laboratory features, and management of Post‐Transfusion Purpura 

(PTP) 

5. Apheresis 

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Know three techniques used for separation of blood components for component collection and 

therapeutic applications using apheresis 

Know eight common indications for therapeutic plasmapheresis 

Describe three advantages/ three disadvantages of using each of the following replacement fluid in 

plasmapheresis: crystalloids, albumin and fresh frozen plasma 

Define the five major clinical features associated with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic 

Purpura (TTP) 

Describe three features useful in differential diagnosis of TTP vs. DIC. 

Know three indications for emergency leukopheresis 

List three indications for emergency red blood cell exchange transfusion for sickle cell patients 

List four common adverse reactions (and management) associated with apheresis 

6. Stem Cell Processing (AABB Technical Manual Chapters 29 and 30) 

Know some of the current indications for allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic progentior 

cell (HPC) transplant 

Be familiar with HPC‐A vs HPC‐C vs HPC‐M selection criteria (apheresis, cord blood or marrow) 

Understand the role of HLA compatibility and donor CMV status in allogeneic donor selection 

Be familiar with the allogeneic donor screening questionnaire (current version available at 

http://www.factwebsite.org/main.aspx?id=241) and FDA HPC donor requirements 

(http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/tissdonor.pdf) 

Develop familiarity with infectious disease testing requirements for HPC products and 

understand differences between testing for HPC products and blood components 

Understand why and how the CD34 antigen is used in processing HPC products 

Know the potential problems that can occur with ABO and Rh incompatible HPC transplants; 

including engraftment impact and blood component usage impact 

Recognize the different storage methods (liquid refrigeration, liquid nitrogen storage) and the 

impact of donor type (auto vs allo), donor disease testing results, and other factors on decisions 

made regarding storage and shipping of HPC products (for example, liquid vs vapor phase in 

liquid nitrogen storage). 

Understand the thawing and infusion process of HPC products 

Develop familiarity with quality assurance of HPC products, including CD34 cell counts, microbial 

cultures, colony forming cell assays, tumor cell detection and engraftment data 

HLA Laboratory (AABB Technical Manual Chapter 19) 

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Learn the differences between HLA Class I and Class II antigens and understand basic 

information on the patterns of inheritance 

Understand what is meant by “splits”, crossreactive groups, and public vs private antigens 

Learn about the current molecular, serologic and cellular assays used to identify HLA antigens 

and the clinical applications of each method 

Understand adverse events of transfusion mediated by the HLA system (TRALI, platelet 

refractoriness, TA‐GVHD, FNHTR) 

B. Skills: 

1. Under supervision of the attending, participate in the care and medical management of patients 

undergoing therapeutic apheresis. 

2. Under supervision of the attending, participate in the care and management of donors who 

experience adverse events associated with donation. 

3. Under supervision of the attending, participate in the care and medical management 

of patients undergoing transfusion or medication infusion. 

4. Under supervision of the attending, assist in the assessment of donor eligibility 

5. Under supervision of the attending, obtain informed consent of patients to be transfused 

6. Under supervision of the attending, obtain informed consent of patients for therapeutic apheresis 

procedures. 


Competencies 

Graduate Medical Education involves the development of competency as a physician in six areas: Patient 

Care, Medical Knowledge, Professionalism, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Practice Based 

Learning and Improvement, and Systems Based Practice. 

Patient Care 

The fellow must demonstrate a satisfactory level of diagnostic competence and the ability to provide 

appropriate and effective care in the context of Pathology services. The fellow is expected to: 

Develop a diagnosis or differential diagnosis for specimens referred to the service. 

Gather essential and accurate information from the medical record and health care providers 

(and patients, as appropriate), including patient, family, and clinical histories, clinical findings, 

medication, occupational and toxin exposures, etc., as necessary for interpretation of 

specimens. 

Explain and demonstrate the role of the Blood Bank Medical Director in promoting and ensuring 

patient safety. 

Medical Knowledge 

The fellow must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and 

cognate (e.g., epidemiological and social‐behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to 

Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine. The fellow is expected to: 

77

Demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical and pathologic 

problems. 

Apply the basic and clinically supportive sciences appropriate to Blood Banking/Transfusion 

Medicine. 

Practice‐based Learning and Improvement 

The fellow must be able to demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate his/her diagnostic and 

consultative practices, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and improve individual care practices. 

The fellow is expected to: 

Analyze practice experience and perform practice‐based improvement activities using a 

systematic methodology. 

Locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to Blood Bank issues / 

problems. 

Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical and 

pathologic studies. 

Facilitate the learning of students, other health care professionals, patients, and patients’ 

families. 

Formulate and support patient care decisions, using information technology to: 

o Gather patient data. 

o Find literature support. 

o Document decisions, recommendations, and reports. 

Manage patient information, access on‐line medical information, and support education of 

other health‐care providers, patients, students, and self, using information technology. 

Contribute to scholarly activity through involvement in research projects, literature 

searches/clinical correlation, journal clubs, case studies, etc. 

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 

The fellow must be able to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective 

relationships, information exchange and learning with other health care providers, patients, and 

patients’ families. The fellow is expected to: 

Obtain information using effective nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing techniques. 

Communicate effectively when interacting with others, including communication of test results, 

reports, and consultations 

78

Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with health care providers, 

patients, and patients’ families. 

Work effectively with others as a member of a health care team to provide patient‐focused care. 

Professionalism 

The fellow must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to 

ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population. 

The fellow is expected to: 

Demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity. 

Exhibit responsiveness to the needs of patients and society that supersedes self‐interest. 

Display accountability to patients, society, and the profession. 

o Describe the importance of confidentiality, particularly applied to pathology clinical 

practice and research issues 

Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender, and disabilities. 

Demonstrate a commitment to excellence and on‐going professional development. 

Perform duties consistently in a dependable, responsible manner. 

Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles in clinical care and business practices. 

Systems‐based Practice 

The fellow must demonstrate an awareness and responsiveness to the larger context and systems of 

health care and the ability to call on system resources to provide pathology services that are of optimal 

value. The fellow is expected to: 

Outline the role of the Blood Bank Medical Director and other laboratory professionals in the 

patient management team. 

o Describe how his or her professional practices affect other health care professionals, the 

health care organization, and the larger society and how these elements of the system 

affect their own practice. 

Compare and contrast health care delivery systems. 

Compare and contrast methods of controlling health care costs and allocating resources. 

79

Practice cost‐effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of 

care. 

Advocate for quality patient care. 

Form effective partnerships with health care managers and health care providers to assess, 

coordinate, and improve health care. 

Describe how these activities can affect system performance. 

Demonstrate knowledge of institution‐specific policies, procedures, and requirements for 

patient care. 

Educational Materials: The University of Illinois Blood Bank is stocked with a number of texts focusing 

on hemostatic disorders. In addition, the University of Illinois Health Library has a number of journals 

focusing on hemostatic disorders. The University Health Library has a number of journals focusing on 

blood bank and coagulation concerns. 

Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Syllabus 

Referenced Chapters refer to the main reference material: Technical Manual, most recent 

edition, American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) 

Evaluation Method: After each rotation the fellow and attending are required to meet and discuss the 

fellow’s progress. The chief fellow or program director will receive feedback from Dr. Campbell‐Lee 

regarding the fellow’s performance. A formal evaluation is also filled out each month through New 

Innovations. Daily attendance is mandatory during this rotation and attendance will count towards a 

large portion of the evaluation. 

Conferences: 

Clinical pathology rounds (Fridays at 12 noon) 

Hematology Grand Rounds (Tuesdays, 12 noon, room 3175 COMRB) 

Biweekly Blood Bank Manager and Supervisor meetings (every other Thursday at 3pm) 

Biweekly Blood Donor and Hemotherapy Center Manager and Supervisor meetings (alternate 

Thursdays at 11am) 

Monthly Transfusion Medicine Continuing Education conference (3 rd Thursday, 3pm) 

Quarterly QA meeting 

Quarterly Transfusion Practices Committee meetings 

80

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 

2:30 Stem Cell 

Planning 

Meeting 

Oncology conf 

room, 1 st floor 

Outpatient 

center 

Hematology 

Grand Rounds 

12 noon 

2:00 PM 

Renal 

Transplant 

Planning 

Meeting 

515CSN 

81 

BB 

Manager/Supervisor 

Meeting, every other 

Thursday 3pm 

(unless CME conf) 

CP Rounds 

12 noon

Hematology Pathology Rotation 



The educational goals of the Hematology Pathology rotation at UIH are to prepare fellows to act as 

qualified sub‐specialty physicians in the setting of reviewing peripheral blood smears and bone marrow 

biopsies/aspirate and diagnosing various hematologic disorders/diseases based on histologic data. 

Hematopathology provides diagnostic evaluation of blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen and 

hematolymphoid lesions. Fellows should display competency in the reviewing slides and making 

diagnosis based on morphologic appearance of cells. 

Fellow Year 1, 2, and 3: 

Fellows will typically have 1 month of dedicated hematopathology during each year of their fellowship. 

They should be familiar with basic disease pathology and continue to sharpen skills and be able to 

identify increasingly complex disease morphologies. 

Knowledge 

The fellows should be able to incorporate traditional microscopy with ancillary techniques including 

general laboratory values, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and molecular diagnostic tests to 

make the most accurate diagnosis. 

Skills 

Fellows must continue to perfect their skills throughout their fellowship. Fellows should be able to 

prepare peripheral blood smears, obtain and evaluate bone marrow biopsies and bone marrow aspirate 

and analyze laboratory values immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and molecular diagnostic tests. 


Will be learned throughout the three years of fellowship 

Basic Principles of Hematopathology 

1. Identify the various hematopoietic cells that originate from the bone marrow and cellular 

components of blood including: 

a. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) 

b. White blood cells (leukocytes) 

c. Platelets 

2. Utilize different labs techniques in the diagnosis and management of patients’ diseases 

a. Immunohistochemistry 

b. Flow Cytometry 

c. Molecular diagnostics 

3. Identify the following disorders 

a. RBC disorders 

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Resources 

i. Hypochromic microcytic anemia on smear 

ii. Hypersegmented neutrophil with megaloblastic anemia on smear 

iii. Schistocytes (fragmented rbc’s) on smear 

iv. Cbc with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) 

v. Howell‐Jolly bodies in red blood cell on smear 

vi. Spherocytes 

vii. Basophilic stippling in red blood cells on smear 

viii. Atypical lymphocytes on smear 

ix. Pelger‐Huet anomaly on smear 

x. Sickle cell anemia 

b. Leukemias 

i. Acute lymphocytic leukemia in marrow and on smear 

ii. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in marrow and on smear 

iii. Acute myeloblastic leukemia in marrow and on smear 

iv. Chronic myelogenous leukemia in marrow and on smear 

c. Lymphomas 

i. Hodgkin Lymphoma 

ii. Non‐Hodgkin’s Lymphomas 

1. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma 

2. Follicular Lymphoma 

3. Marginal Zone Lymphoma 

4. Mantle Cell Lymphoma 

5. Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma 

6. Burkitt’s Lymphoma 

7. Lymphoblastic Lymphoma 

8. AIDS‐Related B‐Cell Lymphoma 

9. Peripheral T‐Cell Lymphoma 

10. Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome 

11. Primary Cutaneous B‐Cell Lymphoma 

12. Adult T‐Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 

d. Myeloma 

i. Multiple Myeloma 

ii. Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis 

Hematology.org 

‐American Society of Hematology website 

‐Provides up to date information on how to evaluate and treat basic diseases 

library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/.../HEMEIDX.htm 

‐ Image database to aid in understanding/describing basic pathology 

83

Research Rotation 


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR RESEARCH ROTATIONS 

1. PATIENT CARE 

a. Makes accurate and informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions 

b. Communicates effectively and demonstrates caring and respectful behavior when interacting 

with patients and families 

c. Responds to emergency situations and/or changes in the condition of the patient 

d. Provides healthcare services aimed at preventing problems and maintaining health 

2. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE 

a. Demonstrates an understanding of basic science and its relationship to hematology and oncology 

b. Demonstrates an investigatory and analytical thinking approach to research. 

c. Understands how the basic and clinically supportive sciences apply to the discipline of 

hematology and oncology. 

3. INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

a. Uses effective verbal and non‐verbal skills when gathering information or communicating 

research findings to others 

b. Uses effective writing and documentation skills 

c. Conducts clinical presentations with clarity and quality 

4. PROFESSIONALISM 

a. Demonstrates respect and commitment to ethical principles in research. 

b. Demonstrates sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural, age, gender and disability issues 

c. Acknowledges errors, accepts criticism 

5. SYSTEMS‐BASED PRACTICE 

a. Adheres to departmental and hospital rules and regulations 

b. Utilizes resources effectively and systematically to enhance research and improve patient care 

6. PRACTICE‐BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT 

a. Attends conferences promptly 

b. Identifies areas for self‐improvement, takes initiative for own education 

c. Analyzes practice experience and performs practice based improvement activities using a 

systematic methodology 

d. Locates, appraises and assimilates evidence from scientific studies related to hematology and 

oncology 

e. Uses information technology to manage information, access on line medical information and 

support their own education 

84

f. Facilitates the learning of students and other healthcare professionals 

Research requirements: 

All fellows are required to develop a basic understanding and comply with the current rules for basic 

and clinical research. In our program fellows spend up to 18 months developing and managing a 

research project usually involving basic or clinical research. 

After selecting one research mentor usually during their first year, fellows decide with their mentor 

what project(s) they will pursue in the second year of the fellowship. The research project may be a 

clinical research project, a basic research project or a translational research project. 

The second and third years of training are focused on research and scholarly activities. The structure 

during these years is individualized to accommodate the fellow’s research interests and career goals. 

During these years, the fellow spends most of their time engaged in research, under the mentorship of a 

faculty member, while continuing a longitudinal outpatient clinic experience. At UIC, there are many 

opportunities for cancer‐related clinical, transitional, or basic research with the section of Hematology 

and Oncology. Most importantly, fellows may pursue cancer related research in other departments or 

sections within the School of Medicine, and have access to a broad array of research projects in clinical, 

basis, or transitional arenas. 

Fellows learn how to design and conduct clinical trials. Fellows are encouraged to take an active role in 

clinical research by developing and implementing the treatment of patients in clinics and enrolling them 

in protocols. 

It is expected that the research project will lead either to a presentation at a national hematology or 

oncology conference or to publication in a peer‐reviewed medical journal 

Educational Goals 

This rotation stresses the core competencies of Medical Knowledge, Practice‐based learning and 

Professionalism. The purpose is to provide a well‐rounded research experience for the hematology‐ 

oncology fellow. The goal is to have the fellow complete at least a research project during the training 

program and through conferences to expose the fellows to additional ongoing projects. In this fashion, 

they will learn scientific methodology and statistics, which will enable critical reading and analytical 

thought throughout his/her career. 

This exposure to research may also stimulate the fellow to obtain further specific post fellowship 

research training in order to pursue basic or clinical research as part of a career. 

Fellows during their second and third years of fellowship have enough protected time to learn how to 

design and complete either clinical or bench research that is relevant to hematology or oncology field. In 

our fellowship, there are opportunities for both clinical research and lab research. 

85

Fellows should select a research mentor during their first year of fellowship. It is useful to look at every 

faculty experience and research activities, and identify an area of interest within these activities or at 

least related to these activities. Once a mentor is considered, fellows should meet with him / her and 

ask as many questions as necessary to decide whether this mentor would be a good fit for their research 

interests. Once a mentor and fellow decide to work together on a project, both should notify the 

program director and the program coordinator. It is expected that the mentor will be responsible for 

monitoring all the fellow’s research activities during the fellowship years. 


Knowledge 

Research projects are started in the first year or early second year. Reading about the state of 

knowledge in the area of research being considered is encouraged during the first year. 

Skills 

Fellows in the first year of their fellowship must select a research mentor and if possible a research 

project at least 3 months before the end of the first year. 

Fellow Year 2 and 3 

Knowledge 

Fellows are expected to conduct their research projects and become experts within their specific area of 

interest. By the end of their research experience, they must present the results of their research and 

discuss the state of knowledge in this area in front of the fellowship faculty and fellows. 

Skills 

Fellows in the second and third year of their fellowship must conduct a research project with their 

mentor and review the state of knowledge in this area of research. 

1. Review the literature to select and understand the state of knowledge in an area of research 

2. Design a research protocol 

3. Submit the research protocol to the institutional review board and obtain approval for the study 

4. Enroll patients (randomization, obtaining proper consent, and adhering to inclusion and exclusion 

criteria) 

5. Perform the research adhering to federal and other requirements 

86

6. Perform an interim analysis to identify the need for modifying or interrupting the study 

7. Report adverse events 

8. Perform the final data analysis 

9. Prepare and submit a manuscript for publication in peer‐reviewed journals 

10. Present the results of the research at Conferences 

11. Be professional and ethical during the conduct of the research project 

Conferences and Formal research Teaching 

Research Presentations 

The faculty members are involved in a variety of research projects , including basic laboratory bench 

research, translational research, clinical trials. These conferences aid the fellows in identifying a faculty 

mentor who will work with them to develop their own research project during their training. 

Faculty members involved in bench or clinical research present data from their own research and 

summarize the state of the research to give the fellows instruction in the conduct of biomedical 

research. 

The Research Conference also is critical in the development of the fellow’s skills. The fellows will 

periodically present their project beginning with the inception and will explain the hypothesis, rationale, 

design and methodology employed. Subsequently, new data will be presented during the course of the 

training program. 

Fellows are encouraged to present the result of their research at research conferences or during clinical 

trials meetings. These research conferences occur once a week, typically on Tuesday. Clinical trials 

meetings occur once a month, typically on Friday. 

Outcomes 

The program director requests input from the research mentor before the PD evaluation of fellows 

every six months. Research progress is also discussed with the fellow. 

Productivity of research is evaluated, including: 

1. Publications 

2. Presentations at conferences 

3. Awards 

4. Funding 

87

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