Curriculum overview
During their first year, fellows work in multidisciplinary clinical teams to develop subspecialty expertise in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.
The first fellowship year provides comprehensive clinical training in multiple specialty areas, along with initial exposure to clinical investigations and research methods. Fellows work in multidisciplinary teams to provide outstanding care and develop subspecialty expertise in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.
The second, third and any subsequent fellowship years are devoted to developing your research expertise. Fellows enjoy access to top-notch research resources and facilities and benefit from the mentorship of our world-class research faculty while pursuing research projects that help to improve the outlook for patients at St. Jude and worldwide.
Rotations are based on a four-week block schedule.
After Completion of Therapy Clinic
Fellows are exposed to childhood cancer survivors of all diagnoses and are introduced to risk-based surveillance and follow-up care of these young adults. Fellows learn the therapeutic risks associated with both medical and psychosocial late effects, how to monitor survivors appropriately, and how to communicate survivorship issues to patients, families, and primary care providers. Additionally, fellows are introduced to the survivorship literature as well as outcomes research methodologies and opportunities.
Consult service
This rotation exposes fellows to a wide range of pediatric hematology and oncology consults at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. During the rotation, fellows will review and interpret blood smears, perform bone marrow biopsies, develop differential diagnoses, evaluate treatment plans and management options, and provide recommendations for patients with complex conditions. The consult service provides fellows with a well-balanced experience that combines autonomy with supervision by a hematologist and oncologist.
Inpatient Hematology
Clinical fellows lead the management of treatment of patients with a range of acute hematologic conditions. The collaborative inpatient model integrates advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists and hematologists. Fellows present at the Hematology Conference once a week to engage in discussions and expand their knowledge.
Inpatient Leukemia-Lymphoma
Fellows supervise all inpatients on the Leukemia-Lymphoma service and become proficient at diagnosing leukemia and lymphoma through morphologic evaluation, immunophenotyping and comprehensive genetic analysis. They learn up-to-date approaches in the treatment and supportive care of patients with leukemia and lymphoma.
Inpatient Solid Tumor/Neuro-Oncology
Fellows supervise all inpatients on the Solid Tumor/Neuro-Oncology service and become proficient at diagnosing malignant solid tumors, consenting and enrolling patients on treatment protocols, ordering chemotherapy, providing supportive care, managing patients enrolled on phase 1 clinical trial protocols, and navigating ethical concerns.
Inpatient Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Fellows provide treatment for children and adolescents with a variety of malignant and nonmalignant disorders, using autologous and allogeneic donors. Our robust cellular therapy program also includes viral-specific T cells (VSTs), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and genetically modified products.
Outpatient – Hematology and Neuro-Oncology
The outpatient rotation is divided into two two-week rotations: one in Hematology and one in Neuro-Oncology.
Our Hematology outpatient clinic serves patients with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies, red cell membrane and metabolism disorders, hemolytic and nutritional anemia, hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and other rare coagulation disorders, bone marrow failure syndromes, cytopenia, and iron-deficiency anemia. This rotation provides fellows with immersive exposure to this diverse patient population. Our fellows have the opportunity to use a comprehensive disease-specific model to care for patients longitudinally.
The Neuro-Oncology outpatient rotation focuses on providing education in the diagnosis and management of brain and spinal cord tumors and the acute complications that can arise from these tumors or their treatment. During their rotation, fellows are also trained in procedures such as diagnostic lumbar punctures and VP shunt reprogramming. Fellows acquire a view of pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors that reflects the latest knowledge and potential future developments in treatment. Discussions regarding advances in understanding the molecular underpinnings of the tumors, their diagnostic and therapeutic applications, and their relevance to treatment outcomes are given particular emphasis during this rotation.
Pathology, Quality of Life for ALL Service, Acute Care Clinic and Elective
This four-week rotation comprises four separate components, each lasting a week.
- Week 1: Fellows spend time on the pathology service, which provides them with the basics of hematopathology, anatomic pathology, neuropathology and transfusion medicine.
- Week 2: The Quality of Life for All rotation exposes fellows to state-of-the-art patient- and family-centered physical, emotional and spiritual care, with the goals of attending to suffering, promoting healing and improving quality of care.
- Week 3: Fellows work in the acute care clinic, where they manage the treatment of patients with various acute hematologic and oncologic diagnoses.
- Week 4: Fellows have the option to spend time on chemotherapy or radiation oncology service, improve procedural skills, or take a vacation.
The St. Jude Division of Cancer Predisposition
Fellows learn about clinical features that suggest an underlying predisposition in a child with cancer. The fellows become familiar with factors to be considered when consenting patients for germline testing and when interpreting tumor and germline genomic results. Finally, they learn about the recommended approaches to cancer surveillance and cancer risk reduction. Fellows participate in one-on-one discussions with faculty and genetic counselors, observe during clinic visits, and attend weekly case conferences.
Continuity clinic is a mentored, longitudinal experience. Fellows serve as the primary providers for their patients under the guidance and supervision of leading experts. Each fellow will lead a multidisciplinary team that includes advanced practice providers, nurses and other staff. Fellows have a full day of continuity clinic each week through all three years of fellowship and care for a diverse group of patients in both Hematology and Oncology services.
You may choose one of two research tracks: clinical or basic/translational.
Basic/translational research track
This track is geared toward fellows aiming to become independent academic investigators. Fellows are trained in the techniques and methods used to illuminate the molecular mechanisms behind cancer or blood disorders, or work to translate basic research findings into clinic-ready cures and diagnostic tools.
Fellows in this track may extend the training period beyond the typical three-year fellowship completion schedule through opportunities such as the physician scientist instructor program or additional one-year research fellowship program. Our unique funding structure allows us to provide generous stipends to qualified applicants, offering them the financial security and protected time needed to develop superior research skills and a comprehensive conceptual background in the research aspects of hematology-oncology.
Clinical research track
Fellows interested in careers as clinical investigators gain formal clinical research training through early involvement in ongoing clinical trials within the institution. For example, fellows may participate in the development of new institutional protocols or conduct retrospective hypothesis-driven studies. We strongly encourage fellows in the clinical research track to pursue advanced degrees in clinical research or epidemiology, the cost of which will be supported by the fellowship program. Fellows in this track may extend the training period beyond the typical three-year fellowship completion schedule through opportunities such as the physician scientist instructor program, NCI K12 program, or additional one-year research fellowship program.
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology fellows are encouraged to continuously expand and deepen their knowledge through our robust educational resources, which include didactic sessions, teaching rounds and frequent seminars, workshops and journal clubs. These opportunities facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas and offer venues for networking with colleagues, faculty and guest speakers.
Brain Tumor Conference
At this weekly conference, Neuro-Oncology, Neurosurgery, Pathology, Radiation Oncology and Radiology faculty discuss evaluations and management of specific brain tumor patients. Fellows are encouraged to attend when their patients are discussed.
Danny Thomas Lecture Series
This series consists of weekly lectures presented to the entire St. Jude community by distinguished scientists and clinical researchers.
Didactic Friday Lecture Series
The full-day course includes comprehensive hematology-oncology topics, wellness curriculum, meeting with fellowship leadership, journal club, board review and leadership training.
Hematology Conference
This fellow-led conference, attended by faculty and staff in the Division of Clinical Hematology, discusses inpatient and consult hematology patients at St. Jude and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
Leukemia/Lymphoma Conference
At this weekly conference, Bone Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Oncology, Pathology, and Radiology faculty, as well as pharmacists, psychologists, and social workers, discuss evaluations and management of specific leukemia/lymphoma patients. Fellows are encouraged to attend when their patients are discussed.
Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant Conference
This weekly formal conference is attended by faculty in the Departments of Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Pathology and Radiology. Working closely with faculty members, each fellow presents a case and may also be asked to present the discussion.
NOST (Neuro Oncology/Solid Tumor) Conference
Fellows, with support from faculty, present either an active protocol or trial in Neuro Oncology or Solid Tumor divisions. This is a formal monthly conference designed to engage the entire community — fellows, APPs, faculty, and others — to learn pathogenesis, diagnostic process, and treatment planning.
Pediatric Grand Rounds
The Department of Pediatric Medicine organizes this weekly conference on diverse topics in general pediatrics, which is held at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Attendance is optional.
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellows Education Series
Fellows organize this weekly meeting, which is open to both fellows and faculty. Lectures include broad hematology-oncology topics in a review format. These lectures are accessible to all clinicians and researchers, as well as learners from other institutions who wish to join.
Solid Tumor Conference
At this weekly conference, Oncology, Pathology, Radiation Oncology, and Radiology faculty discuss evaluations and management of specific solid tumor patients. Fellows are encouraged to attend when their patients are discussed.
St. Jude Grand Rounds
National and international guest experts visit St. Jude to deliver this weekly formal presentation of a clinical or basic-science topic related to pediatric hematology-oncology.