Cancer Survivorship Fellowship Program

About the program 

Fellows in the Cancer Survivorship program improve the quality of life for young adult survivors of childhood cancer while working in one of the largest cancer survivorship programs in the world. Our program provides advanced, specialized training on the late effects of cancer therapy and formalized mentorship for outcomes research methodology. Fellows learn to recognize at-risk cancer survivors by performing risk-based clinical evaluations and to deliver evidence-based health care to survivors of childhood cancer. Our program offers formalized mentoring on outcomes research methodology.

During this year-long program, fellows work with leading clinicians and researchers to expand their knowledge about survivors of hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and central nervous system tumors. Fellows gain experience in: 

• Performing risk-based screening and counseling for survivors of childhood cancer 
• Identifying late effects related to chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or surgery 
• Developing patient-specific survivorship care plans 
• Identifying late psychosocial and academic issues 

Clinical program

The Division of Cancer Survivorship actively follows more than 5,000 survivors of childhood cancer in our After Completion of Therapy (ACT) Clinic. A multidisciplinary team addresses the physical, emotional, social and academic issues of our patients.

Research program

In collaboration with the Department of Epidemiology & Cancer Control, we conduct clinical research to learn about the long-term consequences of cancer treatment and how to translate findings into clinical practice. To date, more than 5,000 cancer survivors and 600 controls have undergone comprehensive health evaluations as part of the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Through this study we track a wide range of health outcomes, such as cardiac, reproductive, neuromuscular, neurocognitive, physical and psychosocial functioning, among others.

Eligibility 

Applicants with medicine/pediatrics training who have completed fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology are preferred. However, exceptional applicants trained in general pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine are also encouraged to apply.  

International applicants must be ECFMG certified. 

A fellowship can begin at any time, but a July 1–June 30 schedule is preferred. The fellowship has the potential to be extended for an additional year upon request.

Curriculum overview 

Our fellowship is flexible to meet the needs and goals of each individual trainee. A typical schedule includes: 

• Rotations through disease-specific clinical days in the ACT Clinic 
• Ongoing care of active oncology patients 
• Participation in a weekly clinical data review meeting and clinical investigators meeting 
• Participation in a monthly survivorship seminar and journal club 
• Participation in weekly educational conferences  

Cancer Survivorship fellows also participate in the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship professional development opportunities and develop a research project under mentorship of a faculty member.