University of Tennessee Health Science Center Rotation Opportunities

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is proud to partner with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) for residency education. UTHSC Pediatric and Medicine/Pediatric residents learn to care for children with hematology and oncology disorders at St. Jude during their second year. Residents interested in a career in pediatric hematology or oncology may choose to spend extra elective months at St. Jude.

Residents in categorical Pediatrics spend two months at St. Jude, with one month focused on oncology and another on hematology. Their time is split evenly between inpatient, outpatient and night-float rotations. Residents in Medicine/Pediatrics spend one month at St. Jude, including three weeks rotating through outpatient oncology and hematology clinics and one week on night float.

Inpatient time

The inpatient team typically comprises the resident, an attending physician, a hematology/oncology fellow, two to three nurse practitioners and a medical student. Residents rotate with both the Leukemia and Solid Tumor/Neuro-Oncology teams. While on an inpatient rotation, the resident will carry their own census of patients and be responsible for all daily care for those children, including presenting on rounds, writing notes and discharge summaries, placing orders, following up with consultants, and communicating with the family and the patient. They also assist with admissions for newly diagnosed children.

On night float, the resident is responsible for one inpatient floor/team. They are the first call for all questions and concerns regarding their patients. Residents are supervised by clinical fellows and attending physicians for any complex concerns. Residents are also responsible for checking in on newly admitted patients and assisting with admission for newly diagnosed children.

Outpatient time

Residents rotate through the Hematology and Solid Tumor clinics. In clinic, they work with the attending physician or nurse practitioner during routine outpatient visits, sick visits and new patient workups.

Educational opportunities

Residents are encouraged to attend all major hospital conferences during their rotation, including Grand Rounds, Fellows Rounds, Solid Tumor and Leukemia/Lymphoma/Bone Marrow Transplantation weekly conferences. Finally, there are two weekly educational lectures designed specifically for residents.

In our Core Lecture series, the program director of Pediatric Resident Education presents a series of lectures with a core curriculum focused on Hematology/Oncology concepts that all pediatricians must master. In our Resident Education sessions, senior fellows and faculty with expertise in education join the residents for Pediatrics Board to review questions and discuss cases.

Research opportunities

With over 200 active labs at St. Jude, research opportunities are available to residents who have a specific interest in hematology/oncology research. In most cases, the research is arranged and approved by a specific physician-scientist. Recent resident research projects have included work in pediatric HIV, survivorship, Hodgkin lymphoma, sickle cell disease, thrombosis, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, neurological complications, pain management, and cancer genetics and predisposition.

Elective opportunities

UTHSC from both pediatric and adult specialties as well as other residents in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–approved programs can arrange to come to St. Jude for required rotations. In addition to the Hematology/Oncology elective, other elective opportunities are available in the following specialties: After Completion of Therapy and Survivorship, Anesthesia, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Child Psychiatry, Hospice and Palliative Care, Infectious Disease, Neurology, Pathology, Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatric Dentistry, Pediatric HIV, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, and Surgical Oncology.

Additionally, many residents and fellows in other specialties come to St. Jude for consults, outpatient clinics, conferences and seminars.