Fellowship Program Director: Jennifer Kanakry, M.D.
Associate Program Director for Hematology: Christopher Pleyer, M.D.
Associate Program Director for Hematologic Malignancies & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives: Kathryn Lurain, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Program Director for Medical Oncology: Danielle Pastor, D.O., Ph.D.
Associate Program Director for Cellular Therapies: Kamil Rechache, M.D.
Overview
The National Institutes of Health Hematology Oncology Fellowship is jointly supported by the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (CCR, NCI) and the Division of Intramural Research, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (DIR, NHLBI). The ACGME-accredited program provides a strong clinical grounding in hematology and oncology as well as a comprehensive introduction to clinical, laboratory and translational-based research. After fellows complete their training in hematology, oncology and/or both, they complete 18 months of research and half-day per week continuity clinics. From there, the fellow may choose from more than 100 laboratories or clinical research groups at the NIH Clinical Center (CC) to acquire the skills necessary to become an independent biomedical investigator.
Program Structure
The NIH provides a unique opportunity for physicians interested in academic careers to develop and integrate their clinical and basic research interests. After three years of accredited hematology oncology training, fellows are board-eligible in hematology and oncology. The initial 18 months of clinical rotations are conducted on in-patient ward and outpatient clinical rotations in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, lymphoma, leukemia, solid-tumor oncology, bone marrow failure, sickle cell hemoglobinopathies, and hematology oncology consults at the one of the most prestigious medical research facilities in the world, the NIH Clinical Center. Additional structured clinical rotations are performed in hematology oncology clinics and consults at Georgetown University Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and University of Maryland Medical Center. The conference schedule includes regularly scheduled journal clubs, tumor boards, flipped classrooms, core lecture series, board reviews, multi-disciplinary rounds, and weekly fellowship conferences for which the fellow is responsible for presenting analyses of clinical or research problems. A formal training program in clinical trials research resulting in a master's degree is offered collaboratively with Duke University, and fellows may apply to participate during their second or subsequent years. At their discretion, fellows may choose to pursue a two-year program (1 year clinical rotations, 1 year research and ½ day continuity clinic) leading to board eligibility in either hematology or oncology alone (single track training). Fellows may also seek training in Cancer Prevention during their research time or as a pre-specified track upon entry into the program.
Fellows will choose a laboratory or clinical research group in which to pursue their research interest during the research portion of the fellowship. Research opportunities are broad and include both basic and clinical investigation. By arrangement, fellows may elect to receive training in the laboratory or clinical program of any investigator on campus, not only with members of the NCI CCR or NHLBI DIR. Many fellows elect to stay for a 4th or even 5th year to be highly competitive for intramural tenure-track positions or extramural positions and grant funding. Staying beyond the 3-year fellowship program is at the mutual discretion of the individual fellow and the research mentor.
Additional Information
Please visit the following webpages for more information:
- NIH Hematology Oncology Fellowship
- NCI CCR Medical Oncology Service
- NHLBI Clinical Trials at the NIH Clinical Center
Application Information
Applications are reviewed and processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The fellowship employs a holistic application review, interview, and rank list process to recruit, attract, and match a diverse group of fellows. In ERAS, our program is listed as NIH Clinical Center Program (ACGME ID#1552314155) and can be found under the heading for Hematology Oncology (Internal Medicine). Applicants can begin applying to our program via ERAS yearly on July 1, with a yearly deadline near the end of November. Early application is encouraged to be considered for the 5 Friday interview sessions which are general held in September and early October.
Fellows may be sponsored on visas. Such fellows will need to have completed the necessary exams and training, as well as work efficiently with the administrative staff to submit the required application documentation for sponsorship. We encourage interested candidates needing visa sponsorship – including H-1B, J-1, O-1, or other visa classification – to communicate with the fellowship program coordinator office proactively and transparently, ahead of and during the ERAS/interview process. It is expected that these communications will include all essential information related to current and future work authorization.