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Hematology and Oncology Fellowship
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Didactic Curriculum Conferences

Teaching conferences are an integral component of the educational activities of the division for the Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Hematology and Oncology Fellowship. Within the framework of the following hematology oncology conferences, we present a comprehensive overview of important topics in hematology-oncology, completed within an 18-month cycle. Fellows have protected education time every Friday morning from 8:00 am -11:00 am.

Hematology and Oncology Fellows Curriculum Conference

This conference is the main forum for comprehensive curriculum review. It is often covered in consecutive sessions for maximal impact (e.g., two to three consecutive weeks of breast cancer, lymphoma or leukemia topics). These presentations combine faculty didactic sessions, fellow-led presentations (Case presentations, research talks, didactics and journal clubs) each coordinated with a faculty mentor during the development and prior to presentation. Board review sessions led by the chief fellows are also interspersed.

Disease-focused didactic presentations

These consist of a combination of internal and external faculty presentations, in their area of expertise, as well as fellow-directed presentations on selected topics in medical oncology, malignant and non-malignant hematology.

Fellow research presentations

Before graduating, fellows are required to give an annual presentation describing their own research or scholarly activity project.

Journal clubs

Journal clubs are assigned by paired faculty to fellows to review and present updates to hematology and oncology literature. Reviewed articles will run the gamut from landmark, practice-changing publications to basic science that sets the rationale for ongoing translational work and allow fellows to learn to critique the quality and implications of literature.

Cancer biology series

Every two years, a series of the didactic devoted to the basic science of cancer biology. The Cancer Biology didactic sessions are typically facilitated by one of our basic science faculty colleagues from the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and mirrors education for graduate students pursing basic careers. T

Topics include the following, among others:

  • Oncogenes and Growth Factors
  • Tumor Suppressors
  • Cell Death and Cancer
  • Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment
  • Cancer Immunology

Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration training

VA’s Simulation Center Annex

In order to provide fellows a deep understanding of this important procedure, the fellowship program partners with Dr. Susan Wish-Baratz, PhD from the Department of Anatomy to present a comprehensive introduction to bone marrow biopsies using HoloAnatomy. We are the 1st program in the nation to incorporate this into our training. Fellows participate in a didactic session using augmented reality to review the pertinent pelvic anatomy necessary for understanding bone marrow biopsies. This is followed by didactics, demonstration and practice on a biopsy simulator at the VA’s Simulation Center Annex.

Blood smear and bone marrow analysis training

We are lucky to have the expertise of Lynda Bowman, BS, SH (ASCP) who is in charge of our blood smear analysis and bone marrow analysis training program at MetroHealth. Lynda has been in this teaching role for more than 50 years and has taught our fellows how to analyze blood smears and bone marrows at the level of a hematology/oncology physician in conjunction with our pathology department.

Hematology Conference

This is a weekly Monday conference from 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m. during which the hematology consult fellows on service at University Hospitals and the VA Medical Center bring interesting and complicated benign hematology cases for discussion with co-fellows, benign hematology faculty and hematopathologists.

Hematology and Pathology Case Conferences

Approximately once a month, we partner with the Hematologic Pathology Group to co-present a challenging case. Hematology fellows discussed the clinical presentation, which is followed by a discussion of the morphology and diagnostic challenges of a particular case. Fellows then return to discuss the clinical management of the disease, along with any features that make the case more challenging than expected.

VA Conferences

1st Thursday of the month: ASH/ASCO Review

2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month: Fellow Case Presentation and Journal Review

3rd Thursday of the month: Attending led Journal Club

1st Friday of the month: Coagulation Conference

NCI-based Oncotalk Program Retreat

In the Spring of each academic year, first-year fellows participate in a three-day retreat devoted to developing interpersonal and communication skills based upon the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-developed OncoTalk program that includes both didactic and role-playing methods of instruction. In 2022, the program was championed by Dr. Mona Gupta, the Director of Supportive Palliative Oncology Inpatient care at UH Seidman Cancer Center and Anne Kolenic, DNP, APRN, AOCNS, a UH Seidman Cancer Center ambulatory clinical nurse specialist.