Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellowship at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s

The first year emphasizes intensive hands-on clinical training in pediatric hematology-oncology. Fellows benefit from close collaboration with pediatric and adult specialists, creating a rich multidisciplinary learning environment that supports both clinical excellence and scholarly development.

Seminars, didactic lecture series, case-based teaching and presentation, formal and informal mentoring sessions are all part of the rigorous training program designed to cultivate fully competent clinicians and tomorrow’s leaders in basic, translational, and clinical research as relates to the field of pediatric hematology and oncology.

Pediatric oncology training at UH Rainbow provides comprehensive experience in the diagnosis and management of leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors, neuro-oncologic conditions and other pediatric malignancies in advanced pediatric cancer treatment environment. Fellows train within one of the most advanced pediatric cancer treatment environments in the country. The program provides access to one of the only proton therapy centers in the world located on the same campus as a full-service, nationally ranked children's hospital, alongside CAR T-cell and cellular therapy programs, investigator-initiated clinical trials and the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fellows gain firsthand experience in complex, multidisciplinary cancer care across a patient population that spans childhood through young adulthood.

Fellows at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's gain hands-on experience in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from pre-transplant evaluation through long-term survivorship alongside direct exposure to CAR T-cell therapy, cellular immunotherapy and emerging gene therapies for pediatric cancers and blood disorders.

UH Rainbow is internationally recognized for its role in advancing these therapies. The program is among the centers that offers approved as well as novel CAR T-cell therapy in clinical trials for young cancer patients and among the first centers in the country to perform sickle cell gene therapy. Through an active involvement in investigator-initiated studies and clinical trials in collaboration with UH Seidman Cancer Center and the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, fellows gain direct exposure to bench-to-bedside translational research and novel therapeutic development — experience that is increasingly essential for careers in academic pediatric hematology oncology.

Fellows also benefit from access to GMP-capable cell manufacturing facilities through the National Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at CWRU and the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at UH — infrastructure available at very few children's hospital fellowship programs in the country.

Pediatric hematology training at UH Rainbow is anchored by two nationally recognized programs: one of the largest pediatric sickle cell disease programs in Northeast Ohio and the designated Hemophilia Treatment Center for Northeast Ohio. Fellows gain high-volume, hands-on experience across the full continuum of benign hematologic care, from infancy through transition to adulthood, in sickle cell disease, hemophilia, bleeding and clotting disorders, thrombosis, bone marrow failure syndromes, transfusion medicine and complex hematologic consultations. Clinical training also includes access to emerging cellular and gene-based therapies for inherited blood disorders, including gene therapy approaches for sickle cell disease.

Fellows at UH Rainbow gain AYA oncology experience through the Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute, caring for patients ages 15–25 with cancer across inpatient and outpatient settings. Because UH Rainbow and UH Seidman Cancer Center operate within the same health system, fellows have direct access to adult oncology colleagues enabling a truly integrated approach to AYA care that freestanding children's hospitals are not positioned to offer.

Training covers the unique clinical, psychosocial, fertility and survivorship needs of AYA patients, with exposure to AYA-focused clinical trials and an evolving program that continues to expand access to age-appropriate cancer care and resources.

UH Rainbow offers optional fourth-year (PGY-7) and, in selected cases, fifth-year (PGY-8) subspecialty fellowship training in two areas of nationally recognized clinical and research strength, as well as extended oncology research training for fellows with interests in clinical, basic or translational cancer research:

• Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Advanced training within the largest pediatric sickle cell disease program in Northeast Ohio, a designated Center of Excellence for sickle cell gene therapy, with a model pediatric-to-adult transition program.
• Pediatric Hemostasis and Thrombosis: Advanced training within the designated Hemophilia Treatment Center for Northeast Ohio, with in-depth experience in bleeding and clotting disorders and an active clinical research portfolio.
• Pediatric Oncology Research: Extended training for fellows seeking deeper specialization in clinical, basic or translational cancer research, supported by individualized mentorship and the academic resources of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

All tracks offer a customized curriculum, protected research time and funding support for an advanced degree. Applicants must have completed an accredited pediatric hematology oncology fellowship and be board-eligible or certified prior to matriculation.

Applicants evaluating top pediatric hematology oncology fellowship programs typically compare clinical breadth, research infrastructure, mentorship, subspecialty exposure and career outcomes. The Pediatric Hematology Oncology fellowship offers a distinctive combination of all five with a selective two-fellow cohort, nationally recognized subspecialty programs in sickle cell disease and hemostasis/thrombosis, protected research time through an NCI-designated cancer center partnership, participation in COG, NMDP and PBMTC, and an affordable, academically rich training environment in Cleveland.

Yes. The fellowship is a three-year, ACGME-accredited training program. The ACGME program number is 3273821031.

We currently participate in ERAS, and our fellowship is listed under the institution name of "Case Western Reserve Univ/Univ Hosps Cleveland Med Ctr/Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital Program" in Cleveland, Ohio.

The UH Rainbow Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellowship accepts two fellows per year.

Yes. UH Rainbow is a designated Center of Excellence for sickle cell gene therapy and was among the first centers in the country to perform it. Fellows gain direct exposure to gene therapy through active clinical trials, investigator-initiated studies and bench-to-bedside translational research in collaboration with UH Seidman Cancer Center and the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

UH Rainbow fellows gain direct exposure to CAR T-cell therapy through the program's collaboration with UH Seidman Cancer Center and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. As one of the few children's hospitals in the country offering both FDA-approved and investigational CAR T-cell therapies in clinical trials for young cancer patients, fellows gain firsthand experience with one of the most rapidly evolving treatment approaches in pediatric oncology.

Yes. Fellows train alongside Ohio's only proton therapy center, located on the same campus as UH Rainbow Babies & Children's – the only facility of its kind in the world situated on the same campus as a full-service, nationally ranked children's hospital. This gives fellows direct exposure to advanced radiation oncology within a fully integrated pediatric cancer care environment.

Yes. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is integrated throughout fellowship training, with exposure to CAR T-cell therapy and emerging gene therapies. Fellows gain direct clinical experience in transplant care through the program's collaboration with UH Seidman Cancer Center and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Yes. Fellows gain AYA oncology experience through the Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute, with direct access to adult oncology colleagues through UH's integrated health system enabling a collaborative approach to AYA care that freestanding children's hospitals are not positioned to offer.

Yes. All fellows gain hands-on sickle cell disease experience, including exposure to FDA-approved and investigational gene therapies through active clinical trials. An optional fourth-year (PGY-7) subspecialty fellowship in sickle cell disease is also available for those seeking advanced specialization.

Yes. UH Rainbow is the designated Hemophilia Treatment Center for Northeast Ohio, providing fellows with broad exposure to bleeding and clotting disorders across the full care continuum. An optional fourth-year (PGY-7) subspecialty fellowship in pediatric hemostasis and thrombosis is also available.

Yes. The second and third years are dedicated entirely to protected, thesis-driven research. Fellows work with an individualized faculty mentor and three-member Scholarly Oversight Committee, with access to research resources across Case Western Reserve University and UH Seidman Cancer Center.

Yes. UH Rainbow offers optional fourth-year (PGY-7) and, in selected cases, fifth-year (PGY-8) subspecialty fellowship training in pediatric sickle cell disease, pediatric hemostasis and thrombosis, and extended oncology research training for fellows with interests in clinical, basic or translational cancer research. All tracks offer a customized curriculum, protected research time and funding support for an advanced degree. Applicants must have completed an accredited pediatric hematology oncology fellowship and be board-eligible or certified prior to matriculation.