Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals Program

The Medical College of Wisconsin offers a specialized Hematology and Oncology Fellowship program that is structured to develop clinical expertise in the management of patients with hematologic and oncologic diseases. This comprehensive training program is designed as a 3-year fellowship, providing fellows with an in-depth approach to patient care through a series of supervised clinical rotations, didactic learning, and research opportunities.

Program Structure

The Hematology and Oncology MD Fellowship Training Program encompasses a rigorous curriculum that includes diverse clinical rotations. Each fellow undertakes various rotations, including inpatient wards, consult services, Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT), palliative care, transfusion medicine, and ambulatory care. Specifically, the fellows are engaged in a weekly continuity clinic throughout their three years at primary and secondary hospitals, namely Froedtert Hospital and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, respectively.

The first year emphasizes foundational clinical training with fellows rotating through inpatient services and engaging in core outpatient clinics. Rotational experience in the first year includes monthly assignments across multiple disciplines where fellows are closely supervised, requiring attendings to countersign chemotherapy orders written by them.

Clinical Rotations

Fellows participate in the following critical clinical rotations:

• Inpatient Hematology/Oncology service
• Leukemia service
• Consult service
• BMT
• Palliative Care
• Outpatient Clinics (twice weekly)

The complexity of clinical cases is a distinctive feature of the fellowship, allowing fellows to deal with a mix of patients suffering from various hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and nonmalignant hematology disorders.

Research Opportunities

The program offers robust research opportunities, typically allocated in the second and third years of the fellowship. Fellows have the option of engaging in either clinical or laboratory research. Research mentorship is provided by faculty involved in ongoing studies within the institution's Cancer Center or the Versiti Blood Research Institute.

Conferences and Educational Activities

Educational conferences are integral to the fellowship, featuring core curriculum sessions, case presentations, and journal clubs, which foster a collaborative learning environment. These conferences cover essential topics in hematology and oncology and include tumor board meetings focusing on various cancer types.

Benefits and Support

The fellowship includes structured mentorship and professional development, allowing fellows to attend significant national conferences, such as those hosted by the American Society of Hematology and the American Society for Clinical Oncology. This exposure ensures that fellows stay updated with the advancements and practices in hematology and oncology.

Visa Support

The program offers the ability to sponsor H-1B and J-1 visa types for eligible international medical graduates (IMGs). This provides essential support for non-United States citizens looking to advance their careers through fellowship training.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Hematology and Oncology Fellowship program at the Medical College of Wisconsin is known to be competitive. It provides a friendly environment for both DO and IMG candidates. While specific application requirements may vary, generally, candidates need to hold a doctorate in medicine from accredited programs, and there is usually no strict upper limit on the number of failed examinations, although a history of academic excellence is preferred.

The selection process focuses on a candidate’s readiness for the challenges of this intensive specialty training, emphasizing a well-rounded medical background, demonstrated interest in hematology and oncology, and a commitment to patient care.