Roger Williams Medical Center Program

Fellowship Overview

The Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Roger Williams Medical Center (RWMC) offers a comprehensive training experience in the fields of hematology and oncology, supported by over 40 years of history in producing well-qualified graduates. RWMC serves as a major teaching affiliate of Boston University School of Medicine, providing fellows with access to multifaceted training resources at various clinical sites, including the Providence VA Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Rhode Island Hospital, and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. The program supports six fellows, with two fellows per year, ensuring a manageable and tailored educational environment.

Educational Curriculum

The fellowship program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and sticks closely to the six core competencies defined by the ACGME—Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-based Learning, Systems-based Learning, Communication Skills, and Professionalism. Education is facilitated through a blend of inpatient and outpatient clinical training, didactic sessions, and ongoing research participation. Each fellow is observed and evaluated by the faculty through direct supervision and formal evaluations at the conclusion of each rotation.

Clinical Rotations

Inpatient Rotations

Inpatient rotations emphasize the provision of care and consultancy across hematology/oncology, including exposure to the Bone Marrow Transplant service. Fellows engage in a variety of complex clinical cases, ensuring comprehensive training.

Outpatient Rotations

Fellows undertake elective rotations spanning multiple specialties including Thoracic Oncology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Genitourinary Oncology, Benign & Malignant Hematology, Gynecologic & Breast Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Hemato-Pathology, CNS Oncology, Blood Banking, and Palliative & Hospice Care. Key sites for outpatient training include RWMC, Women and Infants Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Rhode Island Hospital, allowing fellows to accumulate a diverse patient cohort.

Primary Site Clinics

Each fellow will have a primary clinic where they follow a diverse patient cohort throughout their fellowship. This arrangement includes a dedicated clinic attending who mentors the fellow, ensuring continuity of patient care and enhancing clinical skills.

Research Opportunities

All fellows are allocated at least one month of protected time annually to engage in research projects under the guidance of a mentor. Additionally, fellows participate in Quality Improvement projects collaboratively. Each fellow is also encouraged to attend a national conference of their choice, supported by an educational stipend provided by the program.

Conferences and Continuing Education

Fellows are required to participate in a structured series of clinical conferences to enhance learning. This includes weekly fellows conferences and morning reports, as well as multidisciplinary tumor board evaluations. Monthly journal clubs and specific scope rounds in hemato-pathology further augment educational exposure.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The program is considered to be highly competitive, with particular emphasis on the qualifications that prospective candidates must demonstrate. While specific application requirements such as year of graduation or maximum failed step exams are not explicitly mentioned, candidates are advised to review all eligibility criteria before application.

Visa Support

For international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking to apply, the program offers visa sponsorship. Typically, this includes support for J-1 exchange visitor visas, which allows fellows to participate in the program while fulfilling the program's educational requirements.