Fellowship Program | Hematology and Oncology | UC Davis Health

Thank you for your interest in the UC Davis Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program! We are excited to share with you why we love being a part of the UC Davis family.

1. Our Patients and Community: The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in inland California, with a referral base of 4 million people hailing from an expansive region that stretches from the Oregon border to the lower San Joaquin Valley and to western Nevada.
2. Autonomy in Training: Second and third year fellows in our training program are provided an unique experience by having their own continuity clinic at the UC Davis Cancer Center which includes individual patient panels and case manager support and grants fellows to take true ownership of their patients.
3. Individualized Tracks: Senior fellows may choose to train on the clinical, education or research tracks after their first year based on their career interests.
4. Unique Research Opportunities: Faculty are committed to providing clinical and research mentorship to all fellows based on their interests. Fellows participate in writing protocols and clinical trails, outcomes research and laboratory-based on their interests and often publish their scholarly work and present their findings at national meetings. For fellows interested in a clinical investigation career, our program offers the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP) in which fellows receive a Masters of Advanced Study (MAS). This can be completed during fellowship training for those on the research track.
5. Commitment to Wellness: We offer a multidisciplinary annual retreat and provide time to reflect and to connect the other trainees and faculty in palliative care, radiation oncology and gynecology oncology.

From our fellows to faculty members to advanced practice providers to case managers, the environment fostered at UC Davis is where everyone can thrive. Our faculty's dedication sets our program apart and provides outstanding, individualized training for all of our fellows.

We hope you will apply to our fellowship program and become part of our UC Davis Hematology and Oncology family!

Sincerely, 

Mili Arora, M.D. (Program Director) and Anjlee Mahajan, M.D. (Associate Program Director)

UC Davis Hematology and Oncology Fellowship

Fellows are required to rotate through the following services during their two (2) or three (3) years of training.

Training Sites:

UC Davis Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, is designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and partners with leading organizations like the Commission on Cancer, NCCN, and AACI to deliver top-tier cancer care, research, and clinical trials. Fellows will participate in weekly continuity clinics.

VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS) provides comprehensive medical, surgical, rehabilitative, and mental health services to veterans across 17 counties. Fellows will participate in a weekly continuity clinic and inpatient hematology/oncology rotation.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health system serving Northern California. Fellows will have the opportunity to rotate on the malignant hematology inpatient rotation and outpatient clinics.

Adventist Health Rideout, part of the UC Davis Cancer Care Network, this site provides an opportunity for our fellows to embed themselves in our community and can be chosen as an elective rotation. 

Core Rotations:

• Solid Oncology Consults
  • Fellows will manage patients with known solid malignancies who have complications related to their disease or treatment. Additionally, fellows will often see patients suspected of having solid malignancies and assist in the initial workup.
  • Fellows will primarily work with the HONC 1/2 teams, which are primary hospitalist teams led by UCD internal medicine residents
• Hematology Consults
  • Fellows will primarily assist in managing patients with known hematologic conditions, helping to manage complications related to their disease or treatment. Common problems including thrombocytopenia, coagulopathies, suspected thrombophilia, among others.
  • Additionally, fellows see patients suspected of having hematological malignancies and assist primary teams in arriving at a diagnosis.
• Malignant Hematology
  • Fellows will be exposed to a broad range of pathologies during this rotation spanning the spectrum of malignant hematology, including leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma.
  • Duties include devising chemotherapy treatment plans, presenting patients at tumor board, performing bone marrow biopsies, and delivering intrathecal chemotherapy.
  • Fellows will primarily work with APPs who will be primary on inpatients, and act as a junior attending while on service.
• Bone Morrow Transplant/Cellular Therapy
  • Fellows will witness a diverse population of patients who are in the process of or who have undergone autologous/allogeneic stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy.
  • Fellows learn to manage acute and chronic complications of transplant and CAR T-cell therapy. Fellows are often assigned a handful of patients to present and follow.
  • In addition, fellows gain knowledge of the indications for transplant as well as the risks and benefits in various populations.
• VA Northern California Hematology/Oncology
  • The Sacramento VA Medical Center rotation allows exposure to a patient population distinct from and complementary to the population at UC Davis Medical Center. The clinic is located in Mather, just outside of Sacramento.
  • Patients are seen in both the inpatient and outpatient setting to allow fellows opportunities to manage a broad range of pathologies in benign hematology, malignant hematology, and solid oncology.
  • Fellows assist in managing the infusion center, take inpatient consults, and work in clinic with both VA Hematology Oncology faculty as well as specialists from UC Davis Health.
• Ambulatory Clinic Block
  • Fellows see a broad range of patients supervised by faculty in predominantly disease-specific clinics. These clinics include the following: genitourinary oncology, gastrointestinal oncology, malignant hematology and bone marrow transplantation, thoracic oncology, breast oncology, hemostasis and thrombosis, sickle cell/hemoglobinopathies, gynecologic malignancies, and others.
  • This outpatient population reflects an ethnically and socio-economically diverse group, which come from the UD Davis primary care network, hospital discharge, and referrals from the northern California and western Nevada region. One or more faculty physician(s) with expertise in a particular area staff each clinic.
• Hematopathology
  • Fellows work closely with distinguished hematopathology faculty to review bone marrow biopsy specimens, peripheral smears, and flow cytometry samples.
  • This is a valuable rotation for learning the fundamentals of cell morphology and bone marrow architecture.
• Transfusion Medicine
  • Fellows work with blood bank and apheresis attendings to learn the basics of transfusion medicine.
  • In addition, fellows review transfusion cases and inpatients requiring red cell exchange, leukapheresis, or plasma exchange. Fellows also attend daily transfusion medicine rounds.
• Kaiser Roseville Medical Center & Adventist Health Rideout Cancer Center
  
  • Fellows can elect additional time to rotate at the Kaiser Norther California Hospital in Roseville and/or the Adventist Health Rideout Cancer Center located in Marysville.
  • These rotations allow fellows to gain additional clinical exposure in a community setting and helps to enrich professional connections to meet career goals.

Research time is provided in all three (3) years of training and will depend on individual track selection for senior fellows.

Fellows will maintain a regular outpatient clinic two (2) half-days per week at UC Davis Medical Center and at VA Mather Hospital throughout the entire training program.

UC Davis is proud to offer a Hematology Focused Fellowship Track in alliance with the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Hematology Focused Fellowship Training Program Consortium.

The aim of the HFFTP program is to strengthen the next generation of hematologists by providing up-front training in classical hematology as well as malignant hematology and bone marrow transplant/cellular therapy.  Specific to the HFFTP track- multidisciplinary ambulatory blocks in thrombosis, hemostasis and sickle cell disease are offered in the first year and continuity clinics are focused on hematologic conditions.

Benefits of the HFFTP Program Include

• Visiting Rotation Stipend: $5,000 annually for three years per fellow to cover travel and living expenses to attend a one-month rotation per year at a Center of Excellence (e.g. Sickle Cell Disease Center of Excellence).
• ASH Annual Meeting Stipend: $1,000 annually for three years per fellow to cover expenses to attend the ASH Annual Meeting (free registration to attend the ASH Annual Meeting is provided through the Fundamentals of Hematology Fellowship (FHF) Program).
• Scholarly Research Stipend: $1,500 annually for three years per fellow to cover scholarly research and expenses to submit manuscripts for publication.

Fellows in this program will also be able to participate in specific ASH HFFTP networking opportunities and meetings.

Applicants interested in the UC Davis HFFTP should select the Hematology-Focused Track in ERAS and should reach out directly to program leadership, Janna Peterson (jmfpeterson@health.ucdavis.edu).

Fellows will identify one of three (3) tracks during their first year in training based on career interests. To be considered for track a proposal will be submitted and Program Leadership will work with fellows to place them in the appropriate training track. Allotted time is given in scholar blocks for fellows to pursue career interest as it relates to research, education and clinical training.

Research Track: Fellows may choose to participate in our MCRTP (Master's in Clinical Research Training Program) for guided mentorship in clinical research. This track is meant for those who plan to pursue a career in academic medicine. Involvement in clinical trials, protocol writing are also included. Fellows are expected to present their research at national meetings and publish their findings.

Education Track: This track is recommended for those with an interest in medical education. Fellows pursue education quality improvement projects, assist in teaching medical students, residents and other fellows and are involved in shaping curriculum.

Clinical Track: Fellows in this track intend to pursue a career in clinical oncology of hematology and are required to complete a quality improvement project.

We offer opportunities for individuals who have completed three (3) years of training in Internal Medicine in the United States or Canada by the time they enter the fellowship-training program.  Applicants choosing the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Research Pathway will also be considered. They must be board-certified or eligible in internal medicine and must possess a California medical license before the start date of the fellowship program.

Application Process

Clinical and basic research projects are part of the training program.  Successful completion of a research project is required for graduation from the fellowship program. Fellows will choose their research project, which may include clinical or basic research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The fellow and mentor conceptualize the project during the first year of fellowship.  Fellows are encouraged to present research results at local research conferences and national meetings, and submit manuscripts for publication.

• More information on research in the Division of Hematology and Oncology.
• More information on the Cancer Center research programs.

Educational Opportunities

Educational conferences are held on a regular basis

• Hematology and Oncology Patient Management Conference: faculty, fellows, residents, pharmacist and nurses attend this weekly conference. Interesting and difficult cases are discussed regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
• Subspecialty Conferences and Tumor Boards: The following subspecialty conferences are held on either a weekly or biweekly basis:
  • Breast Cancer Conference
  • Gynecological Cancer Conference
  • Head and Neck Tumor Board
  • Thoracic Oncology Conference
  • GU Tumor Board
  • Melanoma-Sarcoma Conference (Monthly)
• Special Seminar Series:  On a monthly basis, outside speakers are invited to present seminars on new advancements in hematology and oncology. In addition, mini-symposia are held three times a year, which focus on an area of hematology or oncology.
• Journal Club: Held on a weekly basis. Both clinical and basic science topics are covered in this conference.
• Hematology Course: Senior fellows may participate in teaching the hematology course for the second-year medical students.

First year fellows have a half day continuity clinic experience at the VA (First year fellows will also rotate through different subspeciality clinics at the UC Davis Cancer Center (8 weeks each).

In the second and third year, the fellow will have their own continuity clinic at UC Davis Cancer Center (one half-day/week) which includes their own patient panel and case manager. This is a great way for fellows to develop autonomy and build relationships with their patients (who view them as their hematologist and oncologist)while still under the supervision of an attending physician.

All fellows are expected and encouraged to pursue scholarly work and are provided guided mentorship by faculty. Our Division has ample opportunities to pursue projects in outcomes research, clinical trials and gene and cellular therapy. Many fellows present their work at the ASH and ASCO annual meeting in addition to other subspecialty meetings and many projects have resulted in publications in high impact journals. Trainees may also choose to participate in the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP). The course includes a two-year curriculum with a core in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical research and clinical trial design, research ethics, informatics, and a mentored research project. Participation leads to a Masters in Clinical Research.

There are also opportunities for funded translational research and to pursue a fellowship in cellular therapy. The Hematology and Oncology Division has allocated $100,000 to support fellow research. Fellows may apply for this funding through a formalized application and will be reviewed by the Research Committee. Fellows may use the above internal funds for material or statistical support as well as to cover the costs of attending academic conferences to present their scholarly work. This is in addition to the already guaranteed travel and education stipend provided to all fellows annually.

Maintaining wellness is an important goal of ours. To achieve this goal, we have a tradition of an Annual Fellows Retreat. In addition to our Hematology and Oncology fellows, we invite fellows and faculty from Gynecology Oncology and Palliative Care, along with residents from Radiation Oncology to attend the retreat. This allows our fellow the opportunity to reflect on their experiences with their peers in a multi-disciplinary environment. We also organize an alumni fellows panel to discuss potential career paths. The annual retreat lends an important dimension to our program which is one-of-a-kind in the country. Even through the pandemic, we continued to host this retreat virtually and found it to be an effective element to educate our fellows and provide an additional wellness resource in this evolving environment.