Blood & Marrow Transplantation

Fellowship

The training of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT Fellows is coordinated through three divisions of the Department of Pediatrics: the Division of Pediatric Hematology; the Herbert Irving Division of Child and Adolescent Oncology; and the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT). The overall objectives of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT Fellowship Program are to ensure the trainees will be: 1) competent in all clinical aspects of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT and 2) acquire the academic skills to continue in a tertiary Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT environment. Primary goals include: 1) the development of a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of disorders related to Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT; and 2) the development of the skills necessary in the diagnosis, treatment and management of these disorders. Secondary goals include attaining competencies in: 1) medical knowledge; 2) professionalism; 3) patient care; 4) practice based learning; 5) interpersonal and communication skills; and 6) system based practices.

During the three year Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT Fellowship program, the Fellow will become experienced in a number of aspects of therapeutic modalities including: the appropriate use of chemotherapy, biological therapy, surgical therapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and blood and marrow transplantation including allogeneic and umbilical cord blood transplantation. The fellow will participate in clinical research protocols utilized in the management of childhood malignancies, including the initiation of and development of new protocols and the ongoing participation in cooperative group protocols. Patients undergoing blood or marrow transplantation or who have an inherited immunodeficiency will provide the trainee an opportunity to develop skills in the management associated with a severely immunocompromised host.

Overview of Year 1
The first year of training is devoted primarily to the diagnosis and management of inpatients and outpatients with Pediatric Hematologic and Oncologic disorders. Specifically, the Fellows are primarily responsible for all in patients on the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and BMT services. The Fellows will spend two weeks on a rotation in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology. During this first year, the Fellows supervise the initial history and physical examination of patients admitted to these respective areas and the diagnosis and management of their specific disorders. On the inpatient service, the Fellow has the responsibility of supervising the multi-disciplinary team that participates in the care of the child with both acute and/or chronic disorders who are admitted to the Hematology, Oncology or BMT inpatient service. The Fellow is assigned to one of the three independent services at a time. The Fellow is responsible for the clinical assessment of each patient and the development of a treatment program for each individual patient. The multidisciplinary team on the inpatient service consists of medical students, Pediatric residents, inpatient nurse practitioners, clinical research nurses, nurse coordinators, dieticians, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and bedside nursing staff. These team members interact with each Fellow to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan for each individual patient. The Fellow interfaces with consultants in a variety of Pediatric sub - specialties for coordination of care, facilitating the development of an accurate diagnosis and follow- up and, in conjunction with the attending physician devises a treatment plan. Additionally, the Fellow supervises the teaching of the Pediatric residents and allied health professionals participating in the care of these patients. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to conduct and participate in specialty conferences that are designed to develop a treatment program for each patient.

Overview of Year 2
During the second year, Fellows consolidate the knowledge that they acquired in the first year. The second year is primarily devoted to laboratory or clinical research. They will also assume greater responsibility in the management of their patients as well as the other patients on the service. This will mean some independence in making management decisions depending on their individual progress over the year. At all times supervision from the attending physicians will remain in effect. The initial 8 weeks of the second year consists of one week selectives in blood banking, radiation oncology, special hematology, hematopathology, immunogenetics, apheresis, stem cell laboratory, and cytogenetics.

Overview of Year 3
The third year of training is devoted almost completely to research. The Fellow continues with their once a week outpatient continuity clinic and attends important divisional conferences. The Fellow should generally be able to complete the board requirements at the end of the year. This includes having their research project completed and preparing it for publication. During this time, the Fellows should be planning for the future in terms of job opportunities and career development either in clinical service and/or in basic research.

See the link below to learn more about our Fellowship program:
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplantation Fellowship Training Program and Curriculum

We are now participating in the online universal application process via ERAS. Please click on the link below to be directed to the ERAS website:
https://services.aamc.org/eras/erasstats/par/index.cfm

Contact Information
Darrell J. Yamashiro, MD, PhD
Herbert Irving Division of Child and Adolescent Oncology
161 Fort Washington Ave
Irving Pavilion 7
New York, NY 10032
Tel: 212-305-5808
Fax: 212-305-5848
dy39@columbia.edu