Genitourinary Oncology Clinical Research Fellowship

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) Genitourinary (GU) Oncology Clinical Research

Fellowship was established in 2020 to complement Hematology/Oncology Fellowship training and

enhance career opportunities for academic research in GU Oncology.
 

The fellowship is 1 year for candidates who are board eligible/certified in Hematology/Medical Oncology

beginning approximately July 1st of each year.
 

To be considered as a candidate for the program, minimal pre-requisite training qualifications are

successful completion an Internal Medicine Residency Program and Oncology Fellowship. For

consideration of Foreign Medical Graduate candidates, applicants must hold a valid ECFMG certificate,

successfully complete USMLE steps 1 and 2 and hold the appropriate medical licensure for the State of

Tennessee in addition to applying for either an H1 or J1 visa. The primary focus of this training

program is for Fellows to improve their skills as clinical investigators as well as obtain in-depth training

into new therapies under investigation, follow GU oncology patients on clinical trials, report results

and produce high-impact presentations and publications.
 

Eligible candidates are selected based upon program-related criteria such as preparedness, ability,

aptitude, academic credentials, written and verbal communication skills as well as motivation and

integrity. Candidates must be research-oriented with good knowledge in basic and translational

science skills. They also must demonstrate serious interest in the field of academic GU Oncology and

the expertise to understand and work with drug development, in addition to the competence in

patients on experimental therapies. The VUMC GU Fellowship Program does not discriminate against

color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a

disabled or Vietnam veteran or any other characteristic protected by law.
 

The VUMC GU Fellowship Program is designed to integrate research with clinical work. The goals of

training are for the Fellows to improve their skills as a clinical investigator. During Fellowship the

expectation is to obtain in-depth training into new therapies under investigation, follow patients on

clinical trials, report results of treatment and present them whenever possible in a published form.

Fellow’s clinical responsibilities throughout training consist of managing GU Oncology patients with

symptoms and other medical problems under the supervision of faculty. Additionally, he or she is

expected to participate in writing research protocol(s) for experimental drugs and design clinical trial(s).

Presenting their work at national meetings and conferences is essential.
 

The program is not ABIM certified, however it is recognized as an integral part of Hematology and Medical Oncology and fellows receive a certificate demonstrating their completion of training and competence to be future investigators.
 

Fellows participate in ambulatory outpatient clinics based at the VUMC main campus, The Vanderbilt

Clinic (TVC). No inpatients rotations are required.
 

Clinical responsibilities are an essential part of training to follow the results of the experimental

treatment(s) and Fellows are expected to see patients with various GU malignancies and participate in

their care in ambulatory clinics at TVC.
 

Fellows will spend approximately 50% of their time in the ambulatory setting rotating through faculty

mentor’s clinics based on a specific schedule as indicated by the Program Director. The remainder of the

fellow’s time will have a primary concentration on research. Fellows attend 4-5 half days of clinic weekly

where expected to see 5-10 patients per day under the supervision of the teaching faculty. They learn

about experimental agents, the complications of treatment and manage patients’ symptoms and other

medical problems. There are no inpatient responsibilities or call requirements.
 

Fellows will discuss areas of mutual research interest with the Program Director and other faculty mentors to determine projects that meet their interest and assume responsibilities in treatment-related decision making. In addition, fellows will present their work at local and national meetings. Expectations of the program are for fellows to successfully submit at minimum 1 abstract and 1 manuscript representative of their research prior to the end of one year of training. Fellows are expected to attend relevant research meetings and conferences taking place at VUMC and participate in at least one national or international research conference to present their work.4

As successful completion of training will not permit graduates to become board eligible in any of the ABIM subspecialties, there are no procedural requirements.

Faculty and fellows are required to complete an online evaluation in accordance to Graduate Medical

Education guidelines through an electronic system. This electronic system is password protected and

program specific ensuring the confidentiality of each evaluation. Completion is monitored and responses

kept anonymous. Surveys are submitted directly to the electronic system resulting in a composite report

which is generated and distributed to the program director. These a comprehensive composite evaluation results are reviewed by the Program Director with each fellow twice a year, and will discuss strengths, weaknesses and goals and objectives of the next period of training. Finally, the fellows will review the Fellowship Program annually by means of an anonymous questionnaire via the same online electronic system.
 

All applicants are welcome. Only candidates with completed application files will be offered interviews. Applications for fellowship will be accepted from November 1st to March 31st each year for positions beginning July 1st for the next academic year. We encourage applicants to contact us for further information. Potential applicants may email the Fellowship Program Manager Page Bruce at

stephanie.p.bruce@vumc.org . For information regarding benefits and salary, please visit our Graduate Medical Education website at https://www.vumc.org/gme/2766 and refer to the Graduate Physicians Manual (pdf). Interested applicants should the documents listed below.

Personal Statement (1 page maximum)

Previous Training Certificate

Two Letters of Reference

Curriculum Vitae

ECFMG

Program Director:

Brian I. Rini, MD, FASCO

Chief of Clinical Trials

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Ingram Professor of Medicine

Division of Hematology/Oncology

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
 

Program Contact:

Page Bruce

Fellowship Program Manager

Division of Hematology/Oncology

Stephanie.p.bruce@vumc.org

615-936-038