Hematopathology Fellowship

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

All the Clinical Fellows become involved in research projects while their fellowship. Fellows hone their presentation skills through their participation in Journal clubs and Data clubs held on a regular basis. At these meetings fellows discuss recent papers from the published literature, and present results of their ongoing projects. These conferences help them transition to their future career path, with most of them remaining in the academic sector. In addition to our daily interactions while fellows are on service, we have more formal meetings at least twice each year, to discuss career goals and job opportunities. More frequent meetings are held to discuss their current research projects, at least monthly. We hold regular conferences with clinical branches treating patients with lymphoma, and other immune disorders. Mentoring of trainees and Lab members has been a major focus of our group, and the success that our trainees have had since leaving the NIH is evidence of our dedication to these goals. Since my appointment as Head of the Hematopathology Section in 1980, we have trained more than 80 Clinical Fellows in Hematopathology and 20 Visiting Fellows seeking to improve their skills prior to return in their home country. Dr. Pittaluga is Program Director, a position held since 2005. While the fellowship is sponsored by the Hematopathology Section, LP, NCI, fellows spend a considerable portion of their time in rotations in different units to broaden their educational experience. The "credentialing year" of the ACGME accredited program includes rotations in the Hematopathology Section, LP, (4 months), the Hematology Service of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center (DLM, CC) (4 months), Flow Cytometry Unit (1 month), Molecular Diagnostics Unit (1 month), Hematopathology Division of the Johns Hopkins Hospital (1 month), with optional rotations at the Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC, and George Washington University Hospital. In the second year of the program, fellows have 8 months of protected research time, and enhance their diagnostic skills through an additional fou months of diagnostic service in the Hematopathology Section, LP, and the Hematology Service, DLM, CC. Each of the fellows is sponsored to attend the week-long Tutorial in Neoplastic Hematopathology, an experience that further rounds out the educational curriculum. 100% of our fellows have passed on the first attempt the examination in Hematology offered by the American Board of Pathology. Since 2015 trainees in the Hematopathology Section have authored more than 60 articles in the peer-reviewed literature. Fellows present at one of the scientific meetings related to our specialty, most often the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP).