Key Medical Oncology Program Faculty Include:

Medical Oncology Training Program (2008-2009)

The University of Washington (UW) Division of Medical Oncology and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) offer a two-year medical oncology training track (Medical Oncology Program) within the accredited UW Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program #155-54-13-151. The Medical Oncology Program offers an optional third year of research training (the majority of fellows are invited to participate in the third year of training). The aim of this Medical Oncology Program is to prepare highly qualified physicians for an academic research career by developing research skills in cancer therapy and cancer biology. The research program emphasizes basic cellular and molecular biological aspects of cancer and bares particular emphasis in the fields of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), immunotherapy and gene therapy. The fellowship is funded by training grants from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and from institutional, and other private sources.

F. Marc Stewart, MD, Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program Director; Medical Director, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; Member, Clinical Research Division, FHCRC; Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, UWSOM

Michael Linenberger, MD, Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program Associate Director; Medical Director, Apheresis and Cellular Therapy, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance; Associate Member, FHCRC; Associate Professor, Hematology, Division of Hematology, UWSOM

Frederick Appelbaum, MD, Director, Clinical Research Division, FHCRC; Member, FHCRC; Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, UWSOM

Effie W. Petersdorf, MD, Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Training Program Medical Oncology Research Director; Member, Clinical Research Division, FHCRC; Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, UWSOM

Stephen Petersdorf, MD, Endowed Chair, Cancer Centers Program, University of Washington; Associate Member, Clinical Research Division, FHCRC; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, UWSOM

William Schubach, MD/PhD, Head, Medical Oncology Training Program Selection Committee; Member, Clinical Research Division, FHCRC; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, UWSOM

The majority of faculty members who participate in the Medical Oncology Program have joint appointments at both the UW and FHCRC. The Medical Oncology Program provides an interdisciplinary program in clinical cancer research and basic research in cancer biology and therapy as related to transplantation biology, immunology, genetic engineering and gene therapy, experimental chemotherapy and mechanisms of drug resistance, and the nature and control of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Expanded initiatives in breast, prostate, ovarian and GI malignancies have been developed. Doctor E. Donnall Thomas began his pioneering work at the Hutchinson Center in 1963, and was particularly honored in 1990 when Dr. Thomas was awarded the Nobel Prize for his contributions in the immunology of marrow transplantation. Hutchinson Center researchers have made many of the world's most important medical-research advances during the last three decades.

The Medical Oncology Program is designed to encourage and train both clinical and laboratory investigators in oncology with particular opportunities to learn the field of HSCT. For clinical research, 90 adult beds are available at the UW Medical Center (52 HCT; 38 general heme/onc), and 8 designated HCT beds at the (VAPS) hospital. All patients are considered research patients and are on multiple research protocols.

Length of Training Program

ABIM "Regular Pathway"

Fellows who have completed three years in internal medicine are eligible for participation in the Medical Oncology Program. Successful completion of this one year of clinical oncology training and one year of research will be ABIM board eligible in Medical Oncology (note: this Medical Oncology Program does not qualify fellows for board eligibility in hematology).

The first year focuses on clinical training; the second and third years are primarily research-based. Generally, one year of research training is considered inadequate to develop independent academic investigators. Therefore, an optional second year of research training is offered, and virtually all fellows who show academic promise are invited to participate in this second research year. Fellows are encouraged to begin the process of seeking outside funding in their second year. Research training support for the third year is provided by the Medical Oncology Program on the basis of productivity during the first year of research training. For fellows who wish continue their research after completing the Training Program, they are required to seek outside support and may also receive support from preceptors' individual research grant funds.

ABIM "Research Pathway ("short-tracking")

The ABIM offers the "Research Pathway" as an alternative to the regular two-year Medical Oncology Training Program. The Research Pathway allows fellows to "short track" their third year of residency in internal medicine and instead enter the Training Program. The Research Pathway is intended for trainees planning academic careers as investigators in basic or clinical science. The Research Pathway requires 12 months of training in clinical medicine and three years of training in research methodology. The Research Pathway requires a minimum of 36 months of research training in which 80% of time is devoted to research and, at most, 20 percent time to clinical work. During the entire three years the trainee must attend a minimum of one half-day per week in continuity ambulatory care clinic.

First Year in the Training Program

(See: clinical rotations for first-year fellows)

The first year is devoted to 12 months of clinical training in "classical" medical oncology but with substantial exposure to clinical HCT and to general clinical research. The integrated clinical program is operated jointly between the UW Divisions of Medical Oncology and Hematology. Both divisions recognize the importance of fellows being well trained clinically in both subspecialties. Fellows participate in all teaching sessions and clinics offered by both divisions.

Licensure

Washington State Medical License

The state of Washington and the UWSOM require that all physicians beyond their internship year have full license to practice medicine. Fellows who do not have a Washington license upon their arrival will not be permitted to begin their training and will not be paid. Information regarding licensure deadlines, reciprocal licensure and application forms may be obtained on the University of Washington Graduate Medical Education website: GME Licensing Policies

DEA Certificate

Fellows must have a DEA number prior to commencing clinical service. Information regarding DEA can be found on the University of Washington Graduate Medical Education website: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Policy & Licensure

Health Clearance

Fellows must receive a "health clearance" from UWMC Campus Health prior to commencing their clinical service on July 1. Fellows will not be allow to provide any patient care until this health clearance has been obtained. Fellows will be asked to provide documentation of health history, including PPD, MMR, Hep B, measles, etc., in the spring prior to entering the program.

HIPAA for Clinical Care

Clinical HIPAA certification is required in the first year. Fellows will be issued a password to access specific HIPAA clinical training module.

Second and Third Years in the Training Program

Research Opportunities

(See: Research opportunities for second and third year fellows)

The second and third years of the Medical Oncology Program are primarily devoted to research training aimed at developing independent academic investigators. With input from the Program Director, the fellow selects his/her laboratory mentor for laboratory and/or clinical research projects. One of the strengths of the research component of the Training Program is the substantial interaction between the various research programs. Specific problems currently under investigation by the proposed preceptors are outlined as Programmatic Research Areas. There are essentially no administrative barriers between the Programmatic Research Areas and the FHCRC enjoys a tremendous spirit of collegiality and interaction between its investigators.

Continuity Clinics. Fellows participate in a half-day continuity clinic per week throughout the duration of the fellowship. Fellows are allowed to choose their continuity clinic from one of the follows sites: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), Veteran's Administration Puget Sound (VAPS), or Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC). The continuity clinics are aimed at providing fellows with hands-on experience in the longitudinal care of cancer patients.

Moonlighting Fellows in their second and third years of the Training Program are allowed to provide moonlighting coverage in accordance with UW moonlighting policies, as well as the ACGME Duty Hours requirements . Upon completion of the Training Program, fellows are no longer eligible to provide moonlighting services.

HIPAA/Research Ethics/Human Subjects Training

Fellows must be trained and certified pursuant to HIPAA regulations. Clinical HIPAA certification is required in the first year. Research HIPAA training is required beginning with the second year.

centernet.fhcrc.org/CN/depts/directors_office/privacy_security/investigators/

Fellows are required to complete six research ethics courses throughout their training.

http://www.fhcrc.org/science/education/courses/research_ethics/requirements/

Human subjects training is required for the majority of studies involving fellows.

centernet.fhcrc.org/CN/depts/iro/irb/training/

Facilities

The recently-constructed FHCRC campus features state-of-the-art laboratory and clinical facilities. The approximate total space available laboratory research and support space at the FHCRC is approximately 500,000 sq. ft.; laboratory space available at the VAPS is 2,950 sq. ft.; and the UWMC offers approximately 4,000 sq. ft for research. The majority of proposed preceptors are involved with the clinical research program but also run independently funded laboratory research programs.

Shared Resources

FHCRC operates a large number of shared resources that provide routine services for a variety of research activities.

	Application Instructions
	First-year Clinical Rotations
	Research Years