Fellowship
Educational Activities
While the majority of fellows' learning will occur through clinical interactions, a number of additional educational activities are offered to the fellow to further their expertise and readiness for board examination. These activities include the following:
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Didactic Lectures
Weekly, hour-long didactic sessions that cover a variety of pediatric hematology oncology topics. The lectures are led primarily by pediatric hematology oncology faculty with some lectures facilitated by faculty from other applicable subspecialties. Lectures are designed to foster a collaborative learning environment for both trainees and faculty.
Tumor Board
A multidisciplinary tumor board is held weekly to discuss oncology patients or other patients with benign tumors requiring ongoing observation. Radiology, pathology, oncology, and radiation oncology are all present for these board discussions.
Neuro-oncology Conference
A weekly multidisciplinary neuro-oncology conference to discuss neuro-oncology patients. Neuroradiology, pathology, oncology, and radiation oncology are all present for these boards.
Quality Improvement/Research Council
A quarterly quality improvement conference is held to discuss any ongoing divisional quality improvement projects as well as ideas for future projects and other research taking place in the division.
Caring for the Caregiver
A quarterly one-hour session devoted solely to well-being. Topics covered in this session include helping patients/families navigate the grief process, addressing common stressors for physicians, and preventing physician burnout. These sessions are interactive and encourage fellows and staff to relax and foster relationships with one another. Some of our favorite previous sessions have included trivia games, meditation, massages, and even instruction in martial arts!
Pediatric Grand Rounds
Weekly didactic lectures given by UMMC faculty, local physicians, and invited speakers discussing a wide variety of pediatric topics.
Pediatric Hematology Oncology "Pullen" Board Review
Named after UMMC's first Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division Chair, Dr. Jeannette Pullen, these are weekly board review sessions. Dr. Pullen was instrumental in developing the backbone of many of the leukemia protocols still in use today, and she remained dedicated throughout her career to teaching and continuing education. The sessions focus on board-specific topics and follow the ASPHO review course lecture series. The entire ASPHO review curriculum is covered in one year giving fellows the opportunity to review all board prep sessions three times prior to graduation. The sessions are facilitated by peds hematology oncology faculty, and fellows are completely duty-free during these sessions, and all pages/calls are taken by faculty during this time.