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Orthopaedic Oncology Fellowship

Medical School

As part of the University of Texas Medical School, medical students may rotate through the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, either as part of their formal surgery rotation or as an elective. Students will be exposed to the outpatient clinic, inpatient wards and surgery. They will attend and participate in weekly didactic and clinical conferences.

Residency

The Department of Orthopaedic Oncology is an integral part of The University of Texas Orthopaedic Residency Program, which is part of The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Residents from UT rotate through M. D. Anderson as part of their formal orthopaedic training. The residents are exposed to all aspects of orthopaedic oncology, including the outpatient clinic, inpatient care and surgery. Residents are provided with a syllabus and required reading list. There are weekly didactic sessions with the staff. They are expected to attend and present cases at weekly conferences, including the pathology conference, pre- and post-operative conferences, M&M and sarcoma conferences. Residents take call on a rotating basis with the fellows and physician assistants.

In addition to providing didactic sessions at M. D. Anderson, the staff members of the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology regularly give grand rounds and other lectures for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The University of Texas.

Fellowship

The Department of Orthopaedic Oncology offers a one- or two-year post-graduate fellowship in orthopaedic oncology. The fellowship is designed to provide specialized training in the multidisciplinary care of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. U.S. applicants must have completed an approved orthopaedic residency program by the starting date of the fellowship, and they must be board eligible or board certified. Applicants from abroad must have a current ECFMG certificate and all three parts of the USMLE successfully completed. All candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to academic medicine.

The starting date of the fellowship is either July 1 or August 1. The stipend is based upon the post-graduate year of the applicant, in accordance with institutional and state guidelines.

The first year of the fellowship focuses on an intensive clinical experience. The fellow will be involved in all aspects of clinical practice, including the outpatient clinic, emergency room, inpatient care and surgery. The majority of surgical procedures involves tumors, both soft tissue and bone. The fellow will have an opportunity to work with all of the attending staff members. Weekly conferences include didactic sessions, pathology conference, pre- and post-operative conferences, M&M and sarcoma conferences. In addition, there are multiple institutional conferences and seminars, such as grand rounds, that are optional. The fellow is expected to take call on a rotating basis with the resident and the physician assistants. The fellow should complete at least one clinical project during the year, and will attend at least one national meeting on musculoskeletal tumors.

The second year of the fellowship is an elective year focusing primarily on research. Both clinical and basic research opportunities exist. Current projects include animal models, design of new prostheses, tumor biology, genetic research and tissue engineering.

Current Fellows

Jeffrey T. Luna, M.D. (2007 - 2009)
Mohd Dursi Alfawareh (2008 - 2009)
Shahram Bozorgnia (2008 - 2009)

Previous Fellows

Jeffrey E. Krygier, M.D. (2007 - 2008)
Giri Raj Gupta, M.D. (2006 - 2007)
Nathan F. Gilbert, M.D. (2006 - 2007)
Anne Nicole Normand, M.D. (2004-2006)

How to Apply

Required Documents

The items below will need to be forwarded to be incorporated into your interview packet prior to the fellowship year you are interested in.

  • Full-time GME application
  • Most current curriculum vitae
  • Medical school diploma
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official medical school transcript (English translation required for foreign graduates)
  • Certificates of completion from all residency(ies)
  • USMLE transcript/ scores (for foreign medical school graduates)
  • Valid ECFMG certificate (for foreign medical school graduates)
  • Photo (not required, but beneficial)

Application inquiries should be received at least 18 months prior to the fellowship start date; i.e., prior to January 1, 2010, for start date of July 1, 2011. Interviews will commence and be held through the months of October through January.

Applicants may access the DISCOVER On-line Application System 

 

 

 

 

Letters should be addressed to:

Valerae O. Lewis, M.D.
Associate Professor
Chief, Department of Orthopaedic Oncology
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
PO Box 301402, Unit 408
Houston, TX 77030-1402

If needed, application materials should be mailed to:

Maribel D. Martinez
Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship Program
Department of Orthopaedic Oncology
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
PO Box 301402, Unit 408
Houston, TX 77030-1402
Office: 713-745-4568
FAX: 713-792-8448
E-mail: mdmartin@mdanderson.org

Visitors

Qualified visitors who wish to gain exposure to orthopaedic oncology are welcome to apply. Visitors may observe in the clinic, inpatient wards and operating room, but are not permitted to be directly involved in patient care.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to:
Valerae O. Lewis, M.D.
Associate Professor
Chief, Department of Orthopaedic Oncology
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
PO Box 301402
Houston, TX 77030-1402
Phone 713-745-4568
FAX 713-792-8448


© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center