Baylor-MD Anderson Internal Medicine Track

About the Program

The Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in partnership with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Established in 2015, the Track combines comprehensive training in general internal medicine with additional expertise in the care of patients with cancer and cancer survivors.  

Five residents enter the Track each year. Residents spend approximately one-third of their residency training at MD Anderson and approximately two-thirds training at BCM's other affiliated clinical sites.  

The Track is designed for residents interested in the growing intersection between internal medicine and cancer care. While many graduates pursue Hematology-Oncology or other oncology-related careers, a commitment to Hematology-Oncology fellowship is not required. The goal is first and foremost to train excellent internists who are comfortable caring for the increasingly complex population of patients with cancer and cancer survivors. 

Learn more about MD Anderson's Internal Medicine division.

At a Glance

• Five PGY-1 positions per year  
• Three-year BCM Internal Medicine residency track  
• Separate NRMP Track number: 1716140C2  
• Approximately one-third of training at MD Anderson  
• Approximately two-thirds of training at other BCM-affiliated clinical sites  
• BCM 4+4 scheduling model  
• Dedicated inpatient, outpatient and subspecialty onco-medicine experiences  
• Dedicated MD Anderson faculty advisor and longitudinal advising throughout residency  
• Access to additional mentorship across MD Anderson and BCM  
• Opportunities for clinical research, quality improvement and other scholarly activity  

One of the distinguishing features of the BCM–MD Anderson Track is the opportunity to train in both a comprehensive cancer center and the diverse clinical environments of a large academic internal medicine residency. 

Approximately one-third of residency is spent at MD Anderson, where residents develop expertise in the medical care of patients across the cancer continuum. The remaining two-thirds is spent within the broader BCM Internal Medicine Residency Program, where Track residents train alongside their categorical colleagues across BCM's affiliated clinical sites.  

This combination is intentional. Residents gain the unique experience of caring for patients with cancer and cancer survivors while maintaining broad exposure to general internal medicine, critical care, subspecialty medicine and diverse patient populations and health care settings. 

Residents train with faculty who care for patients across the cancer continuum, from cancer prevention and diagnosis through active treatment, complications of therapy, supportive care and survivorship. MD Anderson experiences include onco-hospital medicine/general internal medicine and rotations in areas such as: 

• Benign Hematology  
• Cardiology  
• Cancer Prevention and Survivorship  
• Dermatology  
• Emergency Medicine  
• Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders  
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology  
• Infectious Diseases  
• Nephrology  
• Palliative and Supportive Care  
• Procedures  
• Pulmonary Medicine  
• Rheumatology  
• Preoperative Medicine  
• Suspicion of Cancer Clinic  

Residents learn to manage both common medical problems in patients with cancer and problems that may be encountered less frequently in traditional internal medicine training, including complications of cancer and cancer-directed therapy, complex symptom management and the long-term medical needs of cancer survivors.

The MD Anderson experience complements rather than replaces traditional internal medicine training. 

Track residents are BCM Internal Medicine residents and spend approximately two-thirds of residency at BCM's other affiliated clinical sites. They train alongside categorical residents and participate in the broader educational, clinical and social community of the BCM Internal Medicine Residency Program.  

Applicants considering the Track should therefore consider the BCM Internal Medicine Residency Program as a whole, in addition to the MD Anderson experience, when determining whether the Track is the right fit for them. 

Track residents follow the BCM 4+4 scheduling model, which consists of thirteen four-week blocks per academic year. The blocks alternate between primarily inpatient-intensive rotations and blocks that typically include ambulatory or subspecialty rotations and continuity clinic.  

MD Anderson experiences are incorporated throughout the three years of residency rather than occurring during a single dedicated year. In total, approximately one-third of residency training occurs at MD Anderson. The exact sequence of rotations varies by postgraduate year and individual resident schedule. 

Each BCM–MD Anderson Track resident is assigned a dedicated MD Anderson faculty advisor who provides longitudinal advising throughout residency. Advisors work with residents to review their progress, career goals, professional development and individual needs throughout training. 

In addition to this primary advising relationship, residents have access to the extensive faculty network at MD Anderson and can develop additional mentorship relationships based on their clinical, research and career interests. 

Track leadership and advisors help residents identify appropriate mentors, scholarly opportunities and career-development resources as their interests evolve. As members of the BCM Internal Medicine Residency Program, Track residents also have access to the mentorship, fellowship preparation and career-development resources available through BCM. 

Residents have access to clinical research, quality improvement and other scholarly opportunities through both MD Anderson and BCM. The current BCM Track description specifically highlights opportunities for clinical research in cancer medicine.  

MD Anderson provides access to faculty with a broad range of clinical and research expertise, and residents are encouraged to identify scholarly activities that align with their individual interests and career goals. 

Research and scholarship are not limited to Hematology-Oncology or cancer medicine. 

Since its creation, the BCM–MD Anderson Track has prepared residents for a wide range of careers. Many graduates have pursued Hematology-Oncology and other oncology-related careers, while others have pursued different internal medicine subspecialties or careers in hospital medicine. 

Published outcomes from the first decade of the Track found that 57% of graduates pursued oncology-related careers, while resident academic performance remained comparable to peers in the larger residency program.  

The Track is not intended exclusively for future oncologists. Rather, it provides a distinctive foundation in both general internal medicine and the care of patients affected by cancer.