Lymphoma/Myeloma Fellowship

The goal of the Lymphoma/Myeloma Fellowship program is to train internists and oncologists in the evaluation and management of patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma (MM) and plasma cell dyscrasias (PCD).

Through the combination of inpatient and outpatient clinical responsibilities, and the associated clinical teaching, fellows will develop competence in evaluating, diagnosing, treating and monitoring diseases of the lymphoid system. They will also be trained in the management of regimen-related toxicities, as well as evaluating disease response, and determining therapy for newly diagnosed and relapsed disease. Each fellow will be exposed to a variety of research programs.

At the completion of one year of training, fellows are expected to be familiar with the natural history of lymphoma and myeloma, and to be knowledgeable about appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Each fellow will be expected to be competent to assume independent clinical responsibilities and investigations.

During their tenure, fellows will be expected to submit an abstract to a national and/or international professional meeting and write one or two manuscripts for publication.

The fellowship is led by Program Director Felipe Samaniego, M.D., professor of medicine.

Curriculum

Each fellow will be assigned a mentor, a clinical faculty member who will meet regularly with the fellow during the year.

First-year fellows will have three months of inpatient service completed on a two-week rotation schedule. The remainder of time will be spent in the outpatient clinic. They will participate in the primary evaluation, diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients under direct supervision of the assigned faculty. Fellows will progressively be assigned more patients on the inpatient service.

Fellows are required to attend daily and weekly conferences, including planning clinics, research conferences, case studies conferences, hematology didactic lectures, institutional grand rounds and hematology grand rounds. Each month they will attend didactic lectures on lymphoma/myeloma disease states and subtypes, presented by faculty members.

During the latter part of the year, fellows will begin presenting monthly case studies with in-depth discussion on a selected relevant article during Planning Clinic conferences.

Fellows will work closely and interact with faculty members involved in clinical research, and be expected to participate in two or three clinically based projects. Translational (bench-to-bedside) research opportunities are also available.

Acceptance Criteria

Applicants to the Lymphoma/Myeloma fellowship must meet the following criteria: 

• Have an M.D. or O.D. degree
• Complete an accredited Internal Medicine residency program in the U.S. or Canada, or equivalent foreign training
• Take the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 3 exam by Nov. 1; or declare intent to pass it by January, 6 months prior to the fellowship start date. Fellowship candidates must be licensed by July 1.
• Obtain and maintain a Texas Training Permit, as required by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
• Obtain appropriate U.S. visa status prior to starting the fellowship

Preference will be given to candidates who have also completed a fellowship in medical oncology.

How to Apply

One or two positions are available annually on a competitive basis. Applicants must be able to begin the fellowship starting July 1. The one-year program will end June 30 of the next year. No matching program services are used. No direct emails to the program are accepted. 

• Submit an original application using the DISCOVER online application system

The application must include the following documents:  

• Three letters of recommendation from faculty
• Dean's letter of support
• Medical school transcript
• License exam transcript

The application form and all supporting documentation must be submitted by November 1 of the year preceding the appointment date. The academic year is July 1 to June 30.