Fellowship Details & Requirements
Our program is an innovative educational program that integrates patient care, basic/translational science and clinic research to help physicians become patient-oriented clinician-researchers. Fellowships and mentoring programs such as ours provide practical opportunities to engage in clinical and translational research and develop the needed skills to care for patients on early phase clinical trials.
Large public universities such as UT MD Anderson can organize collaborations across academic units that share facilities and faculty to provide a supportive educational environment. We have a rich and diverse mentorship team, including research mentors, clinical mentors, and peer mentors. We additionally provide a research environment that ensures patient safety and promotes regulatory-compliant research processes, while providing a suitable infrastructure and environment to train fellows.
This unparalleled experience provides an extraordinary foundation for our fellows’ careers. Our graduates have gone on to succeed in a wide range of roles across academia, private practice, and industry.
Eligibility, Prerequisites & Application Process
Our GME Office has preliminary eligibility requirements that all prospective trainees must meet before applying for a training program at our institution. In addition to these criteria, our program also includes the following requirements:
Candidates must be eligible for a physician-in-training permit or have a medical license to practice in Texas, have completed training in the United States, Canada, or foreign equivalent (preferably in Medical Oncology). They must additionally have completed a hematology/oncology or medical oncology fellowship, have an interest in drug development and a desire for focused preparation in the field of clinical trials research.
Selection criteria includes:
- completion of a hematology/oncology or medical oncology fellowship
- evidence of previous productive basic, translational, or clinical research is preferred
- strong potential for a productive career in clinical trials research, drug development, translational research or clinical research-focused academic medicine
The selection criteria for the second year of training include the following:
- Fellow must have favorable performance evaluations at both six-month and 12-month time intervals
- Faculty support/recommendations and approval from the program director
Program Goals & Objectives
Educational Goal
The purposes of the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship Program is to train academically oriented clinicians, to provide exemplary patient care in the setting of clinical research protocols and to perform cutting-edge clinical/translational research. These goals are achieved through three core components (i.e., clinic exposure, didactic teaching and clinical research) and include a multitude of program activities such as meetings, clinic rotations, inpatient service rotations, lecture series, imaging practicums, research and protocol development.
Learning Objectives
As a result of completing the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship, fellows should be able to:
- Develop and implement a Phase I oncology clinical trial
- Identify tumor measurement procedures and response criteria
- Identify the processes of regulatory oversight
- Analyze ethical issues related to clinical trials research
- Select and manage early research options for patients with advanced cancer
- Contribute to the body of knowledge in early clinical trials through the production of manuscripts and protocols
- Independently generate clinical and translational initiatives pertaining to Phase I drug development
Patient Care Goals
- Demonstrate competency in patient care related to clinical trials, medical knowledge on the molecular basis of cancer and targeted therapeutics, and clinical research practice-based learning.
- Recognize the need for protection of human subjects when conducting research through compliance with the IRB policies, procedures, and education.
- Assess the risks and benefits associated with standard and experimental treatment regimens
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of targeted therapy and host toxicities
- Be able to dictate concise, accurate and informative histories, physical examinations and progress notes with a Phase I clinical trials focus, clearly outlining recommendations and rationale.
- Define and prioritize patient’s medical problems and generate appropriate differential diagnosis.
- Develop rational, clinical trials-based management strategies.
- Develop the ability to make appropriate diagnostic and treatment plans for patients seen in the outpatient clinic.
- Develop the ability to assess toxicity and monitor patients’ drug response.
- Develop the ability to manage end-of-life issues with patients and their families, and to discuss death honestly, sensitively, patiently and compassionately.
- Be able to explain clinical trials and principles of obtaining consent.
- Develop familiarity with the basic principles of medical care of patients treated on early clinical trials.
Medical Knowledge Goals
- Understand basic pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis of cancer and the management of early clinical trials.
- Demonstrate how to integrate data with knowledge of multi-modal therapy to effectively diagnosis and treat patients.
- Develop rational, medical management strategies in the clinical trials setting.
- Demonstrate use of historical/published research data and how it can be applied to novel approaches for targeted therapy and/or personalized medicine.
- Select appropriate clinical trials for patients based on unique molecular or genetic disease characteristics, manage treatment related toxicities, interpret imaging studies and evaluate patient response to therapy.
- Demonstrate how to write and conduct a clinical trial, manage regulatory issues associated with the protocol approval process, interpret data, prepare and submit a manuscript and submit a grant.
- Become an innovative physician-investigator who can effectively translate laboratory discoveries and bedside observations to improvements in patient care.
- Demonstrate understanding of the drug development process from a clinical, regulatory and research perspective.
- Demonstrate understanding of tumor response evaluation criteria and develop proficiency in conducting tumor measurements.
- Gain experience with cutting-edge translational laboratory techniques, molecular imaging and molecular profiling.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement Goals
- Identify and acknowledge gaps in personal knowledge and skills in the care of patients.
- Develop and implement strategies for filling gaps in knowledge and skills
- Commit to professional scholarship, including systematic and critical perusal of relevant print and electronic literature, with an emphasis on integration of basic science with clinical medicine, and evaluation considering the principles of evidence-based medicine.
Systems-Based Practice Goals
- Demonstrate willingness to teach medical students and other fellows.
- Demonstrate willingness and ability to help the requesting physician in a consultative or co-management capacity, according to the needs of the situation.
- Collaborate with other members of the healthcare team at all levels to assure comprehensive patient care.
- Collaborate professionally with fellows and faculty consultants from other disciplines.
- Understand when to ask for help and advice from more senior fellows and attending physicians.
- Understand and utilize the multidisciplinary resources necessary to care optimally for patients.
Professionalism Goals
- Understand professionalism, concepts of integrity, altruism and conflict of interest.
- Understand ethical concepts of confidentiality, consent, autonomy and justice.
- Accept Professional responsibility for patient(s) under their care.
- Ability to interact professionally toward patients, families, colleagues and all members of the health care team.
- Demonstrate an open and responsive attitude to feedback from mentors, other team members and peers.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills Goals
- To communicate effectively with patients and families.
- To communicate effectively with physician colleagues at all levels.
- To communicate effectively will all non-physician members of the health care team to assure comprehensive and timely care of patients.
- Present information on patients concisely and clearly in both written and verbal formats.
- Evaluation of rotation form.
- Information feedback sessions, such as trainee meetings, trainee representation on various committees and an annual retreat.
Program Structure & Curriculum
Summary of Educational Experiences:
The Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship is a one-year program with the option of a second year. Fellows are evaluated by faculty every 12 weeks (quarterly) throughout the year, and fellows evaluate the faculty quarterly as well. They are additionally asked to evaluate the program every six months (mid-and end of a academic year) and provide a 360-degree review at the end of each year.
First Year: Goals and Competencies to be achieved
- Establish a clear line of communication with each attending physician who offers oversight of all patient care responsibilities.
- Demonstrate competency in patient care related to clinical trials, medical knowledge on the molecular basis of cancer and targeted therapeutics, and clinical research practice-based learning.
- Recognize the need for protection of human subjects when conducting research through compliance with the IRB policies, procedures and education.
- Assess the risks and benefits associated with standard and experimental treatment regimens.
- Understand the drug development process from a clinical, regulatory and research perspective.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of targeted therapy and host toxicities, and develop rational, medical management strategies in the clinical trials setting.
- Understand and utilize multidisciplinary resources to optimally care for hospitalized patients.
- Develop a hypothesis, write a clinical trial and submit it for regulatory approval.
- Interact with sponsors in the pharmaceutical industry/NCI, as well as regulatory bodies such as the FDA.
- Compile and analyze data for a retrospective study related to a clinical/translational research project and submit an abstract and manuscript for publication that interprets this data.
- Gain experience with cutting-edge translational laboratory techniques, molecular imaging and molecular profiling.
- Engage in one Clinical Quality Improvement project.
- Optional: Initiate Master’s program in Patient-Based Research at UT – Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Second Year: Goals and Competencies to be achieved
- Serve as a resource for other members of the clinical research team with regard to managing investigational drug-related toxicities, disease complications, or for questions related to the fellow’s active protocol.
- Peruse relevant print and electronic literature and demonstrate the ability to integrate basic science with clinical medicine and evaluate information considering the principles of evidence-based medicine.
- Utilize laboratory/surrogate endpoints to aid in the evaluation of experimental therapies used in clinical trials.
- Understand how to properly run their active Phase I study (e.g. how to manage a research nurse/data coordinator, recommending protocol amendments, etc.)
- Manage accrual of patients on their trial.
- Submit abstract(s) and present data on their trial at a major cancer meeting.
- Submit a grant relevant to their clinical research.
- Accrue clinical trial data and complete coursework (see above), arrange appropriate committee meetings and apply this effort directly for Master’s in Patient-Based Research (UT-H GSBS).
Trainee Success & Program Outcomes
The Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship program was first introduced in 2004, and since that time, we have had 52 fellows successfully complete the program and pursue a variety of careers, including:
- 24 (46%) graduates currently in academic positions
- 11 (21%) graduates currently in private practice
- 11 (21%) currently working as hospital staff
- 4 (7%) currently in pharmaceutical industry
- 1 (1%) graduate in NCI
- 1 (1%) Unknown
Fellow & Faculty Publications
Program Director Publications
- Piha-Paul SA, Call JA, Spira AI, Bartolomé J, de Miguel M, Chen X, Donatelli SS, Lakhani NJ. Oncologist. 2025 Sep 24:oyaf301. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf301. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40990800.
- Piha-Paul SA, Tolcher AW, Vandross AL, Spira AI, Burns MR. ESMO Open. 2025 Sep;10(9):105576. doi: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2025.105576. Epub 2025 Sep 6. PMID:0913836; PMCID: PMC12451337.
- Nelson BE, Janku F, Fu S, Dumbrava EE, Hong DS, Karp DD, Naing A, Rodon J, Tsimberidou AM, Murthy R, Sheth RA, Amaria RN, Conley AP, Damodaran S, Raghav KPS, Carapanceanu N, Singh MP, Carapanceanu V, Pezeshki A, Leontovich AA, Kreider BL, Tung D, Varterasian M, Khazaie K, Piha-Paul SA. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Sep 15;31(18):3864-3875. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-3952. PMID: 40643985; PMCID: PMC12434394.
- Nelson BE, O'Brien S, Sheth RA, Hong DS, Naing A, Zhang X, Xu A, Hamuro L, Suryawanshi R, McKinley D, Novosiadly RD, Piha-Paul SA. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Jan 16;13(1):e010013. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-010013. Erratum in: J Immunother Cancer. 2025 May 2;13(5):e010013corr1. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-010013corr1. PMID: 39824531; PMCID: PMC11749293.
- Piha-Paul S, Olwill SA, Hamilton E, Tolcher A, Pohlmann P, Liu SV, Wurzenberger C, Hasenkamp LC, Hansbauer EM, Shroff R, Hurvitz S, Krishnamurthy A, Patnaik A, Hahn N, Kumar R, Duerr M, Zettl M, Aviano K, Matis L, Bruns I, Ku G. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Jan 17;31(2):288-298. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-1552. PMID: 39235868; PMCID: PMC11739778.
- Nelson BE, Naing A, Fu S, Sheth RA, Murthy R, Piha-Paul S. Immunooncol Technol. 2024 Dec 20;25:101040. doi: 10.1016/j.iotech.2024.101040. PMID: 39981134; PMCID: PMC11841068.
- Piha-Paul SA, Tseng C, Leung CH, Yuan Y, Karp DD, Subbiah V, Hong D, Fu S, Naing A, Rodon J, Javle M, Ajani JA, Raghav KP, Somaiah N, Mills GB, Tsimberidou AM, Zheng X, Chen K, Meric-Bernstam F. NPJ Precis Oncol. 2024 Jul 31;8(1):166. doi: 10.1038/s41698-024-00634-6. PMID: 39085400; PMCID: PMC11291882.
- Piha-Paul SA, Xu B, Dumbrava EE, Fu S, Karp DD, Meric-Bernstam F, Hong DS, Rodon JA, Tsimberidou AM, Raghav K, Ajani JA, Conley AP, Mott F, Fan Y, Fan J, Peng P, Wang H, Ni S, Sun C, Qiang X, Levin WJ, Ngo B, Ru QC, Wu F, Javle MM. Oncologist. 2024 Apr 4;29(4):e514-e525. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad338. PMID: 38297981; PMCID: PMC10994248.
- Piha-Paul SA, Tseng C, Tran HT, Gao M, Karp DD, Subbiah V, Tsimberidou AM, Kawedia JD, Fu S, Pant S, Yap TA, Morris VK, Kee BK, Blum Murphy M, Lim J, Meric-Bernstam F. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2023 Aug;92(2):107-118. doi: 10.1007/s00280-023-04545-4. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37314501; PMCID: PMC10326142.
- Nelson BE, Tsimberidou AM, Fu X, Fu S, Subbiah V, Sood AK, Rodon J, Karp DD, Blumenschein G, Kopetz S, Pant S, Piha-Paul SA. 2023 Dec 11;28(12):1100-e1292. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad158. PMID: 37311055; PMCID: PMC10712705.
Trainee Publications
- Braganca Xavier C, Andersen CR, Lim J, Slade JH, Bean SA, Kang L, Le H, Tsimberidou AM, Naing A, Hong DS, Dumbrava EE, Rodon Ahnert J, Pohlmann PR, Piha-Paul SA, Champiat S, Yap TA, Tang TY, Meric-Bernstam F, Fu S. . Cancer Res Commun. 2025 Sep 1;5(9):1631-1641. doi: 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-25-0033. PMID: 40862547; PMCID: PMC12434680.
- Braganca Xavier C, Guardia GDA, Alves JPB, Lopes CDH, Awni BM, Campos EF, Jardim DL, Galante PAF. Oncologist. 2025 Apr 4;30(4):oyaf078. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf078. PMID: 40285678; PMCID: PMC12032576.
- Nardo M, Braganca Xavier C, Stephen B, How JA, Moyers J, Subbiah V, Hong DS, Naing A. J Immunother Precis Oncol. 2025 Apr 10;8(2):143-151. doi: 10.36401/JIPO-24-27. PMID: 40212844; PMCID: PMC11985251.
- Torrado C, Gonzalez-Ortiz A, Xavier CB, Tan HN, Ngoi NYL, Yap TA. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2025 Oct 14. doi: 10.1080/14737140.2025.2575825. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41086259.
- Torrado C, Ashton NW, D'Andrea AD, Yap TA. Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Jul;271:108865. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2025.108865. Epub 2025 Apr 22. PMID: 40274197.
- Torrado C, Nassif Haddad E, Somaiah N, Msaouel P, Lazar AJ, Piha-Paul SA. . J Immunother Precis Oncol. 2025 Mar 5;8(2):113-120. doi: 10.36401/JIPO-24-28. PMID: 40070529; PMCID: PMC11896019.
- Xavier CB, Gouda MA, Tsimberidou AM. NPJ Precis Oncol. 2025 Oct 9;9(1):322. doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-01115-0. PMID: 41068324; PMCID: PMC12511611.
- Gouda MA, Gonugunta A, Dumbrava EE, Yap TA, Rodon J, Piha-Paul SA, Pohlmann PR, Damodaran S, Murthy R, Valero V, Mouabbi JA, Tripathy D, Sahin AA, Chen H, Meric-Bernstam F. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Apr 1;31(7):1268-1274. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-3468. PMID: 39841861.
- Gouda MA, Ballesteros PA, Garrido-Laguna I, Rodon J. . Ann Oncol. 2025 May;36(5):507-519. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.02.010. Epub 2025 Mar 4. PMID: 40049448.
- Gouda MA, Shunyakova J, Naing A, Dumbrava E, Hong DS, Yuan Y, Yang P, Myers A, Liang Y, Peng J, Karp D, Tsimberidou AM, Rodon J, Yap TA, Piha-Paul SA, Meric-Bernstam F, Fu S. ESMO Open. 2024 Jun;9(6):103486. doi: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2024.103486. Epub 2024 Jun 8. PMID: 38914452; PMCID: PMC11258623.
Faculty Publications (last 5 years)
- Champiat S, Garralda E, Galvao V, Cassier PA, Gomez-Roca C, Korakis I, Grell P, Naing A, LoRusso P, Mikyskova R, Podzimkova N, Reinis M, Ouali K, Schoenenberger A, Kiemle-Kallee J, Tillmanns S, Sachse R, Moebius U, Spisek R, Bechard D, Jelinkova LP, Adkins I, Marabelle A. Cell Rep Med. 2025 Feb 18;6(2):101967. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.101967. Epub 2025 Feb 10. PMID: 39933529; PMCID: PMC11866505.
- Luke JJ, Pinato DJ, Juric D, LoRusso P, Hosein PJ, Desai AM, Haddad R, de Miguel M, Cervantes A, Kim WS, Marabelle A, Zhang Y, Rong Y, Yuan X, Champiat S. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Feb 20;13(2):e010511. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-010511. PMID: 39979069; PMCID: PMC11842995.
- Dumbrava EE, Stinchcombe TE, Gounder M, Cote GM, Hanna GJ, Sumrall B, Wise-Draper TM, Kanaan M, Duffy S, Sumey C, Cobb P, Forbes A, Beckmann AG, Schadt EE, Ku N, Tirunagaru VG, Singh K, Pei X, Xu F, Doebele RC, Chen CT. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Oct 15;31(20):4255-4264. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-0762. PMID: 40788172; PMCID: PMC12521910.
- Dumbrava EE, Ben Haj Frej K, Sharon E, Tawbi H. Annu Rev Med. 2025 Jan;76(1):189-205. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-080222-100847. Epub 2025 Jan 16. PMID: 39656959.
- Hein KZ, Stephen B, Fu S. J Immunother Precis Oncol. 2024 Feb 5;7(1):41-52. doi: 10.36401/JIPO-22-37. PMID: 38327752; PMCID: PMC10846636.
- Fu S, Yao S, Yuan Y, Previs RA, Elias AD, Carvajal RD, George TJ, Yuan Y, Yu L, Westin SN, Xing Y, Dumbrava EE, Karp DD, Piha-Paul SA, Tsimberidou AM, Ahnert JR, Takebe N, Lu K, Keyomarsi K, Meric-Bernstam F. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Mar 20;41(9):1725-1734. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00830. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36469840; PMCID: PMC10489509.
- Lim JU, Negrao MV, Hong DS. Annu Rev Med. 2025 Sep 24. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-043024-115849. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40991960.
- Hong DS, LoRusso P, Sznol M. J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Jul 11;12(7):e008520. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008520. PMID: 38991727; PMCID: PMC11284861.
- Meric-Bernstam F. Nat Med. 2025 Oct;31(10):3228. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-03892-4. PMID: 40855192.
- Meric-Bernstam F, Rha SY, Hamilton E, Kang YK, Hanna DL, Iqbal S, Lee KW, Lee J, Beeram M, Oh DY, Chaves J, Goodwin RA, Ajani JA, Yang L, Oza R, Elimova E. Nat Commun. 2025 May 8;16(1):4293. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59279-z. PMID: 40341383; PMCID: PMC12062219.
- Pacha O, Patel AB, Curry JL, Haymaker CL, Ozirmak Lermi N, Duose DY, Chen K, Hajjar J, Naing A. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Aug 7;13(8):e011401. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-011401. PMID: 40780859; PMCID: PMC12336593.
- Naing A, McKean M, Tolcher A, Victor A, Hu P, Gao W, Nogueira Filho MAF, Kitzing T, Gleicher S, Holland D, Richter E, Tadjalli-Mehr K, Siu LL. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 Feb 10;13(2):e010584. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-010584. PMID: 39929671; PMCID: PMC11815413.
- Merchan JR, Rodon J, Venkat S, Donahue A, Thomassen A, Accomando WP, Rodriguez-Aguirre M, Kwon D, Bentley C, Hogan DJ, Rodrigues OR, Yavrom S, Ostertag D, Shorr J, Falchook GS. Mol Ther. 2025 Aug 21:S1525-0016(25)00657-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.08.027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40842153.
- Rodón J, Damian S, Furqan M, García-Donas J, Imai H, Italiano A, Spanggaard I, Ueno M, Yokota T, Veronese ML, Oliveira N, Li X, Gilmartin A, Schaffer M, Goyal L. Nat Med. 2024 Jun;30(6):1645-1654. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-02934-7. Epub 2024 May 6. Erratum in: Nat Med. 2024 Aug;30(8):2377. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-03072-w. PMID: 38710951; PMCID: PMC11186762.
Apostolia Tsimberidou, M.D., Ph.D.
- Fountzilas E, Pearce T, Baysal MA, Chakraborty A, Tsimberidou AM. NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jan 31;8(1):75. doi: 10.1038/s41746-025-01471-y. PMID: 39890986; PMCID: PMC11785769.
- Tsimberidou AM, Vining DJ, Arora SP, de Achaval S, Larson J, Kauh J, Cartwright C, Avritscher R, Alibhai I, Tweardy DJ, Kaseb AO. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Mar 17;31(6):965-974. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-2920. PMID: 39792482; PMCID: PMC11911802.
- Yap TA, Kwiatkowski DJ, Dagogo-Jack I, Offin M, Zauderer MG, Kratzke R, Desai J, Body A, Millward M, Tolcher AW, Raghav KPS, Thurston A, Post L, Dorr FA, Tang TT, Li Y, Sharma N, Kindler HL. Nat Med. 2025 Oct 19. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-04029-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41111090.
- Yap TA, Rixe O, Baldini C, Brown-Glaberman U, Efuni S, Hong DS, Massard C, Muzaffar J, Varga A, Yilmaz E, Ikawa Y, Shiue LH, Liu Y, Hruska MW, Zhao H, Tokunaga A, Sahebjam S. Cancer. 2025 Jul 1;131(13):e35939. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35939. PMID: 40536766; PMCID: PMC12178318.
Program Faculty & Leadership
Sarina A. Piha-Paul
Professor
Fellowship Program Director
Siqing Fu, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
David S. Hong, M.D.
Professor and Deputy Chair
Stephane Champiat, M.D.
Associate Professor
Ecaterina E. Dumbrava, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department Chair and Professor
Aung Naing, M.D.
Professor
Apostolia-Maria Tsimberidou, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Tin-Yun Tang, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Timothy Yap, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
VP, Head of Clinical Development
The program director and department faculty supervise the patient care, education, and research activities of the fellow. On the clinical rotations, the attending physician supervises all aspects of the daily clinical activities and is responsible for educating the fellow in the research, technical, and diagnostic aspects of the service. The attending physician meets with the fellow daily to sign out the cases and review cases that require immediate attention. Supervision for research is performed by the fellow's faculty research mentor.
During the initial stage of training, the fellow works side by side with the attending physician/principal investigator. At a later stage, the fellow reviews cases on their own, renders preliminary interpretations and diagnoses, dictates the cases, and reviews their work with the attending physician.
Why This Program
In addition to gaining unparalleled education and training experience, UT MD Anderson trainees have access to exceptional resources and benefits to help them build meaningful careers and lead fulfilling lives.
Institutional benefits and support
GME trainees’ salary stipends are updated every year based on the ACGME’s recommendations, and because our trainees are considered workforce members, they also enjoy UT MD Anderson’s employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement planning, disability insurance and six weeks of parental leave.
Our GME House Staff Senate offers trainees the opportunity to experience a leadership role in a medical field career, and the institution’s Academic Mentoring Council provides avenues to secure tailored academic mentoring from faculty. Our GME trainees benefit from the extensive support offered to our research trainees, too; they are invited to participate in grant application workshops, apply for pilot grants to support their research ideas and receive monetary awards for securing extramural grant funding.
Trainee wellness is also of utmost importance at UT MD Anderson.
Our trainees have access to UT MD Anderson’s employee networks, fitness center and other wellness resources provided by the institution. Additionally, our Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), which provides oversight of our accredited programs, regularly assess our trainees’ needs and implements various initiatives, such as providing free call meals and discounted parking to GME House Staff, to address those gaps. The committee even has a subcommittee entirely dedicated to supporting the wellness of our trainees.
Our efforts to ensure a welcoming and supportive education and training experience have been commended nationally. In 2023, the Office of Graduate Medical Education received the DeWitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award, a prestigious national award that recognizes our institution for its respectful and supportive environment for delivering medical education and patient care.
Beyond MD Anderson
UT MD Anderson’s location has many benefits, too. Our main campus is nestled inside the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center which boasts about 10 million patient encounters each year. Many of our faculty are involved in interorganizational research collaborations, both within the TMC and across the nation, exposing trainees to groundbreaking advancements in medical care in real time.
Most importantly, the city of Houston is a great place to call home and raise a family. We are one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation. More than 145 different languages are spoken across the city, placing us behind only New York and Los Angeles. In fact, about 30% of the city’s population speaks a language other than English at home. And, paychecks here stretch farther than most U.S. metro areas, thanks to our low cost of living.
Visit our Why Houston page to learn more about our city’s affordable housing, fine dining, entertainment scene, nationally renowned museums and other great attributes.