Program Origins & Historical Context

The Leukemia Fellowship Program accepts applications for potential positions between August 1 through October 1 annually, with the program accepting a limited number of new fellows each year. Initially, a one-year commitment to the program is required. Fellows in their first year may be considered for an additional year at their request. 

Our GME Office has preliminary eligibility requirements that all prospective trainees must meet before applying for a training program at our institution.  Additionally:  

• Individuals applying for admissions into the Leukemia Fellowship Program must hold an M.D. or D.O. degree and have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Iinternal Medicine or foreign equivalent.
• Applicants must have a valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). 
• At minimum, applicants with a M.D. degree or the foreign equivalent must have completed USMLE Step I and USMLE Step II CK. 
• At minimum, applicants with a D.O. degree or its foreign equivalent must have completed all three parts of the COMLEX exam.
• Additionally, all applicants must have passed each step/part/level of a licensure examination (USMLE or COMLEXII) within three (3) attempts.
• Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or be eligible for J-1 Visa Sponsorship.  The J-1 visa is sponsored by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
• UT MD Anderson does not offer or sponsor H-1B Visas for GME Trainees.

The Leukemia Fellowship Program academic cycle is July 1 through June 30 annually; late starts are not permitted. All application contingencies must be finalized prior to the deadline. Incomplete applications and late inquiries will not be accepted.

• Applications are accepted through the Leukemia Educational Program Office and are available on a highly competitive basis. 
• To initiate the application process, please email a current CV to leuktrain@mdanderson.org  with the following documents listed below. 
• The application checklist provides information regarding the required documents to submit with your application and instructions to request documents from external entities to submit to our clinical fellowship program. 
• Interviews will tentatively be conducted upon completion of all application requirements, and, if chosen, to move forward in the application and selection processes. 

UT MD Andersonr’s Graduate Medical Education Office requires the following documentation to process an applicant for the Leukemia Clinical Fellowship Program:

Application Checklist

Application form: 

• Complete the attached application form and email the application and all supporting documents to leuktrain@mdanderson.org

CV (curriculum vitae): 

• A written description of an individual's educational background, work experience and related professional accomplishments

Three letters of recommendation:

• Letters must be dated no more than one year prior to the signature date on the application and must be on letterhead with original signatures.
  • One of the letters must come from the current program director (if applicable), and the other two (or three) must come from persons at your current institution/program qualified to comment on your qualifications for the clinical appointment to which you are applying. 
• Letters of Recommendation must be sent directly from the referee to our program email address leuktrain@mdanderson.org 

Licensure Exam Transcripts:

Applicants must pass each step/part/level of an exam within three (3) attempts.

• M.D.s (USMLE, NBME, FLEX, SPEX exams): Request and submit the Federation of State Medical Boards' Examination and Board Action History Report (EBAHR).  Please download the request through the following website: www.fsmb.org 
• D.O.S (NBOME, COMLEX exams): Submit to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME).  Please download the request through the following website: https://www.nbome.org. 
• Canadian Medical Graduates: who do not have a USMLE transcript may submit the Licentiate of the Medical Council (LMCC) transcript. A Certified Statement of Registration with the LMCC is required. Please transfer your examination result documents via the following website: mcc.ca 

Medical school transcripts:

• Submit unofficial official transcripts from all medical schools attended. Transcripts from the school of graduation with transfer credits may not be used in lieu of an official transcript from the original medical/dental school. An official medical school transcript must come directly from the medical/dental school to UT MD Anderson, or from the candidate directly only if received in a sealed envelope with a medical school stamp or official signature across the seal. We do not accept copies of transcripts, notarized or otherwise.

Credential Evaluations:

• Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. and Canada must submit a credential evaluation conducted by an accredited foreign education evaluation agency verifying degree equivalency in the U.S. 

See a list of evaluation companies.  (Please note: The FCVS packet does not fulfill this requirement.)

Program Certificates of Completion: 

• Provide Program Certificates of Completion (copies are acceptable) from all graduate medical education (GME) programs (residencies and/or fellowships) that have been completed.

English Translations:

Documents in a language other than English (including Latin) must be accompanied by a Certified English translation.

ECFMG certificate:

Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. and Canada must provide a copy of an ECFMG certificate, valid at the program start date. 

Letter of Good Standing: (only if selected for Fellowship)

If you are currently in a GME program but have not yet completed it, submit a Letter of Good Standing from your program director.

• Letters of Good Standing must be dated no more than six months prior to the anticipated start date. 
• Letter must include your current PGY level. 
• Letter must include your program start and end dates.  

All required documents must be sent by postal or express mail to the following addresses: 
Document submission requirements will vary. 

POSTAL SERVICE 
Leukemia Clinical Fellowship Program 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 
Department of Leukemia 
ATTN: ERICH OLEY 
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 428 
Houston, TX 77030 

EXPRESS MAIL 
Leukemia Clinical Fellowship Program 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 
Department of Leukemia 
ATTN: ERICH OLEY 
1400 Holcombe Boulevard 
FC3.3028 
Houston, TX 77030 

The goals of the Leukemia Fellowship Program are to train competent, qualified, caring and empathic physicians who are mindful of the significance of their role in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute and chronic leukemias as well as myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders.  The one or potential two-year program is geared toward the preparation of independent and competent management of patients with all types of leukemia disorders.  The program is dedicated to training physicians who will effectively work in the current and future health care systems.  The Department of Leukemia at UT MD Anderson endorses a team approach to patient care, while recognizing that fellows must have opportunities for individual critical decision-making and patient responsibility as defined by the Texas Medical Board.  

The Leukemia Fellowship is non-standard and runs July 1 through June 30. Our program is accredited by the Texas Medical Board as an approved fellowship program, and is affiliated with UT MD Anderson’s  Hematology/Oncology Fellowship , which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The first year of fellowship is designed to orient the trainee to the diseases and treatments commonly encountered in leukemia.  This intense, hands-on training includes outpatient clinics where the fellow serves as the primary oncologist for the patient, and benefits from close precepting.  Fellows are expected to learn about each case from all available resources, including literature and faculty experts.  During this time, the fellow also rotates through leukemia inpatient wards to gain focused exposure to specific disease types. During the optional second year of training, the fellows continue to expand their general clinical education through outpatient clinics, inpatient consultations and specialty projects.  In addition to the clinical responsibilities, fellows begin to focus on a narrow subspecialty, both clinically and in research. 

The Program achieves its goals through a combination of inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences.  The ACGME core competencies and milestones are achieved through a required set of rotations, a didactic curriculum, and elective rotations designed to broaden the base of knowledge. The Fellowship complements the hands-on training with an even broader range of conferences that are available through national and international hematology and medical oncology organizations.  Fellows are involved in clinical research and are encouraged to develop a research program of their own and to compete for national presentations and awards.  The recent achievement of our program describes an undeniable understanding just how valuable it is to provide in-depth clinical training in the diagnosis and management of leukemia and related malignant disorders (MDS, MPN), and to provide clinical and research training in acute leukemia.  

Mina Abdelmalek, M.D.

1. Abdelmalek, M., Al Haj, F., Haddad, F., Jabbour, E., Wierda, W., Marrero, W., Pemmaraju, N., Hammond, D., Alvarado, Y., Borthakur, G., Ravandi, F., Kantarjian, H., Kadia T., Phase II Study of CLIA (cladribine, idarubicin, cytarabine) Plus Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Myeloid Blast Phase

Farah Al Haj, M.D.

1. Al Haj, F., Abdelmalek, W., Senapati, J., Montalban-Bravo, G., Faderl, S., Short, N., Daver, N., Dinardo, C., Masarova, L., Ferrajoli, A., Jabbour, E., Borthakur, G., Garcia-Manero, G., Andreeff, M., Ravandi, F., Alvarado, Y. Combination of CPX-351 and Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO) in Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Post-Hypomethylating Agent (HMA) Failure High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (HR-MDS)

FNU Amritpal Singh, M.D.

1. Amritpal Singh, F., Sasaki, K., Loghavi, S., Montalban-Bravo, G., Takahashi, K., Kantarjian, H., Garcia-Manero, G., DiNardo, C., Chien, K. Clinical Outcomes of Patients with IDH1/IDH2-Mutated Clonal Hematopoiesis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

2. Amritpal Singh, F., Bataller, A., Bazinet, A., Borthakur, G., Dinardo, C., Daver, N., Montalban-Bravo, G., Short, N., Jen, W., Issa, G., Abbas, H., Loghavi, S., Garcia-Manero, G., Ravandi, F., Kantarjian, H., Kadia, T. Impact of NPM1 Co-Mutation on Outcomes in RAS-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

Vanthana Bharathi, M.D.

1. Bharathi, V., Bouligny, I.M., Almanza-Huante, E., Bataller, A., Bazinet, A., Jen, W.Y., Khaire, N., Sasaki, K., Hammond, D., DiNardo, C., Borthakur, G., Kadia, T., Daver, N., Issa, G., Yilmaz, M., Chien, K., Montalban-Bravo, G., Garcia-Manero, G. Luspatercept response predictors in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts, 2025 [Poster]

2. Bharathi, V., Jain, N., Jabbour, E., Senapati, J., Short, N., Maiti, A., Alvarado, Y., Borthakur, G., Kadia, T., Kebriaei, P., Ravandi, F. Predictors of outcome in adult patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts, 2025 [Poster]

3. Bharathi, V., Jennings, K., Broadway-Duren, J., Swaminathan, M., Jain, N., Wierda, W.G., Burger, J., Salcedo, D.J., Zelaya, S.G., Pace, M.C., Sivina, M., Ferrajoli, A. Longitudinal trends in vaccination and cancer screening engagement among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A prospective cohort study and quality improvement initiative (2019–2025), ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts, 2025 [Poster]

4. Bharathi, V., Bazinet, A., Bataller, A., Daver, N., DiNardo, C., Abbas, H., Bouligny, I., Borthakur, G., Haddad, F., Pemmaraju, N., Kornblau, S., Jen, W.Y., Short, N., Quesada, A., Garcia-Manero, G., Ravandi-Kashani, F., Kadia, T. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes in adults with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, ASCO Annual Meeting Abstracts, 2025 [Poster].

5. Bharathi, V., Jabbour, E., Short, N., Almanza-Huante, E., Daver, N., Kadia, T., Nunez, C., Roth, M., Wierda, W., Alvarado, Y., Kebriaei, P., Wang, S., Tang, G., Jain, N. Outcomes of concomitant Philadelphia chromosome-positive and CRLF2-rearranged B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts, 2025 [Poster]

Jeannot Kekedjian, M.D.

1. Kekedjian, J., Komrokji, R., Al Ali, N., Takaoka, K., Sallman, D., Xie, Z., Padron, E., Chien, K., Montalban Bravo, G., Braish, J., Urrutia, S., Bataller, A., Bazinet, A., Kanagal-Shamanna, R., Tang, G., Wei, Y., Yang, H., Rodriguez-Sevilla, J., Garcia-Manero, G., Sasaki, K. Characteristics and Survival Outcome of Patients with Isolated 11q Deletion Myelodysplastic Syndromes. (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2024 [Abstract].

Niranjan Khaire, M.D.

1. Khaire N., Bouligny I., Issa G., Daver N., Dinardo C., Jabbour E., Short N., Jen W., Tang G., Loghavi S., MacFarland M., Alousi A., Shpall E., Garcia-Manero G., Ravandi F., Kantarjian H., Kadia T. Outcomes in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia with KMT2A Rearrangement treated with Cladribine, Idarubicin, Cytarabine (CLIA) with or without Venetoclax. (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2025

2. Khaire N, Short N, Jain N, Kadia T, Borthakur G, Senapati J, Maiti A, Bazinet A, Alvarado Y, Balkin H, Kebriaei P, Garris R, Kantarjian H, Jabbour E, Ravandi F. Longitudinal T Cell Receptor (TCR) clonotype tracking by next generation sequencing (NGS) based measurable residual disease (MRD) assay in frontline adult T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) identifies patients at high risk of relapse. (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2025

3. Khaire N, Wu S, Jain N, Jabbour E, Short N, Fang P, Pinnix C, Gunther J, Lin T, Turner S, Kadia T, Pemmaraju N, Daver N, Borthakur G, Neelapu S, Haddad F, Islam R, Garris R, Prasartseree T, Khouri R, Ravandi F, Kantarjian H, Dabaja B. Safety and Efficacy of Craniospinal Irradiation (CSI) before CAR T cell Therapy in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) with Central Nervous System (CNS) disease: A Potential Role for CSI Beyond Cell Killing and Into Immune Priming. (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2025

William Marrero-Leon, M.D.

1. Marrero, W. D., Abdelmalek, M., Al Haj, F., Kadia, T., DiNardo, C., Jabbour, E., Loghavi, S., Borthakur, G., Short, N., Issa, C., Senapati, J., Jen, W., Pemmaraju, N., Maiti, A., Kantarjian, H., Garcia-Manero, G., Ravandi, F., & Daver, N. Acute Myeloid Leukemia with deletion 12p: An adverse-risk disease. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

Roberta Santos Azevedo, M.D.

1. Santos Azevedo, R., Kantarjian,H. M., Lavu, S., Loghavi, S., Jain, N., Haddad, F.G., Senapati, J., Kugler, E., Garris, R.S., Takahashi, K., Ravandi-Kashani, F., Jabbour, E., Short, N.J., Impact of TP53 Mutations and Variant Allelic Frequency on Survival in Adults with Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. ASCO Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract].

2. Santos Azevedo, R., Loghavi, S., Chien, K., Bataller, A., Kanagal-Shamanna, R., Bazinet, A., Hammond, D., Sasaki, K., Borthakur, G., DiNardo, C., Kadia, T., Ravandi, F., Daver, N., Short, N., Pemmaraju, N., Issa, G., Jabbour, E., Bueso-Ramos, C., Pierce, S., Kantarjian, H., Garcia-Manero, G., Montalban-Bravo, G. RUNX1 mutations define a high-risk biological subset of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and cooperate with ASXL1 mutations to drive leukemic transformation. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

3. Santos Azevedo, R., Jabbour, E., Jain, N., Haddad, F., Kebriaei, P., Khouri, I., Shpall, E., Champlin, R., Senapati, J., Kugler, E., Karrar, O., Maroun, M., Garris, R., Ravandi, F., Kantarjian, H., Short, N. Predictors of Survival with and without Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation after First Salvage Therapy with Blinatumomab and/or Inotuzumab Ozogamicin for Relapsed/Refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

4. Santos Azevedo, R., Daver, N., Karrar, O., DiNardo, C., Kadia, T., Yilmaz, M., Borthakur, G., Issa, G., Jabbour, E., Huang, X., Qiao, W., Abramova, R., Konopleva, M., Kantarjian, H., Ravandi, R., Short, N. Long-Term Follow-up of Azacitidine, Venetoclax, and Gilteritinib in Patients with Newly Diagnosed FLT3-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

5. Santos Azevedo, R., Short, N., Bataller, A., Daver, N., Kadia, T., DiNardo, C., Bazinet, A., Issa, G., Jabbour, E., Borthakur, G., Senapati, J., Jen, W-Y., Chien, K., Kornblau, S., Tippett, D., Yilmaz, M., Montalban-Bravo, G., Kantarjian, H., Garcia-Manero, G., Ravandi, F. Phase I/II Study of Decitabine/Cedazuridine (ASXT727), Venetoclax, and Gilteritinib for patients with FLT3-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

6. Santos Azevedo, R., Kadia, T., Al Ali, N., Bataller, A., Komrokji, Z., Borthakur, G., Xie, Z., Ravandi, F., Chan, O., Short, N., Yun, S., Daver, N., Kuykendall, A., DiNardo, C., Shallis, R., Montalban-Bravo, G., Reynolds, S., Rausch, C., Walker, A., Jabbour, E., Padron, E., Abbas, H., Lancet, J., Sallman, D., Garcia-Manero, G., Kantarjian, H., Komrokji, R. Characteristics, Genomic Landscape, and Prognostic Impact of Trisomy 8 on Contemporary Outcomes and in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). ASH Annual Meeting 2025

7. Santos Azevedo, R., Rausch, C., Geppner, A., Vega, F., Sampath, D., Ferrajoli, A., Chien, K., Jabbour, E., Hammond, D., Short, N., Takahashi, K., Jain, N., Burger, B., Borthakur, G., Hosing, C., Ravandi, F., Kantarjian, H., Kadia, T. Venetoclax-based Therapies in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory T-cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

8. Santos Azevedo, R., Kantarjian ,H., Senapati, J., Bataller ,A., Bouligny, I., Bazinet, A., Ying-Jen, W., Alousi, A., Popat, U., Shpall, E., Pemmaraju, N., Jain, N., Kugler, E., Belgarde, C., Jabbour, E., Garcia-Manero, G., Dinardo, C., Daver, N., Ravandi, F., Kadia, T. Cladribine, cytarabine, and venetoclax-based regimens are associated with durable remissions in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]

9. Santos Azevedo, R., Manuel, C., Kadia, T., Ohanian, M., Alvarado, Y., Qiao, W., Senapati, J., Jabbour, E., Garcia-Manero, G., Ravandi, F., Kantarjian, H., Borthakur, G. Fusion Transcript Dynamics as Predictor of Optimal Molecular Response in Core Binding Factor AML. ASH Annual Meeting 2025 [Abstract]  

In addition to gaining unparalleled education and training experience, 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 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 MD Anderson.

Our trainees have access to 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

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.