Neuro-Oncology Fellowship

The Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program at MD Anderson provides a unique experience for trainees. For fellows interested in entering clinical practice, we offer rotations through pain and palliative care. This is a niche that is important to neurology and oncology groups interested in expanding the repertoire of clinical practice.

The fellows also have a distinctive opportunity to participate in our clinical research activities to gain experience in clinical trial design and execution, drug development, regulatory aspects of trials and development of strategies that hold promise in brain tumor therapy. In addition, our fellows learn the intricacies of how a multidisciplinary, expert team works efficiently to translate research into clinical practice to provide optimal care for patients.

Furthermore, the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program stands out by offering:

• Financial support for trainees to attend conferences of their choosing
• Regular lectures and advanced education opportunities throughout the institution
• Opportunity to train with a dynamic, multidisciplinary team at the No. 1 hospital for cancer care in the nation, per U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey
• UCNS certification eligibility for neuro-oncology upon completion of the program

Fellows must hold an M.D. or D.O. degree, have completed a residency in adult neurology or neurosurgery and, if applicable, have an active ECFMG certification.

MD Anderson offers a smoke-free environment and is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer.

We are proud to be an inaugural participant in the new Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Match. The Match is a joint effort among 30+ clinical adult neuro-oncology fellowship programs, the Society for Neuro-Oncology, and SF Match.

To apply for the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship at MD Anderson, follow these steps:

1. Register for the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Match on the SF Match website. Applicants must register for their application to be considered. 
2. Mark your calendar! Applications for positions starting July 1, 2025 will open in November 2023. 

Further details on the match can be found on the SF Match website. Remember: Applicants must be registered with Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Match for their application to be considered complete and eligible for review.

Address letters of support to: 

Shiao-Pei Weathers, M.D.
Fellowship Program Director
Neuro-Oncology, Unit 431
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P.O. Box 301402
Houston, Texas 77230-1402
 

The Brain and Spine Center provides multidisciplinary clinic facilities for neuro-oncology, neurosurgery and radiation oncology, supported by neuropathology and neuro-radiology. The center has active interactions with the Sections of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Palliative Care and Symptom Management, Anesthesia Pain Service, Neuropsychology and Social Work.

Chemotherapy is typically administered in a centralized Ambulatory Treatment Center, which provides expert care and monitoring in bed and chair units. For some Phase I or II studies that require time-sensitive pharmacokinetic studies, the Clinical-Translational Research Center provides full phlebotomy and laboratory services as well as outstanding nursing care.

Neuro-Oncology and Neurosurgery inpatients are cared for on a 32-bed neuro inpatient unit, but neurology consultations may be required in any of the other units of this 512-bed hospital.

The neuro-oncology fellow will benefit from:

• The large number of primary brain tumor patients (over 500 new patients annually), providing unparalleled opportunity for intensive and diverse experience in clinical care issues
• Elective one- to two-month rotations with pain and palliative care, pediatric neuro-oncology, radiation therapy and other oncologic subspecialties, if the fellow is interested in broadening his/her experience in such related fields
• Exposure to a rich variety of consultative neuro-oncology referrals, including patients undergoing treatment with novel investigational agents
• Exposure to a variety of clinical research protocols for primary and secondary neurological malignancies
   

The wealth of patient referrals also provides a unique opportunity to conduct basic research and correlative studies on incidental samples of tissue or blood, which are routinely banked for this purpose.

MD Anderson offers many opportunities to interact and collaborate with a diverse group of experts in basic research, as well as access to cutting-edge technology including genomic and proteonomic facilities, resources in multiple areas of cancer biology including apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis, developmental sciences, DNA repair, animal models and gene discovery.

The Brain Tumor Research Program laboratories are organized by research focus, not departmental boundaries, and are consolidated in 10,000 square feet located on a single floor in the Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building. Departmental and institutional research support funds and equipment have been pooled to provide a common group-wide resource that promotes close multidisciplinary interaction and support among members.
 

In addition to fellowship-specific educational opportunities:

• The Brain Tumor Research Program hosts a bi-weekly seminar series, featuring nationally and internationally respected speakers on issues related to CNS tumors.
  Fellows are also encouraged to attend other of the many lectures available around the institution that may be relevant to their training experience.
• Weekly CNS Tumor Board sessions offer valuable educational experience, as each of the disciplines provide input regarding pathologic and radiologic findings, disease and treatment history, and discuss options for future treatment.
• Protocol meetings review accruals, responses and toxicities for each open clinical trial, and provide a forum to discuss new treatment strategies and protocol design.
• Frequent laboratory group meetings of ongoing research optimize the basic and translational research experience.
   

For inquiries and questions about our program, please contact:

Sarah Fike
Education Coordinator
Neuro-Oncology, Unit 431
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P.O. Box 301402
Houston, Texas 77230-1402
Email: sfike@mdanderson.org
Phone: 713-792-7255

Alumni of the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship are listed below by years in the program. Have an update to your current affiliation? Email Sarah Fike. 

Timothy Gregory (2021-2023), Madigan Army Medical Center, Lakewood, WA

Anuj Patel (2021-2023), MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Andrew Rodriguez (2021-2023), University of Kansas, Kansas City, MO

Nathan Clarke (2020-2022), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Lily Pham (2020-2022), University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Ashley Aaroe (2019-2021), MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Lindsay Robell (2019-2021), The Cancer Center at Metro Health Village, Wyoming, MI

Alexander Ou (2019-2021) Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Clear Lake, TX

David Blas-Boria (2010-2011), VA Caribbean Healthcare System, Puerto Rico
Brett Theeler (2010-2012), Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
Michael Pearlman (2010-2012)
Zsila Sadighi (2010-2012), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Mark D. Anderson (2011-2013), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
Pedro Garciarena (2011-2013), Physician Regional Healthcare System, Naples, FL
Mohamed Hamza (2011-2013), OhioHealth Neurological Physicians, Columbus, OH
Shlomit Yust-Katz (2011-2013), Davidoff Cancer Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
Barbara O'Brien (2012-2014), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Jacob Mandel (2012-2014), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
David Cachia (2013-2015), UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA
Carlos Kamiya-Matsuoka (2013-2015), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Shiao-Pei Weathers (2013-2014), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Na Tosha Gatson (2014-2016), Banner MD Anderson, Phoenix, AZ
Clement Pillainayagam (2014-2016), Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
Ahmed Daher (2015-2017), University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Rebecca Harrison (2015-2017), BC Cancer, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Julie Nam (2015-2017), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Fernando Santos-Pinheiro (2016-2017), Medical Center Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Stefania Maraka (2016-2018), University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Nazanin Majd (2017-2019), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Nicholas Metrus (2017-2019), Gerald J. Glasser Brain Tumor Center, Summit, NJ
Christopher Trevino (2017-2019), Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Kaylyn Sinicrope (2018-2019), Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville, KY
Michael Youssef (2018-2020), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX

Randi Baculi (2000-2002), North Texas Neurological, Mesquite, TX and Rowlett, TX
Howard Colman (2001-2002), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Pierre Giglio (2001–2003), Ohio State University Comprehensive Center, Columbus, OH
Ivo W Tremont (2001–2003) Houston Methodist, Houston, TX
Sudhakar Tummala (2001-2002), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
John de Groot (2002-2004), The University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 
Jonathan Grunfeld (2002-2004), Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Yvonne Kew (2002-2004), Private Practice, Houston, Texas
Siew Ju See (2002–2004), National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore
Monica Loghin (2003-2005), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Kristin Gabriel (2004–2005), The Vancouver Clinic, Vancouver, WA
Javier Gonzalez (2004–2006), West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Marta Penas-Prado (2005-2007), NIH, Bethesda, MD
Slobodan Miric (2005-2006), Dr. Miric Neurology, Denville, NJ
Jai Grewal (2005–2007), Neurological Surgery Group, Long Island, NY
Caryl Dellinger (2006-2007), Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI
Merja Kallio (2006-2007), University of Oulu, Department of Paediatrics
Ray Bogitch (2007-2008), Seton Brain and Spine Institute, Austin, TX
Brian Vaillant (2007-2010), Texas Oncology, Austin, TX
Stan Han (2008-2009), UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
Shirley Ong (2008-2010), Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
Jing Wu (2008-2010), Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Tobias Walbert (2008-2010), Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Nicole Shonka (2009-2010), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Aaron Mammoser (2009-2011), Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA
Isaac Melguizo-Gavilanes (2009-2011), Aurora Cancer Care, Milwaukee, WI
 

Mark Alan Simaga (1990-1991), St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart, IN
Todd Jeffry Janus (1991-1992), Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, IA
J. Adrian Galan (1991-1992), Private practice in Paris, TX
Athanassios P. Kyritsis (1991-1992), University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
Elizabeth Strauch (1991-1992), Houston Hospice, Houston, TX
Alexandra Flowers (1991-1993)
Jennifer Daniels (1992-1994)
Qaiser Yusuf (1992-1994), Neurology and Pain Clinic, Baytown, TX
Charles Conrad (1992-1994)
Vladan Milosavljevic (1993-1995), New England Neurological Associates, P.C., Lawrence, MA
Paolo Manfredi (1993-1994), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Pain and Palliative Care, New York, NY
Samer Kaba (1994-1996), Vice President, Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp., Marietta, GA
Wolley Oladut (1994-1995), South Texas Pain Management, Richmond, TX
Eric Wong (1995-1997), Brown University, Providence, RI
Masood Hashmi (1995-1997), Space Coast Neurology, Okeechobee, FL
Christopher Watling (1995-1996), London Regional Cancer Centre, London, ON, Canada
Vinaykumar Puduvalli (1996-1998), MD Anderson, Houston, TX
Morris Groves (1996-1998), Retired
Joon Uhm (1997-1999), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
John Rossi (1997-2000), St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital, The Woodlands, TX
Lara Kunschner Ronan (1998-2000), Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lenanon, NH
Sigmund Hsu (1999-2002), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
George Bobustuc (1999-2001), Northwest Community Healthcare, Arlington Heights, IL
Minsoo Kang (1999–2001), Comprehensive Clinical Services Healthcare, Williamsville, NY
 

Karen Jurgensen (1982-1983), Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
Te-Long Hwang (1983-1984), University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Jorge Martinez (1983-1984), Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, TX
Kinzo Iwata (1984-1985), Aichi University, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Agustino Castellanos (1984-1986), NeuroCare Consultants, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Pamela New (1985-1987), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Keith Privett (1987-1988)
Bernard L. Maria (1986-1988), Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Lesley Newton (1986-1987)
Sanjeev K. Deveshwar (1988-1989), Greensboro Radiology Associates, Greensboro, NC
Laszlo L. Mechtler (1988-1989), Dent Neurological Institute, Buffalo, NY
Everton Edmondson (1989-1990), Private Practice, Houston, TX
Maria Carvajal-Gandia (1989-1990)