Fellowship Details & Requirements
The Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Fellowship Program at UT MD Anderson was established in the early 1990s and has consistently prepared leaders in the field. Since 2012, 57 fellows have completed the program. Fifteen of these graduates have joined UT MD Anderson as faculty, while most others hold positions at leading academic centers worldwide. This demonstrates the program’s commitment to excellence in patient care, research, and education. The fellowship continues to offer comprehensive training in stem cell transplantation and advanced cellular therapies, contributing to the development of future physician-scientists and clinical leaders.
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 has the following requirements:
- Be board-certified or eligible in medical oncology and/or hematology. Exceptions will be made on a case-to-case basis.
- Have completed residency in internal medicine and demonstrate a high level of clinical competence.
- Most candidates will have some training in medical oncology and/or hematology.
References should be provided to demonstrate proficiency during prior clinical training. All available standardized tests (e.g., ABIM exams) will be reviewed.
Application Process
Required documents for all applicants:
- Application attached completed
- Applicants must be a U.S (UNITED STATES). Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or a J-1 VISA. UT MD Anderson does not offer H-1B VISAS for GME Trainees
- Applicants must have an M.D. degree or equivalent
- Submit an original application attached
- Curricula vitae
- Personal statement
- USMLE 1 & 2 or COMLEX transcript and scores: a copy of your USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 if applicable, or Complex scores
- Unofficial/Official transcript of highest degree
- Official transcript of USMLE
- (3) Letters of Recommendation, one letter from the Residency Program Director, two letters from an attending physician, and/or teaching faculty
- (1) Letter of recommendation from your program director
- Medical school transcript: photograph (optional)
- Credential evaluation (foreign equivalency)
- Letter of good standing
- A copy of current ECFMG Certification if you completed medical school outside the United States
Program Goals & Objectives
Educational Goals
- Patient Care
- Medical knowledge
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Practice-based learning and improvement
- System-based practice
Patient Care
- Ability to take a complete medical history and perform a careful and accurate physical examination with a stem cell transplantation (SCT) focus
- Develop the ability to make diagnostic and treatment plans for stem cell transplantation, including identification of appropriate patients and assignment to research protocols, when appropriate
- Understand the role of myeloablative and nonmyeloablative/reduced-intensity conditioning chemotherapy regimens and their appropriate application to individual diagnoses
- Understand the short- and long-term complications associated with SCT. Fellows should understand how to diagnose and manage the usual complications including chemotherapy toxicity, infections and graft-versus-host disease, etc.
- Understand the basics of donor selection (e.g., the appropriate use of autologous vs. allogeneic transplantation) and methods used to collect stem cells, including apheresis and marrow harvesting
- Manage thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications of transplantation, including hemorrhagic cystitis, pulmonary hemorrhage, Veno-occlusive disease, and graft failure. Apply transfusion therapy and medical therapy as appropriate
- Ability to dictate concise, accurate, and informative histories, physical examinations and progress notes and communicate relevant information to other clinicians
- Interpret imaging studies including CT (Computed Tomographic) scans, PET-CT scans, bone scans, MRIs, mammograms, and ultrasounds etc.
- Participate in discussions with patients and families regarding the appropriateness of SCT and end-of-life issues, when necessary
Medical Knowledge
- Understand the role of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the management of hematological malignancies
- Understand the evolving role of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of solid tumors, hemoglobinopathies and non-malignant disease (e.g., autoimmune disease)
- Understand the mechanisms of action of chemotherapy agents used in stem cell transplant conditioning and their side effects
- Know the etiologic agents of post-transplant infections, including viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Know the preferred methods of diagnosing and providing prophylactic, preemptive or complication-guided therapy of each agent
- Know the manifestations of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the staging of cutaneous and visceral GVHD. Know the role of drugs in the prophylaxis and treatment of acute and chronic GVHD
- Understand principles of graft composition, including the role of stem cells and mature graft cells in the recovery of myeloid and lymphoid blood cell subsets in transplant recipients
- Understand the principles of plasma exchange and photopheresis in the management of post-transplant complications e.g.; microangiopathy and GVHD
- Understand the role of donor lymphocyte infusion and salvage or tandem SCT when indicated
- Understand the role of medical imaging (e.g., CT scans, radiographs, and PET imaging) in pre-SCT evaluation, post-SCT staging, and as an aid to diagnosing SCT complications
- Learn to evaluate the medical literature related to SCT and to critique the design and execution of manuscripts related
Practice-Based Learning Improvement
- Identify and acknowledge gaps in personal knowledge and skills in the care of hospitalized patients
- Develop and implement strategies for filling gaps in knowledge and skills
- Commitment 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 of information considering the principles of evidence-based medicine
Systems-Based Practice
- Understand and utilize the multidisciplinary resources necessary to care optimally for hospitalized patients
- Collaborate with other members of the health care team to assure comprehensive patient care
- Understanding when to ask for help and advice from senior fellows and attending physicians
- Effective professional collaboration with fellows and faculty consultants from other disciplines such as radiology and surgery
- Effective collaboration with other members of the health care team, including fellows at all levels, medical students, nurses, clinical pharmacists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nutrition specialists, patient educators, speech pathologists, respiratory therapists, enterostomy nurses, social workers, case managers, discharge planners, and providers of home health services
- Knowing when and how to request medical consultation, and how to utilize the advice provided
- Consideration of cost-effectiveness of diagnostic and treatment strategies
- Willingness and ability to help the requesting physician in a consultative or co-management capacity, according to the needs of the situation
Professionalism
- Interact professionally with a diverse patient population, using methods appropriate to the understanding of each patient and individual family situations
- Appreciation of social text of illness
- Knowing when and how to request ethics consultation, and how best to utilize the advice provided
- Understand ethical concepts of confidentiality, consent, autonomy, and justice 5 Understand professionalism, concepts of integrity, altruism, and conflict of interest
Interprofessional and Communication Skills
- Communicate effectively with patients and families to obtain clinical information and to inform them about diagnosis and management plans
- Present clinical histories and summaries of active clinical issues concisely and accurately
- Communicate effectively with all non-physician members of the health care team to assure comprehensive and timely care of patients
- Communicate an interpretation of relevant medical literature in clinical situations and conferences
Program Structure & Curriculum
The Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Fellowship Program at UT MD Anderson provides advanced training in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of hematologic malignancies and disorders requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies. Fellows receive comprehensive clinical experience in autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, donor selection, graft-versus-host disease management, infectious complications, survivorship, and emerging cellular therapies, including CAR T-cell therapy.
The curriculum combines inpatient and outpatient clinical rotations, multidisciplinary conferences, didactic lectures, journal clubs, quality improvement initiatives, and research opportunities. Fellows work alongside internationally recognized faculty and participate in cutting-edge clinical and translational research, preparing leadership roles in academic medicine and specialized transplant and cellular therapy programs.
Fellow & Faculty Publications
Program Faculty & Leadership
Elizabeth Shpall, M.D.
Chair Ad Interim
Qaiser Bashir, M.D.
Professor
Fellowship Program Director
Partow Kebriaei, M.D.
Professor
Associate Fellowship Director
Program Manager
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 UT 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.