Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology Fellowship
The Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology (Oncologic Thoracic Head and Neck) fellowship is a one-year advanced and specialized training program dedicated to fellows and physicians who plan to have an academic career in thoracic and/or head and neck medical oncology.
Our fellowship aims to provide trainees an opportunity to gain experience in multidisciplinary clinical care and decision-making, as well as the design and analysis of bench, translational or clinical research.
Each trainee in our program is mentored by an experienced faculty member who will oversee the development of the trainee, and in most cases, supervise the research project. At the end of the one-year program, trainees may be offered a second optional year depending upon achievements and available funding.
A Letter from our Program Director
Welcome to the Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology Fellowship Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As program director, I am honored to introduce you to our dynamic fellowship, designed to train the next generation of leaders in thoracic and head and neck medical oncology.
At MD Anderson, we are dedicated to delivering a world-class educational experience that blends advanced clinical training, innovative research, and a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to cancer care. Our program offers a one-year curriculum that provides fellows with the tools, mentorship, and experience to thrive in both academic and clinical settings.
The fellowship stands out for its comprehensive and patient-centered approach. You will work closely with leaders in oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, and supportive care, gaining in-depth exposure to a broad range of thoracic and head and neck malignancies, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, thymic tumors, and head and neck cancers. The diversity and complexity of our patient population, coupled with our state-of-the-art facilities, provide an unparalleled training ground for clinical excellence.
Research is integral to our fellowship, and we are committed to helping fellows develop skills in scientific inquiry and innovation. Whether your interest lies in clinical trials, translational research, or basic science, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned faculty and contribute to advancements in cancer care. Many of our fellows present their findings at major conferences and publish in leading journals, positioning themselves as emerging leaders in the field.
Our program’s supportive environment, combined with MD Anderson’s global reputation, ensures that you will graduate well-prepared to make a meaningful impact. Whether your path leads to academic medicine, research, or clinical practice, we are committed to helping you achieve your professional goals.
I invite you to learn more about our fellowship and discover how it can shape your future in oncology. Thank you for considering MD Anderson, and I look forward to welcoming you to our team as we work together to advance cancer care for patients around the world.
Sincerely,
Yasir Elamin, M.D.
Associate Professor and Program Director
Meet Our Current Fellows
Lingzhi Hong, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellow, 2024-2025
Dr. Hong received her M.D. degree in 2005 and a Ph.D. in 2009 from Nanjing University in China.
She joined MD Anderson as a visiting scientist in the department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology in 2018-2021 and as a research scientist in the department of Imaging Physics in 2022-2024.
Mateus Trinconi Cunha, M.D.
Fellow, 2024-2025
Dr. Trinconi Cunha received his M.D. degree in 2017 from Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency from Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo in 2020, Clinical Oncology Residency from Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, in 2023, and Medical Oncology Fellowship from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - University of Toronto in Canada in 2024.
Our Alumni
2017-2024
Haniel Araujo, M.D.
Fellow, 2022-2024
Assistant Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Tuqa Al Khalaf, M.D.
Fellow, 2022-2023
Luana Guimaraes De Sousa, M.D.
Fellow, 2020-2022
Assistant Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Marcelo Vailati Negrao, M.D.
Fellow, 2017-2019
Assistant Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
2007-2017
Yasir Elamin, M.D.
Fellow, 2015-2017
Fellowship Program Director
Associate Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Ferdinandos Skoulidis, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellow, 2013-2014
Associate Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Renata Ferrarotto, M.D.
Fellow, 2012-2014
Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Pierre Saintigny, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellow, 2010-2011
Professor of Medicine, University Claude Bernard Lyon, France
Medical oncologist, Léon Bérard Cancer Center, Lyon, France
William William, M.D.
Fellow, 2007-2009
Adjunct Associate Professor
Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
National Leader, Thoracic Oncology,
National Co-Leader, Head and Neck Oncology
Grupo Oncoclínicas, São Paulo, Brazil
Contact Information
Bich Tran, Program Director
Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology Department
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 432
Houston, TX 77030-4009
Phone: 713-794-4272
Fax: 713-792-1220
Email: btran@mdanderson.org
MD Anderson Cancer Center is committed to encouraging good health and staying true to our mission to end cancer. If you are applying for a GME fellowship or residency program starting on or after July 1, 2016, please be advised that MD Anderson will have instituted a tobacco-free hiring process as part of its efforts to achieve these goals. If you are offered an appointment, you will be subject to a Pre-Employment Drug Screen for tobacco compounds in compliance with applicable state laws. If you do not pass the urine drug screening which includes testing for tobacco compounds, you CANNOT be appointed at MD Anderson. Should you fail to meet this contingency, MD Anderson will withdraw your offer of appointment for the academic year. You may reapply for the following academic year, but there are no guarantees that you will be offered a position as many of our programs are already filled for several years out.
Our Labs
Learn more about our faculty and research taking place in our labs.
Conferences
View conferences available for continuing education credit.