Fellowship Program | Hematology and Oncology | UC Davis Health

On behalf of Dr. Anjlee Mahajan, the Associate Program Director, the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the UC (University of California) Davis School of Medicine and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, I would like to thank you for your interest in our Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program. As a former fellow in the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program, I have a unique perspective – this program provides a robust clinical foundation with an abundance of research opportunities in an incredibly collegial environment. Our graduates are successful in an array of environments, i.e., academia, integrated health systems, and private practice.  As of August 1, 2021, I am honored to serve as the Program Director of the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship. The Division of Hematology and Oncology continues to be one of the largest divisions in the Department of Internal Medicine with 32 full-time faculty members. The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in inland California, with a referral base of 4 million people hailing from an expansive region that stretches from the Oregon border to the lower San Joaquin Valley and to western Nevada. Our therapeutic programs, anchored by NCI-funded Phase I and Phase II development grants, offer pioneering therapies to patients. 

Our goal is to train outstanding clinicians, clinician-scientists and translational researchers in hematology and oncology. The rotations that are offered in our program offer ample opportunities to take on a breadth of clinical problems across a diverse patient population at the UC Davis Medical Center and the VA Medical Center Sacramento. Trainees also have a choice to rotate through the Kaiser Permanente Hematology and Oncology Clinics as an elective. First-year fellows rotate through sub-subspecialty clinics at the Cancer Center and have weekly continuity clinics at the VA. Second- and third-year fellows have two half-day continuity clinics a week for general hematology and oncology at the Cancer Center and at the VA. Fellows follow their own panel of patients throughout their training, greatly enhancing their clinical experience. Rotations in Transfusion Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Palliative Care, and Hematopathology ensure exposure to these important disciplines. Research is a critical part of fellowship with a plethora of opportunities. For fellows interested in a clinical investigation career, our program offers the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP). Those who complete the MCRTP (Mentored Clinical Research Training Program) receive a Masters of Advanced Study (MAS) in Clinical Research.

This academic year we are starting tracks for our 2^nd year fellows. We will be offering a research track, clinical track, or education track. As well as offering a transitional track for those who have not yet determined their career focus. The determination of which track a fellow is assigned to is based on discussions with the program directors close to the end of their first year of training. These tracks allow for a fellows’ training to be personalized to their professional goals.

Maintaining wellness is an important goal of ours. To achieve this goal, we have a tradition of our Annual Fellows Retreat in Sonoma, CA. In addition to our Hematology and Oncology fellows, we invite fellows from Gynecology Oncology and Palliative Care, along with residents from Radiation Oncology. Allowing our fellows the opportunity to reflect on their experiences with their peers in a multi-disciplinary environment. We also organize an alumni fellows panel to discuss potential career paths. The annual retreat lends an important dimension to our program which is one-of-a-kind in the country. Another notable attribute of this fellowship program is collegiality at all levels in the division.

From our fellows to faculty to nurse practitioners to case managers, the environment fostered is where everyone can thrive. We encourage our fellows to interact with the faculty and engage in their areas of research interest. Fellow Continuity clinics at UC Davis are supervised by our diverse faculty who offer their specific expertise on relevant cases. Our faculty’s dedication sets this program apart and provides outstanding training to our fellows.  

Thank you for your interest in our fellowship program.  We have an utterly unique and comprehensive program. We look forward to meeting you.  

Regards, 

Mili Arora, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine 
The Joe Sullivan Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program Director

The clinical training takes place on the clinical services of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UC Davis Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Clinics.

Fellows are required to rotate through the following services during their two or three years of training.

*The actual number of months on each service may vary depending on the number of fellows available each year.

Fellows will maintain a regular outpatient clinic two half-days per week at UC Davis Medical Center and at VA Mather Hospital throughout the entire training period.

We offer opportunities for individuals who have completed three years of training in Internal Medicine in the United States or Canada by the time they enter the fellowship-training program.  Applicants choosing the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Research Pathway will also be considered. They must be board certified or eligible in internal medicine, and must possess a California medical license before the start date of the fellowship program.

Application Process

Clinical and basic research projects are part of the training program.  Successful completion of a research project is required for graduation from the fellowship program. Fellows will choose their research project, which may include clinical or basic research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The fellow and mentor conceptualize the project during the first year of fellowship.  Fellows are encouraged to present research results at local research conferences and national meetings, and submit manuscripts for publication.

• More information on research in the Division of Hematology and Oncology.
• More information on the Cancer Center research programs.

Educational Opportunities

Educational conferences are held on a regular basis

• Hematology and Oncology Patient Management Conference: faculty, fellows, residents, pharmacist and nurses attend this weekly conference. Interesting and difficult cases are discussed regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
• Subspecialty Conferences and Tumor Boards: The following subspecialty conferences are held on either a weekly or biweekly basis:
  • Breast Cancer Conference
  • Gynecological Cancer Conference
  • Head and Neck Tumor Board
  • Thoracic Oncology Conference
  • GU Tumor Board
  • Melanoma-Sarcoma Conference (Monthly)
• Special Seminar Series:  On monthly basis, outside speakers are invited to present seminars on new advancements in hematology and oncology. In addition, mini-symposia are held three times a year which focus on an area of hematology or oncology.
• Journal Club: Held on a weekly basis. Both clinical and basic science topics are covered in this conference.
• Hematology Course: Senior fellows may participate in teaching the hematology course for the second-year medical students.

Educational conferences are held on a regular basis (see below):

• Hematology and Oncology Patient Management Conference: faculty, fellows, residents, pharmacist and nurses attend this weekly conference. Interesting and difficult cases are discussed regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
• Subspecialty Conferences and Tumor Boards: The following subspecialty conferences are held on either a weekly or biweekly basis:
  • Breast Cancer Conference
  • Gynecological Cancer Conference
  • Head and Neck Tumor Board
  • Thoracic Oncology Conference
  • GU Tumor Board
  • Melanoma-Sarcoma Conference (Monthly)
• Special Seminar Series:  On monthly basis, outside speakers are invited to present seminars on new advancements in hematology and oncology. In addition, mini-symposia are held three times a year which focus on an area of hematology or oncology.
• Journal Club: Held on a weekly basis. Both clinical and basic science topics are covered in this conference.
• Hematology Course: Senior fellows may participate in teaching the hematology course for the second-year medical students.

We are an alliance partner of the American Society of Hematology’s newly formed Hematology Focused Fellowship Training Program Consortium. The aim of the program is to strengthen the next generation of hematologists by providing focused mentorship and training in classical hematology. Fellows in this program will also be able to participate in specific ASH HFFTP networking opportunities and will be provided funding for the ASH annual meeting, scholarly activity and away rotations.

Applicants interested in the UC Davis HFFTP should select the Hematology-Focused Track in ERAS and should reach out directly to program leadership at jmfpeterson@ucdavis.edu.  

All fellows are provided access to CellaVision which utilizes high-speed robotics and digital imaging to automatically locate and capture high quality images of cells. We utilize this program when reviewing blood smears which can be done remotely. Bonnie Bone Marrow Biopsy virtual simulator is used to teach trainees how to perform a bone marrow biopsy, all fellows train with faculty supervision during orientation and throughout the year.

First year fellows have a half day continuity clinic experience at the VA (First year fellows will also rotate through different subspeciality clinics at the UC Davis Cancer Center (8 weeks each).

In the second and third year, the fellow will have their own continuity clinic at UC Davis Cancer Center (one half-day/week) which includes their own patient panel and case manager. This is a great way for fellows to develop autonomy and build relationships with their patients (who view them as their hematologist and oncologist)while still under the supervision of an attending physician.

All fellows are expected and encouraged to pursue scholarly work and are provided guided mentorship by faculty. Our Division has ample opportunities to pursue projects in outcomes research, clinical trials and gene and cellular therapy. Many fellows present their work at the ASH and ASCO annual meeting in addition to other subspecialty meetings and many projects have resulted in publications in high impact journals. Trainees may also choose to participate in the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP). The course includes a two-year curriculum with a core in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical research and clinical trial design, research ethics, informatics, and a mentored research project. Participation leads to a Masters in Clinical Research.

There are also opportunities for funded translational research and to pursue a fellowship in cellular therapy. The Hematology and Oncology Division has allocated $100,000 to support fellow research. Fellows may apply for this funding through a formalized application and will be reviewed by the Research Committee. Fellows may use the above internal funds for material or statistical support as well as to cover the costs of attending academic conferences to present their scholarly work. This is in addition to the already guaranteed travel and education stipend provided to all fellows annually.

The UC Davis Division of Hematology and Oncology is committed to improving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the field of medicine. A holistic admissions process is a top priority for our fellowship program. All faculty undergo culture competence training (Supporting Educational Excellence in Diversity) and a DEI task force is committed to improving recruitment and retention of diverse scholars to our institution.

Maintaining wellness is an important goal of ours. To achieve this goal, we have a tradition of an Annual Fellows Retreat in Sonoma, CA. In addition to our Hematology and Oncology fellows, we invite fellows from Gynecology Oncology and Palliative Care, along with residents from Radiation Oncology, to attend the retreat. This allows our fellows the opportunity to reflect on their experiences with their peers in a multi-disciplinary environment. We also organize an alumni fellows panel to discuss potential career paths. The annual retreat lends an important dimension to our program which is one-of-a-kind in the country. Even in the pandemic, we have continued to host this retreat virtually and found it to be an effective element to educate our fellows and provide an additional wellness resource in this evolving environment.