Overview

The fellowship training program in gynecologic oncology at the UC Davis Medical Center is a three-year program that includes 24 months of clinical training and 12 months of mentored focused research. There will be one fellow accepted annually into the program, with a total of three fellows. The clinical training includes instruction in gynecologic cancer surgery and complex benign surgery, under the direction of the members of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology.

Each fellow will complete four months of clinical training in areas outside the core Gyn Oncology rotations, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, a surgical oncology hybrid rotation, palliative care, and the surgical ICU. The twelve months of research experience will have either a basic science research focus or a clinical research focus, with intensive mentorship in either area. 

One of the strengths of the program is a fellow continuity clinic, giving the fellow the experience of managing patients, making therapy decisions, and managing toxicities directly.

Program Goals

We aim to train:

• Excellent surgeons, independently competent in the breadth of complex surgical procedures a gynecologic oncologist should be able to perform including open, laparoscopic, robotic, and vaginal surgery.
• Outstanding clinicians with an expansive knowledge of tumor biology, the principles of gynecologic malignancies, treatment, and associated medical conditions.
• Oncologists with a strong understanding of chemotherapy drugs including standard cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted and experimental agents, with an understanding of the indication, mechanisms, administration, expected response and toxicity to such agents.
• Physicians competent in the principles of palliative care and able to communicate effectively with their patients about goals of care and end of life issues.
• Compassionate providers who can recognize patients as people, put patients’ needs ahead of their own, exercise ethical practice, and utilize systems based learning to continue to improve the care of patients and move the field of gynecologic oncology further ahead.
• Gynecologic oncology educators, committed to training including the next generation of gynecologic oncologists, expanding the knowledge of their staff and allied health professionals, and providing their patients with an understanding of their disease and health related conditions.
• Physicians who recognize the importance of continued lifelong learning, with a commitment to staying current in practice and the related literature as the field moves forward.
• Oncologists with an appreciation for research, either in their own academic careers as clinician scientists, or with an appreciation for and understanding of ongoing investigation that allows critical interpretation of the literature and application to patient care.
• Gynecologic Oncologists that are excellent in practice but also recognize their own limitations and know when to ask for help.

Diversity

The UC Davis Gynecological Oncology Fellowship places value on trainees with diversity of thoughts, experiences, and perspectives. Care is taken to interview candidates who come from a variety of backgrounds including geographic, socioeconomic, racial, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, and training. These factors are considered when evaluating the pool of applicants, as diversity is core to the mission of our program. The program is open to alternative certification pathways which comply with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology requirements for graduate medical education, professionalism and professional standing.

The UC Davis Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion works to create a climate of inclusion reflected in structures, policies and practices; the demographics of UC Davis Health community; the attitudes and values of its members and leaders; and the quality of personal interactions.

For the ninth consecutive year, UC Davis has been recognized as a leader in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) health equality in the Healthcare Quality Index, an annual survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

Sacramento is one of the most ethnically and socially diverse cities in America. Throughout your training here you will learn to care for patients from around the world and prepare yourself to provide quality healthcare to women who need it.