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Department of Medicine > Division of Hematology/Oncology > Fellowship Program

Fellowship Program

The Division of Hematology/Oncology at the UCI School of Medicine's Department of Medicine offers a rigorous three-year accredited fellowship program that emphasizes intensive theoretical training and a broad spectrum of clinical experience with the goal of preparing highly skilled hematologists and oncologists for careers in both clinical and academic medicine.

The division's fellowship is conducted in concert with the prestigious UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of 50 U.S. comprehensive cancer centers designated for excellence by the National Cancer Institute.

The multidisciplinary cancer center at UCI Medical Center is supported by more than 200 UCI faculty members from five schools and 23 departments.

The division's faculty members serve patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders at the medical center, which is consistently listed among the top 50 U.S. hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, as well as at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System.

Throughout fellowship hematology/oncology fellows function as primary longitudinal caregivers to a panel of patients and serve as consultants directing the management of large numbers of patients under the supervision and guidance of faculty physicians.

The fellowship program is designed to educate and support future clinical investigators who plan to dedicate their professional careers to clinical or laboratory research in hematology and oncology.

The three-year program is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and is recognized by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Clinical Training »

During the first year fellows acquire a panel of outpatients that are followed longitudinally throughout fellowship training in their continuity clinics. Under the direct supervision of faculty members fellows receive a thorough grounding in solid tumor oncology, general hematology, and hematologic malignancies.

The emphasis is on understanding the pathologic process of diseases, their clinical manifestations and complications, diagnostic methodology, evidence-based standard and experimental therapeutic modalities, clinical trials and research.

During the inpatient clinical experience fellows provide care and consultative services to a varied population of patients. Formal teaching and attending rounds are held daily at the medical center in Orange and at the VA in Long Beach. Teaching rounds include discussion and management of the patients, as well as didactic lectures on relevant pathophysiology and ongoing clinical trials and correlative studies. 

Fellows participate in weekly didactic lectures as well as academic activities including journal club, M&M, quality improvement, hematology conference, and disease specific lectures. They also are encouraged to attend the 12 different disease specific tumor boards that are conducted on a weekly basis.  The fellowship has a 100% ABIM board pass rate in Medical Oncology and a 92% ABIM Board pass rate in Hematology over the past five year period. 

Fellows receive a thorough grounding in general hematology, hematologic malignancy and solid tumors. The emphasis is on understanding the pathologic process of diseases, the resulting functional changes, their clinical manifestations and complications, as well as diagnostic methodology, standard and experimental therapeutic modalities, clinical trials and research.  Stem Cell Transplant rotations are held at the UCIMC.

Fellows are required to undertake dedicated clinical and/or laboratory research under the supervision of a research mentor. During the second half of the first year fellows begin exploring research options around their individual interests.

Participation in the review of clinical trial protocols through involvement in the institutional review board (IRB) is expected during the second and third year.

Research »

During the second and/or third year fellows develop and participate in a longitudinal research project spanning 18 months of protected time under the supervision of research mentor.

The University of California is a major NIH funded academic institute and offers a variety of research opportunities ranging from basic molecular biology to translational clinical trials and health outcomes are available. Research is conducted under the supervision of the research mentor and the research oversight committee.

During the research rotation fellows receive four weeks of intensive clinical hematology laboratory experience, which includes training in automated hematology, blood banking, flow cytometry, coagulation, transfusion medicine, special protein laboratory, and hemoglobin variant analysis.

Fellows are expected to develop sufficient research experience by the end of the rotation to be able to prepare papers for presentation at national and regional meetings and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Our faculty views the successful training and ultimate career placement of the UCI hematology/oncology fellows as a fundamental responsibility, and many fellows have had highly productive research experiences.
Salary and Benefits »

The annual salary scale for the 2023-2024 academic year is:

  •  First year — $89,969
  •  Second year — $93,241
  •  Third year — $96,334

Medical, dental and vision insurance plans are provided.

Fellows receive professional liability coverage for all activities that are part of the hematology/oncology fellowship training program. A disability plan is available through the Irvine House Staff Association. Information on specific plans is made available at the time of acceptance.

Fellows receive three weeks vacation per year. In addition, the division pays for each fellow to attend an educational conference every year and allows for educational time to attend conferences.

Eligibility »

Fellowship candidates must have completed a three-year residency program in Internal Medicine that is recognized by ACGME and the ABIM. Applicants also should be able to demonstrate their interest in the subspecialties of hematology and oncology.

Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or hold a J-1 visa with ECFMG sponsorship at the time of application submission.

Candidates also must have a valid California medical license before beginning the fellowship program as required by state law. For graduates of medical schools outside the United States, please note that the licensure process can take six to 12 months or longer.

If you are not already licensed in the state, contact the Medical Board of California at 1426 Howe Ave., Suite 54, Sacramento, CA 95825-3236.

Application Process »

Fellowship candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency program. Applicants also must have:

  • Board-certification or board-eligibility in internal medicine
  • Proof of medical school graduation (original diploma)
  • Proof of passing the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE)
  • U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or J-1 visa with ECFMG sponsorship 

Candidates also must have a valid California medical license before beginning the fellowship program as required by state law. For graduates of medical schools outside the United States, please note that the licensure process can take six to 12 months or longer. If you are not already licensed in the state, contact the Medical Board of California online or at 1426 Howe Ave., Suite 54, Sacramento, CA 95825-3236.

Applicants with permanent residency or J-1 visas also must provide a current certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) before starting the fellowship.

All applicants must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges to electronically transmit applications, personal statements, recommendation letters, deans' letters, transcripts and other supporting credentials from medical schools to fellowship program directors. For questions about the application process, go to ERAS online or call 215.966.3940.

Applications should be submitted as early as possible in order to meet ERAS deadlines for supporting documents and interview schedules. Late applications may not be considered.

Recent Fellow Publications »

Fellows' List of Research Publications — 2010-2018 (fellows names appear in bold)

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

 

Program Administration »

Program Director: Jason A. Zell, DO, MPH

Associate Program Director – Lisa X. Lee, MD

Associate Program Diorectr – Ann Eapen, MD

LBVA Site Director – Ann Eapen, MD

Research Rotation Director – Angela Fleischman, MD, PhD

Program Coordinator – Carlie Courtney

Division Chief: Edward L. Nelson, MD, FACP

Key clinical faculty:
Current Fellows »
Fellows

For more information, contact:

Carlie CourtneyEducation Programs Assistant AnalystPhone: 714-456-7772Fax: 714-456-2242E-mail: ccourtn1@hs.uci.edu  

 

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The Division of Hematology/Oncology
UCI Medical Center
101 The City Drive South
Building 56, Room 239, ZOT 4061
Orange, CA 92868
University of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA 92697
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