Expectations: Fellows are expected to become proficient at performance of spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations and bone marrow biopsies during the first year of training. These procedures are done under the supervision of attending physicians or nurse practitioners, either in treatment rooms or in the operating room. Fellows are also encouraged to attend bone marrow harvests to gain additional experience. In addition, the fellows are responsible for reviewing and reporting all bone marrow specimens from patients managed on the inpatient service with monthly attending physicians.

Members of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology give teaching of fellows high priority. A weekly course on review of normal and abnormal bone marrow smears directed at the first year fellows begins in the summer and extends through early fall. In addition to ward attending rounds, several regular teaching conferences provide instruction in a variety of clinical and research topics related to Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Pediatric BMSCT issues: a didactic Pediatric Hematology/Oncology conference and an interactive Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Case Conference are held weekly; a multidisciplinary Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Tumor Board alternates on a weekly basis with a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Outpatient Review Conference, and a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Journal Club occurs monthly. Fellows, faculty and invited speakers make presentations at these conferences on a regular basis. In addition, a wealth of conferences sponsored by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC), the Department of Pediatrics, and the Divisions of Adult Hematology/Oncology and Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation take place on a regular basis.


Research Opportunities
With few exceptions, it is the intent of the research program in years two and three to focus on laboratory investigation, research meetings, and conferences and courses that will enhance the fellow's basic research experience. During the two research years clinical responsibilities are limited to several weekends of inpatient coverage and one outpatient clinic per week; there are no inpatient rotations during this time, maximally protecting time for the research experience. Generally, an appropriate faculty advisor from the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division is chosen as the trainee preceptor, and the trainees and preceptors begin to explore the potential options for training research projects during the first clinical year. Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend a three-month-long research scientist-training program provided by the University of Michigan faculty. This course offered from July-September of the second year is designed to provide an overview of current concepts and methods in cellular and molecular biology. In addition to didactic sessions, the course provides hands-on experience in a laboratory setting of commonly used techniques. Although the course is designed for individuals with limited prior research experience, even seasoned researchers can benefit from the excellent instruction provided.