Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Of The National Capital Consortium

Introduction

The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship program provides an intensive experience in hematology/oncology for the physician who has completed at least one year of pediatric internship and two years of pediatric residency. Applicants must be either board certified or eligible to sit for the certifying examination in general pediatrics. The program is designed to prepare physicians for careers in either clinical or academic pediatric hematology/oncology and consists of three years of post-graduate medical education, which includes both clinical and research experience.
The program is sponsored by the National Capital Consortium, with clinical practice located at the affiliated hospitals: Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington DC, National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda MD, and other locations in the National Capital Region). Research opportunities are available at the Uniformed Services University and related institutions.
Active duty in a uniformed service of the United States is required. Information on incurred obligations, pay and allowances may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Application forms are available from the latter office, local GME offices (major military hospitals) or the pediatric hematology/oncology service. Applicants must apply through and be sponsored by their respective branch of service. Requests for training should list the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program of the National Capital Consortium as their site of choice. Application deadlines are those of the individual services. An updated CV should be sent to Gary Crouch, MC, Col, USAF, Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda MD 20814. When feasible, applicants are encouraged to visit the facilities and arrange an interview. Telephone inquiries are welcomed (301)295-9720.

Format

The fellowship program comes under the umbrella of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), and the National Capital Consortium, a military Graduate Medical Education organization. The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program is based at WRAMC. It is a separate free-standing service within the Department of Pediatrics. It has a faculty of five full-time pediatric hematologists-oncologists at WRAMC and a research faculty of hematologists at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at NNMC, Bethesda is fully integrated with WRAMC, and offers an educational experience center in the NICU. Currently, there are six faculty members directly committed to our three-year program.

Clinical Experience

Our program has a major clinical requirement in the first year, required rotations in the second year through a variety of subspecialty areas including blood bank, coagulation, hematopathology, solid tumor pathology, radiation oncology, bone marrow transplantation (at Children's National Medical Center), and immunopathology, and almost total research commitment the third year. Continuity patients are maintained throughout this period of time.
The fellow will routinely supervise the management of hospitalized pediatric hematology/oncology patients through daily contact with the residents and students on the ward teams; make ward rounds with the pediatric hematology/oncology staff, participate in pediatric hematology/oncology clinics, teach the residents and students through informal teaching rounds, prepared conferences, and scheduled grand rounds, and attend journal club, weekly clinical conferences, research meetings, and conferences at the National Institutes of Health. All fellows are encouraged to attend national meetings.

Research

To ensure success in research training, the majority of the second and third years have an emphasis on research. Both clinical and basic science protocols are available. Opportunities for clinical research are provided through the outpatient clinics and inpatient services at WRAMC, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the WRAIR, and the National Canter Institute. WRAMC is a full member of the Children's Oncology Group.
The basic science laboratories include 2000 square feet of space in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The laboratories are well equipped for animal studies, general biochemistry, cell culture, and molecular biology. Extractions of RNA and DNA, Northern, Western and Southern blotting and polymerase chain reaction analysis are performed. Gene synthesizers, automated nucleic acid sequencers, and protein sequencing are also available. Research Administration provides research review services, computerized data analysis, statistical support, and publication pre-review and approval.

Faculty

Margret Merino , MD, LTC, MC, USA, Program Director Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship e-mail: Margret.merino@us.army.mil
Elwood G. Edwards, MD, LTC, MC, USA
Stephen Roberts, MD, MAJ, MC, USA
Janiine Babcock, MD, COL, MC, USA
Kip Hartman,MD, COL (Ret.), MC, USA
Shirley E. Reddoch, MD, COL (Ret.), MC, USA

A more detailed description of the program and requirements is available through:

Margret Merino, MD, LTC, MC, USA
Program Director: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, NCC
Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Service
Department of Pediatrics
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Washington, DC 20307
Phone: (202) 782-9453
Fax: (202) 782-7020
e-mail: Margret.merino@us.army.mil

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