I would like to welcome you to the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at the University of Connecticut, UConn Health. My name is Susan Tannenbaum and I am division chair of hematology/oncology here at UConn and current program director of the fellowship. Victoria Forbes is the associate program director. The two of us guide the fellows through their learning and growth as they accomplish their goals of becoming a hematologist/oncologist.
We have many resources and programs available not only within hematology/oncology but also throughout the University of Connecticut. The University itself is one of the top 25 public universities in the nation. The UConn School of Medicine is a significant part of the program and has an average enrollment of 110 students. Interaction between our fellows and medical students in both clinical and educational venues is a strength of the program. Our graduate medical education program is also extensive, especially in the internal medicine specialties, and is rich in opportunities for education and collaboration on clinical and translational projects.
UConn Health has 500 faculty actively engaged in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows. The hematology/oncology program is broken down into two blocks of 18 months. The first 18 months are focused on clinical hematology/oncology and are divided evenly between UConn Health and two larger hospitals in the Hartford area, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and Hartford Hospital. This offers a diverse, comprehensive clinical exposure to specialists in all areas of hematology and oncology. Twelve months of the clinical rotations are outpatient months and there are six months of inpatient experience. The additional 18 months of fellowship can be spent either on a research track, with many research opportunities (see below), or a clinical track. We have multiple clinical programs at our three institutions that not only include expertise in the core fields of hematology/oncology, but also in neuro-oncology, high risk cancer care, geriatric oncology, health care disparities, supportive services/palliative medicine, bleeding disorders, and care of patients with sickle cell disease within the New England Sickle Cell Institute (NESCI). NESCI is an internationally known and is a leader in the development and application of novel treatments for such patients. Additionally, we have recently recruited a new faculty member whose mission is to grow a global oncology program that will offer opportunities for fellows’ participation. For further information I direct you to the websites of all three institutions.
In addition to our strong clinical programs, we strongly support a research track with many available resources. At UConn there is more than $164 million of research funding at our undergraduate campus and $93.6 million supporting research at UConn Health. Eighty-two percent of that finding is federally based. Research areas at UConn Health include molecular oncology, immunology and immunotherapy, vascular biology and epidemiology and community medicine to mention just a few. Additionally, we are fortunate to have on our campus the Jackson Laboratories for Genomic Medicine with more than 70 multidisciplinary researchers addressing genomic solutions for cancer and other disorders.
At UConn, we have great depth in clinical, research and educational services and a diverse graduate medical education program and faculty. UConn has what you need to foster your career whether it be based on clinical, translational or basic science opportunities. Even more important than the programs themselves are the faculty who interact with you regularly. All three institutions offer a diverse and outstanding environment for learning with faculty dedicated to a fellow’s growth and development. This is what matters most to us who are involved directly in the education program.
Aside from our GME and institutional websites, I refer you to our Policy Manual for more in-depth details of how our program runs. Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have further questions.
Welcome and thank you for your interest in our Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program! I am excited to invite you to learn more about our program. My name is Victoria Forbes and I am the associate program director and site director. I know UConn Health well as a former medical student, resident, and chief resident here. After my internal medicine training, I completed my fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock with a special interest in global oncology. I have returned to UConn Health and am thrilled to invest my time into the fellowship program.
We welcome two new fellows each year, but we have our sights on adding a third in the future. After an initial year of intensive clinical training, fellows pursue two more years of individualized clinical work and research. We aim to train fellows in the art and science of our complex and exciting field to deliver informed and compassionate patient care.
Fellows rotate at three different hospitals including UConn Health, Saint Francis Hospital, and Hartford Hospital. This offers a breath of training experience in different clinical settings. Our fellows graduate as well-trained hematologists and oncologists that can adapt to a variety of settings from private practice to academics.
Outside of our standard electives, fellows can participate in unique programs such as the Department of Corrections clinic, New England Sickle Cell Institute, MGUS Clinic, Coagulation Center of Excellence, a global Oncology Program, and an upcoming Bone Marrow Transplant Program.
We aim to attract motivated fellows who will thrive in our team-based academic environment. Fellowship training can be challenging, but our collegial program is close-knit and we are dedicated to the fellows’ success. We support both their education and well being. We are also committed to incorporating the feedback of our fellows and faculty into all aspects of training to enhance our program.
We are very proud of our program and we look forward to meeting you!