Download The Surgical Oncology Fellowship Programs

ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE
Surgical Oncology
Fellowship Program
Advanced Surgical Training at a Premier
NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center
About Roswell Park
Cancer Institute
About Roswell
Park Cancer Institute
Setting the National
Standards in Patient Care
Research Powerhouse
Since its creation in 1898, Roswell
As a member of the National
research programs attract approximately
Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has had
Comprehensive Cancer Network
$90 million in research grants and
a profound and global impact on the
(NCCN), an alliance of 20 of the
contracts each year.
understanding, prevention, diagnosis
world’s leading cancer centers,
and treatment of cancer. Among other
RPCI plays a key role in establishing
RPCI and its prominent “next-door”
landmark achievements, RPCI:
clinical practice guidelines in oncology.
neighbors—the Structural Biology
It is the only National Cancer
Research Center of Hauptman-
Institute-designated Comprehensive
Woodward Medical Research Institute
Cancer Center in upstate New York.
and the New York State Center of
• Launched the first chemotherapy
program in the world.
• Developed the PSA test, used for
early detection of prostate cancer,
RPCI’s groundbreaking basic and clinical
Excellence in Bioinformatics of the
and photodynamic therapy (PDT),
RPCI ranks among the top one percent
University at Buffalo—constitute the
a novel treatment that uses lasers
of cancer centers and teaching hospitals
Buffalo Life Sciences Complex of the
to activate cancer-killing drugs.
in the U.S. for patient satisfaction with
Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus.
physician services and overall care.
The three research powerhouses
• Was an international leader in
mapping the human genome.
• Provided seminal basic and clinical
share specific resources, including
the University at Buffalo’s world-class
discoveries for a number of currently
supercomputing facilities, and work
utilized chemotherapeutic regimens,
together in areas of mutual research.
including 5FU-leucovorin and
cisplatin.
The Multidisciplinary &
Collaborative Environment
Working in a single location called
Our Surgical Edge:
Minimally Invasive,
Conserving, Patient Focused
a “Center,” RPCI’s disease-specific
Over the past five years, Roswell Park
teams develop customized care plans
has emerged as a national leader in
Regional Centers for Maxillofacial
for every patient, detailing the course
minimally invasive as well as limb- and
Prosthetics in the USA.
of treatment from diagnosis through
organ-conserving surgeries, and its
recovery. To ensure seamless care,
programs and capabilities are expanding
teams include not only clinicians and
every day. For example, Roswell Park:
nurses but also support staff and basic
• Is one of few institutions worldwide
• Houses one of only a dozen
• Offers many of the latest surgical
techniques and procedures, including:
o Video-assisted thoracic (VATS) surgery
o Mohs micrographic surgery (skin)
o Microsurgery and maxillofacial
and applied scientists, all aiming toward
that offers robotic cystectomy for
improved outcomes and higher quality
patients with bladder cancer, leads
of care and of life.
the nation in the use of robotic
o Limb-conserving surgery (sarcomas)
cystectomy and is soon to launch
o Gamma Knife, stereotactic
reconstruction (head and neck)
The close collaboration of clinicians and
a national training program in
craniotomies, microneurosurgery,
basic scientists on this campus nurtures
robotic surgery.
minimally invasive skull base surgery,
an intellectually fertile atmosphere with
• Has one of the most well-documented
immense potential for discovery and
outcomes for breast surgery in the
innovation. As part of this extraordinary
U.S., with more than 75% of women
community, RPCI’s Surgical Oncology
with early-stage breast cancer
fellows have the opportunity to interact
treated with breast-conserving surgery.
with and learn from nationally prominent
cancer specialists.
• Is one of few institutions nationwide
equipped with a Transanal
Endoscopic Microscope for the
resection of rectal tumors.
Vital Statistics
Hospital Admissions: 4,400
Outpatient Visits: 153,000
Patients Under Active Care: 23,435 (7,208 new)
Patient Origin: 37 states, 8 foreign countries
Beds: Currently 119; 101 in service; approved for 133
Grants/Contracts: $90 million annually
Funded Research Projects: 522
Academic Affiliation: University at Buffalo
Employees: More than 2,700, including 227
physicians and scientists and more than
450 nurses
cortical mapping/awake craniotomies
(brain/spine)
o Minimally invasive esophagectomies
(esophagus).
The Surgical Oncology
Fellowship Programs
development and Institutional Review
flat-screen plasma monitors, 3-D
Board, and annually complete two
imagery and voice- and touch-
As a free-standing NCI-designated
academic projects for national presentation
activated controls, and feature adjacent
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Roswell
and peer-reviewed publication.
observation and teleconferencing
rooms. One suite also is equipped
Park provides intensive training that
focuses exclusively on cancer. Fellows
RPCI’s rich multidisciplinary model affords
with the da Vinci® surgical robotic
develop and strengthen skills in both
fellows the opportunity to learn from
system, used for thoracic, GI, urologic,
surgical decision-making and operative
clinicians and basic scientists of the
gynecologic, head and neck, and
technique. A comprehensive program of
highest caliber, and to develop a broad
neurologic procedures.
courses and lectures provides fundamental
understanding of the connections
knowledge of tumor biology, molecular
between various aspects of cancer
genetics, epidemiology, biostatistics,
research. The impact of training in this
gain extensive experience in decision-
radiation principles, protocol development,
setting is evident in the professional
making and operative techniques, plus
screening and early detection, staging,
choices of RPCI’s surgical fellows:
hands-on experience in preoperative
multidisciplinary treatment, pain manage-
most go on to posts that combine
evaluation, treatment planning and
ment and end-of-life issues.
academic, research and clinical interests.
postoperative ambulatory patient care.
• RPCI fellows in Surgical Oncology
• Fellows gain experience in surgical
Formal coursework is supplemented by
The Roswell Park Advantage
management of patients undergoing
a challenging and stimulating schedule
• All clinical and didactic programs
predominantly medical therapy.
• Fellows preparing for academic
of programs that includes monthly
are centered exclusively on Society
multidisciplinary debates on controversial
of Surgical Oncology fellows,
posts have the opportunity to teach
topics in oncology; “Meet the Professor”
eliminating competition from surgical
University at Buffalo medical students
lectures featuring topics chosen by the
chief residents, fellows in other
who perform their general surgery
fellows; and weekly, institute-wide
specialties and visiting fellows.
rotations at RPCI.
presentations by the most recognized
• The Roswell Park Hospital, opened in
• Fellows enjoy unrestricted access to
1998, houses two minimally invasive
RPCI’s Dr. Edwin A. Mirand Library,
surgery (MIS) suites, used for both
a National Library of Medicine-
All fellows participate in at least two
MIS and open surgery. The suites are
designated regional resource library
meetings each of both RPCI’s Scientific
ergonomically designed and equipped
with one of the nation’s largest
Review Committee for protocol
with such advanced technology as
collections of cancer-related materials.
names in the field of oncology.
• All major Surgical Oncology rotations
are disease-site-specific and built
around faculty members’ expertise in
specific types of cancers. This enables
fellows to take part in the full spectrum
of case management, including
preoperative evaluation, multidisciplinary
discussion, treatment and postoperative
follow-up of the same cohort of
patients over several months. Because
trials, tumor immunology and pharmacol-
RPCI faculty often provide long-term
ogy. Approximately 42 weekly lectures
specialization, during which fellows
surveillance for their patients, fellows
are held during the year.
may elect to further their experience
also may become familiar with follow-up
• Five months of clinical or research
in one of the major disciplines; or
strategies and the evaluation and
The Trainee Lecture Series has become
pursue subspecialty electives in Head
treatment of recurrent disease.
an important part of the educational
and Neck, Endoscopy, Urologic
environment for clinical trainees and
Oncology or Gynecologic Oncology.
• Faculty in Surgical Oncology, Medical
Oncology, Radiation Oncology,
research students at Roswell Park
Pathology, Radiology and Ancillary
and is well attended. It also provides
Gynecologic Oncology
Services meet weekly to discuss new
another forum for clinical trainees from
Approved by the
and complex cases, giving fellows the
different specialty areas to interact
American Board of Obstetrics &
broad perspective of RPCI’s multidisci-
with each other in an intellectually
Gynecology as a subspecialty
plinary approach to patient care.
collaborative arena.
This four-year fellowship includes two
years of basic science and two years
The RPCI Trainee
Lecture Series
Curriculum
RPCI sponsors a Trainee Lecture Series of
of clinical rotation. The fellow receives
training in all aspects of the management
of gynecologic malignancies, including
weekly conferences attended by clinical
General Surgical Oncology
radical surgery, bowel and urologic
and research students, residents and
Approved by the
surgery; reconstructive surgery and
fellows in Medical Oncology, Radiation
Society of Surgical Oncology
chemotherapy. Fellows also rotate in
Oncology, Pathology and Surgical
This fellowship comprises:
GI Service and Radiation during their
Oncology. It is open to trainees of all
• Three-month rotations in the major
clinical rotation.
other disciplines as well. This survey
disciplines of surgical oncology:
course addresses issues ranging from
Upper GI, Lower GI, Hepatobiliary,
Otolaryngologic Oncology
ethics to molecular biology and is
Melanoma/Sarcoma, Breast and
Approved by the
arranged to cover specific topics on a
Thoracic, and
American Head and Neck Society
yearly cycle. Six lectures are devoted
• One- to two-month rotations in
Fellows may opt for either a one-year
to statistics, five to ethics and eight to
Endoscopy, Head and Neck, Medical
clinical or two-year clinical and research
molecular biology; other lectures address
Oncology, Radiation Oncology,
fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery
the design and management of clinical
Pathology and subspecialty electives.
and Oncology. The program involves at
least 12 months of clinical rotations cover-
• In-depth experience in open radical
The RPCI Campus
ing all aspects of contemporary head
surgery and reconstruction, including
Set on 25 acres in downtown Buffalo,
and neck surgery, microvascular surgical
nerve-sparing surgery and continent
New York, the RPCI campus comprises
reconstruction and oncology. The Head
urinary diversion; laparoscopic surgery
15 buildings. All clinical activities,
and Neck Surgery/Plastic Surgery
of the kidney, adrenal and prostate;
didactics and basic science research
Department collaborates in translational
and robotic radical prostatectomy.
take place on this campus. Approximately
research projects with a dynamic group
60% of the campus has undergone
have an opportunity for dedicated
Laboratory
Research Experience
research time during the second year.
Fellows with a strong interest in basic
of research scientists. The fellow will
major renovation or has been newly
built since 1998.
science research may opt to complete
The Roswell Park Hospital houses a
Urologic Oncology
a year or two of laboratory research in
stand-alone Clinical Research Center
Approved by the Society of
one of more than 25 laboratories. The
that will greatly expand the number
Gynecological Oncologists
program introduces the surgical oncology
of RPCI patients enrolled in clinical
This one-year fellowship comprises:
trainee to the latest advances and ideas
research studies. RPCI has sponsored
• One year of clinical experience in the
in both basic and clinical research, which
or collaborated on more than 500
care and management of the major
are the catalyst of tomorrow’s innovative
clinical trials of new and innovative
urologic neoplasms: prostate cancer,
treatments. This program is funded by an
cancer treatments.
bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma
NIH/NCI T32 training grant.
and testicular cancer.
Newest among the RPCI facilities is
Program Faculty
the $ 74 million Center for Genetics
Virtually all program faculty are full-time
& Pharmacology, opened in 2006,
members of Roswell Park’s clinical staff
which houses the Institute’s core resource
and the Department of Surgery of the
facilities and the Cancer Genetics and
University at Buffalo School of Medicine
Pharmacology departments.
and Biomedical Sciences.
The Buffalo Niagara Region
and a thriving theatre district with a rich diversity of offerings.
Set at the eastern end of Lake Erie, Buffalo is just 30 miles
Sports fans follow the action of the area’s major league
from Niagara Falls and a 90-minute drive from Toronto,
teams—the NFL Bills, NHL Sabres, MILL Bandits and the
Ontario. The region enjoys moderate winter and summer
Buffalo Bisons, an American Association baseball team.
temperatures, setting the stage for outstanding recreational
opportunities, including winter skiing at area resorts and
Eligibility for RPCI Fellowships
summer boating on the lake.
Applicants must have completed their residency training in
general surgery and be qualified to sit for the American
RPCI is close to all the action in the City of Good Neighbors—
Board of Surgery exam.
just 10 minutes from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Delaware
Park, Buffalo Zoo and Erie Basin Marina, and two blocks from
When & How to Apply
historic Allentown, a community noted for artists, antiques, gour-
Candidates are advised to begin the application process
met restaurants, coffeehouses and historic homes. Nationally
approximately one year prior to the anticipated date of
noted for its architecture, Buffalo is a popular destination for
enrollment in the fellowship program. Interviews are usually
those attracted to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.
held in late summer or early fall.
Kleinhans Music Hall is home to the Buffalo Philharmonic,
An application form is available on the RPCI website at
consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 symphonies,
www.roswellpark.org/Education/Clinical_Education.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute participates in
the Society of Surgical Oncology Matching Program.
Inquiries: John M. Kane III, MD, Surgical Oncology Program Director, Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Elm and Carlton Streets ◆ Buffalo, NY 14263 ◆ Phone: 716-845-3284
Email: [email protected]
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo, New York 14263
1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724)
www.roswellpark.org
17087 (02.07)