Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship

On behalf of the section of Transfusion Medicine/Blood Banking it is a pleasure to welcome you to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As program director, it is my honor to introduce you to our fellowship program.

We are committed to provide a comprehensive training in Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking that will prepare our fellows with the experience, skills, and knowledge to independently practice transfusion medicine and become leaders in academics as well as in the industry.

Our program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and offers a one-year curriculum that integrates clinical care, immunohematology, donor operations, hemovigilance, hemotherapy, research and scholarly activities. 

As part of a large multidisciplinary oncologic care hospital in the country, our fellows will work alongside world-renowned experts in different specialties, including oncology, hematology, stem cell transplantation and surgical specialties, when providing transfusion therapy to our patients. This collaborative environment promotes a rich learning experience and ensures that the fellows receive comprehensive training across the spectrum of transfusion medicine in this unique population of oncological patients. 

One of the hallmarks of our program is our unique hemovigilance unit, which follows in real time every transfusion given to our patients. This ensures early detection and intervention when adverse events of transfusion occur, avoiding serious complications while working collaboratively with our clinical colleagues.

In addition, our program offers two months of experience in hemotherapy at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. In this rotation, our fellows are exposed to complex cases in cardiovascular, obstetrics, sickle cell, and trauma patients with a strong emphasis on active management of these patients. This rotation exposes our fellows to a general population of patients and their transfusion needs.

Our fellows will have the opportunity to participate in research and quality improvement projects under the mentorship of our faculty members. Our fellows are encouraged to explore their interests and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in transfusion medicine, donoroperations and hemovigilance.

At MD Anderson, we take great pride in our commitment to providing comprehensive training, and I invite you to examine all that our transfusion medicine fellowship program has to offer and to consider joining our dynamic and passionate team of clinicians, nursing personnel, lab personnel and blood collection personnel. Whether your goal is to pursue a career in academic medicine, private practice, or the industry, we are committed to providing you with the training and support you need to achieve your aspirations and make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients and their families. 

Thank you for considering the Transfusion Medicine/Blood Banking Program at MD Anderson. We look forward to welcoming you to our community and embarking on this transformative journey together.

Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship

Anita Arackal, M.D. - PGY 5

Anita Arackal, M.D., earned her medical degree from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine. Anita enjoys hiking, trying new food in the city, and drawing.