Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship

The Department of Orthopaedic Oncology offers a one- or two-year optional post-graduate fellowship in musculoskeletal oncology. The fellowship is designed to provide specialized training in the multidisciplinary care of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. U.S. applicants must have completed an approved orthopaedic residency program by the starting date of the fellowship, and must be board eligible or board certified. Applicants from abroad must have a current ECFMG certificate and all three parts of the USMLE successfully completed. All candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to academic medicine.

The starting date of the fellowship is either July 1 or August 1. The stipend is based upon the post-graduate year of the applicant, in accordance with institutional and state guidelines.

The first year of the fellowship focuses on an intensive clinical experience. The fellow will be involved in all aspects of clinical practice, including the outpatient clinic, emergency room, inpatient care and surgery. The majority of surgical procedures involves tumors, both soft tissue and bone. The fellow will have the opportunity to work with all of the attending staff members.

The weekly conferences include didactic sessions, pathology conference, pre- and post-operative conferences, M&M and sarcoma conferences. In addition, there are multiple institutional conferences and seminars, such as grand rounds, that are optional. The fellow is expected to take call on a rotating basis with the residents and the physician assistants. The fellow should complete at least one clinical project during the year, and will attend at least one national meeting on musculoskeletal tumors.

The second year of the fellowship is an elective year focusing primarily on research. Both clinical and basic research opportunities exist. Current projects include animal models, design of new prostheses, tumor biology, genetic research and tissue engineering.

How to Apply

Fellowship applications are only accepted through the San Francisco Match Program, www.SFmatch.org.  The deadline to submit applications is December 31st.  Interviews are scheduled starting in December through March.

Required Documents

In addition to the San Francisco Match application, your completed application package must include:

• Full time GME application
• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of Medical school diploma
• Three current letters of recommendation
• Official medical school transcript (English translation required for foreign graduates)
• Certificates of completion from all residencies
• USMLE transcript/scores (for foreign medical school graduates)
• Valid ECFMG certificate (for foreign medical school graduates)
• Current photograph

Letters should be addressed to:

Valerae O. Lewis, M.D.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Professor and Chair                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Dr. John Murray Professor in Orthopaedic Oncology
Department of Orthopaedic Oncology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
PO Box 301402, Unit 1448
Houston, TX 77230-1439

Medical School

As part of The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, medical students may rotate through the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, either as part of their formal surgery rotation or as an elective. Students will be exposed to the outpatient clinic, inpatient wards and surgery. They will attend and participate in weekly didactic and clinical conferences.

Residency

The Department of Orthopaedic Oncology is an integral part of the Orthopaedic Residency Program at The University of Texas Medical Branch and Baylor College of Medicine. Residents from UTMB and Baylor rotate through MD Anderson as part of their formal orthopaedic training. The residents are exposed to all aspects of orthopaedic oncology, including the outpatient clinic, inpatient care and surgery. There are weekly didactic sessions with the staff. They are expected to attend and present cases at weekly conferences, including the pathology conference, pre- and post-operative conferences, M&M and sarcoma conferences. Residents take call on a rotating basis with the fellows and physician assistants.

In addition to providing didactic sessions at MD Anderson, the staff members of the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology regularly give grand rounds and other lectures for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The UT McGoven Medical School.