Interested in observing our experts in Internal Medicine? Take a look at some of the educational opportunities available in this specialty. Please review our eligibility criteria before applying to one of the programs listed below.

The Benign Hematology Observer Program in the Benign Hematology Section of the department of Pulmonary Medicine offers participants the chance to observe the care of patients with hematologic conditions in an oncologic care setting. The program's main educational objective is to aid learners gain a fundamental understanding of how physicians manage and treat patients under their care. By observing these experiences, participants will develop insights into the decision-making process and collaborative approach involved in providing care for these patients. 

Department
Benign Hematology

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical

Learning Objectives
Participants in the observer program will:

• Develop a basic understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of various hematologic conditions including anemia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulation disorders.
• Learn how to interpret basic blood tests such as complete blood count and peripheral blood smear.
• Gain exposure to the multidisciplinary approach towards the management of benign hematologic disorders.
• Enhance communication skills while observing the physician's ability to explain diagnoses, discuss treatment options, and address concerns and questions.
• Develop an understanding of the ethical, legal, and social implications of benign hematologic conditions.
• Gain exposure to the to principles of clinical and basis science research.
• Participate in discussions and educational sessions on the classification and management of benign hematological disorders. 

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Contact
Catherine Gunn
Associate Department Administrator
Benign Hematology
cabutler1@mdanderson.org

The department of Cardiology fosters a strong sense of continuity between oncology and cardiology to understand the interactions of cancer therapy on the cardiovascular system. With early identification and effective management of cardiovascular disease, cancer patients experience a reduction in morbidity and morality, thus, an improvement in patient oucomes. The Cancer and Heart Observer program will provide physicians and other health care professionals an opportunity to be exposed to the unique group of clinical problems encountered within an active onco-cardiology service. Emphasis will focus on the knowledge to successfully identify, diagnose, and understand the management of cardiovascular complications of cancer therapies. Additionally, the mentoring will identify advanced treatment options, address novel therapies, highlight new areas of research, and ultimately develop collaboration between organizations involved in this field. It provides a unique experience for the participants to learn how to manage cardiovascular problems in complicated and challenging cases. The goal of the program is to balance cardiovascular disease and integrate contemporary cardiovascular tools (imaging, medical and interventional treatment) to improve survival of patients with cancer and heart disease. 

Department
Cardiology

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical and Research/Laboratory

Learning Objectives
Observer Patient Care:

• Exposure to a diverse patient population undergoing cancer therapy and the appropriate cardiac interventions during therapy. This will be within the inpatient and outpatient setting. 
• Exposure to a diverse patient population of cancer survivors who subsequently develop cardiovascular complications. 
• Understanding nuances in cardiovascular care in these patients both medically and psychologically. 
• Exposure to the various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as TTE and TEE, right and left heart catherterization, pacemaker placement, pericardiocentesis, intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, and their special use in cancer patients.

Enhance Medical Knowledge: 

• Expose participants to unique cardiovascular syndromes, such as carcinoid heart disease, cardiac tumors, maligant pericardial effusions, infiltrative cardiomyopathies, and vascular disease in patients with thrombocytopendia. 
• Foster an understanding of the mechanism for cardiovascular damage from various cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation induced cardiac disease. 
• Address the most up to date clinical advances in prevention of cardiotoxicity with cancer therapies. 
• Provide an understanding of the breadth of cardiovascular complications (cardiomyopathy, ischemic disease, and arrhythmias) from various modalities of cancer therapy (radiation versus chemotherapy versus hormonal/immunologic therapies). 

Observe Systems Based Practice:

• Provide participants with the opportunity to participate in daily didactics within the cardiology department including ECG conference, imaging conference, catheterization conference, and journal club. 
• Allow a focused understanding of a unique sub-group of patients and an unusual medical practice. 
• Observe and engage in complex patient care issues with oncologists and other health care professionals in a large cancer center (pharmacists, social workers, and psychologists). 
• Practice of cost-effective and yet compassionate and patient-directed care plans in a patient population whom are very ill and require a great deal of health care resources both for oncologic and cardiac care. 
• They will observe diagnostic tests, formulation of care plans, beginning therapeutic intervention and following response to therapy, specific to the cancer patient with cardiovascular problems. 
• They will observe management of the consult service, seeing all ICU patient consults, and follow-up visits. 
• The participant will attend Morning Report, a venue for academic discussion of the patients on service. 
• The participant will observe the performance, interpretation and problem solving for exercise and pharmacological stress testing in association with nuclear and echocardiographic imaging for the diagnosis of CAD and coronary ischemia, e.g. Treadmill-exercise Nuclear Stress Test, Adenosine Nuclear Stress Test, Dobutamine Nuclear Stress Test, Supine Bicycle-exercise Stress Echocardiography, Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography, and Transthoracic Echocardiograms. 
• The participant will attend weekly conference.

Additional Requirements
One letter of recommendation must be submitted in addition to the application.

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Application
To apply for the Cancer and Heart Observer Program, please fill out the corresponding Observer Inquiry Form.

Contact
Annette L. Eakes Ponnie, EdD, MSW
Program Coordinator, Education
Cardiology
aeakesponnie@mdanderson.org

Our Dermatology Observership Program in the department of Dermatology offers limited clinical observation (shadowing) with no direct patient contact. The Program Goals are to:

• Learn how dermatologists provide patient care within multidisciplinary cancer care teams.
• Understand how dermatologists provide patient care across the cancer care continuum. 
• Interact with and learn from dermatologists and dermatology residents. 
  

Department
Dermatology

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical

Learning Objectives
Participants in the Dermatology Observership Program can expect to participate in:

• Observation of patient care in outpatient and (for specific requests) inpatient dermatology clinical settings. 
• Observation of dermatology resident education didactics. 
• Operating room or pathology lab access will be granted. 
  

Additional Requirements
Must be a high school graduate currently enrolled in college/university.

Applicants must provide a letter of interest outlining their specific primary faculty member with whom they would like to work, the anticipated dates of participation and their interest in the program. 

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Contact
Betty Spears
Program Manager
Dermatology
baspears@mdanderson.org

The Oncologic Emergency Medicine Observer Program in the department of Emergency Medicine is accepting observers interested in opportunities for direct patient care of critically ill cancer patients. Our observers will experience the field of oncologic emergency medicine by seeing patients presenting to the Acute Cancer Care Center at MD Anderson during their observership. During this period, a didactic curriculum will also further enhance their understanding and training.

Observers will shadow our doctors in physical exams in the ED setting, will witness early treatment of true medical and surgical emergencies in critically ill patients and observe multiple patients simultaneously.

Observers must be currently enrolled in medical school (or completed medical school) to be considered. 

Department
Emergency Medicine

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical

Learning Objectives
Patient Care: 

• Observe with hands in pockets our Acute Cancer Care Center physicians as they complete a focused history & physical exam in the ED setting.

Professionalism:

•  Demonstrate punctuality, attendance, & a work pace appropriate to skill level. 

Interpersonal and communication skills:

• Demonstrate collaborative practice within the structure of the ED team.
• Communicate an understanding of ‘‘sick’’ versus ‘‘not sick’’ to the ED attending physician through succinct presentations of observations

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Application
To apply for the Oncologic Emergency Medicine Observer Program, please fill out the corresponding Observer Inquiry Form.

Contact
Allison Baring
Program Manager
Emergency Medicine
ambaring@mdanderson.org

The Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Observer Program in the department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is accepting observers interested in: 

• The diagnoses, stages and treatments for GI cancers and pre-cancerous conditions, including Barrett's esophagus
• How our endoscopy unit monitors GI cancer patients to determine how they are responding to treatment
• How our endoscopy unit treats GI complications of cancer, including jaundice and difficulty swallowing
  
• How the center provides care through various endoscopy procedures

Department
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical and Research/Laboratory

Learning Objectives
Observers will attend all departmental lecture sessions, including division grand rounds and other mutli-disciplinary conferences held at MD Anderson. They will observe procedures in the endoscopy unit and see how the unit runs so they can share their experience when they return to their home institution.

Additional Requirements
Two letters of reference from the observer's home institution must be submitted in addition to the application.

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Department Fee: $200
Please note these fees are in addition to the administrative fee charged to all professional applicants.

Application
To apply for the Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Observer Program, please fill out the corresponding Observer Inquiry Form.

Contact
Carol Cox
Program Coordinator, Education
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
ccox@mdanderson.org

The General Internal Medicine Observer Program in the department of General Internal Medicine is accepting observers interested in learning about the culture of MD Anderson and gaining insight in the day-to-day operations within the area(s) of clinical care/research within a cancer hospital.  Through shadowing and attending lectures, the participant will learn about the culture of MD Anderson and other practices of Western medicine. 

Department
General Internal Medicine

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical and Research/Laboratory

Learning Objectives
Participants in the observer program will learn:

• To familiarize learners with the U.S. medical system.
• To become proficient in presentation of patients on daily rounds.
• To gain experience working in a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Program Dates
The program will be offered for Spring (February - May) and Fall (August - November). Deadline for completed application for Spring will be November 1st. Deadline for completed application for fall will be June 1st.

We can accomodate two trainees for Spring Semester (February - May):

We can accomodate two trainees for Fall Semester (August - November):

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Application
To apply for the General Internal Medicine Observer Program, please fill out the corresponding Observer Inquiry Form.

Contact
Felicia Berry
Program Coordinator, Education
General Internal Medicine
fdwebber@mdanderson.org

The Infectious Disease Observer Program in the department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health is accepting observers interested in learning the medical procedures and management of MD Anderson's medical culture. 

Department
Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health

Type of Observer Experience
Research/Laboratory

Learning Objectives
Participants in the observer program will:

• Attend lectures and listen to discussions about the diagnosis and management of the immune compromised patient population
• See how doctors conduct their daily rounds 
• Observe how physical exams are conducted

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Contact
Andrea Mitchell 
Senior Administrative Assistant
Infectious Diseases
acmitchell@mdanderson.org

The IOTOX Observership Program in the division of Internal Medicine is seeking observers to engage with specialists across 12 Internal Medicine specialties and gain insight into managing 15 organ toxicities at our leading cancer center. Due to the increasing number of patients undergoing immunotherapy for various cancers in the past decade and the growing complexities in managing associated toxicities, there is an urgent need to raise awareness, share experiences, and advance knowledge in IOTOX care globally.

This program encompasses clinical settings, procedures, inpatient care, and research training offering an invaluable learning opportunity for medical students, residents, fellows, mid-level providers, and faculty members alike, nationally and internationally. Our aim is to enhance the confidence and proficiency of community doctors in managing these challenging diseases.

Department
Internal Medicine

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical or Research/Laboratory

Learning Objectives
Observers completing the program will gain the following:

• Understanding of standard workflow for IOTOX management
• Confidence in using references to manage their own toxicity cases
• Knowledge of available IOTOX resources/tools and research opportunities

Program Dates
Applications will be reviewed quarterly by the 1st of March, June, September and December. 

Additional Requirements
Trainees: Participants must have an active training status in an Internal Medicine residency or fellowship program at the time of application and by the time of observation completion and have approval from their training program director.

Faculities and mid-level providers: Active employment status as a faculty attending and mid-level providers or an equivalent position at the time of application and by the time of observation completion

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Contact
Lauren Sutton
Program Manager
DoIM Education Program
lmsutton1@mdanderson.org

The Onco-Nephrology Observer Program in the department of Nephrology is accepting observers who are interested in understanding the intersection of oncology and nephrology: the primary objective of the clinical rotation in onco-nephrology is to deepen medical students' or physicians' understanding of the complex interplay between cancer and kidney diseases. Participants will explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying kidney complications in cancerpatients, including paraneoplastic syndromes, direct effects of malignancy on renal function, and adverse effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This objective aims to equip participants with the knowledge necessary to recognize, diagnose,and manage renal complications in oncology patients effectively.

Department
Nephrology

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical

Learning Objectives
Observers completing the program will gain the following:

• Understand the standard workflow for managing kidney complications related to cancertreatments, including conditions such as tumor lysis syndrome, acute kidney injury,electrolyte imbalances, and nephrotoxicity.
• Develop confidence in using references and resources to manage kidney-related toxicitycases.
• Gain knowledge of available resources, tools, and research opportunities inonco-nephrology.
• Learn to develop individualized treatment plans tailored to the needs of oncologypatients.
• Engage in clinical research presentations, quality improvement initiatives, and case

Program Dates
Applications will be reviewed quarterly by the 1st of March, June, September and December. 

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Department Fee: $500
Please note these fees are in addition to the administrative fee charged to all professional applicants.

Contact
Lauren Sutton
Program Manager
DoIM Education Program
lmsutton1@mdanderson.org

The Pulmonary Medicine Observer Program in the department of Pulmonary Medicine is accepting observers who wish to take advantage of the opportunities available at MD Anderson. Aimed at providing physicians from across the world with access to unique attributes of MD Anderson and the Texas Medical Center at large, this experience is highly tailored to the individual needs of the physicians involved. 

This program is designed to educate visiting physicians in the care of cancer patients with respiratory diseases using the MD Anderson multidisciplinary care model. This is expected to lead to better patient care at their home institutions while promoting potential collaborative endeavors between our respective institutions and faculty. This program will not be permitted to detract from our primary patient care here at MD Anderson.

Department
Pulmonary Medicine

Type of Observer Experience
Clinical and Research/Laboratory

Learning Objectives
Clinical observership opportunities exist in the following discrete sections of our department. Observers may split their time between sections depending on availability. 

• General Inpatient Pulmonary Service (Consult service - Liquids and Solids)
• General Outpatient Pulmonary Service (Clinical Rotation - Various attendings)
• Interventional Pulmonology Service 
• Sleep Medicine Service 
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service (Twice weekly clinic rotation)

Additional Requirements
Participants must be a physician, physician trainee, college student or medical student in order to participate in the program.

Program Fees
All professional applicants are subject to pay an Education & Training administrative fee. Please refer to the main Observer Programs page for more information about the fees and the institution’s application process.

Application
To apply for the Pulmonary Medicine Observer Program, please fill out the corresponding Observer Inquiry Form.

Contact
Angela Hopper
Program Coordinator
Pulmonary Medicine
arhopper@mdanderson.org