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Fellowships

Hematology and oncology

Mission

The Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology’s fellowship program trains fellows in academic pediatric hematology and oncology. It is a three-year program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is a component of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine, one of the oldest medical schools in the country, and is currently the only pediatric hematology and oncology program in Virginia.

The program provides fellows with medical knowledge; clinical skills and judgment; self-assessment; proficiency in communication, professional attitudes and behavior; competence performing medical procedures; research skills; teaching proficiency; humanistic qualities; and a commitment to scholarship.

During the first year, comprehensive patient care is established through intensive hands-on patient-focused training. In addition, fellows supervise and teach pediatric residents and medical students in the care of hospitalized pediatric hematology and oncology patients. Also the first year, fellows are assigned as the primary physician of a number of newly diagnosed patients whom they continue to follow throughout the three years of the fellowship.

The second and third years of the fellowship are dedicated to providing the fellow with a meaningful research experience with the perspective of publication, independent grant support and recognition. Continuity clinics and on call schedule continue throughout the fellowship.

Clinical training

Under the supervision of the faculty, fellows care for patients with a variety of hematological and oncological disorders, including:

  • Hemoglobinopathis, thrombosis and other coagulation and blood disorders
  • Other red blood cell disorders, white blood cell and platelet disorders
  • Bone marrow failure syndromes

Among the patients with oncological issues, fellows encounter acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma and other solid tumors, brain tumors, rare pediatric malignancies, autoimmune, lymphoproliferative and histiocytic disorders.

In our stem cell transplantation program fellows care for patients who undergo allogeneic (related, unrelated donor and umbilical cord blood transplants) or autologous transplants — both single and sequential (tandem) transplants.

In addition to general hematology and oncology within the division, there are five main programs:

  1. Comprehensive sickle cell program
  2. Hemophilia regional comprehensive program
  3. Survivorship program
  4. Stem cell transplant program
  5. Neuro-oncology program

Our multidisciplinary approach to pediatric care combines integrated efforts of all pediatric professionals, including  physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, social workers, child life specialists, psychologists, chaplains and teachers.

Rotations

First year

  • Inpatient (including BMT)
  • Outpatient
  • Transfusion medicine
  • Hemato-pathology
  • Radiation therapy
  • Palliative care
  • Elective
  • Research

Second and third years

  • Inpatient (one month)
  • Continuity clinic
  • Research

Population served (per year)

  • New childhood cancer cases:  70-80
  • Sickle cell disease patients:  500
  • Hemostasis and thrombosis:  100
  • Childhood blood and marrow transplant cases:  15-20
  • Outpatient visits:  5,000

Curriculum

The curriculum includes monthly tumor board and hematology board, journal club and sickle cell disease and twice-weekly division rounds. All fellows complete a core lecture series of the GME and the Department of Pediatrics. Curriculum includes biostatistics, study design, bioethics, cultural diversity, quality improvement and teaching skills. Fellows are encouraged to attend one national scientific meeting each year with funding provided.

Research training/mentoring

In the first year of fellowship, each fellow is assigned an adviser/mentor from the faculty to aid career development. Faculty mentors meet with fellows on a regular basis to provide support and guidance during their fellowship and beyond. Once the research project is assigned, the fellow will have a mentor within the lab or the school that he/she attends. The mentor will be a member of the scholastic committee and will meet periodically to assess career development and progression of the fellow.

During the first year of the fellowship, the fellow has two weeks of research in which he/she will have the opportunity to explore the labs and other potential projects for the coming years. During the second and third years of fellowship, each fellow conducts research under the mentorship of a faculty preceptor from the Massey Cancer Center or other faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University. Fellows in their second and third year of the fellowship program devote their time primarily to research projects. If interested in cancer research, Massey Cancer Center is an NIH-designated cancer center that includes 141 active labs. Alternatively, the program offers several education tracks for a master’s degree in public health or for a Master of Education at VCU. For additional information please click on the degrees below.

Division conferences and specific clinic schedules

Monday

9-5 Stem cell transplant clinic (weekly)

Tuesday

8-9 Pediatric Grand round (weekly)
2-3 Pediatric hematology and oncology patient care round (weekly)
3-3:30 Pediatric blood and marrow pre-transplant discussion
9-2 Multidisciplinary hemostasis and thrombosis clinic (monthly)
3-4 Standard of care (first Tuesday, monthly)
4-5 Hematology board (second Tuesday, monthly)
4-5 Journal club (third Tuesday, monthly)
4-5 Tumor board (fourth Tuesday, monthly)

Wednesday

8:30-9:30 Psycho-social meeting
9-12 Multidisciplinary neuro-oncology clinic (monthly)
1-5 Comprehensive sickle cell clinic
9:30-5 Survivors clinic (weekly)

Thursday

9-5 Comprehensive sickle cell clinic (weekly)

Friday

8-9 Pediatric hematology and oncology patient care round (weekly)
12-1 Bone marrow transplantation-new patient round (weekly)

How to apply

The fellowship program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please submit your fellowship application no later than Feb. 1, 2013. 
 
Application to the fellowship program is highly competitive. Persons who wish to apply should be board eligible or board certified in pediatrics. Applications from women and minorities are encouraged.

  • Important dates
  • July 1, 2012 – Candidates begin applying through ERAS
  • Feb. 1, 2013 – Program deadline for completed applications
  • Mid-March 2013 – Interview cycle
  • March 2013 – NRMP rank order list opens
  • April 2013 – NRMP rank order list closes (9 p.m. EST)
  • May 2013 – Match day


Please visit the ERAS website to submit applications.

Contacts

Meet the team

Fellowship director

Kamar Godder, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor and chair
Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
1011 East Marshall Street
P.O. Box 980121
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0121
Phone: (804) 828-9605
Email: kgodder@mcvh-vcu.edu

Department fellowship coordinator

Jennifer Nelson-Dowdy 
Pediatric fellowship program coordinator sr.
Department of Pediatrics
Children’s Pavilion, 2nd Floor, Room 2007
1001 East Marshall Street 
P.O. Box 980646 
Richmond, Virginia  23298-0646
Phone: (804) 628-2616
Fax: (804) 828-6815
Email:  jnelsondowdy@vcu.edu

Division fellowship coordinator

LaToya Blizzard
Administrative assistant
Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
1011 East Marshall Street
P.O. Box 980646
Richmond, Virginia  23298-0646
Phone: (804) 828-9605
Email: lblizzard@mcvh-vcu.edu