The Tulane University Hematology-Oncology Fellowship program is a 3-year ACGME accredited training program that includes a total of 9 fellows. The goal of the training is to focus on forming great clinicians who can be board-certified and practice in both Hematology and Oncology. The Hematology and Medical Oncology Program offers a diverse patient population in a culturally rich city. Tulane hosts a strong bone marrow transplant program, and hemophilia and bleeding disorders center. There are nationally recognized faculty expertise in genitourinary malignancies, malignant hematology, and breast cancer. In addition, the program also encourages fellows to be involved in research activities. Our graduating fellows have excelled in both private practices and academic institutions.
The fellow will be consulted on a variety of patients including solid malignancies, benign hematological conditions (sickle cell disease, TTP, bleeding and clotting disorders) and malignant hematological conditions. The fellow is expected to review the case, see the patient, look at the peripheral smears (if indicated), perform bone marrow biopsies (if indicated), discuss the case with the staff and then formulate a written recommendation to the primary team requesting the consult. The fellow will communicate with the staff and make plans for rounds.
The fellow on service is expected to be present 5 days a week (Monday through Friday); the fellow can be on weekend call while on this rotation.
This rotation provides exposure to autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant patients as well as post-transplant complications. It also exposes the fellow to hematological malignancies including acute leukemias (AML, ALL), multiple myelomas, lymphomas (non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphomas) and the chemotherapy complications.
The BMTU is a primary service therefore the fellow is expected to admit patients, be the primary provider and call consultants if needed, after discussing plan with the BMT staff.
The fellow on service is expected to be available 5 days a week (Monday through Friday), see patients before morning rounds, round with the staff (usually in the morning) and admit/discharge patients throughout the day. The fellow on service is also expected to perform bone marrow biopsies, diagnostic lumbar punctures and administer intrathecal chemotherapy. The fellow on service will take weekend call as well (as per the schedule sent to the fellows ahead of time).
The LSU Hem/Onc fellows will rotate on the Tulane BMTU approximately 6 months out of the year.
The unit currently has a physician assistant (who also assists with procedures such as bone marrow biopsies and Lumbar punctures), a nurse practitioner (who also helps see patients) and a case manager (who assists with the discharge planning and medication approvals).
After the end of each rotation, the fellow is expected to present an article at the BMT conference on Monday.
Each fellow will complete a total of approximately 5 months on BMTU, usually distributed within the first 2 years of training.
The BMT staff are Dr Hana Safah (Head of the Transplant Unit, with a focus on multiple myeloma), Dr Nakhle Saba (focus on lymphomas) and Dr Francisco Socola (focus on leukemias).
Located at the University Medical Center New Orleans (2000 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112). The fellow will be consulted on a variety of patients including solid malignancies, benign hematological conditions (sickle cell disease, TTP, bleeding and clotting disorders including congenital/acquired hemophilias, von Willebrand disorders, etc..) and malignant hematological conditions. The fellow will also cover to their co-fellows patients who might be admitted for inpatient chemotherapy (intravenous or intrathecal) or treatment/disease related-complications.
The fellow will communicate with the staff and make plans for rounds. The fellow will discuss the case with the staff and then formulate a written recommendation to the primary team requesting the consult.
The fellow on service is expected to be present 5 days a week (Monday through Friday); the fellow can be on weekend call while on this rotation.
Located at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care Systems (2400 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119). SLVHCS provides health care to Veteran patients throughout 23 parishes in southeast Louisiana.
The hospital serves the needs of Veterans from New Orleans as well as from seven community-based clinics located in Slidell, Hammond, St. John Parish, Houma, Franklin, Bogalusa and Baton Rouge.
The fellow will be consulted on a variety of patients including oncologic and hematologic conditions.
The fellow will communicate with the staff and make plans for rounds. The fellow will discuss the case with the staff and then formulate a written recommendation to the primary team requesting the consult.
While on service, the fellow is also expected to perform bone marrow biopsies in the outpatient VA clinic. The date and time of the procedure will be communicated to the fellow on service so he can make the necessary arrangement to be present.
The fellow on service is expected to be present 5 days a week (Monday through Friday); the fellow can be on weekend call while on this rotation.
Monday AM; Wednesday AM
Throughout fellowship, fellows are exposed to various specialty specific clinics. However, it is in the UMC clinic that the fellows establish a continuity of care and see the patients over a continuum of three years. The fellow’s assignments to these clinics will be determined and communicated to the fellows ahead of time.
Staff are present in the UMC clinic to discuss the patients with the fellows and provide the necessary supervision and guidance. The fellows will see all type of hem/onc cases, and formulate plans of care including chemotherapy treatment plans. Currently, the leadership of UMC clinic staff is under Dr Chancellor Donald.
The VA clinics are on Tuesday AM or Thursday PM. The fellow’s assignments to these clinics will be determined and communicated to the fellows ahead of time. Fellows will manage a broad range of hematologic and oncologic cases. They will also develop experience with the veteran population and health care system. The fellows each have their own clinic profile and will see their veteran patients over the 3 years of fellowship. Fellows will also perform outpatient bone marrow biopsies in clinic. There is also a physician assistant in clinic who assists with patient care.
The VA clinic staff are Dr. Nancy Vander Velde, Dr. Brian Lewis and Dr. Jodi Layton.
The first-year fellows are expected to attend these clinics. The first-year fellows will be assigned to spend 6 months in a clinic and then alternate to a different clinic for the next 6 months. The benign hematology clinics staff are Dr. Cindy Leissinger, Dr. Maissa Janbain and Dr. Chancellor Donald.
Clinics are:
Sickle Cell Clinic on Monday PM at the Tulane Cancer Center
This rotation takes place at the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Clinic at the Tulane Cancer Center. It is attended by an adult sickle cell nurse as well as the social worker from the Sickle Cell Center. An average of 9 patients is scheduled per clinic for a comprehensive visit. About two or three of these are new patients. The clinic visit entails a comprehensive history and physical and focuses on routine care of the chronic aspects of patients with Sickle Cell Disease. Special attention is given to prophylaxis and to early detection of complications such as retinopathies, aseptic necrosis of bone, iron overload, pulmonary hypertension, etc.
Hemophilia Clinic on Thursday AM at UMC
This rotation provides trainees the opportunity to learn about the diagnosis and management of disorders of coagulation by attending clinics and multidisciplinary staffings at the Louisiana Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Center (LCHCC). The LCHCC serves all patients in Louisiana with congenital coagulation disorders, having an active census of over 250 patients. The LCHCC is a comprehensive diagnostic, evaluation and treatment center that provides care for patients of all ages with support services for their families. The fellow rotating in this clinic functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team which consists of adult and pediatric hematologists, hemophilia nurse specialist and nurse educator, social worker, physical therapist, orthopedist, dentist and dental hygienists. The fellow will also gain experience from the numerous clinical research trials available to the center's patients, including studies of new clotting factor concentrates as well as ongoing epidemiologic studies. The fellow is expected to attend the weekly Thursday morning clinic where an average of 5-6 patients are seen.
The fellows are expected to attend their clinics based on their assignments.
While on BMT rotation, the fellow is expected to attend the UMC and VA clinics.
The BMT fellow is NOT expected to attend the sickle cell clinic or the hemophilia clinics.
We also provide our fellows with elective rotations every year. The goal of the elective rotation is to explore specialty interests, get exposure to other ancillary services and focus on a subspecialty if desired by the fellow. The fellow can be on weekend call while on this rotation.
Our electives list is as below:
- Hem/Path (Drs. Schmidt, Schmieg)
- Blood Bank (Drs. Peterson, Scott)
- Peds Hem/Onc (Dr. Rafique)
- Rad Onc (Dr. Harris)
- Gyn Onc (Dr. Shank)
- Palliative Care (Drs. Burke, Malhotra)
- Research
TCC Clinics:
- Dr. Barata (GU)
- Dr. Safah (MM, BMT)
- Dr. Saba (lymphoma, BMT)
- Dr. Sartor (GU)
- Dr. Lewis (GU)
- Dr. Collins-Burow (Breast)
- Dr. Trevino
- Dr. Rovira
- Dr. Sides (Lung)
- Dr. Garrett
