Overview and Objectives Clinical and Educational Activities Research Current Trainees Faculty Benefits Career Paths of Recent Graduates Contact Information and How to Apply

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

The Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine presently oversees the management of the majority of the cancer and hematology patients at The University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Approximately 11,000 cancer and hematology patients are seen per year in the ambulatory clinics at The University Hospital's Barrett Cancer Center. There are approximately 1,500 patients admitted to The University Hospital yearly with hematologic/oncologic problems. Most of these patients are admitted to a dedicated 18-bed inpatient unit including four hepafilter rooms and two laminar air flow rooms. The University of Cincinnati is an important regional center for hematology and oncology patients. We have access to an active bone marrow transplant unit and provide inpatient and outpatient treatment of all clinical disorders relevant to fellowship training. Furthermore, the affiliated Veteran's Affairs Medical Center offers approximately 2,500 ambulatory visits a year with 550 patient admissions.

The division comprises 15 full-time faculty members, each representing one or more special interests within the general field of hematology and oncology. Active research interests of hematology/oncology faculty include molecular biology of red cell differentiation and leukemogenesis, cytokine control of hematopoiesis, and clinical and laboratory studies of breast cancer and sickle cell anemia. The division is active in SWOG (Southwest Oncology Group) and NSABP (National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project) multicenter trials in addition to institutionally-based clinical trials.

CLINICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

First year fellows spend approximately four to five months at The University Hospital and three to four months at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. During these assignments, fellows receive extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of hematologic and oncologic conditions. In addition, early in the first year, fellows participate in a one month "Introduction to Laboratory Services" rotation, during which time they become familiar with any of the laboratory methods and procedures pertinent to clinical hematology and oncology (e.g., Hoxworth Blood Center, Coagulation Laboratory and Surgical Pathology).

Second and third year fellows rotate for one to two months at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Jewish Hospital, which is a part of the Health Alliance. During that time, they learn the different indications for bone marrow transplantation and get familiar with the processes involved in stem cell transplants. Second and third-year fellows also have several months of clinical experience where the fellow serves as a senior fellow on hospital services. The senior fellow works with the resident team leader and assists with procedures, reviews bone marrow interpretations or complex cases, and generally supports and directs the ward team's management of patients. The balance of time is devoted to electives and research. Several divisional conferences are offered on a weekly (or bi-weekly) basis. These include:

Hematology Oncology Grand Rounds Coagulation Rounds Breast Cancer Conference Several Tumor Boards Board Review Leukemia/Lymphoma Conference Lung Cancer Conference

Bone Marrow Conference Journal Club Lung Cancer Conference New Patient Case Conference Hepatobiliary Conference Microscope Rounds

The division hosts and plans annual CME-approved conferences for which all fellows are encouraged to attend. National speakers are invited to participate. The following symposiums are scheduled:

September 15, 2007 - 7th Annual Lung Cancer Symposium: Modern Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment. Course director: Apurya Mehta, MD
http://ucimedweb.uc.edu/lungsymposium

November 3, 2007 - 3rd Annual Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium
Part One: Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastases
Part Two: Liver Tumors
Course director: Malek Safa, MD

February 23, 2008 - Hematological Malignancies: Review of ASH 2007. Course director: Rami Komrokji, MD

For further information, please call 513.558.0120.

In addition, there are numerous seminars in the Department of Internal Medicine and throughout the College of Medicine that may be of interest to fellows on an ad hoc basis.

Training in ambulatory care is provided in two half-day clinics per week, one at either the Barrett Cancer Center or the Medical Arts Building (MAB) and one at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. Fellows attend these weekly clinics throughout their fellowship training.

Electives offered during the fellowship cover all the subspecialty topics of hematology and oncology. Each fellow is strongly encouraged to have an intensive experience in clinical or laboratory research during fellowship.

RESEARCH
Fellows have ample opportunity to participate and be co-investigators on multiple clinical trials. These trials are outlined on the following web page: http://uccancerprograms.uc.edu.

In addition, during elective months fellows have the opportunity to train extensively in hematopathology, ObGyn, pathology, radiation oncology, bone marrow transplantation, etc. These programs have given us a detailed outline of the objectives and the schedule each fellow would be required to follow during the period of time they are involved with each. Electives of their choosing can be taken as long as they obtain approval from the director and from the faculty member overseeing the elective.

CURRENT TRAINEES

Third Year Fellows

Suzanne Partridge, MD
Medical School: The Wright State University and The Medical University of Ohio at Toledo
Residency: University of Cincinnati

Devaki Sivasubramaniam, MD
Medical School: Coimbator Medical College (India)
Residency: Finch University of Health Sciences

Second Year Fellows

Abigail Byrnes, MD
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Residency: University of Cincinnati

Edward Jamelarin, MD
Medical School: University of the Philippines
Residency: Wright Sate University

Ali Kanbar, MD
Medical School: American University of Beirut
Residency: Kettering Medical Center

Nagla F. Abdel Karim, MD
Medical School: University of Cairo (Egypt)
Residency: Fairview Hospital-Cleveland Clinic Health System

First Year Fellows

Faheem Ahmed, MD
Medical School: Dow Medical College (Karachi, Pakistan)
Residency: Mt. Sinai School of Medicine

Mahmoud Charif, MD
Medical School: Damascus University
Residency: Wright State University

David Draper, MD
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Residency: University of Cincinnati

CLINICAL FACULTY

Name	Position
EMERITI
Troup, Stanley B. - MD	Emeritus University Professor of Medicine, Healthcare and Human Values
Flessa, Herbert C. - MD, MACP	Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Havlin, Kathleen, MD	Assistant Professor of Medicine; Director, Breast Oncology Program; Associate Medical Director, Hematology/Oncology at University Pointe
Gerena-Lewis, Margie MD	Assistant Professor of Medicine
Komrokji, Rami MD	Assistant Professor of Medicine; Director, Leukemia and Lymphoma Unit; Director, Hematological Malignancies Research Program
Mehta, Apurva. - MD	Assistant Professor of Medicine
Muhleman, Jr., Albert F. - MD	Professor of Medicine, Section Chief, VAMC
Oleksowicz, Leslie - MD	Associate Professor of Medicine ,Director, Medical Genitourinary Oncology Program
Palascak, Joseph - MD	Professor of Medicine; Director, Adult Hemophilia Program
Pancoast, John - MD	Consultant/Attending, VAMC
Sacher, Ronald A. - MD	Professor of Medicine and Pathology
Safa, Malek - MD	Assistant Professor of Medicine; Director, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Program; Director, Heme-Onc Fellowship Program,
Siegrist, Carl - MD	Associate Professor of Medicine
Yasin, Zahida - MD	Assistant Professor of Medicine

BENEFITS
You can find benefit information on the web site for the Health Alliance Office of Graduate Medical Education at www.med.uc.edu/residency.

CAREER PATHS OF RECENT GRADUATES

Dr. Karyn Dyehouse, a 2007 graduate, joined a local hematology-oncology private practice here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Amit Gupta, a 2007 graduate, returned to his former residence in Springfield, Illinois and joined a private hematology-oncology practice there. He will still maintain an adjunct position here to continue a research project that he is working on with Dr. Mark Eckman of The General Medicine Division.

Dr. Jose Barreau, a 2006 graduate, joined a local hematology-oncology private practice here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Ahmer Younas, also a 2006 graduate, joined a hematology-oncology private practice in Houston, Texas.

Our 2005 graduate was Dr. Douglas Flora. Dr. Flora joined a local hematology-oncology private practice here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

One of our 2004 graduates, Dr. Irfan Firdaus, is employed at a local hematology-oncology practice in the area. Dr. Margie Gerena-Lewis joined the heme-onc faculty at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in November 2004. She will specialize in neuro-oncology.

The 2003 graduates include: Dr. Mark Knapp joined a private practice in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Poornima Sharma is working at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Nandagopal Vrindavanam joined a private practice in Middletown, Ohio.

Dr. Nitin Rohatgi was a 2002 graduate and a faculty member here for the first year following his graduation. He now has a position with Sacramento Hematology and Medical Oncology group in Sacramento, CA.

The 2001 graduates include:

Dr. Malek Safa is a full-time faculty member with a dual appointment at the University of Cincinnati and the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Cincinnati. He has offices located in the Medical Arts Building near the University, The Barrett Cancer Center and University Pointe in West Chester, Ohio.

After practicing for two years in his home country of India for his visa requirement, Dr. Sadanand Patil returned in June 2004 to become a full-time faculty member in the Division of Hematology-Oncology. He practiced at the Veterans Hospital, Barrett Cancer Center, Medical Arts Building and Christ Hospital. He recently took a position in Memphis, Tennessee.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND HOW TO APPLY

Malek Safa, M.D. at malek.safa@uc.edu

The University of Cincinnati Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, accepts applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service(ERAS)

All fellowship positions have been filled for 2008-2009.

Additional online program information is available at http://www.health-alliance.com/ - choose residency/fellowship from "select a topic."