About the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program
Welcome to the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship training program website. We are incredibly proud of our fellows, our program, our institution, and our city. The VCU medical campus boasts state-of-the-art clinical, research, educational, and simulation facilities. But, what makes the VCU experience so rich and the learning climate optimal is the supportive, experienced faculty and the collegiality of the fellows. We invite you to explore our website and learn more about what VCU has to offer you educationally. Throughout the site you will find perspectives from our fellows to give you insight into the VCU Hemotology-Oncology Fellowship Training Program.
Vision
Fellows in the VCU Hematology-Oncology Training Program are members of and contributors to an academic medical community in which there is a commitment to learning the art and science of medicine while providing the highest quality medical care to a diverse patient population.
Mission
- To produce compassionate physicians capable of delivering the highest quality medical care to patients in a variety of settings.
- To create a collegial and supportive setting for intellectual growth.
- To partner with our fellows in contributing to the science of medicine through mentorship, research opportunities and dissemination of information.
- To contribute to the science and art of educating medical professionals through innovation in training methods.
- To partner with our fellows in gracefully accepting the challenges of providing care to the medically underserved.
- To promote lifelong learning in the context of a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Values
Our fellows and faculty are guided in our work by our commitment to:
- Clinical excellence
- Intellectual curiosity
- Scientific Discovery
- Innovation
- Collegiality
- Respect for differing perspectives
- Fairness
- Personalization
- Integrity
- Teamwork
- Transparency
Welcome
Program Director: J. Christian Barrett, MD
Welcome from the Program Director
Learn
Program Curriculum & Conferences
Curriculum
Program Goals and Objectives
The Hematology-Oncology fellowship is a 3-year training program designed to satisfy the ABIM requirements for both the hematology and medical oncology subspecialty board examinations.
The curriculum is designed to provide the new, first-year fellow with an opportunity to acquire foundational knowledge prior to being assigned to the inpatient hematology and oncology services. This structure has been purposely created to provide the new fellow with some essential tools before being put in a position that directly supervises and educates dependent learners. It is our belief that this creates a more educational and satisfying work environment for all learners across the spectrum of training.
Below you will find sections detailing:
Typical Schedule
| Typical 1st Year Rotation Schedule | Location | Length |
| Administrative and Clinical Orientation | VCUHS | 8 weeks |
| Inpatient Hematology Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Oncology Consult and Supportive Services | VCUHS | 8 weeks |
| Inpatient Hematology Consult Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient VA Consults | VAMC | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient Cellular Therapeutics | VCUHS | 3weeks |
| Outpatient Cellular Therapeutics | VCUHS | 3 weeks |
| Ambulatory (Faculty Clinics) | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Hematopathology | VCUHS | 2 weeks |
| Sickle Cell Anemia | VCUHS | 2 weeks |
| Research Course | VCUHS | 8 weeks |
| Infusion & Access | VCUHS | 1 week |
| Leave (Vacation) | VCUHS | 3 weeks |
| Core 2nd and 3rd Year fellow Rotation Schedule | Location | Length |
| Inpatient Hematology Service | VCUHS | 4-8 weeks |
| Oncology Consult and Supportive Services | VCUHS | 10 weeks |
| Inpatient Hematology Consult Service | VCUHS | 4-6 weeks |
| Inpatient VA Consults Service | VAMC | 4-6 weeks |
| Electives, including dedicated research time | VCUHS | 68-70 weeks |
| Leave (Vacation) | VCUHS | 6 weeks |
Tracks
Individualization: Going Beyond the Core
Aside from the core requirements, the remainder of the second and third year fellowship training allows for educational individualization based on the interests and needs of the fellow. In consultation with the program director, fellows will complete their training though one of the three tracks with examples of possible composition as outlined below.
Fellows' Perspectives on the Program
"Having continuity clinics (at both VCUHS and McGuire VA hospital) allows the fellow to take ownership of management decisions in a supportive atmosphere."
Masey Ross, MD
Class of 2017
Clinical (including Clinical Research) Track
This is the core curriculum through which the vast majority of the fellows complete their training. The pathway offers substantial flexibility to tailor the experience to support the individual fellow’s professional development needs, whether planning to pursue a career in private practice, academic practice, or otherwise.
- 68-70 weeks of hematology-oncology electives rotating through core subspecialty assigned attending clinics and related multi-disciplinary clinics. Examples of available ambulatory subspecialty blocks include:
-
- Breast oncology
- Thoracic oncology
- Gastrointestinal oncology
- GU oncology
- Head & Neck oncology
- Hematologic Malignancies
- Neuro-Oncology
- GYN-Oncology
- Melanoma
- Sarcoma
- Benign hematology
- BMT/Cellular Therapeutics
- Hematopathology
- Palliative/Supportive Care, etc…
-
- Dedicated research blocks upon request
- Maintain two half-day continuity clinics (one at VAMC and one at VCUHS)
- Attendance at research-related/relevant conferences.
- Examples:
- Phase I/II conference and clinic if doing translational research
- Performance Improvement/Quality Health type conferences
- Examples:
The following are uncommon training pathways that have been chosen by a small number of fellows with specific professional development needs.
Clinical Stem Cell Transplant/Cellular Therapeutics Track with additional clinical focus on stem cell transplantation and cellular therapeutics. Consideration of this training pathway is best identified and discussed with the program director within the first 9-18 months of the fellowship.
- 8+ weeks inpatient BMT/cellular therapeutics blocks
- 8+ weeks outpatient BMT/cellular therapeutics blocks
- 4 weeks CIT-related electives (i.e. apheresis and product collection/processing, transplant ID consults, etc.)
- 24+ weeks of benign and malignant hematology electives
- 24+ weeks of oncology electives
- Dedicated research time upon request
- Maintain one half day continuity clinic at the VAMC plus at least one longitudinal CIT-based ambulatory continuity clinic
- Attendance at BMT and Donor selection conference
Basic Scientist Track
This pathway is a rare option which requires a significant commitment to bench research as a career; prior experience in such research; and advance coordination of mentorship and resources. As such, interest in this as a potential career choice should be discussed during the interview process.
- 20-32 weeks Ambulatory Hematology and Oncology
- 4-6 weeks Inpatient Hematology Consults
- 15-18 months research
- Maintain one half-day continuity clinic at VAMC
- Attendance at the cancer center scientific conferences and laboratory meetings
Rotations
Inpatient Hematology Service at VCUHS MCV Hospital
The VCUHS MCV Hospital Inpatient Hematology service provides an opportunity for fellows to participate in the care and management of adult patients admitted to the hospital with acute benign and malignant hematologic medical needs.
The fellow operates within the context of a multi‐disciplinary team, managing conditions that include, but are not limited to, acute oncologic emergencies, symptoms of advanced malignancy, acute leukemia, inpatient administered chemotherapy regimens, complications of oncologic therapies, immune‐mediated cytopenia, bone marrow failure states, and hemophilia.
Additionally, the rotation affords the opportunity for the fellow to engage directly in the subspecialty-specific oversight and education of internal medicine housestaff and medical student learners rotating on the service. All of this occurs under the supervision of the responsible ward attending faculty members from the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care.
Fellows' Perspectives on the Program
“Our program gives you exposure to a wide variety of clinical situations, while still tailoring the curriculum to your individual aspirations whether it may be to become a bone marrow transplant doctor or a basic researcher.”
Priya Gopie, MD
Class of 2017
Oncology Consult and Supportive Services at VCUHS MCV Hospital
The Oncology Consult and Supportive Services rotation is designed to provide the fellow the opportunity to participate in the care and management of adult oncology patients admitted to the hospital with acute medical needs associated with suspected, newly diagnosed, and established solid neoplasms and hematologic malignancies. Within one component of the rotation, the fellow and oncology attendings work together providing co-management services for patients admitted to a dedicated multi-disciplinary hospital medicine oncology service and providing consultative services for patients admitted to other teams with solid tumors oncology needs throughout the hospital. Within the second component of the rotation, the fellow under the supervision of palliative care and internal medicine attendings work together providing consultative services for oncology patients with pain, cancer-related symptom, goals of care, end-of-life, and long-term survivorship management needs. This rotation is conducted both at the VCUHS MCV Hospital as well as in the supportive care and survivorship clinics.
Inpatient Hematology Consult Service at VCUHS MCV Hospital
The VCUHS/MCV Hospital inpatient hematology consultation rotation is designed to allow the fellow to become proficient and independent in the provision of inpatient consultation services. The fellow is expected to participate in the care and management of adult patients admitted to the hospital for any variety of medical conditions in which the primary team has an acute benign and/or malignant hematologic question.
The fellow is responsible for efficiently synthesizing the available data from a variety of modalities and for augmenting the existing data with targeted, specialty/consult question-specific collection of additional primary information from the patient, family, outside providers, and additional diagnostics as necessary.
The fellow is responsible for the development of the assessment and recommendations through their synthesis of the data and through their review of the literature and other resources. As the fellow functions as a specialty consultant to the primary admitting team, this rotation provides the opportunity for the fellow to develop skills necessary for the effective and timely evaluation of the patient and for the communication of the recommendations back to the consulting team.
In addition, the rotation emphasizes the role of consultant as an educator to both the patient and the consulting provider. The fellow will be challenged to focus their clinical care and educational efforts on the specialty specific aspects of the patient’s care but put into context as they relate and interact with the patient’s other systemic illnesses and needs.
All of this occurs under the supervision of the responsible faculty from the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care consult attending faculty members.
Inpatient Hematology-Oncology Consult Service at the VAMC
The VA Medical Center inpatient hematology-oncology consultation rotation is designed to allow the fellow to become proficient and independent in the provision of inpatient consultation services. The fellow is expected to participate in the care and management of adult patients admitted to the hospital for any variety of medical conditions in which the primary team has an acute hematologic and/or oncologic question.
The fellow is responsible for efficiently synthesizing the available data from a variety of modalities and for augmenting the existing data with targeted, specialty/consult question-specific collection of additional primary information from the patient, family, outside providers, and additional diagnostics as necessary.
The fellow is responsible for the development of the assessment and recommendations through their synthesis of the data and through their review of the literature and other resources. As the fellow functions as a specialty consultant to the primary admitting team, this rotation provides the opportunity for the fellow to develop skills necessary for the effective and timely evaluation of the patient and for the communication of the recommendations back to the consulting team.
In addition, the rotation emphasizes the role of consultant as an educator to both the patient and the consulting provider. The fellow will be challenged to focus their clinical care and educational efforts on the specialty specific aspects of the patient’s care but put into context as they relate and interact with the patient’s other systemic illnesses and needs.
All of this occurs under the supervision of the responsible faculty from the Division of Hematology-Oncology consult attending faculty members.
Inpatient BMT/Cellular Therapeutics
The inpatient cellular therapeutics rotation is an experience designed to educate the fellows on the management of the patient referred for stem cell transplantation and/or cellular therapeutics immediately prior to, during and following the infusion. During the first year of fellowship, this rotation is done as a part of an six-week continuous block split between inpatient and outpatient BMT/CIT experiences. Additional time in either setting available on request during the 2nd and 3rd year electives.
Outpatient BMT/Cellular Therapeutics
The outpatient cellular therapeutics rotation is an experience designed to educate the fellows on the evaluation and management of the patient referred for stem cell transplantation during the pre-transplant evaluation and post-transplant follow-up phases. During the first year of fellowship, this rotation is done as a part of an six-week continuous block split between inpatient and outpatient BMT/CIT experiences. Additional time in either setting available on request during the 2nd and 3rd year electives.
Second- and Third-year Fellows’ Ambulatory Block
The Second- and Third-year Fellow Hematology/Oncology Subspecialty Ambulatory Rotations provide experiences in benign hematology and oncology. These blocks are variable in duration. They provide an opportunity for the fellow to work with faculty in disease-focused clinics. This focused time allows fellows to work alongside experts in their field of study to gain insight into their management and decision-making processes. Educationally, this compliments the experience of the fellow’s continuity clinic. The clinic assignments during these blocks are designed to provide sufficient protected time for the fellow to dedicate toward their ongoing scholarly project(s) concurrent with the clinical duties.
The fellow, in conjunction with the program director, will select the areas of focus for these assignments based on a balance of factors including the fellow’s academic interests; areas of need identified on the fellow’s in-service training examinations; and prior clinical rotation experiences. Areas of focus can be selected among the following sub-disciplines: breast oncology; gastrointestinal oncology; genitourinary oncology; hematologic malignancies; thoracic oncology; and benign hematology. Other oncologic sub-disciplines outside of these core areas of focus can be considered based on the individual fellow's learning goals. Ambulatory clinic assignments consist of a combination of multi-disciplinary and faculty practice clinics within the area of focus for the rotation. Ambulatory clinic assignments typically consist of a combination of multi-disciplinary and faculty practice clinics within the areas of focus for the rotation.
Core Clinics included in this rotation include:
- Breast oncology
- Thoracic oncology
- Gastrointestinal oncology
- GU oncology
- Head & Neck oncology
- Hematologic Malignancies
- Melanoma
- Sarcoma
- Benign hematology, Bleeding Disorders, and Sickle Cell Clinics
- BMT/Cellular Therapeutics
- Palliative/Supportive Care
Hematopathology
The rotation in the hematopathology laboratory is designed to help fellows gain a basic understanding of the preparation and interpretation of the CBC/peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspirate/biopsy and lymph node, flow cytometry and molecular pathology. This rotation is completed in the VCUHS Clinical Laboratories on the second, fifth, and sixth floors of the Clinical Support Building.
Transfusion Medicine/Apheresis
The Hematology-Oncology fellowship transfusion rotation is designed to provide the fellow with an overview of topics pertinent to the hematologist regarding transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. Fellows are afforded the opportunity to participate in the clinical activities and patient care pertaining to transfusion medicine, including direct experience in both the blood donor service and transfusion medicine service aspect of the discipline. It is expected that the fellow will have hands-on experience with the process of blood typing and crossing, including the evaluation and identification of both allo and auto antibodies directed against blood components.
The fellow is given opportunities to observe blood product preparation and an expectation of gaining an understanding of the various blood products and the indications for their use. Additionally, the fellow should become familiar with the complications of blood product administration and participate in the investigation of possible transfusion reactions and other related complications. The fellow is expected to gain an understanding of the clinical uses of apheresis therapy and the procedures involved in such. All of this activity occurs under the supervision of the transfusion medicine trained attending physicians, the blood bank/apheresis technologists/staff, and the residents within the Department of Pathology.
Research
The VCU Hematology-Oncology fellowship program research curriculum is designed to foster the scholarly interests of the individual fellow and to provide a basic skill set by which to appreciate the scientific process and the regulatory aspects of conducting clinical investigation. All of this occurs under the supervision of the responsible faculty from the Massey Cancer Center; the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care; and other suitable mentor is determined based on the needs of a fellow’s specific project(s). (Additional information may be found under the SCHOLARSHIP section).
Unique Learning Opportunities
Fellows’ Continuity Clinic
Typically, each fellow maintains an outpatient continuity clinic at the Richmond VA Medical Center and at VCUHS. The patients in the fellows’ continuity clinic are evaluated and managed by the fellow under the supervision of an attending hematology-oncology physician throughout the course of their training. Fellows work with their primary nurse who assists in coordinating the care of the patient. This degree of ownership provides the fellow with invaluable first-hand experience critical for practice-based learning. Prior to the start of each clinic, the fellow meets with the attending, the nurse, and team members including, social workers, research staff, and others to review their cases and develop a multi-disciplinary plan in a collaborative environment. This pre-clinic conference affords an opportunity for dedicated teaching time and direction from the attending related to the patients’ management, which compliments the independent efforts of the fellow in preparing for the clinic.
Supplemental Self-Paced Educational Resources
The program enrolls the fellows in the web-based ASCO-SEP educational and the ASH Fundamentals for Fellows program.
Research and Scholarship
See the SCHOLARSHIP section.
Conferences
| Conference | Day/Time | Frequency |
| CORE FELLOWSHIP CONFERENCES | ||
| Fellows Pre-Clinic Conference | 1 hour before fellows' scheduled continuity clinic | Twice Weekly |
| Fellows' Core Hematology Conference | Wednesday at 4:00 pm |
Weekly
|
| Fellows' Core Oncology Conference | Wednesdays at 5:00 pm | Weekly |
| Journal Club and M&M Conferences | Tuesdays at 5:00 pm | Twice monthly |
| Oncologic Pharmacy Series | Wednesdays at 1:00 pm | Monthly |
| CORE DEPARTMENT CONFERENCES | ||
| Internal Medicine Grand Rounds | Thursdays at Noon | Weekly |
| SPECIAL FOCUS CONFERENCES | ||
| Multidisciplinary Disease-Focused Conferences | Prior to the appropriate multidisciplinary clinic | Several Weekly |
| Hematopathology Consensus Conference | Wednesdays at 1:30 pm | Weekly |
| Stem Cell Transplantation and Pre-Transplant Case Conferences | Tuesdays at 12:30pm & Fridays at Noon | Weekly |
| Stem Cell Transplant Post-Transplant Case Conferences | Every other Wednesday at 8:30 am | Bi-Weekly |
| Cancer Center Conferences | Varies | Varies |
Core Conferences
Fellows’ Pre-clinic Conference
The biweekly fellows’ pre-clinic conference is focused on patient management through multi-disciplinary discussion prior to each continuity clinic. The fellows discuss the patients they are scheduled to see that day and present their evaluation and management plans along with their independently obtained, evidence-based rationale. The clinic faculty member is present to facilitate and guide the discussion along with providing additional insight and supervision.
Fellows’ Core Oncology Conference
The fellows’ core oncology conference is a weekly didactic series presented by the faculty and focused on a mix of basic science and clinical topics related to oncologic disorders. The conference begins each summer with a series of lectures covering core hematology-oncology emergencies and fundamental topics. The remainder of the series consists of an 18-month curriculum that repeats twice during the course of a fellow’s training.
Fellows’ Core Hematology Conference
The fellows’ core hematology conference is a weekly mix of didactics and case-based discussions, facilitated by a faculty member or fellow, focused on basic science, pathophysiology, and clinical management topics related to hematologic disorders. Additionally, several sessions are conducted at the teaching microscope by a hematopathologist to discuss the fundamentals and subtleties of hematologic morphology.
Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care Division Conferences
The division conference is held weekly on a rotating monthly schedule as follows:
| 1st Tuesday | Journal Club |
| 2nd Tuesday | Quality and Safety Conference (every other month) |
| 3rd Tuesday | Open |
| 4th Tuesday | Division Faculty Meeting |
Oncologic Pharmacology Series
Designed primarily as part of the pharmacy student/resident curriculum, the oncologic pharmacology series meets monthly to discuss each class of oncologic agents. The series focuses on the pharmacology, clinical indications, toxicities, and utilization of the agents. The series repeats itself annually and is presented by the oncology PharmD students/residents under the supervision of the oncology PharmD faculty.
Core Departmental Conferences
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds
Weekly department-wide didactics presented by department faculty and visiting professors.
Special Focus Conferences
Cancer Center Basic Science and Psychosocial Oncology Conferences
Researchers from VCU and from outside institutions present at the cancer center scientific and psychosocial conferences discussing the current science and future direction of investigation in oncology.
Multidisciplinary Disease-Focused Conferences
The multidisciplinary conferences consist of case-based discussions among specialists from medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, transplantation, interventionalists, radiology, pathology, research staff, and others to develop coordinated care plans. Such conferences include breast oncology, thoracic oncology, gastrointestinal oncology, urologic oncology, and hematologic malignancies.
Weekly Hematopathology Consensus Conference
The weekly hematopathology consensus conference reviews the interesting bone marrow specimens and peripheral blood smears in conjunction with relevant immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular markers. The hematopathologists discuss the challenging cases as they reach a diagnostic consensus.
Stem Cell Transplantation Donor Conference
The stem cell transplantation donor conference is a weekly meeting to discuss issues related to donor selection and stem cell source selection as they relate to patients seen in consultation by the bone marrow/stem cell transplantation program.
Scholarship
Our recent publications, presentations and abstracts
Research and Scholarship Expectations
All fellows are expected to actively engage in scholarly activities. These activities can be in basic research, translational research, clinical research, health outcomes research, Quality Improvement, and/or educational research. Essential to success is providing the tools necessary to foster the fellows’ intellectual development as investigators. Fellows with a strong interest in research are nurtured through attendance at the Southeastern Research Skills Retreat to which we select up to two fellows annually based on exceptional research aptitude and engagement.
As a sign of our commitment to the scholarly efforts of the fellows, the Department of Internal Medicine has designated funding which is set aside specifically to offset the travel cost for fellows who are presenting their work at regional, national, and international scientific and academic meetings. The division is similarly committed to assisting with costs associated with presenting and publishing scholarly efforts. At VCU, we honor your education and professional growth as our greatest achievement and are proud to send our residents and fellows as our ambassadors.
Areas of Research Opportunity
Clinical Research
The division is involved in clinical trials and oncology-related palliative care. Most cancer-related clinical trials are conducted in collaboration with the Massey Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. Current activities include initial (phase I/II) clinical investigations of new agents, and participation in definitive, multi-institutional studies of new agents or approaches to treatment and prevention. We are members of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Program, the Community Clinical Oncology Program, North Central Cancer Treatment Group, and other research organizations. A major emphasis is placed on the translation of divisional laboratory research into Phase I and Phase II clinical studies, and the enrollment of patients in therapeutic clinical trials. The division also has ongoing programs in clinical research related to hemostasis and thrombosis, pain and symptom management, health literacy and patient-provider communication.
Basic Research
Hematology/oncology laboratories offer strong basic research programs that focus on the molecular level. A major research focus is directed at understanding the role of signal transduction processes in the regulation of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells, with a view toward developing novel clinical approaches to therapy of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. These strategies emphasize the rational combination of targeted agents that interrupt complementary survival signaling and cell cycle regulatory pathways. Numerous multi-institutional Phase I and II trials have emerged from such preclinical studies.
Health Services Research
Faculty in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and Palliative Care are nationally recognized for their health services research. Issues addressed include the quality of cancer care, treatment costs, cost-effectiveness, and the delivery of care to rural populations. They work with the American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Quality Forum, and other national organizations to develop practice guidelines and make important contributions in the technological assessment of novel approaches to cancer treatment. Special expertise has developed in the measurement of costs and clinical management of death, dying and patterns of care in medically under-served and indigent patients. A growing research program explores patient-family-healthcare provider communication and consequences.
Educational Research
In conjunction with faculty from across the health campus and the department’s Office of Educational Affairs, opportunities exist for fellows interested in pursuing scholarly investigation in graduate medical education.
Taha Al-Juhaishi, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Alder, L., Paul, A. Survival Outcomes in Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma. 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, Journal of Clinical Oncology.
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Yazbeck, V. Impact of Histologic Type on Survival in Primary Thyroid Lymphomas. AACR Annual Meeting 2018.
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Yazbeck, V. Impact of Histologic Type on Survival in Primary Thyroid Lymphomas. 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, Journal of Clinical Oncology.
- Khurana, A., Al-Juhaishi, T., Shafer, D. Secondary Skin Involvement in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma does not Impact Outcomes: SEER Database Analysis. 2018 ASH Annual Meeting.
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Sabo, R., Roberts, C., Hawks, K., Aziz, M., Reed, J., Qayyum, R., Simmons, G., Clark, W., Chung, H., McCarty, J., Toor, A. Short Course Mycophenolate Mofetil Yields Adequate Immune Reconstitution and Equivalent Alloreactivity Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. 2019 TCT Annual Meeting.
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Khurana, A., Shafer, D., Yazbeck, V. Impact of primary organ site on prognosis in extranodal peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified. 2019 AACR Annual Meeting.
- Mei L, Al-Juhaishi T, Paul A. CNS metastases in prostate cancer: an analysis of SEER database. 2019 AACR Annual Meeting. Poster presentation. April 2019.
- Al-Juhaishi T, Khurana A, McKay J, Barrett J, Hackney MH. Clinical trial enrollment by oncology fellows’ continuity clinics: A pilot study. 2019 Virginia Clinical Research Conference. Poster presentation. April 2019.
- Al-Juhaishi T, Khurana A, Shafer D, Yazbeck V. Impact of primary organ site on prognosis in extranodal peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified. 2019 AACR Annual Meeting. Poster presentation. April 2019.
- Al-Juhaishi T, Khurana A, Shafer D, Yazbeck V. Impact of Histologic Type on Survival in Primary Parotid Lymphomas. 2019 ASH Annual Meeting. Online publication. November 2019.
- McKay J, Gayhart M, Al-Juhaishi T, Yazbeck V, Perkins E. Venetoclax and Cytarabine in AML Transformed from Myelofibrosis. 2019 ASH Annual Meeting. Online publication. November 2019.
- Khurana A, Al-Juhaishi T, Yazbeck V. Primary Ocular Lymphoma: A SEER Database Analysis of Patterns of Involvement and Outcomes. 2019 ASH Annual Meeting. Poster presentation. December 2019.
Publications
- Al Juhaishi, T., Yazbeck, V. Choosing the right pharmacotherapy for non- Hodgkin's lymphoma: does one size fit all? Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2019. Published.
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Khurana, A., Shafer, D. Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in lymphoma survivors: Reducing risks. Best Practice & Research Clinical Hematology. 2019. Published.
- Alder L, Al-Juhaishi T, Smith SC, Paul AK. Testicular Swelling as an Initial Presentation of a Patient with Metastatic Gastric Cancer. Fed Pract. 2019 May;36(Suppl 3):S26-S28.
- Al-Juhaishi T, Yazbeck V. Choosing the right pharmacotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: does one size fit all? Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2019 May;20(7):773-775. doi: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1582643.
- Mei L, Khurana A, Al-Juhaishi T, Faber A, Celi F, Smith S, Boikos S. Prognostic Factors of Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: A Combined SEER and TCGA Databases Review. Hormone and Metabolic Research July 2019.
- Sindel A, Al-Juhaishi T, Yazbeck V. Marginal Zone Lymphoma: State of the Art Treatment. Current Treatment Options in Oncology Dec 2019.
- Al-Juhaishi T, McKay J, Sindel A, Yazbeck V. Perspectives on Chemotherapy for the Management of Double Hit Lymphoma. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Feb 2020.
Bohdan Baralo, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Krishna Desai, Bohdan Baralo, Sabah Iqbal, Nithya Ramesh, Kristal Pereira, Rajesh Thirumaran. Demographics And Survival Analysis Of 5752 Patients with Thymic Malignancies. Chest. Oct 2023;164(4), Supplement, A3431.
- Krishna Desai, MD, Kristal Pereira, MD, Sabah Iqbal, MD, Bohdan Baralo, MD, Mehta Vidhi, MD, Mahvish Renzu, MD, Manzoor Rather, Rajesh Thirumaran. A Comprehensive Review Of Incidence, Demographics, Laterality And Survival Analysis Of Adrenal Malignancies. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2023 Oct 5;7(Suppl 1): bvad114.132
- Krishna Desai, Bohdan Baralo, Kristal N Pereira, Rajesh Thirumaran. S1896 Analysis of Survival Rates Based on Gender and Anatomy in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST). American Journal of Gastroenterology. Oct 2023;118(10S):p S1409
- Krishna Desai, Kristal N Pereira, Nithya Ramesh, Sabah Iqbal, Bohdan Baralo, Rajesh Thirumaran. Trends in Racial Disparities of Cecum Cancer in the Last Twenty Years. American Journal of Gastroenterology. Oct 2023;118(10S):p S197-S198
- Hyun Lee, Lin Mei, Bohdan Baralo, Andrew Stewart Poklepovic, Asit K Paul. Outcome of Prostate Cancer with CNS Metastasis: An Analysis of SEER Database (2010-2020). American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting 2024. JCO 42, e17037-e17037(2024). DOI:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e17037
- Baralo B., Dziarnowski N., Daniels P., McIntire C., Puglisi M., Melson J., Paul A. Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis Associated With Low PSA in Patients With De Novo Metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. March 2025;23(3.4):7318.
- Kaushish A., Lee H., Han J., Baralo B., Paul A. Patient characteristics and survival in primary prostate sarcomas: An analysis of the SEER database. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Feb 2025. 43(5-sup):271.
- Baralo B., Dziarnowski N., McIntire C., Daniels P., Puglisi M., Lee H., Melson J., Paul A. Presurgical treatment for inferior vena cava tumor thrombus in patients with renal cell carcinoma: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Feb 2025;43(5-sup):610.
- Hyun Lee, Ayush Kaushish, Joseph Han, Bohdan Baralo, Asit KR Paul. Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of primary sarcoma of the kidney (PSK). Journal of Clinical Oncology. March 2026. 44 (7-sup):566.
Publications
- Bohdan Baralo, Peter T Daniels, Cody A McIntire, Rajesh Thirumaran, John W Melson, Asit K Paul. Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival or Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma. Word Journal of Urology. Feb 2025;43(1)120. PMID 39937268
- Morgan M. Puglisi, Natasha N. Dziarnowski, Bohdan Baralo, and Hetal Vachhani. Germline BRCA2 Mutation and Lynch Syndrome in a Patient With Multiple Primary Malignancies. Case Reports in Oncological Medicine. August 20, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/crom/5879510
- Natasha Dziarnowski, Morgan Puglisi, Bohdan Baralo, Hetal Vachhani. Gemcitabine-Induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy in Patient With Homozygous Deletion in CFHR1-CFHR3. Case Reports in Oncological Medicine. March 2026, 6253969.
Jonathon Berkman, MD
Publications
- Bouligny I, Zacholski E, Rhea L, Kolipakkam B, Oduah E, Berkman J. A Comparison Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, And Zanubrutinib In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. Prospero. November 2021.
Ian Bouligny, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Bouligny I, Tran V, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Retrospective Analysis of Healthcare Disparities in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Single-Institution Experience of a Large Metropolitan Area. Journal of Clinical Oncology. May 2022.
- Bouligny I, Maher K. Outcomes Of Induction With Venetoclax In Combination With Decitabine, Azacitidine, Or Low-Dose Cytarabine For Treatment Of Aml: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis. Blood. November 2021.
- Bouligny I, Maher K. Differential Outcomes Of Salvage With Flag-Ida And Venetoclax-Based Regimens In Relapsed And Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia. ASH. November 2021.
- Venn C, Zacholski K, Tran V, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K, Bouligny I. Retrospective Analysis of Toxicities and Clinical Outcomes with BCR-ABL1 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Bouligny I, Maher K. Re-Induction with Venetoclax In Combination with Hypomethylating Agents versus FLAG-IDA in Relapsed or Refractory AML. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Bouligny I, Maher K. Outcomes Stratified By Molecular Aberration Following Induction with Daunorubicin 60 mg/㎡ versus Daunorubicin 90 mg/㎡ in AML. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Maher K, Bouligny I. Molecular Stratification of Response and Survival of Venetoclax in Combination with Hypomethylating Agents in AML. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Bouligny I, Maher K. A Retrospective Comparison Of Hypomethylating Agents In Combination With Venetoclax Versus Liposomal Daunorubicin And Cytarabine In Front- Line Treatment Of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Blood. November 2021.
- Tran V, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Efficacy and Safety of High-Intensity versus Reduced-Intensity Induction in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL Ineligible for HSCT. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Tran V, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Impact of TKI Combination Therapy and MRD Negativity on Outcomes in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experience. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Alnimer Y, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Tran V, Ho T, Maher K. Efficacy and Safety of Asparagine-Depleting Regimens versus HyperCVAD in Adults with Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive B-ALL: A Retrospective Analysis. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Zacholski K, Bouligny I, Venn C, Tran V, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Analysis of Real-World Outcomes of IKZFmut in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Retrospective, Single-Institution Experience. Journal of Clinical Oncology. May 2022.
- Maher K, Bouligny I. Minority Health Disparities In Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Metropolitan, Single-Center Retrospective Analysis. Blood. November 2021.
- Bouligny I. Retrospective Analysis of Healthcare Disparities in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Single-Institution Experience of a Large Metropolitan Area. VCU Research Day. June 2022.
- Tran V, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Impact of TKI Combination Therapy and MRD Negativity on Outcomes in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experience. VCU Research Day. June 2022.
Publications
- Bouligny I, Mehta V, Isom S, Ellis L, Bhave R, Howard D, Lyerly S, Manuel M, Dralle S, Powell B, Pardee T. Efficacy of 10-Day Decitabine in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Leukemia Research.
- Maher K, Bouligny I, Yeager A. Prevention and Management of Infections after Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. Journal of Radiological Protection. Submitted.
- Bouligny I, Zacholski E, Rhea L, Kolipakkam B, Oduah E, Berkman J. A Comparison Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, And Zanubrutinib In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. Prospero. November 2021.
Quan Do, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Ayush Kaushish and Quan Do. Incidence of Heart Failure in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Who Received Daunorubicin versus Idarubicin: An Analysis of the TriNetX Database. Blood. Nov 2025;146(1-sup):873
- Quan Do. Incidence of Heart Failure in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Who Received Daunorubicin versus Idarubicin: An Analysis of the TriNetX Database. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) Dec 8, 2025. Oral presentation.
Ashimiyu Durojaiye, MBBS
Publications
- Shubhangi Shah, Michael Tseng, and Ashimiyu Durojaiye. A Rare Case of Acquired Factor VIII Deficiency in an Elderly Male with a History of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Cureus. 2023 Aug 26;15(8):e44169. PMID: 37753049
Nemer El Mouallem, MD
Publications
- El Mouallem N, Paul A. BK Virus-Associated Urinary Bladder Cancer in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Review of the Pathogenesis. March 2017. American Journal Hematology Oncology. 2017;13(3):15-20
- El Mouallem, N., Paul, A. Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcino-ma: Biology and Treatment Advances– Beyond the Abstract. Www.urotoday.com.
- El Mouallem, N., Paul, A. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Urothelial Cancer: An Update on New Therapies. Federal Practitioner 2018.
- El Mouallem, N., Paul, A. Complete Response of a Patient with Metastatic Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma to a PD1 Checkpoint Inhibitor. Journal of Oncology Practice 2018.
- El Mouallem, N., Smith, S., Paul, A. Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma: Biology and Treatment Advances. Urologic On-cology 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2017.12.012.
Abstracts & Presentations
- El Mouallem N. Testicular and Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors: Focus on therapies and treatment advances. Oral Presentation. November 2016. Massey Cancer Center Grand Rounds. VCU Health.
Priya Gopie, MBBS
Abstracts & Presentations
- Shokrani B, Hydari T, Nouraie M, Hassan S, Yazdi M, Gopie P, Kannan L, Lee E, Tina B, Brim H, Ashktorab H. Analysis of B-Catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Colonic Lesions. Abstract. Submitted
- Gopie P. Pre-operative peripheral blood cell ratios can predict metastatic potential and recurrence in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. June 2017. 14th Annual VCU Resident Research Day.
- Gopie P, Rafael O, Chawla A, Almenara J, Glass E, Dozmorov M, Grossman S, Idowu M, Boikos S. Pre-operative peripheral blood cell ratios can predict metastatic potential and recurrence in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. Work in Progress.
- Gopie, P., Mei, L., Faber, A., Grossman, S., Smith, S., Boikos, S. Classification of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Syndromes. Endocrine Related Cancer 25. PMID: 29170162.
Sarah Gordon, MD
Abstract & Presentations
- Gordon S. Metastic Melanoma Presenting as an Obstructing Right Artrial Tumor. Oral Presentation/Clinical Vignette, Southern Regional Research Meeting. February 2015, New Orleans LA.
Book Chapter
- Gordon S, Matin K. Molecular Pathways in Gastrointestinal Malignancies and Their Impact of Treatment. In: Molecular Oncoogy Testing for Solid Tumors. Springer 2015.
Scott Graupner, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Graupner S, Labdie B. BMI, irAE and Gene Expression Signatures Associate with Resistance to Immune-Checkpoint Inhibition and Outcomes in Renal Cell Carcinoma. Society of Immunotherapy in Cancer. November 2019.
Publications
- Alder L, Graupner S, Yazbeck V, et al. Case of a CD3 Negative Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges. Case Reports in Hematology. June 2019.
Zahra Hamedi, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Andrea Lo, Zahra Hamedi, Jonathan Berkman, Erin Alesi. Insurance status may predict survival outcomes in patients with aggressive forms of lung cancer (Stage IV NSCLC or SCLC). American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting 2024. Poster Presentation
- Zahra Hamedi, Andrea Lo, Jonathan Berkmam, Erin Alesi. Comparative analysis of pembrolizumab and cetuximab-based therapy in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Real-world data. JCO 42, 6022-6022(2024).DOI:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.6022. Poster Presentation
- Hyun Lee, Zahra Hamedi, David Oliver, Hui Lin, Uzma Athar, Hiba Zainab Vohra, Peter Daniels, Sejal Kothadia. Assessing ChatGPT's potential as a clinical resource for medical oncologists: An evaluation with board-style questions and real-world patient cases. JCO 42, e13628-e13628(2024). DOI:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e13628
Publications
- Zahra S. Hamedi, Andrea Lo, Mark Mochel, Hyun Lee, and Asit Paul. Immunotherapy related cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Annals of Internal Medicine, Clinical Cases, published online at: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.1184
Thuy Ho, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Bouligny I, Tran V, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Retrospective Analysis of Healthcare Disparities in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Single-Institution Experience of a Large Metropolitan Area. Journal of Clinical Oncology. May 2022.
- Venn C, Zacholski K, Tran V, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K, Bouligny I. Retrospective Analysis of Toxicities and Clinical Outcomes with BCR-ABL1 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Tran V, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Efficacy and Safety of High-Intensity versus Reduced-Intensity Induction in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL Ineligible for HSCT. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Tran V, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Impact of TKI Combination Therapy and MRD Negativity on Outcomes in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experience. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Alnimer Y, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Tran V, Ho T, Maher K. Efficacy and Safety of Asparagine-Depleting Regimens versus HyperCVAD in Adults with Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive B-ALL: A Retrospective Analysis. Journal of Clinical Oncology. February 2022.
- Zacholski K, Bouligny I, Venn C, Tran V, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Analysis of Real-World Outcomes of IKZFmut in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Retrospective, Single-Institution Experience. Journal of Clinical Oncology. May 2022.
- Tran V, Bouligny I, Zacholski K, Venn C, Alnimer Y, Ho T, Maher K. Impact of TKI Combination Therapy and MRD Negativity on Outcomes in Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experience. VCU Research Day. June 2022.
- Thuy Ho, Juhi Gor, Graeme Murray, Ian Bouligny, Keri Maher. Impact of Recent Advancements in Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Overall Survival in Clinical Practice. American Society of Hematology Dec 2023
- Thuy Ho, Juhi Gor, Graeme Murray, Ian Bouligny, Keri Maher. Recent Advancements in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Have Led to Incremental Improvement in Overall Survival. American Society of Hematology Dec 2023
- Thuy Ho, Juhi Gor, Graeme Murray, Ian Bouligny, Keri Maher. Comprehensive Molecular Stratification of Patients with AML Treated with CPX-351. Blood (2023) 142 (Supplement 1): 6006.
- Thuy Ho, Juhi Gor, Ian Bouligny, Graeme Murray, Keri Maher. Toward a Measurable Residual Disease-Based Algorithm for Selection of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Blood (2023) 142 (Supplement 1): 7090.
- Juhi Gor, Ian Bouligny, Thuy Ho, Graeme Murray, Keri Maher. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Overall Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Comprehensive Cancer Center Experience of 627 Patients. Blood (2023) 142 (Supplement 1): 7437.
Publications
- Ian Bouligny, Graeme Murray, Thuy Ho, Michael Doyel, Tilak Patel, Josh Boron, Steven Grant, Keri Maher. Abbreviated Venetoclax with decitabine or azacitidine in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia Research, 2023 Nov;134:107370. PMID: 37659346
- Thuy Ho, MD, Cara Coleman, MD, Palak Shah, MD, Victor Yazbeck, MD. Advances in Hodgkin's lymphoma pharmacotherapy: a focus on histone deacetylase inhibitors. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2023 Sep-Dec;24(13):1427-1438. PMID: 37249399
- Ian Bouligny, Graeme Murray, Michael Doyel, Tilak Patel, Josh Boron, Thuy Ho, Steven Grant, Keri Maher. Venetoclax with Decitabine or Azacitidine in Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Medical Oncology 2024; 41(3):80. PMID: 38396145
Prashant Joshi, MD
Publications
- Joshi, P. Use of Supportive Care Resources in GI Malignan-cies. Presentation. 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncolo-gy– Gastroenterology.
Arushi Khurana, MD
Abstract & Presentations
- Khurana, A. Secondary skin involvement is not predictive in Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A SEER database analysis. American Society of Hematology. December 2018.
Publications
- Khurana , A., Shafer, D. MDM2 antagonists as a novel treatment option for acute myeloid leukemia: perspectives on the therapeutic potential of idasanutlin (RG7388). OncoTargets and Therapy, 2019, 12: 2903-2910. Published.
- Al-Juhaishi, T., Khurana, A., Shafer, D. Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in lymphoma survivors: Reducing risks. Best Practice & Research: Clinical Haematology, March 2019, 31(1): 47-53. Published.
- Mei, L., Khurana, A., Al-Juhaishi, T., Faber, A., Celi, F., Smith, S., Boikos, S. Prognostic Factors of Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: A Combined SEER and TCGA Databases Review. Hormone and Metabolic Research, March 2019. Published.
David (Jared) Kobulnicky, MD
Abstracts and Presentations
- Kobulnicky D. The Influence of Lymphoid Reconstitution Kinetics on Clinical Outcomes in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation. ABSMT Tandem ASH-ASBMT. February 2017. Orlando Florida.
Publications
- Kobulnicky, D., Sabo, R., Sharma, S., Shubar Ali, A., Kobulnicky, K., Roberts, C., Clark, W., Chung, H., McCarty, J., Toor, A. The influence of lymphoid reconstitution kinetics on clinical outcomes in allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Leukemia and Lymphoma, December 2018, 59(12): 2973-2981. Published.
- Hall, C., Koparde, V., Jameson-Lee, M., Elnasseh, A., Scalora, A., Kobulnicky, D., Serrano, M., Roberts, C., Buck, G., Neale, M., Nixon, D., Toor, A. Sequence Homology Between HLA-Bound Cytomegalovirus and Human Peptides: A Poten-tial Trigger for Alloreactivity. Peer-Reviewed Manuscript. PLoS One.
- Kobulnicky, D., Sabo, R., Sharma, S., Shubar, A., Kobulnicky, K., Roberts, C., Clark, W., McCarty, J, Toor, A. The Influence of Lymphoid Reconstitution Kinetics on Clinical Outcomes in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation. Peer-reviewed manuscript publication. Leuk Lymphoma. 2018 Apr 4:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2018.1452216. Accepted.
- Koparde, V., Razzaq, A., Suntum, T., Sabo, R., Scalora, A., Serrano, M., Jameson-Lee, M., Hall, C., Kobulnicky, D., Sheth, N., Feltz, J., Contaifer, D., Wijesinghe, D., Reed, J., Roberts, C., Qayyum, R., Buck, G., Neal, M., Toor, A. Dynamical System Modeling to Simulate Donor T Cell Response to Whole Exome Sequencing-Derived Recipient Peptides: Understanding Randomness in Alloreactivity Incidence Following Stem Cell Transplantation. PLoS One. 2017 Dec 1;12(12): e0187771. doi:10.1371.journal.pone.0187771.ecollection 2017.
Bhardhwaj Kolipakkam, MBBS
Publications
- Bouligny I, Zacholski E, Rhea L, Kolipakkam B, Oduah E, Berkman J. A Comparison Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, And Zanubrutinib In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. Prospero. November 2021.
Sejal Kothadia, MD
Abstracts & Presentation
- Poklepovic A, Fields E, Bandyopadhyay D, Tombes M, Kmieciak M, McGuire W, Gordon S, Kaplan B, Myers J, Matin K, Patel B, Kothadia S, Dent P. A phase 1 study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation with Gemcitabine, Sorafenib, and Vorinostat in pancreatic cancer. ASCO ePoster. May 2021.
Hyun Lee, MD
Abstracts & Presentation
- Hyun Lee, Zahra Hamedi, David Oliver, Hui Lin, Uzma Athar, Hiba Zainab Vohra, Peter Daniels, Sejal Kothadia. Assessing ChatGPT's potential as a clinical resource for medical oncologists: An evaluation with board-style questions and real-world patient cases. JCO 42, e13628-e13628(2024). DOI:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e13628
Publications
- Zahra S. Hamedi, Andrea Lo, Mark Mochel, Hyun Lee, and Asit Paul. Immunotherapy related cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Annals of Internal Medicine, Clinical Cases, published online at: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.1184
- Alden Chesney, Asit Paul, Guanhua Lai, Ifrah Ahmed, Samir Hussaini, Roger Riley, Hyun Lee. (2023, November 11). Bone marrow involvement by NK cell lymphoproliferative disorder with hemophagocytosis. In chairs case presentation at the Society of Hematopathology-European Association for Hematopathology 2023 Workshop, Houston, TX, United States.
- Hyun Lee, Lin Mei, Bohdan Baralo, Andrew Stewart Poklepovic, Asit K Paul. Outcome of Prostate Cancer with CNS Metastasis: An Analysis of SEER Database (2010-2020). American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting 2024. JCO 42, e17037-e17037(2024). DOI:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.e17037
Brad Maller, MD
Publications
- Wu, J., Maller, B., Kaul, R., Galabow, A., Bryan, A., & Neuwelt, A. High-Dose Acetaminophen as a Treatment for Cancer. Livers. Jan 2024;4:84-93
John McKay, DO
Abstracts & Presentations
- Al-Juhaishi T, Khurana A, McKay J, Barrett J, Hackney MH. Clinical trial enrollment by oncology fellows’ continuity clinics: A pilot study. 2019 Virginia Clinical Research Conference. Poster presentation. April 2019.
- McKay J, Gayhart M, Al-Juhaishi T, Yazbeck V, Perkins E. Venetoclax and Cytarabine in AML Transformed from Myelofibrosis. 2019 ASH Annual Meeting. Online publication. November 2019.
Publications
- Al-Juhaishi T, McKay J, Sindel A, Yazbeck V. Perspectives on Chemotherapy for the Management of Double Hit Lymphoma. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Feb 2020.
Lin Mei, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Mei, L., Celi, F., Smith, S., Al-Juhaishi, T., Kang, L., Boikos, S. Prognostic Factors of Malignant Paraganglioma and Pheochromocytoma: A SEER Database Review. 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting. Publications
- Mei, L., Du, W., Idowu, M., Von Mehren, M., Boikos, S. Advances and Challenges on Management of Gastrointesti-nal Stromal Tumors. Frontiers in Oncology.
- Gopie, P., Mei, L., Faber, A., Grossman, S., Smith, S., Boikos, S. Classification of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Syndromes. Endocrine Related Cancer 25. PMID: 29170162.
- Mei, L., Smith, S., Faber, A., Trent, J., Grossman, S., Stratakis, C., Boikos, S. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: The GIST of Precision Medicine. Trends in Cancer 1. PMID: 29413424.
Publications
- Mei, L., Khurana, A., Al-Juhaishi, T., Farber, A., Celi, F., Smith, S., Boikos, S. Prognostic Factors of Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: A Combined SEER and TCGA Databases Review. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 2019, 51: 1-7. Published.
Meric Mericliler, MD
Publications
- Mericliler M, Kazakova V, Nicolas D, Acharya U, Jaber B. Improving Compliance with Appropriateness of Testing for Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia: A Quality Improvement Report. BMJ Open Quality
- Mercililer M, Narayan G. Outcomes of COVID-19 in Adult Males With Hemophilia A: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis. Cureus, October 25, 2022
Abstracts and Presentations:
- Mericliler M, Desai R. Clinical Outcomes of COVID)19 in Patients with von Willebrand Disease: A Multicenter Database Study. Thrombosis and Hemostasis Summit of North America August 2022
Bonny Moore, MD
Publications
- Toor A, Sabo R, Roberts C, Moore B, Salman S, Scalora A, Aziz M, Shubar A, Hall C, Meier J, Thorn R, Song S, Miller K, Rizzo K, Clark W, McCarty, Chung H. Dynamical System Modeling of Immune Reconstruction Followign Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation Identifies At Risk for Adverse Outcomes. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantion J. March 2015
- Dinnel J, Moore B, Skiver B, Bose P. Rasnuricase in the Management of Tumor Lysis: An Evidence Based Review of Its Place in Thereapy. Core Evidence J. 2015;10;23-38.
- Shipe T, Moore B, Riley R. Glanzmann Thrombasthenia: Clinical and Pathologic Features. ASCP Case Reports. November 2014.
Joshua Morales, MD
Publications
- Elias R, Morales J, Khurshid H. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Older Adults. Curr Oncol Rep. 2016 Aug;18(8):47. doi: 10.1007/s11912-016-0534-9. Review. PMID: 27287329
Abstracts & Presentations
- Morales J. A Retrospective Chart Review Comparing the Efficacy of Idarubicin and High Dose Daunorubicin in Patients Undergoing Initial Induction Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Presentation. June 2016. 14th Annual VCU Health Resident Research Day. Richmond Virginia.
- Morales J. Evaluation of the Effects of Obesity on Survival and Molecular Signature of Cancer Stem Cells and Cholesterol Biosynthesis Pathway in Colorectal Cancer. Presentation. April 2017. Massey Cancer Center Grand Rounds. VCU Health.
Hank Ng, MD
Publications
- Prospective evaluation of drug–drug interactions in ambulatory cancer patients initiated on prophylactic anticoagulation. Ng H, Rogala B, Ades S, Schwartz I, Ashikaga T, Vacek P, and Holmes C. Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. February 20, 2020.
Eziafa Oduah, MD, PhD, MPH, MsC
Book Chapters
- Oduah E, Grossman S. Mechanisms and implication of p53 mutation in cancer: p53: Structure, Functions and Role in Disease. Nova Science Publishers, May 2020: 83-101. Published
Abstracts & Presentations
- Oduah E, Litovchick L, Grossman S. Novel approach to destabilization of oncogenic mutant p53 and therapeutic implications. AACR National Conference. April 2022. Accepted.
- Oduah E. Unravelling the Mechanism And Therapeutic Implication Of Degradation Of Mutant P53 By Proteasome Inhibition. Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference. November 2021.
Publications
- Bouligny I, Zacholski E, Rhea L, Kolipakkam B, Oduah E, Berkman J. A Comparison Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, And Zanubrutinib In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. Prospero. November 2021.
Haeseong Park, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Park H. Evaluation of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) Expression in Non-small Cell Lung, Esophageal and Gastric Cancer. Poster presentation, Virginia Commonwealth University Resident Research Day. June 2013, Richmond VA.
- Park H, Cassel JB, Henderson M, Polkepovic A, Del Fabbro E. Predictors of Survival in Phase 1 Cancer Clinical Trial Participants: A Systematic Review. Poster Presentation Virginia Commonwealth University Resident Research Day. June 2014, Richmond, VA.
- Park H, Kanarek N, Wolff A, Lange J, Visvanathan K. Time Interval Diagnosis to Treatment in Invasive Breast cancer Patients. Poster presentation, Virginia Commonwealth University Resident Research Day. June 2014, Richmond, VA.
- Park H, Qin R, Smith TJ, Atherton PJ, Barton DL, Sturtz K, Dakhil SR, Anderson DM, Stella PJ, Puttabasavaiah S, Le-Lindqwister NA, Padula GDA, Loprinzi CL. NCCTG N10C2 (Alliance) – A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Magnesium Supplements to Reduce Menopausal Hot Flashes. Poster presentation, Virginia Commonwealth University Resident Research Day. June 2014, Richmond, VA.
- Park H, Qin R, Smith TJ, Atherton PJ, Barton DL, Sturtz K, Dakhil SR, Anderson DM, Stella PJ, Puttabasavaiah S, Le-Lindqwister NA, Padula GDA, Loprinzi CL. NCCTG N10C2 (Alliance) – A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Magnesium Supplements to Reduce Menopausal Hot Flashes. 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting. May 2014, Chicago, IL.
- Park H, Poklepovic A. A Phase I Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine, Sorafenib, Followed by Concurrent Chemoradiation with Gemcitabine, Sorafenib, and Vorinostat in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer. Poster presentation, American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2014. April 2014, San Diego, CA.
- Park H, Kanarek N, Wolff A, Lange J, Visvanathan K. Time Interval from Diagnosis to Treatment in Invasive Breast Cancer Patients (Abstract FPOI-4). Oral Presentation, Global Breast Cancer Conference 2013. October 2013, Seoul, Korea.
Publications
- Bose P, Park H, Al-Khafaji J, Grant S. Strategies to Circumvent the T315I Gatekeeper Mutation in the Bcr-Abl Tyrosine Kinase. Leukemia Research Reports. 2013;2(1):18–20.
- Park H, Shafer D. Disseminated Histoplasmosis in Peripheral Blood Smear. Blood. 2014 Mar 6; 123 (10):1445.
Omar Castaneda Puglianini, MD
Awards & Honors
- ASCO SEP, American Society of Clinical Oncology University Fellows Advisory Council 2016.
Logan Rhea, DO
Publications
- Rhea L, Mendez-Marti S, Kim D, Aragon-Ching J. Role of immunotherapy in bladder cancer. Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 2021 (26): 100296. Published.
- Bouligny I, Zacholski E, Rhea L, Kolipakkam B, Oduah E, Berkman J. A Comparison Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, And Zanubrutinib In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. Prospero. November 2021.
Masey Ross, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Ross M, Braun S, Albrecht T. Integrative therapy use amongst patients and providers at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center. Abstract. June 2017. ASCO Annual Meeting.
- Braun S, Ross M, Cybulski C, Hager MA, Albrecht T. Implementation of an Integrative Health Program in an NCI Designated Academic Cancer Center in a Safety Net Hospital. Presentation. March 2017. Society for Behavioral Medicine Conference. San Diego, California.
Publications
- Rahmani M, Aust M, Hawkins E, Ross M, Kmieciak M, Reshko L, Rizzo K, Dumur C, Ferreira-Gonzalez A. Co-Administration of the mTORCI/TORC2 Inhibitor INK128 and the Bcl-2/Ccl-xL Antagoniz ABT-737 Kills Human Myeoid Leukemia Cells Through Mcl-1 Down Regulation and AKT Inactivitation. Haematologica. 2015 Dec;100(12):1553-63. PMID 26452980
Palak Shah, MD
Publications
- Thuy Ho, MD, Cara Coleman, MD, Palak Shah, MD, Victor Yazbeck, MD. Advances in Hodgkin's lymphoma pharmacotherapy: a focus on histone deacetylase inhibitors. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2023 Sep-Dec;24(13):1427-1438.
- Joud El Dick, Palak Shah, Asit Kr Paul. Utilization Practices of Inferior Vena Cava Filters at an Academic Medical Center. Cureus. 2024 Mar 4;16(3):e55505. PMID: 38571863
Gary Simmons, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Simmons G. MUD Allogenic HSCT for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma Developed Acute Fibrinous Organizing Pneumonia (AFOP) and is the First Survivor After HSCT Successfully Treated with Etanercept Suggesting TNF Alpha in the Pathogenesis in this Sub-type Pulmonary GVHD. Poster Presentation. ASBMT. February 2015, San Diego CA.
- Simmons G. Case Report: 52 Year-Old Male 11 Months after MUD for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma Developed Acute Fibrinous Organizing Pneumonitis Successfully Treated with Etanercept Suggesting TNF Alpha in the Pathogenesis in This Sub-Type of Pulmonary GVHD. ASB- BMT. February 2015. San Diego California.
Ariel Sindel, DO
Awards & Honors
- Scholar’s Prize Award. VCU Department of Internal Medicine. June 2019.
- Sindel A, Al-Juhaishi T, Yazbeck V. Marginal Zone Lymphoma: State of the Art Treatment. Current Treatment Options in Oncology Dec 2019.
- Al-Juhaishi T, McKay J, Sindel A, Yazbeck V. Perspectives on Chemotherapy for the Management of Double Hit Lymphoma. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Feb 2020.
Kevin Sing, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Sing, K. Effect of Weight, Obesity and Other Co-Morbidities on Mortality of Colon Cancer Patients. ASCO GI. January 2020.
Book Chapters
- Creditt A, Sing K. Curriculum Development: Oncologic Emergency. Medicine, April 2021: 903-914. Published.
Esteban Toro-Velez, MD
Publications
- Esteban Toro Velez, MD; Carolina Velez-Mejia, MD; Daniel Rosas, MD; Qianqian Liu, PhD; Joel Michalek, PhD; Anand Karnad, MD; Adolfo Enrique Diaz Duque, MD,MSc. Sociodemographic, Access to Care and Survival Outcomes for Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A National Cancer Database Analysis with Focus on Hispanics. Cancer Health Disparities. 8::e1-12. Doi:10.9777/chd.2024.1005.
Carolina Velez-Mejia, MD
Publications
- Esteban Toro Velez, MD; Carolina Velez-Mejia, MD; Daniel Rosas, MD; Qianqian Liu, PhD; Joel Michalek, PhD; Anand Karnad, MD; Adolfo Enrique Diaz Duque, MD,MSc. Sociodemographic, Access to Care and Survival Outcomes for Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A National Cancer Database Analysis with Focus on Hispanics. Cancer Health Disparities. 8::e1-12. Doi:10.9777/chd.2024.1005.
Patrick Willard, DO
Abstracts & Presentations
- Patrick Willard, Thuy Ho, Sarah Grace Durisek, Luke Kicklighter, George Avetian, Keri Renee Maher. Exploring variables associated with prolonged survival in AML with TP53 aberration. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). June 2025. Poster presentation.
- Patrick Willard. Evaluating the clinical outcomes of GLP-1 receptor agonists in untreated indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas undergoing active surveillance. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) Dec 8, 2025. Poster presentation.
Life During Fellowship
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Vacation Time
Each fellow is allowed three weeks of vacation per training year. The time is generally taken as either one of the following:
- Three 7-day vacations
- One 7-day vacation and one 14-day vacation.
Additionally, each fellow is given five days off during the December holiday period.
Night Coverage
The hematology-oncology fellows provide at-home night and weekend coverage for the outpatient clinic patients, in-hospital consults, and requests for admission/transfer to the hematology and oncology teams. The fellows are expected to return to the hospital as needed while on call to see urgent consults which are then staffed with the attending physician on call. Additionally, the attending physicians provide back-up, supervision, and escalation along with feedback on the triage decisions made by the fellow. Nighttime at-home call is provided by the fellows on the inpatient hematology and the VCUHS/VAMC inpatient consult services.
Fellows' Perspectives on the Program
"The attendings are always available for any type of support and they care about our education."
James Qu, MD
Class of 2018
Internal medicine residents and hospital medicine faculty members provide in-house coverage for admissions and cross-coverage related to the inpatient hematology and oncology services at night.
Weekend Coverage
Fellows are given one day off in seven averaged over each 2-week block while on the inpatient hematology; oncology and supportive care; hematology consults; VA consults; and the inpatient bone marrow transplant rotations. All ambulatory elective rotations are weekdays only unless on at-risk pull schedule.
When on consult call over a weekend, the fellows see during the day all new consults at both the VCUHS MCV and Veterans hospitals, which are then staffed with the attending on call for the weekend. The on-call fellow rounds on existing consults followed at the VCU and Veterans hospitals as determined by the consult team at the time of weekend check-out or as warranted by changes in a patient’s condition. On the one weekend they cover consult services, they additionally take at home night call on Saturday night.
GME Resident & Fellow Well-Being
Graduate Medical Education training is not easy. With the GME Physician Well-being program, we first and foremost assert our commitment to your well-being, resilience and all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. VCU and VCU Health are dedicated to ensuring that you have the tools you need to be your best. (Learn more)
All About VCU, VCU Health, and RVA
First things first. We fondly refer to Richmond as RVA. People love this city because it’s awesome. And Virginia Commonwealth University is in the middle of it all. Learn more about VCU, VCU Health, and RVA!
Program Leadership
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
J. Christian Barrett, MD
Program Director
J. Christian Barrett, MD
Program Director
Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care
Email: john.barrett@vcuhealth.org
Hashim Mann, MD
Associate Program Director
Hashim Mann, MD
Associate Program Director
Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care
Email: hashim.mann@vcuhealth.org
Asit Paul, MD, PhD
Associate Program Director
Asit Paul, MD, PhD
Associate Program Director
Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care
Email: asit.paul@vcuhealth.org
Uzma Athar, MD
Associate Program Director, VA Medical Center
Uzma Athar, MD
Associate Program Director, VA Medical Center
Internal Medicine
Renato G. Martins, MD, MPH
Division Chief
Renato G. Martins, MD, MPH
Division Chief
Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care
Email: Renato.Martins@vcuhealth.org
Faculty
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
- Erin Alesi, MD
- Uzma Athar, MBBS - Associate Program Director, VAMC
- J. Christian Barrett, MD - Fellowship Program Director
- Jonathan Berkman, MD
- Vikrant (Shekhu) Brar, MD
- Brian Cassel, PhD – Co-Director Research Course
- Alden Chesney, MD – Hematopathology
- William Bennett Clark, MD, MS
- Paul Dent, PhD - Co-Director Research Course
- Ruchi Desai, MD
- Emmanuel N. Dessypris, MD
- Nemer Junior El Mouallem, MD
- Gordon Ginder, MD
- Omayra Gonzalez-Pagan, MD
- Steven Grant, MD
- Mary Helen Hackney, MD
- Thuy Ho, MD
- Susan Hong, MD - Survivorship
- Bruce Hough, MD
- Emily Kinsey, MD
- Bharadhwaj Kolipakkam, MBBS
- Hyun Lee, MD
- Hui Lin, MD
- Larisa Litovchick, MD, PhD
- Sejal Kothadia, MD - Chair, Program Evaluation Committee
- Keri Maher, DO
- Hashim Mann, MD - Fellowship Associate Program Director
- Renato G. Martins MD, MPH – Chief, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Supportive Care
- Khalid Matin, MD, FACP
- John McCarty, MD - Director, Cellular Immunotherapeutics Program
- Jack Melson, MD
- Jennifer Myers, MD
- Alexander Neuwelt, MD
- Sudeep Pandey, MD - Hospice & Palliative/Supportive Care
- Bhaumik Patel, MD - Division Chief, VA Medical Center
- Shejal Patel, MD
- Asit Paul, MD, PhD - Fellowship Associate Program Director
- Andrew Poklepovic, MD
- Soumya Pulipati, MD
- Sneha Purvey, MD
- Masey Ross, MD, MS
- Carl Shultz, MD
- Hetal Vachhani, MD
- Baldeep Wirk, MD
- Victor Yazbeck, MD
Fellows
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Class of 2029
Janani Arunachalam, MBBS
Medical School: K.A.P. Vishwanathan Government Medical College, Tiruchirappalli, India
Residency: University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Paul Braunstein, MD
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Sandra Frimpiong, MD
Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
Residency: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Chief resident: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Ayush Kaushish MD
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, Chicago, IL
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Andrea Lo, MD
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Michael Meranda, DO
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Chief resident: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Fellowship: Hospice & Palliative Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Class of 2028
Jacob Amburn, MD
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Sciences, Memphis, TN
Residency: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Chief Resident: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
George Avetian, MD
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Samir Hussaini, MD
Medical School: The University of Queensland Medical School, Brisbane, Australia
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Sneha Nagesh Rao, MBBS
Medical School: B.G.S Global Institute of Medical Science, Bengaluru, India
Residency: Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY
Parth Sharma, MBBS
Medical School: All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, India
Residency: University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Joshua Zweigle, MD
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Residency: East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Chief resident: East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Class of 2027
Quan Do, MD
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
Residency: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Maryam Naser, MD
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain
Residency: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School - Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA
Esteban Toro Velez, MD
Medical School: Universidad CES Escuela de Medicina, Medellin, Columbia
Residency: University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX
Carolina Velez-Mejia, MD
Medical School: Universidad CES Escuela de Medicina, Medellin, Columbia
Residency: University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX
Chief resident: University of Texas Health, San Antonio, TX
Patrick Willard, DO
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. VA
Chief resident: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. VA
Alumni
Class of 2026
Bohdan Baralo, MD
Medical School: National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine
Residency: Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Darby, PA
Chief Resident: Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Darby, PA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Centra Lynchburg Hematology Oncology, Lynchburg, VA
Abisola Baruwa Etti, MBBS - Chief Fellow 2025-2026
Medical School: College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
Residency: University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Novant Health System, Charlotte, NC
Celine Fadel, DO
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Blacksburg, VA
Residency: Northeast Georgia Medical Center – Gainesville, GA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Virginia Cancer Institute, Richmond, VA
Bradley Maller, MD
Medical School: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Sentara Martha Jefferson Hematology & Medical Oncology Associates, Charlottesville, VA
Guoliang Zheng, MD
Medical School: University of Queensland Medical School, Brisbane, Australia
Residency: St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Boston, MA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, Atlanta, GA
Class of 2025
Zahra Hamedi, MD
Medical School: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Residency: Internal Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA
Ahmad Kassem, MD
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
Residency: MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Program, Detroit, MI
Chief Resident: MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Program, Detroit, MI
Post-Fellowship: Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Methuen, MA
Hyun Lee, MD - Chief Fellow 2024-2025
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Residency: Rhode Island Hospital-Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
David Oliver, DO
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
Residency: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia
Chief Resident: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Coastal Cancer Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
Palak Shah, MD
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Medical Oncology Hematology Consultants, Newark, DE
Class of 2024
Ashimiyu Durojaiye, MBBS
Medical School: University of Lagos College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos
Residency: Internal Medicine, Yale New Haven Bridgeport Hospital New Haven, CT
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Fairfax, VA
Samina Hirani, MBBS (Chief Fellow 2023-2024)
Medical School: Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi City, Pakistan
Residency: Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University, Shreveport LA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI
Thuy Ho, MD
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
James Liang, MD
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC
Residency: Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Southern Oncology Specialists, Charlotte, NC
Meric Mericliler, MD
Medical School: Acibadem Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi, İstanbul, Turkey
Residency: Internal Medicine, St. Elizabeth’ Medical Center/Tufts University, Boston, MA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
Class of 2023
Jonathan Berkman, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Ian Bouligny, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC
Advanced Fellowship Acute Leukemia: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Bharadhwaj Kolipakkam, MBBS
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Eziafa Oduah, MD, MPH, MsC
Residency: Internal Medicine, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Duke University, Durham, NC
Logan Rhea, DO (Chief Fellow 2022-2023)
Residency: Internal Medicine, Fairfax INOVA Medical Center, Fairfax, VA
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, Fairfax INOVA Medical Center, Fairfax, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Novant Health System, Charlotte, NC
Class of 2022
Zachary Benson, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Post-Fellowship: St. Luke’s Medical Center, Boise, Idaho
Laura Hanson, MD (Chief Fellow 2021-2022)
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Pinehurst, North Carolina
Sejal, Mansukhala Kothadia, MD (Chief Fellow 2021-2022)
Residency: Internal Medicine, UMDNJ - Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, New Jersey
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, UMDNJ - Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, New Jersey
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Richmond VA Medical Center, Richmond VA
Ariel David Sindel, DO
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Post Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic-Akron General Hospital, Akron, Ohio
Class of 2021
Baijia Jiang, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
Post Fellowship: Private Practice, Santa Monica, CA
John McKay, DO (Chief Fellow 2020-2021)
Residency: Internal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Post Fellowship: Faculty, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Hank Ng, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington VT
Post Fellowship: Private Practice, Vallejo, CA
Kevin Sing, MD
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA
Post Fellowship: Private Practice, New York, NY
Class of 2020
Taha Mahdi Salih Al-Juhaishi, MD (Chief Fellow 2019-2020)
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
BMT Fellowship: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
Scott Graupner, MD
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine- Virginia Campus
Residency: Internal Medicine, Georgia Health Sciences University
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, Georgia Health Sciences University
Mahmood Rasheed, MD
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Toshihisa Satta, MD
Medical School: Tokyo Medical and dental University Faculty of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Post Fellowship: Faculty and Post-Doc Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2019
Jennifer Carter, MD
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, LaGrange, Georgia
Arushi Khurana, MD (Chief Fellow 2018-2019)
Medical School: Maulana Azad Medical College
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Additional Training: Chief Resident of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Advanced Fellowship in Lymphoid Malignancy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
David (Jared) Kobulnicky, MD
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Hampton, Virginia
Lin Mei, MD
Medical School: Peking University Health Science Center
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Buffalo (SUNY), Buffalo, NY
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Charleston, West Virginia
Class of 2018
Nicholas Drake, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Pensacola, FL
Nemer El Mouallem, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at University of Alabama Hospital, Birmingham, AL
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Prashant Joshi, MD (Chief Fellow 2017-2018)
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Charlotte, NC
Yuesheng (James) Qu, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Decauter, GA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Carrollton, Georgia
Class of 2017
Priya Gopie, MBBS
Residency: Internal Medicine at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, University of West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago
Joshua Morales, MD (Chief Fellow 2016-2017)
Residency: Chief Resident | Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Roanoke, Virginia
Masey Ross, MD, MS
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Naheed Velji, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Program, Bronx, NY
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Waynesboro, VA
Class of 2016
Omar Castaneda Puglianini, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Program, Bronx, NY
BMT Fellowship: Blood and Marrow Transplant, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and research Institute, Tampa, FL
Post Fellowship: Faculty, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
Sarah Gordon, DO
Residency: Internal Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Post Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Gary Simmons, DO (Chief Fellow 20015-2016)
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Fellows' Perspectives on the Program
"The camaraderie between the fellows is one of the program’s best assets. We’re a very close knit group, both inside and outside the hospital."
Vikrant Brar, MD
Class of 2015
Class of 2015
Michael Batalo, MD
Residency: West Virginia School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Pinehurst, NC
Angela Cochran, MD
Residency: University of Louisville
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Newport News, VA
Vikrant (Shekhu) Brar, MD (Chief Fellow 2014-2015)
Residency: VCU School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Hampton Veterans Hospital, Hampton, VA
Bonny Moore, MD
Residency: Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA
Chief Resident: Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond VA
Class of 2014
Erin Alesi, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Medicine at VCU School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Program Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA ; Faculty, Division of Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Haeseong Park, MD, MPH
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Doc Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Washington University Saint Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Siteman Cancer Center, Saint Louis, MO
Radhika Thorn, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post Fellowship: Private Practice, Baton Rouge, LA
Duy Toan (Tony) Vu, MD (Chief Fellow 2013-2014)
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Jennifer Myers, MD
Residency: VCU School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2013
Hui Lin, BM
Residency: East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2012
Shejal Patel, DO
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Additional Training: Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Division of Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2011
Farn Chan, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice in Fairfax, VA
Pareshkumar Patel, MBBS
Residency: Internal Medicine at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, NJ
Additional Training: Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at VCU, Richmond, VA
Post-fellowship: Private Practice in Tallahassee, FL
Andrew Poklepovic, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Hetal Vachhani, MBBS
Residency: Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2010
John Miller, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice in Williamsburg, VA
Alison Rome, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice in Covington, LA
Apply
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Eligibility Requirements
Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems can only supports J-1 visas.
How To Apply
The Hematology-Oncology fellowship training program at VCU is a participant in the NRMP match. All applications will be accepted through ERAS and follow ERAS deadlines.
Required Documentation
- Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- USMLE and/or COMLEX score reports (applicants must have passed Step 3 to be eligible to be ranked)
- Medical School Transcripts
- MSPE
- Personal statement
- Internal Medicine Residency Program Director letter
- 3 letters of recommendation (excluding the residency PD letter)
- Photograph
If applicable, please provide the following:
- ECFMG certificate
- Medical School Diploma (with translation if necessary)
Interviews
Application Timeline
- September 11 (Friday AM)
- September 14 (Monday AM)
- September 14 (Monday PM)
- September 15 (Tuesday AM)
- September 15 (Tuesday PM)
- September 18 (Friday AM)
- September 25 (Friday AM)
- September 28 (Monday AM)
- September 29 (Tuesday AM)
- October 2 (Friday AM)
Interview Information
Interviews are conducted on select Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. We will conduct virtual interviews. The department will sponsor an optional on-site visit to see our facilities and community prior to the rank list submission deadline. This will occur after we completed our program’s interviews and rank list. Attendance is OPTIONAL and purely to assist you in your decision. Your decision whether to attend or not will have no impact on our ranking decisions.
On the day of the interview, applicants should plan to arrive a few minutes in advance. The on-line virtual interview half-day consists of the following:
- Introduction to the program, division, and Massey Cancer Center
- Interviews with VCUHS and VA-based faculty plus one fellow.
An optional meet and greet with the fellows will be conducted virtually online the evening prior to the interview.
Contacts
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program Office
VCU Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, VA 23298-0509
Phone: (804) 828-3149
Email: imfellowships@vcuhealth.org
Program Director
J. Christian Barrett, MD
Email: john.barrett@vcuhealth.org
Program Coordinator
Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, VA 23298-0509
Phone: (804) 828-9726
For training verification requests, please visit us at https://intmed.vcu.edu/education/verification/