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 providingcare 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
- Diversity
- Equity
- 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 |
| Inpatient Hematology Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient Oncology Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient Hematology Consult Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient VA Consults | VAMC | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplantation | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Outpatient Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplantation | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Palliative Care | VCUHS | 2-3 weeks |
| Hematopathology | VCUHS | 2 weeks |
| Transfusion Medicine/Apheresis | VCUHS | 2 weeks |
| Leave (Vacation and Holiday) | VCUHS | 3.5 weeks |
| Core 2nd and 3rd Year fellow Rotation Schedule | Location | Length |
| Inpatient Hematology Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient Oncology Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient Hematology Consult Service | VCUHS | 4 weeks |
| Inpatient VA Consults | VAMC | 4 weeks |
| Electives, including dedicated research time | VCUHS/VAMC | 32 weeks |
| Leave (Vacation and Holiday) | VCUHS | 3.5 weeks |
*Annual vacation time is allocated during electives, neuro-gyn oncology, hematopathology, or transfusion medicine/apheresis rotations.
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 suggested composition as outlined below.
Basic Scientist Track
- 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
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 or Educational Research Track
64 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 Care, etc…
- Dedicated research blocks upon request
- Maintain two half-day continuity clinics
- Attendance at research-related/relevant conferences.
- Examples:
- Phase I/II conference and clinic if doing translational research
- Performance Improvement/Quality Health type conferences
- Examples:
Clinical Research Track with additional clinical focus on stem cell transplantation
- 24-30 weeks of benign and malignant hematology electives
- 8 weeks inpatient BMT/cellular therapeutics blocks
- 8 weeks outpatient BMT/cellular therapeutics blocks
- 4 weeks BMT electives (i.e. apheresis and product collection/processing, transplant ID, etc.)
- 24-30 weeks of general oncology electives
- Dedicated research months upon request
- Maintain two half day continuity clinics
- Attendance at BMT and Donor selection conference
Rotations
Inpatient Hematology ServiceThe 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
Inpatient Oncology Service
The MCV Hospital Inpatient Oncology 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 solid neoplasms and hematologic malignancies. 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, and end‐of‐life management. Additionally, the inpatient oncology fellow provides off-team solid oncology consultation throughout the hospital.
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.
Inpatient Hematology Consult Service at VCUHS
The 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.
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 eight-week continuous block alternating every two weeks between inpatient and outpatient setting.
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 within a single oncologic sub-discipline focus.
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.
Core Clinics included in this rotation 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 Care
Palliative Care
The palliative care rotation provides the fellow with the opportunity to participate in the care and management of patients being seen in consultation in either the inpatient setting for supportive palliative acute symptom relief and/or end-of-life management as well as outpatients with cancer and chronic pain or palliative needs. The fellow operates in the context of the multidisciplinary team of physicians, mid-level providers, nurses, chaplains, social workers, and therapists trained in hospice and palliative care medicine. The fellow is exposed to the use of care sets developed for palliative care and hospice management. This rotation provides a unique opportunity for exposure to routine and advanced pain management techniques and organ-based and systemic symptom management techniques when disease-specific therapy alone has been insufficient. The rotation provides training for the fellow in the establishment and communication of goals-of-care with the patient, the family, and a multi-disciplinary team. All of this occurs under the supervision of the specially trained faculty in hospice and palliative care within the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative 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
Each fellow maintains an outpatient continuity clinic at VCUHS and at the McGuire VA Medical Center. 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.
Communication
The program works in conjunction with the VCU SOM simulation center and the VCU Department of Theatre to provide simulation-based training in effective communication with patents. The program focuses on challenging patient communication encounters such as breaking bad news, goals of care, end-of-life decision making, informed consent, and treatment plan counseling. The communication training employs a combination of didactics, role-play, reflective writings, professional actor simulation, and directly observed patient encounters. This curriculum is consistent throughout the three years of training to provide longitudinal, formative feedback to the fellow as their skills develop and mature.
Supplemental Self-Paced Educational Curriculum
The program enrolls the fellow in ASCO University and uses this web-based educational resource as part of the formal curriculum. Topics covered include: symptom-management, fertility preservation, business-practice of oncology, disease-specific tumor boards, and more. Additionally, the training program provides enrolls each fellow in the ASH Essentials 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 Oncology Conference | Tuesdays at 4 pm | Weekly |
| Fellows' Core Hematology Conference | Wednesday at 7 am | Weekly |
| Journal Club and M&M Conferences | Tuesdays at 5 pm | Weekly |
| 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 | Journal Club |
| 4th Tuesday | Division Faculty Meeting |
| 5th Tuesday | 5th Tuesday Social |
Core Departmental Conferences
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds
Weekly department-wide didactics presented by department faculty and visiting professors.
Special Focus Conferences
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.
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.
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, 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. The commitment to our fellows is evident by the fact that our department chair, Dr. Patricia Sime, personally meets with all fellows in advance of presenting at national and international meetings to offer additional mentorship and guidance. 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.
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.
Erin Alesi, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Smith TJ, Alesi ER. Changing the Mindset: Integrating Palliative Care into Cancer Treatment. Webinar, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. July 2011.
Publications
- Alesi ER, Ford TR, Chen C, Fletcher D, Morel TD, Bobb B, Lyckholm L. Development of CASH Assessment Tool to Address Existential Concerns in Patients with Serious Illness. J Palliat Med. 2014
- Krystal GW, Alesi ER, Tatum JL. Early FDG/PET scanning as a pharmacodynamic marker of anti-EGFR antibody activity in colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 May 4.
- Smith TJ, Temin S, Alesi ER, Abernethy AP, Balboni TA, Basch EM, Ferrell BR, Loscalzo M, Meier DE, Paice JA, Peppercorn JM, Somerfield M, Stovall E, Von Roenn JH. American Society of Clinical Oncology provisional clinical opinion: the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Mar 10;30(8):880-7.
- Alesi ER, Fletcher D, Muir C, Beveridge R, Smith TJ. Palliative care and oncology partnerships in real practice. Oncology (Williston Park). 2011 Nov 30;25(13):1287-90, 1292-3.
- Alesi ER, Bobb B, Smith TJ. Guiding patients facing decisions about “futile” chemotherapy. J Support Oncol. 2011 Sep-Oct;9(5):184-7.
Michael Batalo, MD
Book Chapter
- Batalo M, Bose P, Holkova B, Grant S. Targeting Mantel Cell Lymphoma with a Strategy of Combined Proteasome and Histone Deacetylase Inhibition. In: Dou P., ed. Resistance to Proeasome Inhibitors in Cancer. Springer. New York, New York.
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.
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 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.
Lin Mei, MD
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.
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.
Jennifer Myers, MD
Publications
- Chen S, Pei YY, Myers J, Wang L, Kramer L, Garnett G, Schwartz D, Su F, Simmons GL, Richey J, DLarsen D, Orlowski R, Yun Dai Y, Grant S. 9.1 Upregulation of BH3-only Proteins by Cdk Inhibitors Sensitizes Human Myeloma Cells to Pan-BH3-mimetics in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Res. 2012.
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.
Shejal Patel, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Patel SB, Shaw JE. Celiac Plexus Block in Patients with Non-Pancreatic GI Malignancies: Experience from a Single Institution. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. June 2012, Chicago IL. Published in: J Clin Oncol 30, 2012 (suppl; abstr e19551).
- Patel SB, Shaw JE. Celiac Plexus Block in Patients with Non-Pancreatic GI Malignancies: Experience from a Single Institution. Poster presentation, Virginia Commonwealth University Resident Research Day. June 2012, Richmond VA.
Publications
- Smith TJ, Vota S, Patel S, Ford T, Lyckholm L, Bhushan A, Bobb B, Coyne P, Swainey C. Organ donation after cardiac death from withdrawal of life support in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Palliat Med. 2012 Jan;15(1):16-9. Masey Ross, MD
Masey Ross, MD
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
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.
Award
- Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teach Award. Awarded by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Class 2014. July 2013.
Radhika Thorn, MD
Abstracts & Presentations
- Vachhani P, Thorn R. A Case of Atypical Anemia of Graves Disease. Clinical vignette, American College of Physicians 2013 Virginia Associates' Meeting. January 2013, Richmond, VA
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, inpatient oncology, and 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 faculty members provide in-house coverage for admissions and cross-coverage related to the inpatient hematology and oncology services at night.
The bone marrow transplant services are covered separately. They have an in-house nurse practitoners. While on the inpatient and ambulatory bone marrow transplant services, the fellow takes night call from home (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), alternating with the transplant attendings as back-up to the in-house practitioner.
Weekend Coverage
Fellows are given one day off in seven averaged over each 2-week block while on the inpatient hematology, inpatient oncology, hematology consults, VA consults, and the bone marrow transplant services. All 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 VCU and Veterans hospitals, which are then staffed with the attending on call for the weekend. Additionally, 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 VCUHealth are dedicated to ensuring that you have the tools you need to be your best. (Learn more)
All About VCU, VCUHealth, 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, VCUHealth, 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
Renato G. Martins, MD, MPH
Division Chair
Renato G. Martins, MD, MPH
Division Chair
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
- J. Christian Barrett, MD - Fellowship Program Director
- Vikrant (Shekhu) Brar, MD
- Brian Cassel, PhD
- Harold Chung, MD
- William Bennett Clark, MD, MS
- Ruchi Desai, MD
- Emmanuel N. Dessypris, MD
- Nemer Junior El Mouallem, MD
- Ronald Gartenhaus, MD – Director VAMC Cancer Center
- Steven Grant, MD
- Mary Helen Hackney, MD
- Hui Lin, MD
- Larisa Litovchick, MD, PhD
- Sejal Kothadia, MD
- Keri Maher, DO
- Hashim Mann, MD
- Renato G. Martins MD, MPH – Division Chair Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
- Khalid Matin, MD, FACP
- John McCarty, MD - Director, Cellular Immunotherapeutics Program
- Jennifer Myers, MD
- Alexander Neuwelt, MD
- Bhaumik Patel, MD - Division Chair at VAMC
- Shejal Patel, MD
- Asit Paul, MBBS, PhD
- E. Brent Perkins, MD, PhD
- Andrew Poklepovic, MD
- Masey Ross, MD, MS
- Gary Simmons, DO
- Leigh Swartz, MD
- Amir Toor, MD
- Hetal Vachhani, MD
- Victor Yazbeck, MD
Additional Faculty
- Zhi-Jian Chen, MD, PhD – Neuro-Oncology
- Alden Chesney, MD – Hematopathology
- Justin Dalton, MD - Hematopathology
- Marie Do, MD – Transfusion Medicine
- Elizabeth Godbey, MD – Transfusion Medicine
- Jordyn Griffin, MD – Pediatric Oncology, AYA Program
- Guan-Hua Lai, MD, PhD - Hematopathology
- Danielle Noreika, MD – Palliative care
- Leslie Randall, MD – Gynecologic Oncology
- Roger Riley, MD, PhD – Hematopathology
- Susan Roseff, MD – Transfusion Medicine
- Kim Sanford, MD – Transfusion Medicine
- Stephanie Sullivan, MD – Gynecologic Oncology
- David Wilkinson MD, PhD – Transfusion Medicine
- Alicia Zukas, MD – Neuro-Oncology
Fellows
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Class of 2025
Zahra Hamedi MD
Medical School: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Residency: Internal Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Ahmad Kassam, MD
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
Residency: MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Program
Chief Resident: MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Program
Hyun Lee, MD
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Residency: Rhode Island Hospital-Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
David Oliver, DO
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia
Chief Resident: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia
Palak Shah, MD
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Class of 2024
Ashimiyu Durojaiye, MD
Medical School: University of Lagos College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos
Residency: Internal Medicine, Yale New Haven Bridgeport Hospital New Haven, CT
Samina Hirani, MBBS
Medical School: Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi City, Pakistan
Residency: Internal Medicine, Louisiana State University, Shreveport LA
Thuy Ho, MD
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
Residency: Internal Medicine, 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
Meric Mericliler, MD
Medical School: Acibadem Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi, İstanbul, Turkey
Residency: Internal Medicine, St. Elizabeth’ Medical Center/Tufts University, Boston, MA
Class of 2023
Jonathan Berkman, MD
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Ian Bouligny, MD
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine Shreveport, LA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC
Bharadhwaj Kolipakkam, MBBS
Medical School: Chengalpattu Medical School, India
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Eziafa Oduah, MD, MPH, MsC
Medical School: Rostov State Medical University, Russia
Residency: Internal Medicine, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA
Logan Rhea, DO
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus, Blacksburg, VA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Inova Fairfax Internal Medicine Residency Program, Fairfax, VA
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, Inova Fairfax Internal Medicine Residency Program, Fairfax, VA
Class of 2022
Zachary Benson, MD
Medical School: University of Nevada School of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Laura Hanson, MD
Medical School: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA
Sejal Kothadia, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine, West Indies, Grenada
Residency: Internal Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School Program- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Chief Resident: Internal Medicine, UMDNJ - Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, New Jersey
Ariel Sindel, DO
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Alumni
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
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Post-Fellowship: Private Practice, Pinehurst, North Carolina
Sejal, Mansukhala Kothadia, MD
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, McGuire 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
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
Post Fellowship: Private Practice, California
John McKay, DO
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Post Fellowship: Faculty, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Hank Ng, MD
Medical School: University of Vermont College of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington VT
Post Fellowship: Private Practice, California
Kevin Sing, MD
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA
Post Fellowship: Private Practice
Class of 2020
Taha Mahdi Salih Al-Juhaishi, MD
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
Residency: Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
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
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
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
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
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
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
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Jennifer Myers, MD
Residency: VCU School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Division of Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2013
Hui Lin, BM
Residency: East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
Post-Fellowship: Faculty, Division of Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care, 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 Placement: 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 placement: 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, Division of Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Hetal Vachhani, MBBS
Residency: Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Post-Fellowship Placement: Faculty, Division of Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Class of 2010
John Miller, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Post-Fellowship Placement: Private Practice in Williamsburg, VA
Alison Rome, MD
Residency: Internal Medicine at University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
Post-Fellowship Placement: Private Practice in Covington, LA
Apply
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Eligibility Requirements
Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems can only support 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/COMLEX score reports
- Medical School Transcripts
- MSPE
- Personal statement
- Internal Medicine Residency Program Director letter
- 4 letters of recommendation, including one from your program director
- Photograph
If applicable, please provide the following:
- ECFMG certificate
- Medical School Diploma (with translation if necessary)
Interviews
Application Timeline
We will review applications from July 15 through August 31.
Interview dates for 2022 (subject to change) are anticipated as follows:
- September 12
- September 13
- September 19
- September 20
- September 26
- September 27
- September 30
Interview Information
Interviews are conducted on select Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Due to the uncertain circumstances presently, the exact nature of the interview days has yet to be determined. However, we are currently anticipating virtual interviews though final decisions have not been made at this time.
The in-person interview day has typically consisted of the following:
- Introduction to the program, division, and Massey Cancer Center
- Interviews with VCUHS and VA-based faculty
- Tour of the VCUHS facilities
- Lunch with current fellows
- Amini driving tour of the Richmond area while en route to the VA Medical Center
Applicants can expect to arrive shortly before 8 a.m. for a full day. Interview days typically end by 4:30 PM.
The on-line virtual interview half-day consists of the following:
- An optional meet and greet with the fellows (evening prior)
- Introduction to the program, division, and Massey Cancer Center
- Interviews with VCUHS and VA-based faculty
A sample itinerary is provided to give you a general sense of how we structure the day. See sample intinerary here.
Attention: In support of our applicants, we will be flexible in providing virtual and on-site fellowship interview opportunities. We understand that applicants may have restrictions on travel during this time. Our interview schedule may change as we approach the late summer and fall. We appreciate your patience and understanding; we will absolutely work to accommodate all applicants as best possible during the COVID pandemic.
Contacts
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship
Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program Office
VCU Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, VA 23298-0509
Phone: (804) 828-3510
Program Director
J. Christian Barrett, MD
Email: john.barrett@vcuhealth.org
Associate Program Directors
Asit Paul, MBBS, PhD
Email: asit.paul@vcuhealth.org
Uzma Athar, MD
Email: uzma.athar2@va.gov
Program Coordinator
Stuart Bowden, MHRM
Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, VA 23298-0509
Phone: (804) 828-3510
Email: imfellowships@vcuhealth.org