Hematology/Oncology Fellowship

Overview

Program Overview

When Cleveland Clinic opened its doors in 1921, the goal of our founders was simple and straightforward: "Better care of the sick, investigation of their problems, and further education of those who serve."

Today, our health system is one of the best in the world, recognized internationally as a center of excellence. While we have grown exponentially over the past century, expanding our reach regionally, nationally and internationally, our three-fold mission has remained the same. No where is that more true than the Taussig Cancer Institute Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program. 

At Cleveland Clinic, we understand the importance of preparing the next generation of physicians to excel in clinical practice, clinical research, translational science, quality improvement, and medical education. We prepare you to be tomorrow's leaders. In our fellowship, we foster an environment of collaboration and collegiality, creating a culture that promotes your education facilitates engaged career development. Ultimately, we desire a diverse class of fellows with varied interests and career goals, who work together to embody and promote the values of Cleveland Clinic: Teamwork, Innovation, Integrity, Quality, Inclusion, and Empathy. 

The subspecialty fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology is an ACGME-accredited three-year combined program for candidates who are board eligible in internal medicine wishing to achieve certification in both hematology and medical oncology. With the recent expansion, we now accept eight fellows each year. We are a large program, with over 60 staff hematologists and medical oncologists, working in collaborative fashion within a new state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary cancer center. The Taussig Cancer Institute, in collaboration with University Hospitals of Cleveland is a NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

TCI Diversity Statement

At the Taussig Cancer Institute, we are striving to build a culture of inclusiveness, diversity and equity. We believe representation matters. We recognize that hematology/oncology as a sub-specialty has not always been representative of the patients we serve and we are committed to doing better. We have created a Diversity Task Force to help build and sustain this culture of inclusiveness. Projects that this task force is involved in, some of which are led by fellows, include:

• Development of educational modules to educate staff
• Quality improvement projects to understand and overcome barriers to full patient satisfaction amongst under-represented minorities 
• Community outreach 
• Research into healthcare disparities, including access to genomics 

Clinical Training & Didactics

Clinical Training

Medical education continues throughout one's career, but fellowship training provides the critical foundation for professional growth and development. The fellowship experience, as a whole, has a profound influence on future academic and clinical success. At Cleveland Clinic, we are committed to providing a supportive, get rigorous training environment. Our fellows complete approximately 18 months of clinical rotations throughout the three year training period. The remainder of time is dedicated to research and other academic/scholarly activities. One element of training that we find most critical is flexibility. Our fellows have substantial autonomy in creating and tailoring their fellowship experience. 

We have recently increased our fellow complement from 6 fellows per class (18 overall) to 8 fellows per class (24 overall, by July 2023). This will reduce individual fellow service requirements and allow greater exploration of various elective opportunities, enhancing the educational experience of our trainees. 

Inpatient Service: Fellows cover five inpatient services: Bone Marrow Transplantation, Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma, Hematology consults and Oncology consults. At present, first year fellows will be on inpatient service for 5 months. Over the next 1-2 years, this will be further reduced to 4 months. Overall, our fellows cover inpatient service for 9 months over 3 years. This will be reduced to 7.5 months once we reach our full complement of 24 fellows. Of note, fellows take overnight call, on average, once every 5th night. Call is scheduled only during inpatient months, and is not in-house. 

Required Outpatient Rotations: Fellows rotate through benign hematology clinic, transfusion medicine and coagulation clinic, apheresis, and hematopathology. Our fellows also spend time in the major solid tumor clinics: thoracic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and breast oncology. This is accomplished as either a continuity clinic or month long outpatient elective. Prior to graduation, all fellows will have rotated through these four disease groups. 

Continuity Clinic: Continuity Clinic is at least one half day per week, although fellows in the 2nd and 3rd year often elect to do more. As the inpatient experience is predominantly focused on hematologic malignancies, we recommend that first year fellows dedicate continuity clinic to one of the four major solid tumor disease groups. For example, a first year fellow may spend 6 months in the breast cancer clinic, and the second half of the year in the thoracic oncology clinic. However, for fellows with a clear sub-specialty interest, any disease group in acceptable for continuity in the first year of training. In the second and third years, fellows have complete autonomy in choosing the continuity clinic, mentor, and schedule. 

Furthermore, while the majority of fellows have continuity clinic at the main campus, we do offer a continuity clinic experience at one of our regional hospitals. This clinical experience is meant to prepare trainees for the unique rigors and complexities of community practice and is available for 2nd and 3rd year fellows. 

Electives: In addition to the robust training offered through the inpatient services and required outpatient rotations, our fellows have the opportunity to explore several elective rotations that cover all aspects of medical oncology and hematology, including, for example, neuro-oncology, head and neck cancer, melanoma and sarcoma, lymphoma, myelodysplasia and leukemia, palliative medicine, regional oncology, and radiation oncology. Many fellows create their own unique education experiences as well. 

Didactics

We have designed a comprehensive teaching curriculum which covers all aspects of clinical hematology and medical oncology. The curriculum is critically reviewed each year and adjusted based on feedback from our fellows and faculty. The cornerstone of the curriculum is the Introductory Core Lecture Series. These conferences are held daily during July and August, then continue on Tuesdays for the remainder of the year. In September, several additional conferences begin offering greater breadth and depth to your educational experience. These daily conferences are often case-based, run by fellows and moderated by faculty. In addition to the core lectures and case based conferences, we also discuss topics such as research methodology, quality improvement, and career development. Furthermore, we have several supplemental activities including Grand Rounds, Journal Club, disease specific tumor boards, communications training and humanities conferences. 

Communication Training: Communication is the most common and instrumental medical procedure. A relationship-centered approach to patient care can be learned through purposeful practice with feedback. At Cleveland Clinic, all of our trainees participate in the The R.E.D.E to Communicate: Foundations of Healthcare Communication Skills Training.  The goal is to provide fellows with the skills required to successfully navigate even the most difficult patient communication scenarios. This is a two day workshop lead by national experts in the field of communication. 

Humanities: This is a fluid conference series which offers trainees the opportunity to discuss the art of medicine, often considering relevant contemporary issues. Philosophy, art, literature, and politics all may serve as a starting point for our fellows to reflect on a broad range of topics, and how they impact their training experience, personal lives and professional development. 

Grand Rounds: This weekly conference, offered through the Education Institute, allows Visiting Professors and Guest Lecturers to speak as experts in their field to enhance the educational experience of our trainees. 

Tumor Boards: We have several disease specific tumor boards to discuss complex medical care in a multi-disciplinary fashion. Additionally, we also have a robust Immune-Related Adverse Events conference, designed to improve the care for our patients who have toxicity while on immune-modulatory agents. 

Journal Club: An intense review of clinical trial design and statistical methodology. This conference series is attended by our cancer institute statisticians and staff with significant experience as clinical investigators. 

Genomics Conference: A case based conference in which the results of next-generation sequencing studies are reviewed and there clinical implications explored. This conference is attended by genetic counselors and staff with expertise in genomics. 

Board Review: Fellows in their 3rd year of training are provided financial support to attend a week long board review course. Support includes registration, travel, lodging and meal allowance.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference: This monthly conference is organized by the Quality Fellow and explores how we can work to improve the care of our patients through continuous quality improvement measures, creating and promoting a culture of safety. 

Career Development

Career development is the cornerstone of our fellowship program. To that end, we have worked to create an environment that fosters exploration and growth. We strive to recruit a class with diverse interests and varied career goals, and have created a flexible infrastructure to support several potential career trajectories. 

Coaching: Each first year fellow is paired with a faculty coach during orientation. The role of the coach is to help facilitate career development. The coach serves as an advisor, helping the fellow navigate our training pathways, explore opportunities for research, and find the most appropriate mentorship. The coach occupies a distinct, yet complimentary role to the research mentor, the latter of which is selected by the fellow during the first year of training, based on subspecialty interest and ultimate career goals. 

Pathways: The training pathways are a group of documents that provide guidance to fellows who are interested in a career as either a clinical investigator, translational scientist, medical educator, or clinical practitioner. They outline various recommended training opportunities, provide a timeline of anticipated productivity, and establish expectations for scholarly work and clinical development. Each pathway has a faculty leader who can provide assistance and guidance in addition to that provided by the coach and mentor. 

Research Retreats: Held twice a year, the research retreat is a forum for fellows to present scholarly projects for review and feedback from our faculty and in particular, Research Committee members and co-fellows. First year fellows will present plans for the their scholarly work in April, while second year fellows provide an update on their projects in January. All fellows are encouraged, but not required to present their scholarly work in a practice session held 2 weeks before the retreat and attended by the Program Director and the Research Committee (RC) Chair. Furthermore, all fellows are provided personal verbal and written feedback on their projects by the RC chair 1-2 weeks after the presentation. 

Leadership: Our program offers leadership opportunities in the form of our Senior Chief Fellow (3rd year), Junior Chief Fellow (2nd year), and Quality Fellow (2nd or 3rd year). The Chief fellows serve a central role in the fellowship, working closely with the Program Director and institutional leadership in matters surrounding scheduling, curricular development, recruitment, and orientation. The Chief Fellow is an advocate for our fellows and for the program. 

Publications and Presentations

• 2020 Publications and Presentations PDF

• 2019 Publications and Presentations PDF

Clinical Trials at Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center

Current Fellows

PGY 6

Taylor Brooks, MD - Chief Fellow

Hometown: Brookfield, OH
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Residency: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Hobbies: Travel, Audiobooks, Homebrew
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? The Cleveland Clinic has everything I was looking for in a fellowship program: mentorship for fellows is a priority; research opportunities are numerous and varied; and the clinical care of patients is world-class. Also, Cleveland is a fun, affordable city that is near to my family. Lastly, despite meeting at a distance due to COVID, interacting with program faculty and staff on interview day convinced me that this was a down-to-Earth, approachable group of people that truly cared about the success of their trainees. I couldn't be happier with how things turned out.

Thomas Curley, MD

Hometown: Huntington Station, NY
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Residency: The Ohio State University
Hobbies: Playing, watching (Go USMNT, USWNT, Spurs and Crew). Running, swimming, volleyball, reading outside… pretty much anything involving the outdoors. Spending time with my new Co Fellows. Playing the piano, listening to classic and alt rock. Cooking.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? Searching for the right Fellowship program was a long and difficult process. What made Cleveland Clinic immediately stand out was the people. It was clear there is an environment where fellows feel supported from the staff and each other, but at the same time allowed enough autonomy in their patient care. Cleveland Clinic is a world renowned Cancer Center and Hospital, this gives me an incredible opportunity to gain experience in a wide variety of Oncologic and Hematologic disease processes that I may not find anywhere else. Finally as someone who has lived in Pittsburgh and Columbus, I was excited to continue living in the Midwest and excited to explore the phenomenal city of Cleveland Clinic.

Lukas Delasos, DO

Hometown: Brookfield, CT
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
Residency: University of Connecticut
Hobbies: My hobbies include snowboarding, golf, wakeboarding, and expanding my Euro-style board game collection.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I strived for a hematology & medical oncology program that centers its focus around providing a broad depth of both academic and clinical experiences, while managing a fine balance between the two. Equally valuable was to be part of a fellowship that emphasizes the importance of mentorship through its own practice and provides ample opportunity for clinical research. Although many programs demonstrated their capability of fulfilling these personal requirements of mine, Cleveland Clinic stood out to me through one core feature: their genuine interest in tailoring my training experience toward my aspirations within the specialty.

Danai Dima, MD

Hometown: Nafplio, Greece
Medical School: University of Athens, School of Health Sciences
Residency: Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Hobbies: Volleyball, beach volleyball, open water swimming, science fiction movies, going to gym-HIIT workouts, traveling around the world, dancing, hosting parties, hiking (and any other outdoor activity!)
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I chose Cleveland Clinic for fellowship because Taussig Institute is a world-class comprehensive cancer center, with strong commitment to excellent patient care as well as unparalleled opportunity for innovative research. The fellowship program offers a in-depth exposure to all types of hematologic and oncologic diseases, which is essential to personal and professional growth as a physician-scientist.

Nerea Lopeteguilia, MD

Hometown: Basque Country, Spain
Medical School: Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
Residency: University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Hobbies: Traveling (35 countries and counting!), scuba diving, hiking and photography. I am also a cinephile, art museum and theater enthusiast!
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I chose to train at the Cleveland Clinic because I quickly realized that the program leadership is truly dedicated and committed to fellows’ education, professional and personal growth. Being a comprehensive cancer center, the volume, breadth and depth of clinical exposure, paired with unlimited resources is unparalleled.

Minh-Tri Nguyen, MD

Hometown: Da Lat, Vietnam
Medical School: Wright State University
Residency: Case Western Reserve University - Metro Health
Hobbies: I love trying new things and learning new skills. I am currently a father to many house plants and have gotten a little bit into hydroponics and aquascaping. I like to paint and doing DIY projects. I enjoy playing sports, particularly tennis, volleyball, and now learning pickle ball! I love Somalian food.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I really enjoyed my interview! The staff were extremely keen on getting to know me and it was clear to me that the program viewed me holistically. It was a warm welcome and friendly interview. I had the sense that there are not only amazing opportunities here, but that I would have equally amazing mentors and support to grow.

Haikoo Shah, MD

Hometown: Mansfield, OH
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Hobbies: Cooking plant-based foods and trying new cuisines, raising house plants, reading, writing, spending time with my family and friends.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? Cleveland Clinic is a hub for advancements in cancer care, exceptional clinical care, and novel research. Taussig is home to world renowned faculty and offers the opportunity to work alongside national leaders across all disease groups. The faculty are genuinely invested in our growth and provide a supportive and open environment for us to become strong clinicians and academic oncologists. I chose Cleveland Clinic for my formative years of training because I knew that this is the place that would help me build the skills I need to provide the best possible care for my patients, whether that’s in the clinic or through research.

Thejus Thayyil Jayakrishnan, MD

Hometown: Calicut, Kerala, India
Medical School: All India Institute of Medical Services, New Delhi, India\
Residency: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
Hobbies: Biking, reading, watching movies, listening to podcasts, hosting board game nights and exploring the food scene with my wife.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? There are plenty of reasons. In terms of the program – I knew that I would get strong mentorship at Cleveland Clinic for clinical training as well as for research, being a hub for leaders in the field of oncology and one of the foremost academic centers in the world. The city – it is great living in a diverse city like Cleveland that offers ample opportunities for me to sustain my love of the outdoors. Finally, the people – the fellows I interacted with during and after my interview were all extremely happy with the training and I could feel that they loved the program. I also enjoyed my interactions with the faculty about our mutual interests.

---

PGY 5

Diana Basali, MD - 2nd Year Chief Fellow

Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Hobbies: Swimming, hikes with my husband/goldendoodle Sully, running, fitness events (tough mudder, half marathon, Velosano), hosting/spending a good time with family and friends, love a wide range of music and going to concerts
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? Once I decided that oncology was the right field for me, I knew I wanted to be somewhere like the Cleveland Clinic. While doing residency here, the people who I met in the field were truly invested in mentoring me and helping me with the next steps. They not only taught me things about hematology/oncology, but they also cared about me as a person and always shared a good laugh and made it a fun learning environment. The atmosphere of a place is what's most important to me and the people here have showed me over and over again that they're a supportive group that truly care about their trainees and most importantly, the patients we see each day. I couldn't be happier to be here for fellowship!

Nivan Chowattukunnel, MD

Hometown: Marion, IN
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: UT Southwestern
Hobbies: Soccer, exercising, watching new movies
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I was excited to train at one of the top cancer institutions in the country and learn from/work with some of the leaders in the field of Hematology/Oncology. I really enjoyed my interview experience and felt like the program leadership had created a supportive environment. Another strength is the flexibility; the program offers a wide variety of clinical and research opportunities to tailor to your specific interests.

Jesse Drapekin, MD

Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Chicago Medical Center
Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, working out, reality television
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I chose the Cleveland Clinic because it offered the unique opportunity to train at an internationally recognized institution that, above all else, values patient care. It has the resources and personnel to support essentially any interest and career path, and the program staff and administration really are dedicated to helping us find our individualized success.

Laeth George, MD

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
Residency: Case Western Reserve University / University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Hobbies: Reading science fiction/fantasy, watching sports (go Chargers/Padres/Suns!), hiking, racquetball, ping pong, video games, hanging out with friends, spending too much money on food and new restaurants, watching cute dog videos on the internet.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? The fellowship seemed to have an appropriate balance of clinical training, a broad diversity of cases and pathology, and time (and resources!) to learn and grow in your chosen career path. The fellows also seemed happy and well-supported, and there was a focus on support and education, rather than just clinical service.

Mahir Khan, MD

Hometown: Charleston, IL
Medical School: Rush Medical College
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago
Hobbies: Basketball, board games, playing the drums, travel, live music, trying new restaurants
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I chose Cleveland Clinic for its phenomenal clinical training and emphasis on excellent patient care. On my interview day, I was charmed by the collegial environment and supportive faculty. The program offers great opportunities for research and scholarly activity, and we are able to serve a diverse patient population. I am honored to be training at a world-class institution with the guidance and resources to achieve my goals.

Jennifer Tran, DO

Hometown: Ottawa, Canada
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Hobbies: Thrifting, going to garage sales, exploring the city on bike, ice cream testing, watching NBA analyses (Inside the NBA), seeing musicals at Playhouse Square.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I caught on early in my residency that the Taussig Cancer Center was a special place. I saw medicine practiced with such kindness, patience, and humility - the same could be said about the teaching and mentoring I received. It seems as though each fellow has found support and guidance to become the hematologist/oncologist of their choosing. What strikes me the most is that interests in all forms are fostered and successes by all definitions are celebrated. I trust in this program to invest in fellow education and wellbeing. I could not pick a better backdrop for my growth as a physician and a person.

Andrew Trunk, MD - 2nd Year Chief Fellow

Hometown: Toledo, OH
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Residency: University of Utah. Followed by a 1-year Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant & Cellular Therapies Fellowship also at University of Utah/Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Hobbies: Skiing, golfing, hiking with my wife and our mini Schnauzer Stella, woodburning, Chicago sports (ouch)
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I wanted to train at a program that embraces the self-discovery process, and gives me all the tools, resources, research support, and ability to work and learn alongside forward-thinking leaders in the field -- all with the ultimate goal of crafting a training experience that would help me best achieve my career goals. Past CCF fellows landed in diverse jobs and at prestigious institutions, and spoke highly of their training. Every fellowship program promotes humanism and connectedness with each other, but CCF had the most authentic and genuinely kind staff and fellows - not just on interview day, but really every single day. Cleveland is an underrated city with tons to do and great Midwestern values.

Marko Velimirovic, MD

Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Medical School: Belgrade School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA
Hobbies: Traveling, skiing, (recently rediscovered) biking, linguistics and learning languages, European history, machine learning and NLP enthusiast, Middle Eastern and Balkan food lover.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? In addition to being a prestigious institution known for outstanding patient care, what made me prioritize Cleveland Clinic in my fellowship rankings was the interview experience. Everyone was welcoming, genuine and very open to discuss all aspects of fellowship, making sure that the program would fit my career goals. The Clinic offers a flexible fellowship program with plenty of resources and excellent mentorship. Also, a very important factor for me was the opportunity to serve a truly diverse patient population during my training, which Cleveland certainly has. And last but not least, now that I’m here, having co-fellows who are all superstars and admirable humans makes the fellowship experience even better.

---

PGY 4

Jessica El-Asmar

Hometown: Brummana, Lebanon
Medical School: American University of Beirut – Beirut, Lebanon
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Cleveland, Ohio
Hobbies: Cooking Mediterranean food (especially Lebanese cuisine), baking, traveling, experiencing new cultures and foods, tent-camping, swimming, and spending time with my family and friends. I love to host gatherings!
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? Cleveland Clinic was a clear choice for me. Having already experienced the exceptional training during my residency, I was drawn to the focus on learning and growth. The unwavering support I received from my colleagues and leadership truly made a lasting impact on me. The Hematology-Oncology fellowship program at Taussig Cancer Institute offers a distinct balance between clinical practice and research opportunities, allowing us to choose our focus based on our career goals. The program fosters an environment that facilitates both personal and professional development, which is exactly what I am looking for. I am proud to be part of an amazing group!

Jasmin Hundal

Hometown: Leipzig, Germany
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Connecticut
Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, exploring new restaurants, cooking, working out, hosting/spending time with family and friends
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I was drawn to the Cleveland Clinic for its standing as an innovator in cancer care, clinical excellence, and pioneering research. At Taussig, the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty and the supportive culture stood out as ideal for my development as a clinician and academic oncologist. The program leadership's nurturing environment, experienced during my positive interview, further confirmed my choice. The flexibility and diversity of clinical and research opportunities allow a tailored training experience.

Agrima Mian

Hometown: New Delhi, India
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India
Residency: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India (2015-2018) and Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH (2020-2023)
Hobbies: Running, Hiking (Cleveland Metroparks are the best!), Weekend getaways and road trips, Cooking multiple different cuisines, Trying out new coffee shops with my husband, Hosting parties for friends, and Netflix (ofc!)
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I was lucky to experience life at Cleveland Clinic as an observer, post-doctoral research fellow, and most recently as an IM resident, before my fellowship match season. It was an easy decision! The research mentorship & career coaching I received at CCF (particularly at Taussig Cancer Center) in the past few years has been outstanding and played a huge role in my decision making. CCF is a world class institution, where you get to see an exceptionally wide variety of patients from all across the globe, making this a very robust training program. This place provides you with the perfect environment you need to hone your clinical skills, as well as a plethora of resources to launch a successful academic/research career in any field you like.

Nancy Musoke

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada
Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Hobbies: Watching soccer, mainly the English Premier League (Arsenal obviously!) Playing tennis, cooking and baking. Eating too of course! I love to try new restaurants. Travelling the world, especially anywhere with a beach! Spending time with family whenever I can.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? Interview day was overwhelmingly convincing that this is where I hoped to end up. Everyone was incredibly warm and genuine. The program leadership is supportive and the opportunities to excel in my career are endless. The program allows me to tailor my training to my goals and I am grateful for that. I am honored to be training at a top institution among amazing faculty and co fellows.

Arun Muthiah

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine
Residency: Brown University
Hobbies: My current interests are chasing my son around and forcing other people to look at pictures of him. Otherwise, I enjoy playing soccer and tennis, rooting for the Steelers, and playing heated games of Settlers of Catan.
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I was looking for a fellowship program with a collegial environment and a strong record of mentorship, paired with exposure to a broad diversity of diseases, commitment to patient care, and access to resources. Though many programs offered this, I felt that Cleveland Clinic excelled in these aspects. Additionally, I enjoyed my interactions with staff whom I had met through my interview and conferences. I genuinely felt that the program was strongly invested in the fellow's experience and growth on an academic, professional and personal level. The fellows seemed happy, supported and had time to learn and cultivate interests.

Kelsey Pandrangi

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: Rush
Hobbies: watching documentaries, HGTV, trying new Cleveland restaurants, exploring the Metroparks
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? Because Cleveland rocks! Also for the opportunity to see the full spectrum of pathology and learn from the world’s leading experts.

Kyle Vandommelen

Hometown: Middleville, Michigan
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Residency: University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Hobbies: Soccer, snowboarding, watching Michigan sports teams, hiking, playing video games
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? I chose Cleveland Clinic for fellowship because of the emphasis placed on exceptional patient care, the abundant research opportunities available and the supportive environment within the fellowship program. The program is genuine in its support of its fellows and is dedicated to tailoring the training experience to fit their career goals. I could not be happier to be training under and alongside such wonderful people.

Anirudh Yalamanchali

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Hobbies: Tennis, any outdoor activity, cooking/baking/learning food science, video games, board games
Why did you choose Cleveland Clinic? The people at CCF create an inviting work and learning environment. Everyone is kind, thoughtful, and wants the best for patients and trainees. We get to work with leaders in the field, resulting in excellent clinical training and research opportunities.

Accomplishments

Fellow Accomplishments

Recent Graduates

Year	Former Fellow	Position
2023	Shimoli Barot	Cleveland Clinic
2023	Madison Conces	University Hospitals of Cleveland
2023	Anne Hubben	Cleveland Clinic
2023	Bharathi Muthusamy	Indiana University
2023	Logan Roof	Ohio State University
2023	James Schuster	Cleveland Clinic (Regional)
2022	Matthew Cortese	Roswell Park Cancer Institute
2022	Scott Dawsey	John D. Dingell VA Hospital, Detroit Michigan
2022	Christopher Lemmon	University of Cincinnati
2022	Amanda Nizam	Cleveland Clinic
2022	Tiffany Onger	Cleveland Clinic
2022	Matthew Wright	MD Anderson Cancer Center, Regional Hospital
2021	Sherwin Desouza	University Hospitals Health System
2021	Siddharth Kunte	Cleveland Clinic
2021	Kanika Nair	Cleveland Clinic
2021	Meena Sadaps	Cleveland Clinic
2021	Iris Sheng	Beth Isreal
2021	Tamara Sussman	Dana Farber
2020	Rajshekhar Chakraborty	Columbia University
2020	Jaleh Fallah	US Department of Health and Human Services, FDA
2020	Rachel Hu	Intermountain Medical Center, Utah
2020	Ashwin Kishtagari	Cleveland Clinic Experimental Therapeutics Fellowship
2020	Sarah Lee	University of Washington, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
2020	Pradnya Patil	Cleveland Clinic
2019	Jack Khouri	Cleveland Clinic
2019	Yazan Madanat	University of Texas Southwestern
2019	Pramod Pinnamaneni	East Texas Hematology/Oncology, Lufkin TX (Private)
2019	Yazeed Sawalha	Ohio State University
2019	Manasa Vulchi	St. Joseph Health Medical Group, Santa Rosa CA (Private)
2019	Allison Winter	Cleveland Clinic

Publications and Presentations

• Publications and Presentations 2022
• Publications and Presentations 2021

Honors & Awards – Past Two Academic Years

07/2023-06-2024

• 07/23 – ASH Medical Educators Institute - Shah

07/2022-06-2023

• 07/22 – Caregiver Excellence Award - Conces
• 07/22 – ASCO Trainee Council Member - Conces
• 07/22 – ASCO Trainee Council Member - Roof
• 08/22 – Professional Certified Leadership/Executive Coach - Nguyen
• 09/22 – Dr. John Sedor's TL1 Grant from Inflammation and Immunity – Hubben
• 09/22 – FDA/ASCO Hematology and Oncology Fellow’s Day Workshop – Conces
• 09/22 – FDA/ASCO Hematology and Oncology Fellow’s Day Workshop - Roof
• 10/22 – FDA/ASH Workshop on Regulatory Science in Hematology - Brooks
• 10/22 – Women in Science Award - Hubben
• 11/22 – 2023 Conquer Cancer Merit Award / ASCO GI Symposium – Jayakrishnan
• 11/22 – Sampson Leadership Endowment Fund - Nguyen
• 03/23 – HTRS Trainee Workshop – Hubben
• 03/23 – Columbia SHARP Professional Development Scholarship - Jayakrishnan
• 02/23 – VeloSano Trainee Dream Experiment Award – Jayakrishnan
• 02/23 – Conquer Cancer Merit Award – Jayakrishnan
• 05/23 – HSA Professional Development Grant – Nguyen
• 06/23 – Cleveland Clinic Excellence in Teaching Award – Delasos
• 06/23 – Cleveland Clinic Excellence in Teaching Award – Conces
• 06/23 – Cleveland Clinic Excellence in Teaching Award – Hubben

07/2021-06-2022

• 07/21 – ASCO Trainee Council Member - Roof
• 07/21 - ASCO Trainee & Early Career Advisory Group – Nizam
• 07/21 – ASCO Trainee Council Member, Conces
• 07/21 – ASCO Quality Training Fellow - Onger
• 09/21 – Cleveland Clinic World Conference on Lung Cancer – Muthusamy
• 11/21 – FDA-ASCO Hematology and Oncology Fellows Day Workshop – Cortese
• 01/22 – ASCO Conquer Cancer Merit Award – Barot
• 04/22 – ASCO Conquer Cancer Merit Award – Jayakrishnan
• 04/22 – ASCO Advocacy Summit - Nizam

07/2019 – 06/2020

• 07/19 – ASCO Trainee Council Leader, Patil
• 07/19 – ASCO Trainee Council Member, Lee
• 07/19 – ASCO / AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, Hu
• 07/19 – ASCO / AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, Sheng
• 07/19 – ASCO / AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, Sussman
• 08/19 – ASH/CRTI Fellow Participant Award, Chakraborty
• 08/19 – VeloSano Catalyst Award/Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kishtagari
• 09/19 – Conquer Cancer Foundation ASCO Quality Care Symposium Merit Award, Lee
• 10/19 – United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2Orals, Sadaps
• 10/19 – United European Gastroenterology (UEG) 2019 National Scholar Award (USA), Sadaps
• 11/19 – FDA/ASCO Fellow’s Day Workshop, Hu
• 11/19 – The Society for Melanoma Research Travel Award, Sussman
• 12/19 – ASH Abstract Achievement Award, Kishtagari
• 12/19 – Pre-ASH HTRS Trainee Workshop, Desouza
• 01/20 – ASCO Foundation & Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Merit Award, Nair
• 03/20 – GME Patient Safety Day Award – 1^st Place Poster, Lee
• 03/20 – FDA/ASCO Fellow’s Day Workshop, Chakraborty
• 04/20 – HTRS Fellows Network Council Member Appointment, Desouza

07/2018 – 06/2019

• 07/18 – ASCO / AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, Fallah
• 09/18 – SOHO Oral, Madanat
• 09/18 – SOHO Honorable Distinction Award, Madanat
• 09/18 – CC Bumpus Award, Patil
• 09/18 – STOFF Fellow Award, Sawalha
• 11/18 – ASCO FDA Workshop, Khouri
• 12/18 – ASH Oral, Kishtagari
• 12/18 – ASH Abstract Achievement Award, Kishtagari
• 12/18 – ASH Abstract Achievement Award, Madanat
• 12/18 – ASH Travel Grant Award, Chakraborty
• 02/19 – Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Travel Award, Sheng
• 02/19 – Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Travel Award, Fallah
• 03/19 – ASCO FDA Workshop, Fallah
• 03/19 – Lymphoma Research Foundation Scholar, Sawalha
• 03/19 – CCLCM Outstanding Preceptor Award, Sadaps
• 04/19 – Acute Leukemia Forum Young Investigators Award, Madanat
• 05/19 – ASCO Trainee Council Member, Fallah
• 05/19 – ASCO Merit Award, Sheng
• 05/19 – ASCO Educational Session Lung Speaker, Patil
• 05/19 – ASCO FDA Workshop, Sawalha
• 05/19 – AAAVD Workshop Scholarship, J Fallah
• 06/19 – ASCO Trainee Council Leader, Patil
• 06/19 – Conquer Cancer Foundation ASCO Merit Award, Sheng
• 06/19 – ASCO Quality Training Program Fellow, Nair

Applying & Benefits

Applying

We are excited you have chosen to apply to the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic. Our program is a not-for-profit, multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio. Since its inception in 1921, education has been an integral part of our mission, which is "care of the sick, investigation of their problems, and further education of those who serve."

Candidates interested in applying for entry into the ACGME-accredited Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program must complete an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine Residency Program, or an RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited Internal Medicine Residency Program located in Canada.

For the 2021 application season, all interviews will be virtual. A typical interview day will begin at 9 a.m. with a program overview conducted by the Program Director, followed by a meeting with our Chief Fellows. All applicants will also have the opportunity to meet current fellows during small group break-out sessions. Interviews occur in the afternoons with members of our Admissions Committee, concluding at 4 p.m. A detailed itinerary and additional information will be provided for applicants selected for interviews.

Should you have any specific questions or require additional information, we encourage you to reach out to the program contacts listed below:

• Michael McNamara, MD - Program Director
• Megan Kruse, MD - Associate Program Director
• Marc Shapiro, MD - Associate Program Director
• Timothy Gilligan, MD - Education Chair

Lynn Mulgrew - Program Manager
Email: mulgrel@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.0624
Fax: 216.636.1711
Location: Cleveland Clinic
Taussig Cancer Institute
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195

Benefits

Program Specific Benefits +

ASH Fundamentals for Hematology Fellows (FHF) paid by program for each fellow to include:

• ASH Associate membership
• One complimentary registration per academic year for one ASH meeting
• Online access to ASH Self-Assessment Program (ASH-SAP)

ASCO Educational Essentials for Oncology Fellows (EEOF) Premium Package paid by program for each fellow to include:

• ASCO-SEP® Latest Edition
• ASCO Virtual Meeting
• ASCO University courses (recommended curriculum)
• ASCO Flashcard app
• Oncology Training Program Slide Bank

In Training Exam: Offered in fellow's second and third year of training for both ASCO and ASH.

Travel Privileges:

• 1 GME funded trip per academic year: (Maximum of $1,500 per academic year): The Cleveland Clinic strongly encourages trainees to participate in scholarly/research activities. Funds are available for fellows in the accredited program to attend academic meetings for the purpose of presenting or engaging in leadership roles within national societies. Eligibility will be determined by the Program Director. Please refer to the Graduate Physician's Manual for further details.
• Program sponsored reimbursement for travel to national society meetings:
• The program will provide financial assistance for each fellow to attend 1 ASCO and 1 ASH meeting throughout their three years of training if not presenting.
• Fellows with accepted abstracts are also provided support to travel with Program Director approval

Board Review: Fellows in their final year of training have financial support to attend a board review course to include registration, travel, lodging and a meal allowance.

Book Allowance: $300 per academic year to purchase educational materials. Fellows must follow appropriate protocol to submit for reimbursement.

iPhone: Clinical trainees will receive Cleveland Clinic issued iPhones during orientation.

Coaching: The goal of each Coach is to provide the fellow with ongoing unbiased feedback during training to stay focused and on track. Coaches will provide guidance to fellows in career development, professional goals and long-term success strategies. They will assist in identifying professional opportunities as well as provide advice and direction on how to approach different projects and capitalize on strengths as well as identify areas needing improvement.

Moonlighting: We offer competitive wages for internal moonlighting to eligible candidates. Must hold a permanent Ohio medical license and be appropriately credentialed within the hospital.

Learn about our competitive benefits program including key information on healthcare coverage along with information to help you better manage your finances while in training.

Benefit Highlights

• Find out what benefits you receive as a Cleveland Clinic trainee

Finance Highlights

• Get key information such as salary to help you manage your finances