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, Cleveland Clinic is home to more than 5,500 physicians and scientists, representing a combination of specialties surrounding a specific organ or disease system integrated into "Institutes" to provide the best collaborative, patient-centered care. In 2023, Cleveland Clinic provided nearly 14 million outpatient visits and 3,023,000 acute admissions. We have grown exponentially in the past 100+ years, but our three-fold mission has remained the same: caring for life, researching for health, and educating those who serve.

At Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute, we understand the importance in preparing the best new generation of physician scientists to not only practice the art and science of hematology and medical oncology, but to contribute to its continuous improvement and development for years to come. The Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute ensures that the cycle of knowledge progresses from research to education to patient care and back again.

The subspecialty fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology is an ACGME-accredited three-year combined program for candidates who are board eligible/board certified in internal medicine wishing to achieve certification in both hematology and medical oncology. Eight of the best candidates are taken per year. Hematology/Oncology Fellows rotate through six separate services within the hospital which include hematology consults, oncology consults, bone marrow transplant, leukemia, cellular and immune therapy, and lymphoma/myeloma services providing an excellent training resource. There are over 70 staff hematologists/oncologists within our Cancer Institute (not inclusive of the faculty at Lerner, Genomics and various other Institutes throughout the enterprise). Cleveland Clinic's Cancer Institute in collaboration with University Hospitals of Case Western Reserve is a NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program moved into the new state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary Cancer Institute building in March 2017.

TCI Diversity Statement

At the Cleveland Clinic 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

Every day, researchers and clinicians work in laboratories and at bedsides to improve the lives of cancer patients. As a result of their tireless efforts, new therapies, new technologies, and new approaches to treatment are introduced on a regular basis to offer sustaining hope to men, women, and children struggling with life-threatening cancer. Oncology is a dynamic discipline - preparing doctors to overcome the challenges of cancer care must happen both within and outside the clinic. While medical education continues throughout a career, fellowship training provides the critical foundation for professional excellence. For oncologists, the fellowship experience has a fundamental influence on future academic and clinical activities. At Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute, we are committed to offering an environment of creativity and discovery where our best and brightest young doctors can develop their skills, explore their interests, and benefit from the mentorship of world-class practitioners. In order to fulfill that commitment to ongoing education, the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program seeks to train the best physicians for the present and future care of patients.

Since its inception in 1934, the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute offers an intensive, three-year learning opportunity to an elite core of individuals, having trained more than 200 graduates to date. The Program aims to balance the combination of hands-on patient care with scholarly productivity supplemented with a structured didactic training program to ensure that all Fellows master the most current standards of cancer treatment and research. This dedication and program focus is one of the many reasons that Cleveland Clinic is recognized as one of the best cancer hospitals in the country.

Each year, the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute awards eight Hematology/Oncology Fellowships to the most promising physicians from a pool of over 500 applicants. Fellows will divide their time between covering inpatient hematology and medical oncology services, and following patients in dedicated ambulatory longitudinal clinics. Inpatient services include residents, medical students, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) with fellows assuming teaching and patient care responsibilities. Consult services will frequently include residents as part of the team. Fellows spend the majority of their first year in clinical settings. The second and third fellowship years provide fellows with ample research time and allow for clinical specialization through roles on inpatient services and disease-specific outpatient clinics. Additional specialized rotations are available in palliative medicine, neuro-oncology, oncologic urology, gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, laboratory medicine, coagulation, hematopathology, and blood banking. Fellows take call during their first year on average every fifth night while working on inpatient services only, and do not take in-house overnight call. A longitudinal outpatient experience includes staff-mentored clinics over the entire three years. The fellowship is flexible and, depending on the special interest of the fellow candidate, can be modified in order to best achieve their career goals. Our training program also offers leadership opportunities to senior fellows which are available in the role of Senior Chief Fellows (3rd year) and Junior Chief Fellows (2nd year). The Chief Fellows work to enhance communication acting as an advocate for the fellows with respect to faculty and program leadership. They will promote fellow interest while meeting the needs of the program working closely with the Program Director in matters surrounding fellow schedules, didactics, moonlighting, interviews, and orientation.

Didactics

The Hematology/Oncology training program has designed a comprehensive teaching curriculum for our fellows at Cleveland Clinic that include daily noon conferences, weekly oncology grand rounds, numerous disease specific multidisciplinary tumor boards, as well as recurring M&M presentations.

The program conducts daily conferences during the noon hour Monday through Friday except holidays. Each academic year begins with an "Introductory Core Lecture Series" during the months of July and August. This series is presented by faculty to cover the basics of biology, diagnosis, and clinical management for all major disease sites. Each spring, the conference schedule is prepared by the chief fellows and program director for the next academic year which provides the program with the ability to refine and tailor the schedule as appropriate year to year. Content and invited faculty are also reviewed to implement fellows' feedback and improve the quality and utility of the program. PowerPoint lectures are catalogued to provide fellows access to all presentations. The conference schedule is designed to cover all disease sites including both oncologic and hematologic malignancies, benign hematology, journal club, and evidence-based medicine.

Other scheduled conferences and supplemental courses include:

Communication Skills Training: Communication is the most common medical procedure. A relationship-centered approach to patient care can be learned through purposeful practice with feedback. Good communication skills have been shown to help medical practitioners improve reflective listening skills, empathy, teaching, time management and conflict resolution. The purpose of this training is the advanced development of building physician-patient relationship-centered communication. The R.E.D.E to Communicate: Foundations of Healthcare Communication course is designed to provide a foundation of understanding about the research behind the value of communication, to teach a specific model of communication, provide an opportunity to apply these skills to patient encounters with feedback, and to work through a facilitated discussion of the clinicians' own challenging communication scenarios. The goal is to provide fellows with the skills to become empowered to handle any communication challenge and enhance the experience of not only the patient, but also their loved ones and the providers. All fellows will have 2 days of communication training as a part of their orientation. There is also supplemental training throughout fellowship which provides a unique opportunity to work with national experts in the field such as Dr. Timothy Gilligan and Dr. Katie Neuendorf.

Humanities Course: This conference offers trainees a deeper understanding of patients as a whole and provides learning into how philosophy, literature, religion, art, politics, culture, music, and history can affect the patient's healing and how physician reflection on those issues can help with decreasing physician burnout and fatigue.

Grand Rounds: Visiting Professors and Guest Lecturers offered through the Education Institute are invited to speak as experts in their field to enhance educational experience of trainees at Cleveland Clinic.

Tumor Boards: Interdisciplinary team meetings to collaborate on complex cases to formulate a treatment plan. Tumor boards are conducted at Taussig Cancer Center for nearly 30 different disease programs.

Journal Club: Overview of clinical trial design and statistical methodology.

Pharmacology Series: A review focusing on unique oncological medications and recognition of their side effects, and management of these side effects.

Board Review: Fellows in their final year of training are provided financial support to attend a weeklong intensive board review course.

In addition to the above outlines program, fellows are encouraged to attend disease specific research meetings related to their rotations and as time permits based on their degree of interest.

Career Development

Career development is a 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 goal.

Career Oversight Panel (COP): This is a new initiative for the 2024 – 2025 academic year. First-year fellows will create individual career oversight panels, composed of 3 or more members. The goal is to create a group of faculty with the appropriate skills and expertise to help the fellow holistically navigate early career development. The COP will be distinct from, but complimentary to, the coaching program. Fellows will meet regularly with their COP starting the second half of first year.

Career Development Retreats: Held once a year, the retreat is a forum for fellows to present scholarly projects for review and feedback from our faculty and in particular, COP members and co-fellows. First year fellows will present plans for their scholarly work in the Spring of their first year, while second year fellows provide an update on their projects a few months prior. All fellows are encouraged, but not required to present their scholarly work in a practice session held two weeks before the retreat and attended by the Program Director and the Director of Research and Career Development. All fellows are provided verbal and written feedback on their projects 1-2 weeks after the presentation.

Leadership: Our program offers leadership opportunities in the form of our Senior Chief Fellows (3rd year) and Junior Chief Fellows (2nd year). The Chief Fellows serve a central role in the fellowship, working closely with the Program Director and institutional leadership on scheduling, curricular development, recruitment, and orientation. The Chief Fellows are advocates for our fellows and for the program.

Publications and Presentations

• 2022 Publications and Presentations PDF.

• 2023 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

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

Application

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.

The application process for fellowship is conducted through ERAS^®. We are participants of the NRMP Main Match and therefore, do not fill any positions outside of the Match. Applications will be reviewed during the month of July each year for position to begin July 1 of the next academic year. We encourage individuals to submit completed applications into ERAS^® no later than July 31 for consideration of an interview. There are eight positions available per academic year with interviews scheduled during the months of September, October, and November. A typical interview day will begin at approximately 12 p.m. with a Program Overview conducted by the Program Director followed by a meeting with one of the Chief Fellows and meet and greet with the fellows. Then, interview day will concentrate on individual interviews with Admission Committee Members, a select group of key clinical faculty that typically concludes by 5 p.m. A detailed itinerary will be provided to individuals 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.
• Marc Shapiro, MD- Associate Program Director.
• Sandra Mazzoni, DO- Associate Program Director.
• John Molina, MD, MEd- Associate Program Director.

Lynn Mulgrew
Program Manager
mulgrel@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.0624
Fax: 216.636.1711
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center
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 $2,500 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 should they exhaust GME funding within the same academic year.

Board Review: Fellows in their final year of training have financial support to attend a virtual board review course.

Educational Allowance: $1,000 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.

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.