Breast Oncology Fellowship
About Us
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a world-renowned, nonprofit academic medical center with more than 950 licensed beds. The medical center serves Los Angeles and the surrounding area as a major tertiary and quaternary referral center. As one of the largest medical centers in the United States, Cedars-Sinai offers residents and fellows exposure to a wide range of procedures and populations. Cedars- Sinai's facilities are among the most advanced in the world with state-of-the-art equipment and application of new technologies. Cedars-Sinai has 12 medical specialties (including cancer) ranked among the nation’s best in the U.S. News & World Report 2012-13 “America’s Best Hospitals” issue and was also ranked as one of the top two hospitals in California.
About the Program
The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) offers a one-year clinical breast oncology fellowship to candidates who have completed a general surgery or obstetrics/gynecology residency and who are Board-eligible/certified. The Breast Fellowship program is an integrated multidisciplinary program that encompasses benign and malignant diseases, clinical research, epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, genetics, early detection, staging, treatment, continuity of care, survivorship, psycho-oncology, and quality of life. Major emphasis is placed on surgical oncology training, multidisciplinary care, and clinical research. The breast oncology trainee will participate fully in the management of complex breast problems, evaluate patients with both benign and malignant breast conditions, and coordinate care with multidisciplinary specialists. The trainee will participate in the recruitment of patients for clinical and translational research studies. The 2013-14 breast fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is non-accredited and, therefore, not part of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) match. The educational program offered by Cedars-Sinai is modeled after the guidelines of the SSO, and we are currently applying for SSO program accreditation.
Rotations
The fellowship program includes core rotations in surgery, medical oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and breast imaging. Additional experience will be gained on genetics, psycho-oncology, community outreach, and survivorship and rehabilitation.
Eight months are dedicated to the surgical management of benign and malignant breast conditions. During this time, the fellow works closely with the seven faculty members of the Saul and Joyce Brandman Breast Center. He/she will receive intensive training in surgical procedures including sentinel lymph node biopsy techniques, various types of tumor resections, nipple-sparing mastectomy, oncoplastic surgery, reconstructive procedures, and minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. During the remaining four months, the fellow will have structured rotations in medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, pathology, breast imaging, psycho-oncology and rehabilitation, and genetics. Core curriculum includes didactic sessions, specialty meetings and conferences, community service and outreach, and clinical research. The breast fellow will see all new patients and participate fully in the evaluation, preoperative decision-making, operations, inpatient and postoperative care. New patients are presented at Multidisciplinary Breast Tumor Board where slides and images are reviewed with multiple attending physicians and multidisciplinary care discussed.
Research, Presentations, and Publications
Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow may participate in writing research protocols, grant proposals, and journal papers. He/she will learn to evaluate scientific publications and to prepare research results for submission to peer-reviewed medical/scientific journals. The fellow is expected to participate in ongoing clinical research protocols and is encouraged to present his/her research findings at local and national meetings. In addition, the fellow will attend basic science and clinical specialty research seminars. Previously trained fellows have presented their work at the annual meetings of the Society of Surgical Oncology, American College of Surgeons, Pacific Coast Surgical Association, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Breast Disease, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Eligibility
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, must be Board-eligible or -certified, and must be eligible for a California medical license.
Contact Information
Vicky E. Norton, Breast Oncology Fellowship Coordinator
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
310 N. San Vicente Boulevard
Suite 310
Los Angeles, CA 90048
PH: 310-423-9970
FAX: 310-423-9577
Email: nortonv@cshs.org
