The first year of the program is an opportunity for our trainees to develop their research skills and academic interests. 

Each fellow will select a thesis project and thesis advisor. The project must lead to the completion of a thesis suitable for subspecialty board certification. The thesis will be approved by an appointed Thesis Committee, and a formal defense of the thesis project will be carried out prior to the completion of training. This project may be laboratory-based basic or translational science, or non-laboratory-based epidemiology or outcomes research.

The first-year fellow is not assigned any clinical responsibilities and participates in a limited clinical call schedule (weekend call every third week).

Fellows actively participate in all aspects of inpatient and outpatient care of patients with known or suspected gynecologic cancer, including evaluation, planning, treatment, and follow-up at both the University of Michigan Hospital and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. Our fellows are responsible for day-to-day patient care decisions, as appropriate for the individual fellow’s level of training and experience. Faculty consultation is available to the fellows at all times.

Our fellows gain experience in a wide variety of surgical procedures, including bowel surgery and urologic surgery, in addition to gynecologic procedures. The University of Michigan strictly follows the ABOG Guide to Learning in Gynecologic Oncology.

Fellows obtain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification before beginning the clinical portion of the fellowship program. On the surgical oncology/breast care center rotation, the fellow participates in the capacity of a senior-level house officer.

Our division is committed to fellow education. Each fellow will be provided resources and experience to develop academic skills. The fellow will develop the ability to use appropriate methods and educational aids to teach medical students, residents, and allied healthcare professionals in clinical or classroom environments.

Fellows are also expected to participate in the education of residents and medical students. Two or three residents at different levels of training, one or more medical students, and one pharmacy student are usually assigned to the division for each rotation. The rotations are one month in duration for the residents and pharmacy students, and one to two weeks in duration for the medical students. Residents and medical students function as important members of the health care team under the direction of the gynecologic oncology fellows. This relationship exists in the ambulatory patient clinics, the inpatient service, and the operating room. In addition to teaching on daily work rounds and in the operating room, fellows are asked to prepare and deliver formal lectures and seminars for the resident core curriculum and lead discussions at department journal clubs. 

In addition to research training, our fellows participate in weekly didactics and regular conferences to ensure that they are up to date on the most current research and literature on important topics in gynecologic oncology.

Gynecologic Oncology Didactics: Our trainees participate in weekly gynecologic oncology didactic sessions. Reading material on a clinical or basic science topic is assigned to each fellow and is discussed by one of the attending faculty. Particular attention is given to the pharmacology of chemotherapy, surgical methods, and areas of controversy or new research. Anatomy review with dissection of a cadaver is offered every 3 years.

Division of Gynecologic Oncology Academic Conference Day: Trainees also participate in a bi-monthly division of gynecologic oncology academic conference day. The conference is divided into a faculty-led oncology journal club, a fellow-led peri-operative case discussion with pertinent literature review, a fellow-led chemotherapy case discussion with literature review, a research seminar with current research data presented by any member in the division (or guests from other areas), and the division administrative meeting including the monthly Graduate Education Committee for review of fellowship issues. 

Gynecologic Oncology Tumor Board: Fellows also play an important role in the weekly Gynecologic Oncology Tumor Board, a multidisciplinary conference is held with the Department of Radiation Oncology, the Division of Surgical Pathology, and the Division of Medical Oncology. All patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer who require the formulation of a treatment plan, as well as patients who require a new treatment strategy because of a change in disease status, are discussed and the pathology is reviewed. Residents prepare patient care summary notes and present the clinical history. The fellows prepare the presentation list and review any radiographic studies of interest. Following a review of the pertinent pathology, the fellow proposes a management plan with citation of current literature and assessment of protocol eligibility. Following a discussion with the attending faculty, a plan of management is formalized and recommendations for treatment are established.