Education

Hematology and Oncology are likely to be among the most dynamic subspecialties of Internal Medicine in the next few decades based on continuing advances in laboratory, clinical, and public health research. The Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Columbia prepares its fellows to be creative and productive contributors as researchers and clinicians. Our program provides a broad-based clinical training and rigorous development of a research project with opportunities to work with world-class investigators in an outstanding Ivy League University. Fellows may select options leading to either single or dual board eligibility with either 12 or 18 months, respectively, of direct patient care activity, and an equivalent duration of research training in laboratory, clinical, or public health research. The Division also supports Fellowship Training for Clinician-Scientists enrolled in Clinician-Scientist Training Programs (so-called “Short Track”).  Some of the highlights of our program are summarized below.

Clinical Training

Our clinical training program features diverse patient care experiences in a dynamic hematology and oncology inpatient, consult, and outpatient environment. Although CUIMC is a referral destination for patients not only in the New York Metropolitan area, but nationally and internationally, it is also a hospital that provides care to an often otherwise underserved population in Upper Manhattan. As a result, fellows manage patients at every stage of disease, from initial diagnostic evaluation to supervision of investigational treatments. Fellows train directly with recognized experts in disease-focused inpatient and outpatient rotations. Fellows are very much the center of our clinical investigation activities, which range from single-institution, investigator-initiated studies to multi-institution protocols sponsored by the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and cooperative groups such as the Southwest Oncology Group(link is external and opens in a new window). This research encompasses Phase I, II, and III trials, large populations studies using local and national databases, as well as translational correlative research that leverages Columbia's rich tumor sample bank, clinical database, and access to cutting edge science, such as internationally recognized Columbia Genome Center.

Fellows in the Medical Oncology and Hematology Fellowship Program receive comprehensive training that leads to board eligibility in hematology and/or medical oncology. In addition, fellows are able to obtain specialized disease-focused expertise in areas that include:

• Non-malignant hematology
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Bone marrow transplant
• Breast Cancer
• Sarcoma
• Melanoma
• Gastrointestinal oncology
• Genitourinary oncology
• Thoracic oncology

All fellows have time that is protected for research that is at least 12 months for fellows pursuing single board eligibility, 18 months for fellows pursuing dual board eligibility and 36 months for fellows in the Physician-Scientist Research Pathway (pursuing single-board eligibility).

Research Training

Between first and second years fellows participate in a summer grant-writing workshop that allows each to identify a research mentor and develop a research proposal to obtain research funding such as the the ASCO Young Investigator Award. This experience allows fellows to learn the process of proposal development and grant submission. These projects are then executed during the second and third years. Outside funding is not a requirement, but those who obtain awards may use them to conduct research beyond the third year of clinical fellowship and board eligibility. Fellows may select laboratory research, clinical research, or epidemiology and population science in the Mailman School of Public Health.

Laboratory-focused Research

Fellows pursuing laboratory-focused research take advantage of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) and the more than 250 laboratories located in the HICCC. Fellows may also choose one of the more than 1000 laboratories at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Columbia University Morningside Heights campus.  Faculty include some of some of the most innovative cancer researchers in the country and Columbia faculty received nearly $500 million in research funding in 2021 from the National Cancer Institute.  Fellows may choose co-mentors who bridge research areas or choose laboratory and clinical co-mentors.

Shared Resources at HICCC

Clinical Trials Research

Columbia is a leading center for clinical trials that span early phase, first-in-human agents as well as phase III trials that often serve as the basis for drug registration. Many of our fellows play an integral role in translational investigator-initiated trials that are often collaborations between clinically-focused and laboratory-focused investigators. Clinical research at Columbia is supported by a state-of-the-art Ambulatory Investigational Research Infusion Center, which facilitates early-phase clinical trials by collecting samples for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis. Clinical research is also supported by the Clinical Protocol and Data Management Program which is a centralized office composed of trained regulatory, financial, clinical, study management, and compliance personnel who promote uniformity and consistency in clinical research by providing support for principal investigators and patients. Fellows, under the supervision of our clinical faculty, many of whom are recognized as leaders in their fields, learn the intricacies of clinical trials development, which can include negotiation with Pharma, development of investigator-initiated trial proposals, protocol writing, regulatory approval (including FDA and Columbia IRB), subject recruitment, clinical trials conduct, data analysis, results presentation, and manuscript writing.

Cancer Population Science Research

Cancer population science research at Columbia encompasses studies that address primary prevention, risk assessment, and early detection, health outcomes, survivorship and care delivery, and global health. Fellows may choose among more than 50 faculty mentors, many of whom are nationally recognized thought leaders. Fellows, under the supervision of our clinical faculty, conceive the research concept, write the research protocol, obtain regulatory approval participate in subject recruitment, clinical trials conduct, data including database analysis, collaborate with biostatisticians, prepare results for presentation, and lead manuscript writing.  Research in this area is supported by Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, which is located at CUIMC, and many of the faculty in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology holds joint appointments at the Mailman School.

All fellows choose at least one primary mentor and may also choose a co-mentor.  Fellows typically initiate the selection of a research mentor in the fall of the first year of fellowship training. The selection of a research mentor is supported by meeting with Fellowship Program Leadership, the Division Chief, and often, with the Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Many of the Cancer Center Faculty present research opportunities for Fellows in the two research afternoons that are scheduled during protected didactic time in the fall. It is expected that fellows will have an opportunity to meet with other members of the research team and to sit in on lab or research meetings prior to selecting a mentor and will be excused from clinical obligations if necessary. In the spring of the first year, fellows will submit a research proposal that has been developed with their mentor(s) to Fellowship Program and Divisional Leadership. The submission also includes a letter from the research mentor that delineates the mentorship plan, including the mentor’s plan for career development. The research plan and mentor’s letter are reviewed by Fellowship Program leadership, the Division Chief, and the Clinical Competence Committee. If necessary feedback is provided to the fellow and mentor(s). The Clinical Competence Committee reviews research progress at 6-month intervals to ensure that programs remain on track.

Conquer Cancer Foundation: Young Investigator Awards

We are pleased to announce the following Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellows received Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards:

2024 ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards

• Michael Hughes, MD; "Preclinical Efficacy and Activity of the 11-1F4 CAR-Macrophage in AL Amyloidosis."
• Michael May, MD; "Predictive Biomarkers of Response To and Treatment Effects Of Motixafortide, Cemiplimab, Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Treatment Naive Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer."
• Alissa Michel, MD; "Decision Support to Increase Cascade Genetic Testing Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse First-Degree Relatives of Patients With Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial."
• Lindor Qunaj, MD; "Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Osteoporotic Fractures in Black South African Women Newly Diagnosed With Breast Cancer: The Impact of HIV, Endogenous Estrogen Exposure and Breast Cancer Characteristics."

2023 ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards

• Lanyi Nora Chen, MD; "A Phase I/II Trial of Tebentafusp with Hepatic Immunoembolization for Metastatic Uveal Melanoma."
• Brian Chernak, MD; "Assessing the Role of Serum Amyloid A1 (SAA1) as a Serum Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Myelodysplastic Syndromes."
• Kristine Lacuna, MD; "A Phase 1/2 Study of Eltanexor and Ixazomib in Advanced Sarcoma."
• Monica Kasbekar, MD PhD; "Dissecting the Drivers of Clonal Hematopoiesis to Mitigate Clonal Expansion and Transformation to Acute Myeloid Leukemia."
• Yun Kyoung Ryu; MD PhD; "Enhanced Efficacy of Anti-PD1 Antibody in Germinal Center Derived Lymphoma Through Combination Therapy with EZH2 Inhibitor and Novel Histone Acetyltransferase (HAT)
• Seda Tolu, MD; "Epigenetic Priming of Immune Checkpoint Blockdade for the Treatment of Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma."

2022 ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards

• Kara Cicero, MD; "Prevalence and Risk Factors of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in a Black Sub-Saharan African Population."
• Jacob Cogan, MD; "Efficacy of a Pill-Dispensing System to Increase Disposal of Unused Opioids and to Reduce Refills after Cancer-Related Surgery."
• Mariam El-Ashmawy, MD PhD; "Development of Combination Targeted Therapeutics for KRAS-Amplified Gastroesophageal Cancer."

Faculty

The Division is comprised of over 60 faculty members ranging from clinicians to internationally known basic scientists. The faculty's wide-ranging research activities often lead to collaboration with other faculty across the Medical Center.

Career Development

Facilities

The clinical activities of the Division are based in the recently remodeled Herbert Irving Pavilion and the 40-inpatient beds on the Hematology Oncology Service of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The research activities of the Division are conducted in the hospital, the Mailman School of Public Health, the Irving Cancer Research Center, and other laboratory buildings throughout the Medical Center campus.

Map of Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League institution with a national and international reputation for excellence in scholarship. From its founding in 1754, the University has played a significant role in American academic life and its graduates have distinguished themselves in many fields. Columbia is a leading institution in New York, as well as nationally, in terms of the number of Nobel laureates, number of Howard Hughes scholars, and ranking in biomedical grants relative to other institutions. Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons awarded the first MD degree in North America in 1770.