Oncology Fellowship

Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program Overview

 

On behalf of the University of Chicago and NorthShore, Dr. Nita Lee (Fellowship Program Director) and Dr.  Elena Diaz Moore (Assistant Program Director) are excited to introduce you to our program. We are committed to training outstanding clinician-scientists who will be the future leaders in the field of gynecologic oncology. Our program was established in 2010 and is a 3-year curriculum consisting of 12 months of protected research time and 24 months of alternating clinical rotations at our two campuses: UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park and NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston. We are proud of the comradery and collaboration among faculty members and fellows and believe this is palpable to all who visit.

Our gynecologic oncology programs continue to expand at both campuses. Currently, we have 11 faculty members who have trained at 9 different institutions, accompanied by diversity and breadth of clinical practice patterns and expertise. Both campuses offer robust surgical volume, including a busy robotics program, as well as a large number of upper abdominal tumor debulking and other radical pelvic surgery cases. We have dedicated research laboratories within the Sections of Gynecologic Oncology at both institutions, strong collaborations with clinical researchers resulting in a breadth of research opportunities for our trainees, a fierce commitment to clinical trials and clinical trial development, and a diverse patient population with a full spectrum of disease. 

The goals of our program are to train:

  1. Excellent surgeons, independently competent in the breadth of complex surgical procedures a gynecologic oncologist should be able to perform, including open, laparoscopic, robotic, and vaginal surgery.
  2. Outstanding clinicians with an expansive knowledge of tumor biology, the principles of gynecologic malignancies, treatment, and associated medical conditions.
  3. Oncologists with a strong understanding of chemotherapy drugs, including standard cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted and experimental agents, accompanied by an understanding of the indications, mechanisms, administration, expected response and toxicity of such agents
  4. Physicians competent in the principles of palliative care and able to communicate effectively with their patients about goals of care and end of life issues.
  5. Compassionate providers who can recognize patients as people, put patients’ needs ahead of their own, exercise ethical practice, and utilize systems-based learning to continue to improve the care of patients and move the field of gynecologic oncology further ahead.
  6. Gynecologic oncology educators, committed to training the next generation of gynecologic oncologists, expanding the knowledge of their staff and allied health professionals, and providing their patients with an understanding of their disease and health related conditions.
  7. Oncologists with high regard for research, either evident in their own academic careers as clinician-scientists, or shown by an appreciation for and understanding of ongoing investigations, that encompasses the critical interpretation of the literature and the judicious application of research findings to patient care.

 

Sample Block Schedule

Includes 2 month lead in clinical rotation, 12 months of dedicated research, 22 total gyn onc clinical months, 2 off-site rotations (SICU + Palliative Care).

Year

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

1

NS

UC

RES

RES

RES

RES

RES

RES

RES

RES

RES

RES

2

RES

RES

UC

UC

UC

NS

NS

SICU

NS

NS

UC

UC

3

UC

NS

NS

NS

NS

UC

UC

UC

UC

Palliative

NS

NS

UC=University of Chicago Medical Center
NS=NorthShore University Medical System
Res=Research
Palliative= Palliative Care
SICU=Surgery ICU

 

Locations

Both UCM and NSUHS educational sites are staffed by a diverse and experience group of Gynecologic Oncology faculty, eight at UCM: Josephine Kim, MD, Ernst Lengyel MD, PhD, Nita Lee, MD, MPH, John Moroney, MD, S. Diane Yamada, MD, Kathryn Mills, MD, Katherine Kurnit, MD, Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD; and five at NorthShore: Gustavo Rodriguez, MD, Elena Diaz Moore, MD, Tilley Jenkins-Vogel, MD, Melissa Lippitt, MD, and Carolyn Kirschner, MD.

Both sites participate in NRG clinical trials and selected faculty are committee members and PI’s or co-PIs of major clinical trial initiatives. UCM is a parent institution and a Phase I site that is capable of performing Phase I, II and III clinical trials. NSUHS is also a member of HOG (Hoosier Oncology Group) and the Princess Margaret Cooperative Research Group participate in Phase I, II and III clinical trials.

Additionally, both sites have Gynecologic Oncology faculty with independent research laboratories dedicated to translational research.

Best Wishes,

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Nita Karnik Lee, MD, MPH

Program Director

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Elena Diaz Moore, MD

Assistant Program Director