Program Overview

Program Overview

The Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship is a one-year program that provides comprehensive training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal tumors. The program is ACGME accredited and accepts two fellows per year.

Program Details

• Duration of program: 1 year
• Number of fellows per year: 2
• Postgraduate training required: Yes
• Application deadline: SF Match
• Application/eligibility requirements: Applicants must apply through the San Francisco Match
• Number of interviews: 15
• Interview Dates: TBA – Between January and February
• Fellowship start date: August 1st

Curriculum

The curriculum includes a comprehensive educational program with various conferences and educational opportunities.

• Monday: MSK Radiology Conference reviews interesting cases or diagnostic dilemmas from the prior week
• Tuesday: Resident-run preoperative conference in the morning, Multi-disciplinary Sarcoma Tumor Board in the late afternoon
• Thursday: Multi-disciplinary Sarcoma Tumor Board in the late afternoon
• Monthly: Divisional journal clubs, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Sarcoma Research Meetings, Monthly tumor-related didactics

Additional Education Opportunities

• Musculoskeletal Oncology Course (STRYKER): A hands-on course including cadavers and lectures at the Stryker Headquarters in New Jersey
• MSTS meeting: An opportunity to meet with other orthopaedic oncologists from North and South America while learning about the most up-to-date advances in the field
• Musculoskeletal Oncology Review Course: Fellows attend this department-sponsored two-day tumor review course

Clinical Experience

The fellow typically operates three days a week, with two operative days at UHealth Tower and one at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The fellow's weekly schedule is intentionally flexible, providing the opportunity to participate in the most appropriate options for their personalized surgical development.

Surgical Volume

The surgical volume is high and captures the wide breadth of orthopaedics oncology, focusing on the surgical management of bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Fellows can anticipate broad exposure to endoprosthetic reconstruction, including noninvasive expandable prostheses and customized prosthetic devices.

Research Opportunities

The program provides opportunities for research and collaboration with other departments, including plastic surgery and trauma teams. Fellows participate in the surgical management of benign aggressive disease, complex metastatic disease, and both primary and metastatic spine disease.

Conclusion

The Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship provides a comprehensive and well-structured program for fellows to gain experience and confidence in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal tumors. The program's focus on surgical management, research, and collaboration with other departments makes it an ideal choice for those pursuing a career in orthopaedic oncology.