Urologic Oncology Fellowship

Introduction

The Urologic Oncology Fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center is a two-year program, composed of one year of research and one year of clinical experience, accredited by the Society of Urologic Oncology. The research year involves clinical, translational and/or bench research. The clinical year involves a broad experience in all aspects of genitourinary oncology including a hands-on experience in complex and open, minimally invasive and robotic surgery. The majority of the clinical activity is performed at Moffitt Cancer Center and outpatient clinics and surgical centers, however a small fraction of complex operations that require cardiothoracic and/or vascular surgical support are done at the affiliate site, Tampa General Hospital.

The Moffitt Cancer Center SUO fellowship was started in 2009 with one fellow per year and has subsequently expanded to a three fellow per year program. The fellowship has five full-time faculty members who comprise the highest surgical volume by the department in the institute. The faculty members perform over 700 major operations per year and over 900 endoscopic operations per year.

Moffitt Cancer Center is the only NCI-designate Comprehensive Cancer Center based in the state of Florida. The Genitourinary Program is a national leader in urologic malignancies with faculty that chair and participate in national guideline committees. Ongoing research within the program includes investigator-initiated trials, industry-sponsored trials and cooperative group trials.

Tampa General Hospital is a 1,011-bed hospital and a regional trauma center. Typically high-level IVC thrombus cases that require cardiothoracic and/or cardiothoracic surgery support as well as patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease will often have operations at this facility. Fellows will undergo the credentialing process in order to participate in these complex cases.

Application Process

Graduates of an ACGME (or equivalent) Urology residency training program are eligible to apply. This program does not sponsor visas. 

How to Apply

1. A completed application form
2. Current CV
3. A letter of recommendation from the director of your Urology residency program sent directly to our program
4. Two additional letters of recommendation from physicians of your choice addressed to the fellowship director
5. Medical school transcripts and (optional) USMLE scores
6. Personal Statement
7. Current photo

Submit this information to:

Jamie Harrington, Education Coordinator
Jamie.Harrington@Moffitt.org

Curriculum:

Year 1

The research year is composed of 1 year of clinical, translational, and/or bench research. As per SUO guidelines each fellow is responsible for writing and submitting one clinical trial protocol during their research year.

At the conclusion of the research year, the fellows are embedded into the medical oncology clinic (not to exceed 20% of their overall time). Translational and bench supporting faculty are: Jong Park, PhD, Connor Lynch, PhD, Anna Giuliano, PhD, Nagi Kumar, PhD, John Koomen, PhD, Shari Pilon-Thomas, PhD

Year 2

The clinical year is composed of six-week block rotations by surgeon/clinical service leader. Currently, there are three services comprised of one-two surgical faculty members. The two clinical fellows and one chief resident manage each of these services separately covering both clinic and operating room efforts. Six-week rotations are typically comprised of 1-2 days of clinic and 3-4 days of operating. The fellows are responsible for managing their respective clinical services and working closely with supporting junior-level resident staff. Fellows also have the opportunity to operate at Tampa General Hospital for complex surgeries involving cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery.

Didactics

Tumor Conference – Weekly tumor conferences that involve multidisciplinary care discussions and a review of current clinical trials.

Morbidity and Mortality – At the conclusion of each six-week rotation, M&M cases are reviewed followed by short evidence-based didactics presented by the fellow or chief resident.

Journal Club – Every other month system-based journal club reviews the most recent pertinent urologic oncology literature as well as previously published seminal articles. Journal Club is concluded by a short didactic from one of the research fellows.

Invited Professorship – The GU program hosts a yearly invited professorship in Jan/Feb. Invited professors are national and international leaders in urologic oncology presenting novel research. Fellows have the opportunity to meet and interact with the visiting professors and are expected to present ongoing research and challenging cases during the didactic sessions.

Resident Conference – The SUO fellows have the option to participate in the USF residents' weekly didactic conference which occurs at Moffitt Cancer Center twice per month. Fellows are expected to give didactic lectures to the residents twice per year.

Faculty

Program Director
Wade Sexton, MD
Wade.Sexton@Moffitt.org

Assistant Program Director
Michael Poch, MD 
Michael.Poch@Moffitt.org

Scott Gilbert, MD
Michael Poch, MD
Julio Pow-Sang, MD
Wade Sexton, MD
Philippe Spiess, MD

Current Fellows:

2021

Ali Hajiran
Logan Zemp

2020

Salim Cheriyan
Ahmet Murat Aydin

2019

Charles (Chas) Peyton
Mounsif Azizi

2018
Domenic Tang
Juan Chipolino

2017
Andrew Leone
Greg Diorio

Past Fellows

2016 
Pranav Sharma, Assistant Professor
Department of Urology
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Lubbock, TX
Publications

Kamran Zargar
Senior Lecturer
University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Publications

2015      
Gautum Agarwal  
Mercy Clinic Urology - David C. Pratt Cancer Center
St. Louis, MO

Adam Luchey
Assistant Professor
West Virginia University Hospital
Morgantown, WV

2014   
Einar Sverrison
Assistant Professor
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, NH

Timothy Kim
Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
Arlington, VA          

2013  
David Buethe
Suncoast Urology
Brooksville, FL

2012       
Sandhya Rao
Assistant Professor
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY