The Elaine M. Sloand Fellowship is a collaboration between the NHLBI NCI hematology oncology fellowship program and the NIH Clinical Center Department of Transfusion Medicine blood banking/transfusion medicine (BB/TM). Fellows accepted into the program achieve dual training resulting in degrees and certification in both blood banking/transfusion medicine and hematology (+/- medical oncology).
The fellowship is named in honor of the late Dr. Sloand, who pioneered the innovative practice of combining hematology and BB/TM within NIH. She obtained her hematology training away from the NIH, and later completed a BB/TIM fellowship at the NIH. After completing the fellowship, she joined the NHLBI staff and conducted research in hemostasis and bone marrow failure. Her tenure included serving as a leader for the extramural program of NHLBI, and she helped make many high-level contributions to blood safety during the AIDS epidemic. She then returned to NHBLI to perform innovative translational research, serving as an expert clinician and mentor until her death.
The Elaine M. Sloand Fellowship provides a dedicated three-year program with a single application process, jointly conducted by the respective fellowships. Experiences will include rotations in consultative hematology and transfusion medicine, cell processing and engineering, apheresis, transfusion laboratory, blood donor services, sickle cell disease, bone marrow failure, pediatric transfusion medicine, and acute leukemia at the NIH CC, Johns Hopkins University, Children’s National Medical Center and Washington VA Hospital. Fellows will obtain a singular training experience in hematology and transfusion medicine and acquire eligibility for board certification in both specialties.
Optionally, fellows can choose to extend their fellowship by one additional year to receive additional training in medical oncology and become board-eligible in medical oncology.
Structure
Year 1: 12 months of hematology training (6 months classical hematology, 6 months of malignant hematology).
Year 2: 13 months of transfusion medicine training.
Year 3: 11 months of protected research time. Participants can choose to conduct research in either hematology and/or transfusion medicine. Fellows will continue a ½ day of hematology continuity clinic and be able to attend lectures and conferences offered by the fellowship programs.
Year 4: (Optional) Additional 6 months of medical oncology clinical training and 6 months of research time.
Examples of Dual-Trained Physicians at the NIH:
Shelley Kalsi
Training: Heme/Onc – UPMC; BB/TM – NIH
Current position: Assistant Research Physician, NHLBI
Valentina Baez-Soza
Training: Heme/Onc – Washington Hospital Center; BB/TM – NIH
Current position: Senior Fellow, NIH (Department of Transfusion Medicine)
Sandhya Panch
Training: Heme/Onc – NIH; BB/TM – NIH
Current position: Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine
Sumithira Vasu
Training: Heme/Onc –NIH; BB/TM – NIH
Current position: Associate Professor, The Ohio State University
Cathy Cantilena
Training: Hematology – NIH; BB/TM – NIH
Current position: Senior Research Physician, NIH (Department of Transfusion Medicine)
Susan Leitman
Training: Hematology – Brown; BB/TM – NIH
Current position: Director of the Medical Research Scholars Program in the Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education at the NIH Clinical Center
David Stroncek
Training: Hematology – University of Minnesota; BB/TM – University of Minnesota
Current position: Senior Clinician, NIH (Department of Transfusion Medicine)
Charles Bolan
Training: Hematology - Walter Reed Army Medical Center, BB/TM NIH
Current Position: Senior Clinician NHLBI
How to Apply
- Physicians who have completed or will be completing their residency in internal medicine should submit an application in ERAS for the NIH Hematology Oncology Fellowship training program. The program is listed as the NIH Clinical Center Program (ACGME ID#1552314155) under the heading for Hematology/Oncology (Internal Medicine).
- Applicants should also contact George Lindsay and Alexandra Simone regarding their interest in pursuing combined hematology and transfusion medicine training.
- Applicants do not need to submit a separate application for transfusion medicine.
Documents Required for Application
- A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation, one of which is from the candidate's internal medicine training program director.
- Candidates with significant prior research experience should include a recommendation from their research mentor.
Selection Process
Successful applicants who have indicated their preference to pursue combined training will have two separate interviews – one interview day for the hematology fellowship training program and one for the BB/TM fellowship. Successful interview applicants will be offered a position that guarantees the three year combined training opportunity.
The combined Hematology and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine (BB/TM) is an optional track. Applicants who submitted an ERAS application will still be eligible for hematology only or combined hematology/oncology training throughout the interview season if they change their mind about their training preference.