Curriculum and Research

The training program is 2 years or 24 months.  The fellow will engage in 12-18 months of clinical rotations which will meet the minimum requirement by the ACGME.

Minimum numbers of cases are required for graduation. A detailed case log must be maintained by each fellow physician, and will be reviewed with the Program Director in the bi-annual meeting. ACGME requires Oncology fellows to use the ACGME electronic case log system. Minimum case numbers to satisfy the American Board of Surgery are below:

Fellows are permitted to moonlight in accordance with UTHSC GME Policy #320, assuming they are in good standing in the fellowship academically and professionally, and individually and fully licensed in the state of Tennessee. Fellows must complete and sign an authorization to moonlight form annually, which must be reviewed and signed by the Program Director before the fellow beings moonlighting. For fellows in Complex General Surgical Oncology, moonlighting is permitted only with the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system so their duty hours can be monitored and recorded. Moonlighting is not mandatory, and if done must not interfere with the fellow's primary clinical responsibility and educational needs.

During the second year of the program, the fellow will be actively involved in research. The overall goal of our research curriculum is not only research publication but also a comprehensive understanding of research design, analysis and application. Clinical research can be completed in this time but sufficient time must be dedicated to understanding bench research as it relates to clinical care.