Rutgers fellowship aims to specialize cancer surgery training

The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is partnering with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to create a new program for hopeful surgeons in cancer training.

A two-year fellowship offered by these groups will let new surgeons train in advanced cancer care in August 2016.

This fellowship in complex surgical oncology provides additional training for surgeons who want to specialize in the surgical management of cancer patients, said Howard Kaufman, associate director for Clinical Sciences and chief surgical officer at the Cancer Institute.

“While general surgery training provides a comprehensive exposure to general surgical diseases and techniques, the fellowship provides much more in-depth experience with more complicated oncologic techniques,” Kaufman said.

The number of people with cancer is increasing quickly, Kaufman said. By 2020, there will likely be a shortage of specialists.

“This gap in experienced clinicians and scientific investigators is also occurring at a time of unprecedented progress in oncology when more patients can survive the disease — if they are treated appropriately from the beginning of their diagnosis,” he said.

Some of the techniques the fellows will learn include minimally invasive and robotic approaches to cancer problems, experience in managing the whole continuity of care for the cancer patient, including medical and radiation oncology and exposure to cancer-based research, he said.

The program was accredited in late October 2015 by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, said David August, professor of surgery at the medical school and chief of gastrointestinal surgical oncology at the Cancer Institute.

“We’re responsible for reporting to them, for maintaining their standards in training. There’s some very specific ways that residents or fellows have to be evaluated,” August said.

The Institute has hired its first fellow, who will start in August 2016 and is working to recruit its second fellow, who will begin working the following year, he said.

The application deadline for the second fellowship has recently passed. The interview process will begin soon.

“In addition to identifying applicants with strong academic backgrounds.  We are especially interested in candidates who have outstanding technical abilities, are accomplished clinical and/or basic science investigators who also bring a compassionate approach to patient care,” Kaufman said.

The fellow will have the opportunity to spend time with some of the best technical surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and cancer researchers in the nation, he said. Fellows will also be exposed to a wide range of cancer types.

Additionally, fellows will receive exposure to programs in precision medicine, tumor immunotherapy and quality improvement and outcomes research, which Kaufman said will provide the fellows with additional skills when treating cancer patients. 

Hadi Ali, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, said he thinks the program is advantageous for many reasons.

“Fellows will have the opportunity to carry out laboratory research in addition to their clinical research,” Ali said. “That translates to a better understanding of oncology and potentially more successful preventative care, screening tests and treatments.”

A program like the surgical oncology fellowship identifies the Institute and the Medical School as being among the best of the best in surgical oncology training, August said.

“It enhances the reputation of the University for people who pay attention to things like this, enhances the reputation of the Medical School, of our Cancer Center and it gives us a role in training future leaders,” he said.

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Samantha Karas is a School of Arts and Sciences senior majoring in journalism and media studies and English. She is a correspondent for The Daily Targum. Follow her on Twitter @samanthakaras for more.