Dr. O'Brien in a clinic

The MUSC Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program began in 1986 and currently accepts three trainees into each class in its exclusively three-year combined hematology/oncology training program aimed primarily at producing graduates interested in pursuing academic careers.  This rigorous program provides each fellow extensive clinical training in all matters of outpatient, inpatient, and consultative medical oncology and benign and malignant hematology including a substantial amount of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant training.  Training in the basic principles and practice of hematology/oncology clinical research is provided to all fellows; additional training in basic and/or clinical research is available.  The program also offers an opportunity for select fellows to obtain a Master's Degree in Clinical Research in parallel with fellowship training. 

In general, the first two years of training are focused on clinical matters and the third year is largely protected for advanced research.  Fellows are expected to serve as educators for lower-level trainees and to participate in institutional quality improvement activities, too. 

The program only accepts July 1 matriculates, and applications for matriculation in a given year are accepted only through the AAMC's ERAS system for a four-month period beginning December 1 nineteen months prior to the intended date of matriculation; the program has participated in the NRMP's "Match" system for assignment of hematology/oncology fellowship positions since 2006 and presently plans to continue its participation. The program is willing to consider applicants who are not U.S. citizens.  Applicants must be considered actively board-certified or board-eligible in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine or presently be in an internal medicine training program leading to such certification; only the most extraordinary non-board-eligible candidates will be considered.  Candidates who have passed the USMLE Step 3 exam are preferred, as passage of Step 3 is an institutional requirement for fellowship matriculation.

The members of the Hematology/Oncology Faculty are active partipants in the Hollings Cancer Center.  The Hollings Cancer Center has attained National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, a distinction held by only 66 other cancer centers in the United States, and the only such institution in the state. 

The Hematology/Oncology Fellowship is fully integrated with the basic and clinical research programs at the Hollings Cancer Center.

The Division takes pride in our ability to collaborate and form teams of investigators nationally and internationally to advance research in hematology and oncology.

It is our commitment to basic and clinical research, which allows us to improve the preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic services to our patients.

This section provides details on our ongoing research and investigational capabilities available in our Division.

Basis Research Programs at Hollings Cancer Center
Clinical Trials
Shared Research Facilities Available

 Read the program's full Educational Program Description document

 Read the Scope of Practice document