The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Fellowship in Urologic Oncology, established in 2023, is a two-year program that includes one year of research followed by a year of clinical training. An additional research year – a third fellowship year – is available for fellows seeking further research experience. The goal of the fellowship program, led by Eric A. Singer, MD, MA, MS, is to train urologic oncologists who are exemplary doctors in all aspects of patient care, from initial consultation and diagnosis to treatment management and follow-up care.
Graduates of our fellowship will be:
- Surgeons who can perform complex open, robotic/minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures based on evidence-based care for patients with genitourinary cancers.
- Teachers who can compassionately relay the information learned during their fellowships to patients as well as communicate accurately with other medical personnel.
- Researchers whose curiosity and exploration of the clinical and basic scientific questions will lead to improved outcomes for patients with urologic cancer.
Current faculty in Ohio State’s Urologic Oncology Fellowship
Faculty who will be involved in the fellowship span multiple disciplines and have various specialties, giving fellows a robust education and training in urologic oncology. Faculty members include:
- Eric A. Singer, MD, MA, MS, Chief, Division of Urologic Oncology Director, Urologic Oncology Fellowship, Co-Director, GU Disease Specific Group
- Cheryl Lee, MD, Chair, Department of Urology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Geoffrey Box, MD
- Akshay Sood, MBBS
- Debasish Sundi, MD
- Shawn Dason, MD
- Kamal Pohar, MD
- Ahmad Shabsigh, MD
- Michael Gong, MD
- Yuanquan Yang, MD
- Darrion Mitchell, MD, PhD
- Shang Jui Wang, MD, PhD
- Anil Parwani, MD, PhD
- Zihai Li, MD
- Xuefeng Lui, MD
- Tasha Posid, PhD
Research year
The first year of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship will focus on research endeavors. During the research year, fellows will have limited clinical experience to allow them to work mainly on research projects.
Fellows will be expected to actively participate in clinical trials and ongoing clinical research studies underway in the Department of Urology at The Ohio State University. They’ll be involved in developing new study ideas and may participate in designing studies with faculty and the research team, screening patients for study participation and enrolling patients in studies. Fellows will be expected to submit for publication at least two peer-reviewed articles each year of the fellowship.
As part of a major academic health institution, fellows will have access to state-of-the-art laboratory space, which is well instrumented for the study of urologic cancers, to complete this research. Plus, research endeavors will be well supported by encouraging mentors and donors.
Clinical training
The second fellowship year will focus on clinical experience, with surgery and clinic responsibilities consuming most of the fellow's work week. There will still be one day per week (20%) devoted to research.
Under the supervision of the fellowship director, the fellows will participate in surgical cases with the greatest learning potential. This will include extensive hands-on experience with complex open, robotic/minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures consistent with evidence-based care. The second year will also provide fellows with the most up-to-date surgical techniques and management for the care of patients with urologic malignancies. Fellows will be expected to round daily with the faculty and residents, allowing them to participate in the full care of the patients.
During the clinical year, fellows will be exposed to all allied disciplines, including genitourinary medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and pathology.
Surgical experience
During their rotations, urologic oncology fellows will perform a wide range of surgical procedures under the supervision of Drs. Singer, Pohar, Shabsigh, Box, Dason, C. Lee, Sundi, Sood and Gong. These rotations provide important operative experience for the fellows because of the high volume of patients and an emphasis on complex oncology cases.
For each case, the fellow will meet with the faculty surgeon to discuss the patient’s clinical presentation before the surgery, demonstrate an understanding of the procedure and potential complications, and provide postoperative care.
The following are some of the unique clinic services available in the urologic oncology division:
- Minimally invasive surgery: We perform both laparoscopic and robotic surgeries to treat genitourinary cancers. We utilize robotic surgery when possible to facilitate faster recovery and preserve quality of life.
- Complex open surgery: Faculty will oversee fellows performing complex open surgery for bladder cancer.
- Retroperitoneal surgery: Fellows will learn several different versions of this surgery, including for high-risk patients with testicular cancer.
- Nerve-sparing surgeries: We work to preserve sexual function when removing the bladder, prostate or other genitourinary areas.
Didactic education
Fellows will have other ways to expand their urologic oncology knowledge during their fellowship. Formal didactic education within the division includes:
- Weekly Grand Rounds lectures
- Monthly Journal Club
- Morbidity and Mortality Conference
- Genitourinary Oncology Case Conference, including radiation oncology and medical oncology
- Periodic visiting professor presentations
- Research reviews, both individual and group
- Genitourinary Tumor Board twice-monthly meetings
Additional information and requirements
To be considered for the Urologic Oncology Fellowship, there are several prerequisites that candidates must meet. Those requirements include:
- Successful graduation from an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) urology residency program.
- Ability to obtain a full, unrestricted medical license with the State of Ohio Medical Board.
We are eager to interview highly qualified applicants for our program. Applicants much register for the American Urological Association 2024 SUO Match. Applicants must also submit the Surgical Oncology Fellowship application located on the Society of Urologic Oncology website. To learn more about The Ohio State University College of Medicine’s fellowship programs, including leadership, salary and benefits, click here. The Urologic Oncology Fellowship Education Manager is Bianca McArrell (bianca.mcarrell@osumc.edu).
Application deadlines
Our application process follows all timelines set by the Society of Urologic Oncology.
Why Columbus?
Not only will fellows be able to have all the resources and expertise of a major academic health system available to them, but they’ll also be able to explore and enjoy the city of Columbus and surrounding areas.