Southeast Campus

Clinical Oncology/Hematology

Veterans Affairs Medical Center

IMED 9216

Participating Faculty:     Eugene Tilcher, M.D.
                                        Glen Shamdas, M.D.
Offered: All periods
Positions: 1 per period

Objectives of the Elective:

  1. Obtain experience in the approach to the evaluation of patients with cancer or blood diseases.
  2. Develop the ability to envision potential therapeutic benefits with these diseases.
  3. Develop an appreciation for the investigative approach through clinical trials in the management of patients and in defining clinical therapeutics.
  4. Learn the basic evaluation and treatment options of patients with solid tumors (head and neck, lung, gastrointestinal, genito-urinary), hematologic malignancies (acute and chronic leukemias, myeloproliferative disorders, and lymphomas), anemias and other blood disorders.

Instructional Activities:

  1. Oncology/hematology ward and consult rounds. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM..
  2. Oncology/hematology Clinics: Mondays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM. to 12:00 Noon.
  3. Tumor Board Conferences.
  4. Morphology sessions: review of peripheral blood smears and bone marrow aspirates/biopsies.
  5. Supervised procedural teaching: bone marrow aspirate/biopsy.

Standards of Performance (Outcomes) Indicating Attainment of Objectives:

  1. Student will work up consults and new clinic patients. A log will be kept to document cases. Student will discuss the management of each patient with the preceptor.
  2. The student will understand the rationale for the diagnostic approach to each patient.
  3. The student will justify using examples of appropriate clinical trials and the treatment rationale.
  4. The student will relate to the preceptor these approaches to evaluation and treatment for each patient.

Criteria for Grading:

1. Satisfactorily complete workup and evaluation of at least six patients.

2. Present to preceptor the approach to management of each patient, including:
a. Satisfactorily relate to preceptor the proper approach to evaluation for each patient.
b. Satisfactorily explain the therapeutic options for the type of malignancy or blood disorder represented by each patient, using data from clinical trials to substantiate the rationale for the type of therapy that has been selected.