Surgical Oncology Fellowship

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Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the Roger Williams Medical Center, which was one of the original SSO approved programs and one of the first to receive ACGME accreditation in 2013.

This website contains information about our educational program, faculty, staff, and outcomes research program. All of our specialists completed Surgical Oncology fellowships in SSO approved programs and as program director, I have dual board certification in general surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology. To be part of the first group of CGSO board certified surgeons has allowed me to design an educational curriculum to ensure our fellows obtain their board certification upon finishing our program.

We emphasize the multidisciplinary management of complex upper abdominal malignancies. In addition, we have dedicated programs for breast and head and neck cancers. Roger Williams also serves as a regional referral center for hepato-bilio-pancreatic pathologies and sarcomas.

There are opportunities to participate in population-based research in our robust Geriatric Surgical Oncology and Cancer Care Disparities research programs.

Thank you,

Abdul Saied Calvino, MD, MPH, FACS

Program Director, Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship

The Division of Surgical Oncology at Roger Williams Medical Center and Adele R. Decof Cancer Center offers a two-year Clinical Fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology. The program was initiated in July 1988, approved by The Society of Surgical Oncology in 1995, and ACGME certified in 2013.

It is directed towards candidates who have completed an approved general surgical residency and are eligible for the American Board of Surgery examination. The principal program objective is to develop academic surgical oncologists who will possess mastery of the technical and cognitive aspects of our specialty. Intensive experience with basic or clinical oncologic research is encouraged. One fellow per year is admitted to the program. Fellows function as junior faculty members in collaboration with the attending staff.
The two-year training program emphasizes a strong clinical experience in advanced, state-of-the-art oncologic surgical techniques and multi-disciplinary clinical decision-making. The Division of Surgical Oncology has a major interest in the management of advanced malignancies including primary and secondary liver, biliary, pancreatic, colorectal, head and neck, breast, gastroesophageal, endocrine, and soft tissue tumors. A special emphasis is placed on foregut malignancies and regional therapy.

Our faculty members have a broad experience in regional and ablative therapies for visceral tumors (liver and pancreas), melanoma, sarcoma, and inoperable pelvic tumors. The Divisions of Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Interventional Radiology participate in the multi-disciplinary management of our patients. These interactions also involve several ongoing protocols focused on neo-adjuvant therapy for head and neck, pancreas, liver and rectal tumors. Protocols accruing selected patients with melanoma or breast cancer are ongoing as well. There are opportunities to participate in research protocols both at the institutional level and under the guidance of the multi-institutional groups. Fellows also participate in medical student and resident education.

The two-year didactic teaching program covers the essential principles of surgical oncology while emphasizing the literature which influences our practice patterns. Broad areas that are covered include basic tumor biology, biostatistics, ethics, protocol writing, and grant development. A scientific writing course is given as well. The fellow is expected to produce a minimum of one manuscript per year and to write and defend a treatment protocol before the IRB Committee. Dedicated mentorship is provided for clinical research projects, presentations, and manuscript preparation. Opportunities to participate in clinical outcomes research through our Geriatric Oncology and Cancer Care Disparities programs.
The program is designed to maximize clinical expertise in Surgical Oncology and to provide a solid foundation in clinical investigation to facilitate the fellow's maturation into a broadly experienced surgical oncologist. The breadth of clinical training and opportunities for basic science or clinical research provides for a stimulating and rewarding experience.
The first-year clinical rotations include two four-month core rotations at Roger Williams Medical Center in General Surgical Oncology. The Division is divided into two teams. One team concentrates on head and neck malignancies, breast tumor management, sarcoma and cutaneous malignancies. The second team has major interest in hepatobiliary, pancreas, colorectal, and endocrine surgery, with emphasis on minimally invasive approaches. The fellow's surgical oncology core time will be divided between these two groups.

Included in the experience are also four-week rotations in Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Pathology. The second year includes four months of dedicated research time, including focused studies in biostatistics and clinical trials, in addition to investigational requirements of an institutional review board. In months 2–4, the fellow returns to the core program. The fellow rotates to the Women & Infants Hospital's Breast Department in addition to a one–month rotation with the gynecologic oncology service. There is a 1-month international elective, which is funded by the Department.
Please note that the AAMC ERAS will be handling the match process including processing all applicant materials. To apply for a fellowship with the Division of Surgical Oncology at Roger Williams, please visit the AAMC ERAS website. The Society of Surgical Oncology will only be coordinating interview dates at the program level. Feel free to contact us directly for specific information about our program.

Selected applicants will be required to interview in person during the months of March and April. Please follow the application instructions as detailed in the SSO website. Late applications will not be given consideration in order to ensure that applicant files are complete when the interview process begins. Trainee salary commensurate with experience and health insurance will be provided.

Contact Information

Phone: 401-456-2484
Fax: 401-456-6708
E-mail: rachel.worster@chartercare.org

Address:
Abdul Saied Calvino MD
Roger Williams Medical Center
Division of Surgical Oncology
825 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908
We currently have several academic programs available. Call 401-456-2484 for more information.

Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship

All five of our specialists completed Surgical Oncology fellowships, three of whom were trained here at Roger Williams.

Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship
- Fully funded for one year with option for 2nd year
- Research projects will focus on the response of immune cells to intrahepatic tumors
- Attend conferences with our Society of Surgical Oncology Fellows
- Training for independent study design, abstract preparation, manuscript production, and oral presentations
Surgical Clerkship

Surgical clerkships are offered at Roger Williams Medical Center for third and fourth year students currently enrolled in qualified allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States. The objective of the clerkship is to provide knowledge of and experience with surgical diseases, enhancing the student's understanding of the relevant diagnostic and management principles. Emphasis is placed on the totality of care including the pre-surgical visit, intraoperative care, and postoperative management. The student will gain experience in both the outpatient and inpatient setting.
- Formulate and present diagnostic and therapeutic plans and record such under direct supervision.
- Student will accompany the preceptor on rounds, conferences and consultations.
- Learn how to interview, assess, and examine surgical patients.
- Students will have the opportunity to suggest appropriate and cost-effective laboratory, radiographic, and other testing and to write orders for such under direct supervision.
- Understand the basic principals of surgical care in the operating room and learn how to assist effectively.
- The student must maintain a log of patient encounters, procedures performed, lectures attended and readings accomplished.
Surgical Oncology Elective

The overall objective of this rotation is to educate fourth-year students how to provide effective multi-disciplinary care for patients with complex malignant diseases. This rotation will provide medical students the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of the patient with common forms of cancer. We will emphasize the integration of molecular biology into the prognosis and treatment of cancer, including advanced, locally recurrent and some less common neoplasms.

Instructional Features

An ever-increasing amount of patient care occurs in the outpatient setting, where the majority of diagnostic, work-up and treatment decisions are made. Therefore, students will be assigned two half-days per week in our outpatient clinic. Students will be expected to follow and assist an attending (on a one-to-one basis) as he/she sees patients and performs minor outpatient surgeries.

Students will participate in daily morning and evening inpatient rounds with the fellows, residents and surgical oncology nurses. Students will be encouraged to follow patients they have seen in the outpatient clinic and will be expected to read about the particular cancer in patients that they follow. Suggested readings will be available.

Students will be encouraged to maximize time in the operating room. It is expected that they will read about the disease, operative procedure, and relevant anatomy prior to coming to the operating room for all elective cases. Students are expected to attend the Division of Surgical Oncology academic conferences held on Monday afternoon of each week. At these meetings, students will be asked to deliver a 20 minute presentation on an assigned topic. Students will present a case and review a topic at one of our weekly meetings.

Assessment

The evaluation of each student will be based upon his/her participation in the aforementioned activities. No formal test or written assignment will be given; rather, the evaluation will be derived from a combination of the student’s ability to demonstrate a logical approach to cancer patient care, preparedness for oral presentations and for the operating room, diligence, and evidence of concern for patients’ well-being.