Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Medical Oncology and Hematology Fellowship Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. Our program transitioned to a combined Hematology and Oncology fellowship three years ago, expanding from our previous focus solely on Medical Oncology. The fellowship is primarily based at the Jennie & John Sealy Hospitals and the University Hospitals Clinics. Jennie Sealy Hospital is a multi-specialty medical center with approximately 310 beds and serves as UTMB's main teaching hospital. John Sealy Hospital has approximately 300 beds, and primarily for women and children.
The faculty and medical staff at UTMB also provide care at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Hospital, a tertiary care facility supporting the inmate population. The TDCJ Hospital is physically connected to John Sealy Hospital. Additionally, the University Hospitals Clinics building, which houses outpatient services, is adjacent to John Sealy Hospital and near the Division’s main office.
We have recently established a clinic in League City, with plans to develop an Angleton-Danbury clinic in 2026. Oncology infusion services for patients in League City are also scheduled to commence in 2026.
The most common new cancer diagnoses or referrals at UTMB include carcinomas of the lung, breast, cervix, prostate, head and neck, and colorectal cancers. Our patient population also includes unique opportunities at the TDCJ Hospital, where we treat testicular cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and HIV-associated malignancies.
The first year of the Oncology Training Program is primarily focused on clinical training. Fellows rotate through the Hematology Consult Service, which manages both malignant and benign hematologic conditions; the Solid Tumor Oncology Consult Service, which focuses on solid tumors; and the Inpatient Service.
During the second year, fellows have considerable time set aside to allow them to develop their research interests and have the opportunity to undertake elective rotations in transfusion medicine and blood banking, Radiation Oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, Otolaryngology (ENT), and Pathology. A mandatory elective in Bone Marrow Transplantation is available at the UTMD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
In the third year, fellows continue focusing on their research pursuits and select electives designed to prepare them for independent practice.
Fellows are expected to engage in clinical or laboratory research throughout the program. During the first year, fellows identify a potential research area to develop further during subsequent years. Research projects may be supervised by faculty members within the Medical Oncology and Hematology Division or in other departments involved in Oncology-related research. The goal is to produce data suitable for presentation at national meetings or publication in peer-reviewed journals, including abstracts and full papers.
Throughout the training year, fellows participate in a variety of educational activities, including lectures, seminars, and tumor board conferences. These sessions are conducted by staff within the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, other subspecialties within the Department of Internal Medicine, and external disciplines such as Radiation Oncology, ENT, Surgery, Clinical Pathology, and Gynecology.
The Oncology Fellowship Program accepts three fellows annually. Additionally, planning is underway for the development of a stand-alone, NCI-designated multidisciplinary cancer center.
Maurice Willis, MD, FACP
Professor
Division Chief
Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology
Department of Internal Medicine