Interdisciplinary Breast Surgery Fellowship

The Yale School of Medicine Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Oncology, established an interdisciplinary breast surgery fellowship in July 1, 2007. The Yale Cancer Center is a nationally recognized NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Breast Center is an integral part of the Cancer Center. The Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program has been the recipient of the prestigious Norma Lies Mitchell Interdisciplinary Breast Fellowship Grant from the Breast Cancer Alliance for 2007-08 and 2008-09 and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Interdisciplinary Breast Fellowship Grant for 2008-2010.

Mission

The mission of the Yale New Haven Breast Program is to eradicate breast cancer through innovative research, community outreach, education, screening and treatment. The mission of the interdisciplinary breast fellowship is to train the candidate in first-rate patient care, to prepare future leaders in diseases of the breast, to push the frontiers of breast surgical science, to serve the community in promoting cancer prevention and cancer control and to educate.

Aim

The aim is to prepare highly educated, inspired, compassionate future leaders in the field of breast disease through an integrated multidisciplinary program. The core curriculum is designed to provide the trainee with the knowledge to serve as a leader in the interdisciplinary care of breast cancer in an academic environment, develop state of the art diagnostic and technical skills for the management of benign and malignant breast diseases, understand and counsel individuals who are at high risk of inherited gene mutations, participate in survivorship programs, interact with community services and programs that serve a variety of socioeconomic and cultural strata of the local community, speak to the lay public, medical community and academic associations on breast disease, develop independent clinical and/or translational research interest, develop office management skills and understand public health policy and health economics as they relate to breast disease. The goal is to educate surgeons in the comprehensive management of benign and malignant breast disease, in a format that emphasizes compassion, continuity of care, education, prevention and supportive care. It is our expectation that the fellow will acquire not only clinical and technical skills, but also, the administrative expertise to implement a multidisciplinary breast program upon completion of the fellowship at his or her institution.

Goals

The goals of the breast fellowship are to provide a varied clinical experience in breast disease, offer a didactic curriculum in breast health and oncology, foster the development of leadership skills, understand conduct and ethics of clinical investigation, encourage participation in clinical, translational and basic science research endeavors, and to participate in community outreach activities. The trainee will serve the community through outreach programs and be engaged in membership to national organizations involved in promoting breast care. The interdisciplinary focus is pre-eminent throughout the training period.

Opportunities

The Department of Surgery at Yale University seeks interested BC/BE general surgeons or surgical oncologists with an interest in benign and malignant breast disease. The fellowship is a one-year clinical fellowship that trains surgeons in the interdisciplinary approach to breast disease and improve quality of care for breast cancer patients. Trainees rotate on the breast surgery service, medical oncology, radiation oncology, breast imaging, pathology, plastic surgery, survivorship clinic and genetics. Trainees participate in the weekly multidisciplinary clinics and breast tumor board. Trainees become proficient in surgical techniques that include: sentinel node biopsy, skin sparing mastectomy, nipple-areola sparing mastectomy, oncoplastic surgical procedures, surgical management after preoperative chemotherapy, ultrasound guided core biopsy, fine needle aspiration, central duct excision, breast biopsy techniques, axillary dissection and central venous access techniques. Trainees understand the multidisciplinary management of the whole person during the diagnostic, treatment, recovery and survivorship phases of breast cancer. They are instructed and mentored directly by members of the Interdisciplinary Breast Oncology team who are nationally recognized clinicians and scientists that are dedicated to the improvement of cancer care and the advancement of our fundamental knowledge in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Didactic sessions include monthly breast clinical seminars, breast pathology conference, cancer center grand rounds, surgical oncology teaching conference and School of Oncology Breast Course. A second year of the fellowship can be arranged for those interested in pursuing a special area of clinical interest, translational research, community outreach, education, disparities, quality of life or survivorship issues.

Trainees are expected to identify an area of clinical/translational research and submit an abstract to a national meeting and a manuscript for publication. Trainees participate in local community outreach programs and serve as speakers to the lay community. The fellow is expected to present at Surgical Grand Rounds and at Cancer Center Grand Rounds.

Prospective candidates must be BE/BC in general surgery. Non-US graduates must have passed the USMLE I, II, III and be able to be licensed in Connecticut and approved by the Yale-New Haven Medical Group.

Baiba J. Grube MD MS FACS
Program Director
Yale University School of Medicine
Department of Surgery
Yale New Haven Breast Center
800 Howard Avenue, LL38, PO Box 208062
New Haven, CT 06520-8062

Phone: 203-785-7225
FAX: 203-785-2329
e-mail: baiba.grube@yale.edu

Contact Information for application process:
Fellowship Administrative Assistant: Karen Rispoli
Phone: 203-737-5123
e-mail: karen.rispoli@yale.edu

Yale is an equal opportunity, affirmative-action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.