Skip to main content
Get Care MyChart Find a Provider Find a Location

Training schedule

You will spend at least 18 months of the program in clinical training. With guidance from mentors and the program leadership, you will select your additional training experiences to allow you to focus on your specific career goals and learning needs.   

Fellows spend time completing quality improvement and research projects, with the opportunity to pursue other projects based on your interests and aspirations.

Hematology Overview of Training
Hematology Overview of Training

Rotations

The Hematology & Medical Oncology Fellowship is comprised of the following core rotations that provide a wide range of knowledge and experience.

Inpatient Consult Services

Inpatient experiences are consultative and conducted on the Gundersen Health System La Crosse Campus. All patients are admitted to the internal medicine or hospitalist service. In conjunction with hematology or medical oncology staff, you will be responsible for making daily rounds, performing clinical evaluations, ordering chemotherapy and managing treatment complications. During this rotation, you will also take referral phone calls from providers within and outside the institution for all issues regarding hematology and medical oncology.

Outpatient Rotations

You will be assigned to rotate through general and subspecialty clinics at the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders at Gundersen Health System. With staff supervision, you will independently evaluate and treat new and returning patients. Rotations include general hematology and oncology clinics, as well as multidisciplinary specialty clinics such as breast, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, head and neck, and lung.

Stem Cell Transplant

This required 1-month rotation takes place at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center in Madison, Wis. The Stem Cell Transplant program started in 1981 and performs approximately 110 transplants annually, including allogeneic (related and unrelated), autologous and cord blood transplants, and CAR-T infusions. You will stay at an apartment near the hospital, free of charge.

Hematopathology

You will spend a week with our 2 dedicated hematopathologists during the first "bootcamp" month of fellowship, learning the basics of reviewing and interpreting peripheral smears and marrows. Later in the first year, you will expand on this "bootcamp" experience by gaining expertise in the preparation and interpretation of bone marrow aspirates and biopsies and flow cytometry. You will also become familiar with operations of the clinical laboratory and pathology processing (histology, etc.) and gain insight into lymphoma diagnoses by being introduced to lymph node biopsy interpretation. At the end of the month, competency is assessed.

Transfusion and Laboratory Medicine

In this rotation, you will spend time in different clinical laboratories to learn about the principles, mechanics and interpretation of common tests used in hematology and oncology. The different areas include blood bank, coagulation, general hematology and immunology. You will provide consultative expertise to providers needing blood-banking assistance, which offers an opportunity to learn about principles and mechanics of plasma and cellular aphaeresis.

Palliative Care

This one-month rotation is divided between inpatient and outpatient experiences. During the rotation, you will learn how to manage pain and other common symptoms afflicting patients with cancer, including those in the early stages of the disease and at the end of life. You will also lead patient and family conferences and have faculty-observed patient interactions to allow you to work on end-of-life discussions, delivery of difficult news and other communication techniques.

Outreach Clinic Elective

You will have the opportunity—but are not required—to travel to outreach locations to learn more about how cancer and blood disorders are managed in rural and potentially low-resource areas. This is a great experience if you’re interested in a career in rural hematology/oncology.

Conferences and lectures

Regular weekly educational activities bring together members of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and clinicians at Gundersen Health System. You are expected to participate in the following conferences, as appropriate: 

  • Cancer Center Grand Rounds (monthly) 
  • Fellows' Didactic Conference (weekly) 
  • Hematology Management Conference (weekly) 
  • Oncology Management Conference (weekly) 
  • Research Conference (monthly) 
  • Protocol Review Conference (monthly) 
  • Palliative Care Conference (monthly) 
  • Fellow-led Conferences: Quick Hitter, Case Conference, Board Review (rotates weekly) 
  • Evening Journal Club (6 times per year, held at a faculty member's home) 
  • Fellow Business Meeting (every 2 months fellows and PD/APD meet to openly discuss issues in the program that need to be addressed) 

In addition, we have multidisciplinary tumor board conferences: 

  • Lung (weekly) 
  • Breast (weekly) 
  • Gastrointestinal (weekly) 
  • Genitourinary (weekly) 
  • Head and neck (weekly) 
  • Hematologic malignancies (twice monthly) 
  • Melanoma (monthly) 
  • Gynecology (monthly) 
  • CNS (monthly) 
  • Precision Medicine Molecular (twice monthly) 
  • Palliative Care (monthly) 
  • Hem/Onc Patient Safety Conference (monthly)

Why Gundersen

Aerial view of la crosse, wisconsin.

Call La Crosse Home

We have it all in La Crosse, Wis. Our vibrant city and region support your dream lifestyle with a welcoming community, culture and outdoor adventure.

Explore La Crosse
Single family home near Gundersen's campus.

Housing

Steps from our flagship medical center in La Crosse, our housing options allow you to enjoy the company of your family and the comradery of your colleagues.

View housing
Residents kayaking the Kickapoo river.

Prioritizing Your Wellness

As you learn how to become the clinician you aspire to be, we’ll provide space to prioritize your mind and body wellness, and reach the work-life balance you need.

Wellness opportunities
Contact our team

We're here to answer your questions.

Email us

1900 South Ave.
La Crosse, WI 54601

(608) 782-7300

Language Support:
Jump back to top