Urologic Oncology Research Fellowship

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Program Director: Boris Gershman, MD

About the Fellowship

Description: The Urologic Oncology Research Fellowship in the Division of Urologic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is an intensive, 1-year or 2-year research training program designed to provide the fellow with an immersive, applied research education experience. The fellow will participate in a variety of research projects under the mentorship of Dr. Boris Gershman and other faculty within the Division, with a focus on the diagnosis, risk-stratification, evaluation, and management of genitourinary malignancies. The fellow will gain experience in the Data Science Laboratory conducting comparative effectiveness and health services research using observational data, including “big data,” such as administrative claims and cancer registry datasets. In addition, the fellow will participate in translational studies and clinical trials, such as NIH-funded projects. The fellow will become familiar with basic and advanced statistical methods, including emulation of clinical trials using observational data. The fellow will gain experience with all phases of the scientific method through an applied approach, including hypothesis generation, designing a statistical analysis plan, interpretation of results, and manuscript preparation.

Educational Curriculum: The fellow will participate in weekly conferences and grand rounds within the Division of Urologic Surgery. In addition, the fellow will be able to complete formal didactic curricula through courses offered by Harvard Catalyst, which will be tailored to the fellow’s educational and training goals.

Program Duration: 1-year or 2-years.

Salary: The fellow will receive a salary in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) salary scale.

Data Science Lab: The Data Science Lab combines state-of-the-science methods with rich, real-world data to inform the optimal management of urologic cancers. Work in the Lab combines innovative, multi-dimensional outcome frameworks that considers traditional oncologic endpoints, treatment-related harms, and geriatric assessment to help clinicians and patients make the informed, personalized treatment decisions. In addition, to address the paucity of clinical trials in urologic oncology, we use an innovative statistical framework to emulate clinical trials using observational data. We have conducted a number of studies that emulate trials of various interventions in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies, with work presented at regional and national meetings.

Publications: For selected publications, please visit here.

Division of Urologic Surgery: The Division of Urologic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a nationally recognized leader in urologic clinical care, training, and research. The Division is home to a team of fellowship-trained urologic surgeons providing comprehensive care across a spectrum of urologic conditions. In addition, the Division has a five-year residency training program, providing world-class training in general urology, endourology, urologic oncology, pediatric urology, and reconstructive surgery.

Living in Boston: Boston is a vibrant city offering a variety of sports, arts, and cultural experiences.

How to Apply

Eligibility: Applicants must have received a medical degree from a U.S. or international medical school or be currently enrolled in a U.S. medical school.

Timeline:
Applications open: December 1, 2024
Applications close: February 10, 2025
Interviews: Applicants selected for an interview will be notified via email

Application Requirements: Applicants should submit the following via email:

Curriculum vitae (CV)
Two (2) letters of reference
Medical school transcript. Transcripts from international medical schools should be provided in their original language and translated into English by a certified translator
Personal statement (no more than 1000 words): describe your interest in the fellowship, educational and research goals for the fellowship, career goals, and research experience to date
Mock research proposal: please submit an original, research proposal to conduct a hypothetical study in urologic oncology, including the following components: specific aim(s)/objective, background/significance, methodology/research strategy, innovation/impact, and references. The proposal should be no more than 750 words, not including references. Assume you have no budgetary, dataset, or material constraints.

Contact:
Boris Gershman, MD (e-mail)
Division of Urologic Oncology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School