Emory University School of Medicine

Atlanta, Georgia

Training Program Director: Cletus A. Arciero, MD, FACS

Overview

Emory University’s one year Society of Surgical Oncology Approved Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship centers on multidisciplinary care of the breast patient.  Our mission is to teach evidence based clinical care, encourage inquiry with a research focused approach, and develop leadership skills for future career opportunities and growth. Our vision is that graduates will become leaders in academic or community-based breast programs.  Our approach is to provide breast surgical oncology training in diverse environments with a high-volume clinical experience complemented by a robust multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

About the Program

The Winship Cancer Institute at Emory is a Commission on Cancer Accredited Comprehensive Healthcare Network and the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Georgia. This allows us to serve as a regional referral center attracting the most complex of cancer patients. Serving over 17,000 patients per year, Winship combines unparalleled compassionate care teams with dedicated physicians and researchers, all working to transform cancer care.  The Glenn Family Breast Center at Winship was established in 2013 based on a $10 million grant from the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family. Treating over 1,300 new breast cancer patients each year, a team of over 30 physicians provide multidisciplinary breast care with a full complement of supportive oncology resources.

Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital is part of a Commission on Cancer Accredited Comprehensive Healthcare Network.  The mission of the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in Georgia through prevention and screening, treatment, research and education. In collaboration with key partners, we provide patient-focused services that emphasize access, customer service, cultural competence and the highest level of ethics and fiscal responsibility. Recognizing that research is the key to improving all phases of cancer services, we focus on research to improve patient outcomes, as well as basic scientific, clinical and population-based studies.  The AVON Comprehensive Breast Center at Grady helps to provide hundreds of patients, many from disparate backgrounds, with a comprehensive multidisciplinary breast cancer care.

Clinical Rotations

Most fellow rotations occur at Emory University (Winship Cancer Institute and the University Hospital), and the AVON Comprehensive Breast Center at Grady Memorial Hospital, with opportunities at several other community-based facilities. A robust surgical experience, including both benign and malignant breast diseases, spans a diverse patient population in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Currently, over 1300 breast cancer patients are treated surgically each year throughout the system. Operative exposure incorporates advanced techniques including SAVI Scout localization, radioactive seed localization, oncoplastic breast surgery as well as skin/nipple sparing mastectomy. In addition to rotations on medical and radiation oncology, a broad based and hand-on breast imaging experience is integrated into the curriculum. Dedicated multidisciplinary breast case conferences are attended by the fellows twice weekly at both EUH Winship and Grady, allowing the fellows to be able to learn and practice a multidisciplinary approach to the management of breast disease in a comprehensive and compassionate manner.

Research and Clinical Trials

There are enumerable research opportunities available at Winship Cancer Institute/Glenn Family Breast Center and Grady Hospital’s AVON Comprehensive Breast Center.  At Winship, there are clinical research opportunities available ranging from involvement in one of the over 30 active clinical trials to examinations of national cancer as well as Emory specific databases.  Although limited by the length of the fellowship, there is a large basic science research presence examining many aspects of breast cancer treatment which can allow exposure to translational projects.  At Grady, there is a tradition of ongoing disparities research examining all aspects of breast cancer care. An academic contribution, in the form of abstract submission, manuscript completion and/or IRB project creation, is an expectation of the fellowship.

Eligibility and Contact Information

Requirements include completion of a general surgery residency and American Board of Surgery eligibility. Applicants must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of Georgia. Two fellows per year will be selected, and interviews will take place based on the Society of Surgical Oncology website.  All application materials are available and should be uploaded when completed to the SSO Website.

Please refer to the SSO website regarding the application deadline, interview timeline and match details.

Contact Information