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University of Southern California (USC)

Keck School of Medicine (Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck Hospital, Verdugo Hills Hospital, and Los Angeles General Medical Center (LA County Hospital)

Los Angeles, California
Program Director: Azadeh A. Carr, MD
Associate Program Directors: Maria E. Nelson, MD; Emily L. Siegel, MD

Keck Medical Center building

Program Overview

The University of Southern California (USC) Breast Fellowship stands out as an exceptional program situated in the vibrant Los Angeles area. Central pillars of this Society of Surgical Oncology approved program include a multidisciplinary approach to the management of early to advanced breast cancers, comprehensive handling of benign breast diseases across diverse clinical settings, active engagement in clinical trials, and specialized training in oncoplastic surgery techniques.

Facilities and Faculty

Fellows rotate through three different hospital settings in the USC Breast Fellowship Program:

  1. An academic medical center comprising Keck Hospital, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Keck School of Medicine.
  2. A public safety net institution, Los Angeles General Medical Center (LAGMC).
  3. A private community practice setting at Verdugo Hills Hospital.

At the USC-Keck Medical Center/NCI-designated Kenneth Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, fellows collaborate with a diverse team of specialists including breast surgical oncologists, plastic reconstructive surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, physical therapists, and genetics counselors in managing breast cancer patients. Fellows also help conduct a weekly multidisciplinary breast cancer clinic for new patients.

Los Angeles General Medical Center (LA County Hospital) serves as a tertiary care facility for underserved populations. Fellows here manage a bustling outpatient clinic, participate in teaching USC General Surgery residents and medical students, and engage with a diverse patient population that may present with locally advanced cancers and unusual benign breast diseases. Fellows also have opportunities to screen and enroll patients for breast cancer clinical trials across surgical, medical, and radiation oncology departments. A weekly multidisciplinary conference presented by the fellow provides a platform for collaboration among all services.

Verdugo Hills Hospital, a USC affiliate hospital located in Glendale, offers a community-based experience. Fellows work closely with Division Chief Dr. Maria Nelson and other USC faculty members, as well as plastic surgery and radiology colleagues. This rotation also includes time dedicated to developing and maintaining research projects.

One Month Equivalent

To enhance the educational value across our three sites, we’ve implemented a process called the “one-month equivalent” where fellows accompany their actual patients into allied disciplines such as radiology, plastic surgery, genetics, pathology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and rehabilitation throughout the year.  Rather than distinct rotations, these disciplines are seamlessly integrated into the fellows’ experiences at Keck/Norris and Verdugo Hills Hospital while still allowing for surgical involvement year-round. Fellows actively participate in faculty consultations and management decisions for the patients under their surgical care, fostering a deeper understanding of how their surgical decisions impact treatment considerations in reconstructive surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and rehabilitation. This continuous exposure to allied disciplines throughout the year offers a more comprehensive learning experience compared to traditional month-long rotations.

Conferences and Rotations

The didactic training regimen comprises several key components:

  • Weekly Multidisciplinary Breast Conferences at LA General and KECK/Norris
  • Weekly Breast Educational Conference covering topics such as journal club, BESAP review, educational lectures series including surgery, medical oncology, genetics, plastics, radiation oncology and radiology topics
  • Weekly didactic meeting with faculty members and surgical case review
  • Opportunities for community service and outreach
  • Assistance in oral board preparation
  • Various national meetings including the American Society of Breast Surgeons and Society of Surgical Oncology Fellows Institute

Eligibility

Applicants should be eligible or certified by the American Board of Surgery or an equivalent certifying body and must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of California. Please refer to the SSO website regarding the application deadline and match details.

Training Program Director:Azadeh A. Carr, MD
 Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery
Address:

HC2

1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 4300

Los Angeles, CA 90033

Email:Azadeh.carr@med.usc.edu
Training Program Associate Director:Maria E. Nelson, MD
 Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery
Email:Maria.Nelson@med.usc.edu
Training Program Associate Director:Emily L. Siegel, MD
Email:Emily.siegel@med.usc.edu
Coordinator:Ashley Ho
 

HC2

1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 4300

Los Angeles, CA 90033

Phone:323-442-1042
Fax:323-442-0164
Email:Ashley.ho@med.usc.edu
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