The Department of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers a fellowship in neuro-oncology accredited by the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties (UCNS). This is a one-year program (non-ACGME accredited) with the possibility to expand to a second year. Our program focuses on training fellows to become academic neuro-oncology specialists with expertise in diagnosing and managing adults with primary and metastatic brain and spine tumors; CNS lymphoma; pediatric brain tumors; leptomeningeal disease; neurological complications of cancer and its therapies, including immune-therapy and CAR-T cell therapies; and other CNS tumors. Fellows receive comprehensive training in one of the largest multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology programs in the northeastern US. The program includes neuropathologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, radiation oncologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation therapists, palliative care physicians and advanced practice providers.
Fellows work directly with the clinical attendings and are clinically immersed, evaluating and managing a wide variety of neuro-oncology patients. Fellows will evaluate and master treatment of a broad range of neuro-oncology diseases. Additionally, they will learn about the evaluation of patients for our clinical trial research program, which encompasses studies for adults with primary and metastatic brain tumors, pediatric brain tumors, and leptomeningeal disease, and fellows will have the opportunity to serve as a sub-investigator on ongoing studies. Our fellows see patients with the faculty in the National Cancer Institute (NCI)- designated cancer center Ruttenberg Treatment Center, part of the Tisch Cancer Institute, as well as inpatients in the Mount Sinai Hospital. They will also have longitudinal outpatient experience with clinics.
We expect our fellows to read widely in the neuro-oncology literature, take a proactive role in our clinical and research activities, help mentor our residents and students, and prepare and present the results of that fellow’s work at national meetings, such as the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting and the annual conference of the Society of Neuro-Oncology. Fellows regularly attend conferences within the Division including bi-weekly multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology tumor board, weekly neurology grand rounds, interdisciplinary neurosurgery and medical oncology grand rounds, and monthly journal clubs. We expect fellows to prepare presentations for delivery at these educational activities.
A second year is optional. During the second year, the fellow will develop advanced neuro-oncology knowledge and exposure to rare neuro-oncologic conditions and complications. The fellow will be paired with Faculty to develop a stronger professional faculty mentorship and have increased elective time to pursue research and academic interests.