Training of Academic Surgical Oncologists

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT With the rapid progress in cancer biology, there is a great need to train academic surgical oncologists who can not only deliver state-of-the art surgical care, but can also lead multidisciplinary teams and research programs leveraging molecular oncology, immunology, and other emerging fields. To address the national shortage of surgical investigators focused on surgical oncology, the Department of Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has dedicated its T32 training program to producing academic surgical oncologists. The long-term objective is to train surgical residents and surgical oncology fellows in the essential research skills necessary to be productive independent surgical investigators in clinical, translational, and laboratory-based oncology research and to become leaders in oncology. Moreover, we are committed to providing T32 training to groups that are underrepresented in academic surgical oncology, including minorities and women. Training is offered to eight postdoctoral MD or MD PhD fellows either during a 24-month hiatus from general surgery residency training (`research fellows') or during a three-year combined clinical/research fellowship in surgical oncology (`clinical/research fellows') that begins after general surgery residency. Our T32 training program has been highly successful in achieving its goals and is now entering its 35th year. Upon completion of residency, most of our T32 research fellows either started fellowship training, or accepted academic surgical positions. Upon completion of surgical oncology fellowship training, 100% of our T32 clinical/research fellows entered academic Surgical Oncology positions. Our T32 program provides research opportunities in a broad range of basic oncologic disciplines, in one of three training tracks; (a) basic and translational research, (b) quality, clinical effectiveness and outcomes, and (c) clinical trials and biomarkers. This academic training program allows us to train surgeons with a diverse set of unique skills, increasing the likelihood of trainees obtaining an academic position upon completion of training. Training in biostatistics, responsible conduct of research, reproducibility, and a rich array of seminars and graduate courses available are integral to the T32 program. The T32 program faculty includes a multidisciplinary faculty pool, including established surgical investigators, junior faculty, department chairs, medical and radiation oncologists as well as basic-science researchers, all of whom have peer-reviewed grant support. MD Anderson is a leading NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that provides trainees access to unique resources and our location in the Texas Medical Center provides our trainees potential collaborators at six academic institutions. Thus, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a highly stimulating environment for future leaders in academic surgical oncology.