The Global Cancer Disparities Initiatives (GCDI) program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) is pleased to invite applications to the Global Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship.

History

Cancer is a rapidly growing problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Outcomes for cancer patients are poor. There is a need for improved research and training to improve these outcomes. The MSK Global Cancer Disparities Initiative program was created in 2013. The goal of the initiative is to improve outcomes for patients with cancer in LMIC. It is based on a collaboration between physicians at MSK and Nigeria that began in 2010. This collaboration has now grown to include the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) in Nigeria, which is an MSK co-founded consortium that includes 26 centers in Nigeria and MSK. ARGO has multiple ongoing training endeavors and clinical trials regarding colorectal and breast cancer.

Goal

The aim of the MSKCC Global Cancer Disparities Research Fellowship is to train leaders in multidisciplinary cancer care and research in high and low-income countries. This research fellowship program is designed for resident level physicians.  The fellowship has both clinical observation and research components. The Research Fellow will be assigned an academic mentor to ensure maximum productivity, will have access to service databases, a medical editor, data managers, and biostatistical support.  This Fellow will spend two to three months at MSKCC in New York and then transition to Nigeria for the remainder of the Fellowship.

Duration

Start Date:  August 2023
1 Year (3 months MSK / 9 months Nigeria)

Research

Fellows will become well-versed in the current literature with a specific reading list provided by the global cancer disparity fellowship. The fellow will have a dedicated mentor on the Colorectal Service and the Breast Service to guide research projects. In addition, the Global Disparities Director will have weekly meetings to assist with research projects and provide weekly education sessions specific to global cancer initiatives.  The global disparities fellow will participate in the surgery fellow research training course. This course, over an 8-week period, includes training in topics such as database management, research ethics, clinical trial design, and statistics.

Clinical

Research fellows will have the opportunity to observe in surgery clinics and in the operating room with Nigerian collaborating surgeons. In addition, a broad exposure to endoscopy and colonoscopy in Nigeria will be provided.

Eligibility

Candidates must be graduates of a recognized US or foreign medical school and currently in a US or Canadian surgery residency training program. The candidate should be interested and committed to expanding his/her expertise in surgical oncology in high- and low-income countries. The candidate must have passed the USMLE examinations or any equivalent predecessor or successor examination and hold a valid ECFMG certificate, if applicable. In addition, the candidate must certify intent to return to his/her home country, if not from the US, upon completion of training.

How to Apply

Please submit the following by October 31, 2022:

Material should be submitted to:

Global Cancer Disparities Initiatives (GCDI) Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065