Fellowship programs which are strong in hematology:
Having completed the interview process, I would be happy to answer this question. My personal research interests are in benign hematology.
I. Top tier programs that are exceptionally strong (clinically and research wise) in malignant hematology, BMT AND benign hematology:
West Coast: USCF, University of Washington
Midwest: University of Michigan, Wash U, Northwestern, Mayo Clinic
South: Vanderbilt, Duke
Mid-Atlantic: UPenn, NIH/NCI, Cornell, Columbia (although benign hematology research is still in the growing phases here and much stronger at Cornell), Hopkins
Northeast: Dana Farber, BIDMC, Yale
II. Programs with particular strengths in benign hematology: In addition to the programs listed above:
UNC (outstanding faculty for benign hematology, which lots of great basic and clinical research opportunities)
University of Wisconsin (ditto as stated above)
III. Programs with particular strengths in malignant hematology / BMT: In addition to the programs listed above:
University of Minnesota (outstanding BMT and malignant hematology)
Moffitt Cancer Center (ditto as above)
IV: Programs which are not necessarily "top tier" programs, but nonetheless have excellent hematology faculty with very good research opportunities:
Cleveland Clinic (benign hematology research is growing, with recruitment of new faculty)
UPMC, Boston University, Emory (all these programs have great opportunities for research in sickle cell disease)
NYU (great research and clinical opportunities in benign hematology)
Oregon Health Sciences (malignant hematology is strong, and getting better)
Ohio State University (very strong clinically, with great hematology research opportunities for fellows)
V. Programs to consider avoiding if you may have potential research interests in benign hematology (due to lack of viable research opportunities):
Moffitt Cancer Center
University of Chicago
MD Anderson
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Mount Sinai in NYC
At very large and prominent cancer centers such as MD Anderson and Memorial Sloan Kettering, the focus is obviously cancer, so hematology research is focused on malignancy, with few opportunities for research in benign hematology.
Hope that this helps future applicants. Best of luck!