Pediatrics Programs

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wow....

ive always liked you informative nature gleevec but never so much as i do now 😉

i am pretty much set in my goal in pediatrics...

so thanks for this thread.

now time to actually check it out.
 
Originally posted by jlee9531
wow....

ive always liked you informative nature gleevec but never so much as i do now 😉

i am pretty much set in my goal in pediatrics...

so thanks for this thread.

now time to actually check it out.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Im really interested in a pediatric subspecialty (peds heme/onc, peds cards, etc) so I find info like this pretty useful. Thanks for the compliments jlee =) Much appreciated. 🙂
 
Gleevec, thanks for posting. I'm interested in ped hem/onc also, and I've never seen this list before. This is good stuff.
 
Hey Gleevec,

I am definitely set on specializing in Pediatric Oncology/Hematology. I really want to go to UPenn so I can do clinical rotations at CHOP. I applied ED, got deferred, and I hope to get in through regular admissions. I hope to do my residency in pediatrics at CHOP. Perhaps, we will see each other there in the future and you would be an awesome colleague. Thanks for the website and I wish you the best of luck (although you probably do not need it) in the medical school admissions process.


-DrJ2B
 
Originally posted by DrJ2B
Hey Gleevec,

I am definitely set on specializing in Pediatric Oncology/Hematology. I really want to go to UPenn so I can do clinical rotations at CHOP. I applied ED, got deferred, and I hope to get in through regular admissions. I hope to do my residency in pediatrics at CHOP. Perhaps, we will see each other there in the future and you would be an awesome colleague. Thanks for the website and I wish you the best of luck (although you probably do not need it) in the medical school admissions process.


-DrJ2B
Click to expand...

Hey DRJ2B,
Im glad to hear you are so enthused about peds heme/onc, and Im sure you will hear from Penn during the regular process. I interviewed there and I absolutely loved CHOP. But Im pretty deadset on going to Baylor and TCH, at least for med school and residency (if Im so lucky to get into TCH). Maybe we will run into each other in fellowship at CHOP =) Take care, and look forward to hearing from ya next year in Philly.

Sincerely,
Gleevec
 
Originally posted by ATPase
Gleevec, thanks for posting. I'm interested in ped hem/onc also, and I've never seen this list before. This is good stuff.
Click to expand...

Im glad to see so many prospective peds heme/onc's. Its nice to know there are more of us =) Best of luck to ya ATPase, maybe we will run into each other in fellowship. That would be awesome!
 
Well, now I feel like I'm just jumping on the bandwagon here. :laugh: I'm definitely interested in a Peds subspecialty, heme/onc being on of the ones I'm considering.

Thanks for the info, Gleevec. That was an interesting article! You know that TCH has a strong preference for Baylor's med students, right?

Theresa
 
We should rename this the "Official Prospective Ped Hem/Onc Thread"
 
What do you all find appealing about pediatric oncology/hematology? I'm not trying to slight you guys, I'm just ignorant of the field, mostly of hematology and the intersection with oncology.

Any more description of the subspecialty? Type of work you'd do (other than kids dealing with cancer)? Do you usually have a solo practice, group practice, do research? Just curious, thanks for info. I had never really heard of pediatric hematology before..
 
Originally posted by TheresaW
Well, now I feel like I'm just jumping on the bandwagon here. :laugh: I'm definitely interested in a Peds subspecialty, heme/onc being on of the ones I'm considering.

Thanks for the info, Gleevec. That was an interesting article! You know that TCH has a strong preference for Baylor's med students, right?

Theresa
Click to expand...

Yup! Out of last year's class 20 kids wanted to do peds, 11 of them went to TCH.
 
Wow, there are a lot of us. I, too, am interested in pediatric hem/onc. For me, I've been through a personal situation with childhood cancer. I'm interested in the intersection of complex patient care, science, and the joys of working with kids and their families.
 
I just like this field because I've volunteered for several years at a summer camp for kids with cancer. The kids are amazing. Granted, it's not the easiest thing to deal with emotionally, but it also seems to be very rewarding for the docs involved. They form very special relationships with the kids and families.

Most ped. hematologists or oncologists are involved in research and teaching. Because the patient size is relatively small, pediatric cancer treatments are on the cutting edge of research. So naturally the physicians practicing this type of medicine need to be in an academic, clinical setting rather than private practice.
 
Forgot to mention - in addition to treating kids with cancer, if you're a hematologist, you're also treating kids with sickle-cell disease.
 
Same here. Getting a PhD in molecular bio and working on cancer projects. Also a hospice volunteer where I deal with many teenagers with cancer. Ewing's sarcoma recently. Ped/Onc is a great opportunity for rewarding personal interactions and intellectually satisfying research. There is no doubt that I will run into some of you in the future.

Best of luck in the pursuit.

😀
 
I just really like working with kids, and I think I get extra motivation knowing that I am working not only for myself, but for these kids as well.

Ive always had an academic interest in cancer, and I am really interested in treating cancers of the immune system as well as performing bone marrow/hematopoeitic stem cell transplants (the latter is my independent study project).

So I guess its a combination of things related to who I want to work with and what I am interested academically in.

Plus, my colleagues will be cool too. All the pediatric subspecialists Ive met have been really down to earth, intelligent, and kind. I wouldnt mind working with these sorts of people for the next half century or so =)
 
Originally posted by periodic
What do you all find appealing about pediatric oncology/hematology? I'm not trying to slight you guys, I'm just ignorant of the field, mostly of hematology and the intersection with oncology.

Any more description of the subspecialty? Type of work you'd do (other than kids dealing with cancer)? Do you usually have a solo practice, group practice, do research? Just curious, thanks for info. I had never really heard of pediatric hematology before..
Click to expand...

In my opinion, hemato-oncology is one of the most rewarding field in medicine, if you really want a chance to cure or help a colleague cure any cancer.

Regarding Gleevec, although the former STI571 is a very promising anti cancer drug with possible specific treatment for a leukemia, the hemato-oncologist version of Gleevec would really be much more versatile. He would be holding the master key to all the successes in a precedure called bone marrow transplant, a procedure that brings remission for leukemia and related cancers, save patient from side effect of any eradication treatment for other cancers and cure(?) Sickel Cell Anemia as previous post has mentioned. What else would a doctor want? We are talking about the long lasting opportunity to save patients from an inevitable pain or death here!

http://www.marrow.org
 
This is very interesting. I did not expect for anyone to be dead-set on peds onc already. But it is nice to see that people are so committed.

I have been volunteering with ped onc. patients for the past 5 years. As such, I have realized that this is one of the most rewarding professions as well as one of the most difficult ones. It is rewarding mostly because the kids are amazing. This one child nearly lost her leg to osteosarcoma, yet months later, walked out of the hospital with her own 2 feet. I have also worked with kids who kept pushing their limits despite being very sick from chemo. Now that is some serious will power.

However, it is also a difficult working with this group of kids because so many do pass away. Many are admitted into the hospital for extended periods, especially in the bmt unit, and we grow attached to them. Plus, quite a few relapse. So when you know that an 8 or 10 year old is slipping away right before your eyes and there is nothing more that can be done, it becomes almost unbearable.

Plus, there are many ped/onc doctors out there who have no idea as to how to talk to a pediatric patient. I heard this one doctor walked into a room once and bluntly told the child it was time to go for his barium test without explaining what that meant. This freaked the kid out. Unfortunately, some don't realize that just because you wear a looney tunes tie doesn't mean you know how to interact with peds. patients.

This is one specialty that some people definitely cannot handle. But if you can, I commend you guys. Good luck!
 
wow! what a cool thread! i can't believe there are other ppl out there interested in going into pediatrics - especially hematology/oncology. plus, i had never seen this article before...excited to learn the high accolades for tch (and even more excited to learn about the high baylor --> tch residency rates 🙂 ) amazing. thanks gleevec!
 
oh and to answer the other person's question...i absolutely love children and working with them--this is corny sounding, but they are really miracles to me in their innocence and determination...not to mention all the amazing developmental /biological changes taking place in their brains/bodies. the only thing that was holding me back was seeing the children suffer (i.e. as with cancer) but if there is a chance my knowledge could somehow help them/alleviate their pain, well i'm all for it. 🙂 hope to explore this path further in med school.
 
Apparently we're going to need a Texas chapter of the Peds Heme/Onc club! :laugh: It might be better if I wind up at UTSW instead of Baylor at this rate. 😉

How come many of the SDNers I like are one this thread???

I am drawn to the Peds subspecialties in part b/c I have personal/family experience with the effect that Peds cardiac surgery and heme/onc can have on the lives of children and their families. (I always knew I'd go into peds and would be utterly shocked to find myself in an adult specialty.)

Theresa
 
Originally posted by Gleevec
Ive worked a great deal at the Ronald McDonald house, talking to families of similarly affected children, and it is just something that really resonates with me. And when you read some of the stories like these: http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/carecenters/kidscourageous/default.aspx

It's all the more motivating for me to enter this field.
Click to expand...


these children are so inspiring....their courage and determination--truly something else. wow. 🙂
 
Hey all!

I absolutely love this thread and all future pediatric oncologists/hematologists! I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope to see you all at conferences in the future. Would you please mention ways I can get volunteerships with kids with cancer? ATPase, what summer camps involving children with cancer have you participated in? I want to get an early start. I have not had as much experience in the area as I would like to have had, but what better way to spend the summer before medical school working with kids with cancer? I am in Manhattan, so I was thinking about volunteering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but I am not sure if they have more than research positions at the moment? Any other suggestions? Thanks again all and as always the best of luck! Hooray for all the cool people in this thread!!:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Originally posted by DrJ2B
Hey all!

I absolutely love this thread and all future pediatric oncologists/hematologists! I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope to see you all at conferences in the future. Would you please mention ways I can get volunteerships with kids with cancer? ATPase, what summer camps involving children with cancer have you participated in? I want to get an early start. I have not had as much experience in the area as I would like to have had, but what better way to spend the summer before medical school working with kids with cancer? I am in Manhattan, so I was thinking about volunteering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but I am not sure if they have more than research positions at the moment? Any other suggestions? Thanks again all and as always the best of luck! Hooray for all the cool people in this thread!!:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Click to expand...

Im guessing that there are tons of opportunities in the NY area to volunteer with kids with cancer. I would call up the volunteer office at Sloan-Kettering and Weill and Columbia Med, and see if they have such programs in their pediatrics dept. Also, working at a Ronald McDonald house will put you in contact with these kids as well.

But I think you can do no wrong in the NYC area with so many hospitals, Im sure there will be several peds heme/onc programs to choose from.

Also, definitely try to get a research position at Sloan-Kettering, but also consider Rockefeller, Weill, Columbia, NYU, etc because cancer research is fairly ubiquitous and you will likely find a good position in this field regardless of which university you end up.

Good luck!
 
Originally posted by TheresaW
Apparently we're going to need a Texas chapter of the Peds Heme/Onc club!
Click to expand...

Count me in😀 Probably hem/onc or genetic counseling.
 
Here is a link to a list of various ped. cancer camps and organizations across the country (and in Canada, too).

http://www.cancerindex.org/ccw/guide2s.htm

I live in Alabama and have worked with Camp Smile-A-Mile. Great organization!

Since we have so many like-minded folks on this thread, let me share something I'm working on this year. I'm trying to get a new license plate for the state of Alabama, one that will benefit ped. cancer research at Children's Hospital in Birmingham. Check out my website at www.curingchildhoodcancer.org

If any of you happen to live in Alabama, please buy one of these car tags! We need 1,000 before the state will produce the tag.
 
To reiterate what everyone has said...

I would absolutely love to work with everyone that has posted on here. Finally get to take a break from all the talk about doing medicine for the money, AA arguments etc...and back to the good ol talks about just helping out a group of people that deserve the best care so that their futures may be bright. To be able to give a child the opportunity to find and then chase their dreams just as we are doing right now is what it is all about.

I helped ped.onc children during my few years at Children's Hospital Oakland (sad to see that they werent on the list) and it was a very influenctial experience in deciding that pediatrics and perhaps even onc/hem was what i wanted to pursue. It is amazing to be able to bring smiles and comforts to these children. I was fortunate to have met some of the greatest kids in the world, but it is tough emotionally. I spent a majority of my time with this great 5 yo child and she was just bristling with energy. I still don't see how I could have danced to britney spears that many times. I swear the album was on repeat and we cycled through that at least 3 times. I felt deep down that she would recover no problem...but thanks to insurance restrictions she wasnt able to move up to the next level of treatment and so she slowly got worse. Sometimes she didnt want me to see her because she was scared...I never felt so helpless before...So much I wanted to do, but couldnt...

She made me a paper flower on one of those days I didnt get to see her. the child life specialist was kind enough to make the delivery for her. to think i can learn things from a 5 year old. I did. courage, bravery, determination, effort....the list goes on.

Thanksgiving...she passed on to a better place. Ever since that day, i hung up that paper flower in my car to remind myself of what kind of person she was and how i should never forget my desire to help kids in any way i can.

I know I am nowhere close to having the academic knowledge on cancer and related research like the others on this thread but I do look forward to learning a lot from you guys here on sdn and in the future when we all start our medical education.

Good luck to all of us...for we fight the good fight.



Outside of those comedy threads, I dont think I have enjoyed a thread more than this one in my entire career here at sdn as a marginal member. Thread of the year i say....the year!
 
jlee-
What a great post. You're exactly right, it's stories like yours that reaffirm the decision to go to med school. From what I've seen, pediatric hem/onc is medicine at its best and most incredible.
 
Originally posted by jlee9531
To reiterate what everyone has said...

I would absolutely love to work with everyone that has posted on here. Finally get to take a break from all the talk about doing medicine for the money, AA arguments etc...and back to the good ol talks about just helping out a group of people that deserve the best care so that their futures may be bright. To be able to give a child the opportunity to find and then chase their dreams just as we are doing right now is what it is all about.

I helped ped.onc children during my few years at Children's Hospital Oakland (sad to see that they werent on the list) and it was a very influenctial experience in deciding that pediatrics and perhaps even onc/hem was what i wanted to pursue. It is amazing to be able to bring smiles and comforts to these children. I was fortunate to have met some of the greatest kids in the world, but it is tough emotionally. I spent a majority of my time with this great 5 yo child and she was just bristling with energy. I still don't see how I could have danced to britney spears that many times. I swear the album was on repeat and we cycled through that at least 3 times. I felt deep down that she would recover no problem...but thanks to insurance restrictions she wasnt able to move up to the next level of treatment and so she slowly got worse. Sometimes she didnt want me to see her because she was scared...I never felt so helpless before...So much I wanted to do, but couldnt...

She made me a paper flower on one of those days I didnt get to see her. the child life specialist was kind enough to make the delivery for her. to think i can learn things from a 5 year old. I did. courage, bravery, determination, effort....the list goes on.

Thanksgiving...she passed on to a better place. Ever since that day, i hung up that paper flower in my car to remind myself of what kind of person she was and how i should never forget my desire to help kids in any way i can.

I know I am nowhere close to having the academic knowledge on cancer and related research like the others on this thread but I do look forward to learning a lot from you guys here on sdn and in the future when we all start our medical education.

Good luck to all of us...for we fight the good fight.



Outside of those comedy threads, I dont think I have enjoyed a thread more than this one in my entire career here at sdn as a marginal member. Thread of the year i say....the year!
Click to expand...

jlee, i nominate your post for post of the year. 🙂
 
It's good to know that so many of us have similar motivations-- there is definitely strength in numbers that is needed in a field like this.

Glad to know there are others out there. 😀 :clap:
 
Why don't all of us interested in ped/onc decide to attend UTSA? After that, peds residency and hem/onc fellowship at MD Anderson. At least we may all meet at that last phase of training.
 
Originally posted by G0S2
Why don't all of us interested in ped/onc decide to attend UTSA? After that, peds residency and hem/onc fellowship at MD Anderson. At least we may all meet at that last phase of training.
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but isnt a peds hem/onc fellowship more likely to be done at a pediatric hospital (like Texas Childrens) rather than a cancer center that generally focuses on adults (like MD Anderson). Or at least thats the impression I get from my limited reading, anyone else have more info on this?
 
for these various pediatric subspecialties (oncology, cardiology),
does one apply for peds residency, or to the IM residency?
 
Originally posted by medhopeful08
for these various pediatric subspecialties (oncology, cardiology),
does one apply for peds residency, or to the IM residency?
Click to expand...

peds residency
 
Yeah I cant access that site either, but that link does appear to support your assertion, and it does make sense.

I wonder if in the TMC they hold joint appointments between TCH and MD Anderson, or whether they are completely seperate programs for peds heme/onc (as the hospitals arent affiliated)
 
I found this listing as the subspecialty program director:

Worth, Laura Lynn MD
University of Texas at Houston
Pediatric Hematology / Oncology
UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 853
Houston Texas 77030-0000



It is my assumption that faculty of onc at UT Houston may have dual appointments at MD Anderson. I could be wrong.
 
me too! I'm highly considering doing peds hem/onc! Thanks for the link, gleevec. It was really helpful 😀
 
Originally posted by G0S2
I found this listing as the subspecialty program director:

Worth, Laura Lynn MD
University of Texas at Houston
Pediatric Hematology / Oncology
UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 853
Houston Texas 77030-0000



It is my assumption that faculty of onc at UT Houston may have dual appointments at MD Anderson. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
MD Anderson is part of UT Houston system of hospitals, not exactly sure of the ins and outs of what 'part' means, but many Houston students do some third year rotations at MD Anderson. I would take this to mean MD Anderson residency/fellowship is linked to Houston, but I could be wrong.

Not like our relationship with St. Lukes where both Baylor students and Houston students rotate through as MS3s.

TCH is stictly Baylor.
 
yaaay for peds wannabes!
i am interested in infectious disease. ..
 
Originally posted by seaworthc
MD Anderson is part of UT Houston system of hospitals, not exactly sure of the ins and outs of what 'part' means, but many Houston students do some third year rotations at MD Anderson. I would take this to mean MD Anderson residency/fellowship is linked to Houston, but I could be wrong.

Not like our relationship with St. Lukes where both Baylor students and Houston students rotate through as MS3s.

TCH is stictly Baylor.
Click to expand...

MD Anderson is an interesting case, since it is affiliated with UT-Houston officially, but Baylor claims it as a "Cooperating Patient Care Institution" as well and some professors have joint appointments. I dont think Baylor does meds rotations through MDA, like UTH, and it seems as if the oncology electives are offered through methodist and st lukes as opposed to MDA.
 
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