The goal of this curriculum is to prepare the fellow for an academic career in either benign or malignant hematology. The University of Iowa is well poised to offer training in both benign and malignant hematology. The University of Iowa Hematology T32 training grant is an NIH funded training program in hematology that has been very successful in training young scientist and physician scientist for academic careers for over 40 years at the University of Iowa. Fellows in the Advanced Hematology track would participate in the T32 curriculum which includes core lectures in clinical hematology and workshops in hematology research methods along with training in grant writing. Fellows would have a mentoring committee and develop individual development plans. The foundation of training in this track is centered on an individual mentored research project, marked by a period of intensive, sustained research under the guidance of an established, dedicated mentor.
Our Bone Marrow Transplant service is well-established and performs auto and allo-transplants. In 2019 our Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy program moved to a new unit with additional beds. We also have a burgeoning CAR-T cell therapy program which provides cutting edge therapy to patients with blood disorders. We have a very active inpatient and outpatient Leukemia service as well as being a center for the treatment of lymphoma and myeloma.
Three separate training tracks are available for the fellow pursuing a career in hematology:
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy and Cellular Therapy Track
Fellows wishing to specialize in hematopoietic stem cell therapy and cellular therapy will have additional rotations in the Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Laboratory and HLA typing laboratory in addition to an intensive clinical training experience that would meet the eligibility requirements for FACT accreditation (Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy). Upon completion of the program, the fellow would immediately be eligible to attend in a transplant program without an additional 1-year fellowship.
Malignant Hematology Track:
Fellows may specialize in leukemia/malignant hematology (non-transplant). Fellows in this track will have extensive inpatient and outpatient training in the treatment of leukemia and other malignant hematology disorders. Upon completion of this track the fellow would be able to attend on a malignant hematology service without an additional 1-year fellowship.
Benign Hematology Track
Fellows wishing to specialize in benign hematology will have additional inpatient and outpatient hematology consult experiences as well as a focused research project (basic/translational laboratory research or clinical research) through the T32 training grant program. Fellows will have extensive outpatient hematology experiences, including the high-risk obstetrics clinic, sickle cell disorder clinic, anemia clinic, and the comprehensive hemophilia clinic. Our institution is also a Center of Excellence for Bloodless Surgery. Fellows will have the option of additional training in hematopathology, the coagulation laboratory and transfusion medicine.