Nuvance/Northwell Health - Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) logo
Full-time
On-site
Connecticut
Medical Providers, Training Program, Women's Health, Pathology, Oncology, Medical Students, Fellowship, Radiology, Reconstructive Surgery, Research, Plastic Surgery, Surgery

Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) will give you access to leaders in breast surgical oncology, the latest technology for breast surgery and a diverse patient population.

A message from the Program Director

Dear Prospective Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Our program is committed to providing a high-quality, hands-on learning experience to the fellow.

The one-year fellowship accepts one fellow per year. During the training period, our fellow will gain experience in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer in a professional, collaborative, inclusive, diverse, and innovative environment.

Our communities and patients have access to cutting-edge breast care, from prevention, screenings, diagnostics, genetic testing, clinical trials, and treatment, to rehabilitation, nutrition, therapy, complementary medicine and cancer survivorship services.

Our Program is based at the Nuvance Health’s Dyson Center for Cancer Care on the campus of Vassar Brothers Medical Center. In addition, the fellow will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with our esteemed faculty in the Danbury Hospital. The fellow will receive individualized attention and learning due to the small size of the program, and work closely with me and our faculty to become proficient in the knowledge and procedures related to breast surgical oncology management. Our fellow will collaboratively work with Medical Oncologists, Surgical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Radiologists specialized in breast, Pathologists, social workers, Nutritionists, and Lymphedema Specialists within the Nuvance Health system.

Our faculty and I are proud to contribute to shaping the current and future state of breast care, developing comprehensive and accessible breast cancer programs and widening the bench of skilled breast surgeons. We look forward to training the next generation of Breast Surgical Oncology specialists!

Sincerely,
Susan K. Boolbol, MD, FACS
Program Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

Program Structure

The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) will give you access to leaders in breast surgical oncology, the latest technology for breast surgery and a diverse patient population.

In one year, we will provide you specialized training in the management of breast cancer and breast diseases. You will have skills, knowledge and confidence that differentiates you from other breast surgeons after completing our program. You will also be prepared to be a leader and thrive in any setting from community-based practice to academic medicine.

VBMC is home to the Dyson Breast Center and our comprehensive breast cancer program. Our center has National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) accreditation as well as Commission on Cancer (COC) accreditation.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary team of breast health specialists, including fellowship and oncoplastic-trained, board certified breast surgeons. You will also be part of Nuvance Health, an extensive network of hospitals and care facilities. That means you will have access to many resources, peers and teachers who care for different patient populations.

Complete clinical rotations with highly trained breast surgeons and specialists.

Your program director will be Susan K. Boolbol, MD, FACS, system chief of breast surgical oncology and the breast program at Nuvance Health. Your associate program director will be Carinne Anderson, MD, FACS.

Drs. Boolbol and Anderson are fellowship trained, board certified breast surgeons. They are advancing breast cancer care through leadership roles with the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS). Dr. Boolbol is recent past president of ASBrS, and Dr. Anderson is chair of the Young Surgeon’s Committee.

In addition to your program directors, you will complete the following clinical rotations with highly trained breast health specialists:

  • Imaging and radiology including screenings, diagnostics and image-guided biopsies
  • Genetic counseling and testing for breast cancer risk assessments and to guide treatment decisions
  • Surgical oncology, including oncoplastic surgery
  • Plastic surgery and reconstruction
  • Medical oncology
  • Radiation oncology
  • Pathology
  • Psycho-oncology
  • Physical therapy, such as for lymphedema
  • Community outreach
  • You will work closely with specially trained breast cancer nurse navigators, nutritionists, therapists and social workers.
  • You will also be able to offer patients complementary medicine such as acupuncture and survivorship services.
  • Contribute to breast cancer research

We aim to provide the best possible breast cancer care available today and improve it for the future. You will participate in clinical trial development, enrollment and execution. This includes working with breast specialists who have been involved with bringing new treatments to market based on clinical trial results.

You will participate in Nuvance Health’s system-wide tumor boards to consult, present and collaborate on patient care plans. You will also make an impact on the future of breast cancer care by being involved with teaching surgical residents and medical students.

Curriculum

A graduate of the Breast Oncology training program should be able to make the diagnosis and provide initial management of the breast cancer patient. In addition, the Fellow will engage in comprehensive experience in roations to all members of the Breast Cancer Care Team.
This will be achieved via rotations which will include:

  • 2 months in Breast Surgery
  • 1 month in Radiology
  • 1 month in Medical Oncology
  • 2 weeks in Pathology
  • 1 month in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • 1 month in Radiation Oncology

As well as roations through Palliative Care, Genetics, PT/OT for Lymphedema.

The fellow will:

  • Gain a strong foundation in evidence-based approach for problem solving and patient care
    diagnose, work-up, and manage benign and malignant diseases of the breast in the clinic and operative setting.
  • Stay abreast of epidemiology, pathology and other relevant biomedical principles in breast disease
  • Understand risk factors for developing breast cancer and components of high-risk surveillance
    all approaches to mastectomy including modified radical mastectomy and a focus on nipple sparing mastectomy and skin sparing mastectomy
  • Perform sentinel node biopsy and axillary node dissection
  • Perform breast conserving surgery, including seed localization, major duct excision and oncoplastic approaches
  • Perform surgery for palliation to include chest wall resection
  • Understand the role of surgery for palliation
  • Perform common office procedures such as seroma aspirations, FNA aspiration, percutaneous core biopsy, and skin punch biopsy
  • Actively participate in interdisciplinary evaluation
  • Prepare for and participate in weekly Breast Tumor Board
  • Engage in life-long learning to improve their practice
  • Work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to formulate and institute therapeutic plans.
  • Successfully manage diagnosis, work-up, management and treatment of DCIS, stage I-II or locally advanced invasive breast cancer receiving breast conservation therapy or postmastectomy therapy
  • Master techniques for delivery of radiation including hypofractionation, and partial breast radiation
  • Actively participate in the multidisciplinary care of breast cancer patients in cooperation with colleagues from medical oncology, surgery, pathology, and diagnostic radiology.

    • How To Apply

    The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at Vassar Brothers Medical Center thanks you for your interest in applying to our program. Our program participates in the National Matching Service (NMS) program via the Society of Surgical Oncology. We hope you choose to join us.

    Register online in the NMS Match System to participate in the SSO Breast Match. You can register and apply at: https://natmatch.com/ssobreast/applicants/register.html

    Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement, CV, references with email addresses as well as:

    • US Citizenship and Visa Information
    • Academic History
    • USMLE or COMLEX, ABSITE or ACOS In-Service Exam, MCCQE Part I
    • Exam Information
    • License and Certification Information
    • Professional Liability Information
    Apply Now
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