There are a large number of weekly conferences and rounds on
a variety of topics. Fellows are expected to attend conferences that are
specific to a service during their rotations on that service and are invited to
attend at other times. A few conferences (Hematology Teaching Conference,
Oncology Lecture Series, Pediatric Oncology Conference, and Tumor Board) are
regularly attended by most or all fellows.
Bone Tumor (Musculoskeletal) Conference (Tuesdays, 11:00
a.m.-12:00 p.m., every other week) - Interdisciplinary conference
involving surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists. Active patients with
musculoskeletal tumors are presented, and diagnostic and management issues
discussed.
Brain Tumor Clinic Conference (Wednesdays, 12:00-1:00
p.m.) - Patients to be seen that day are discussed by a
multidisciplinary team, including neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation
oncologists, psychosocial clinicians, neuropsychologists, and physical
therapists. Fellows are urged to participate if one of their patients is
attending the clinic that day.
Children's Hospital Medical Grand Rounds (Wednesdays, 12:00-1:00
p.m.)
Hematologic Malignancy Conference (Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00
p.m.) - A review of data, including bone marrows and other pathology
and radiographic information, that relates to active patients with hematologic
malignancies, with discussion about their course and decision-making.
Hematology Ambulatory Conference (Thursdays, 1:00-2:00
p.m.) - Hematology care providers, including the first-year fellow
during his/her hematology rotations, present patients seen during the prior
week in the hematology clinic.
Hematology Grand Rounds (Fridays, 8:15-9:15 a.m.) -
A review and discussion of the patients followed by the hematology service is
led by the fellow on the inpatient hematology rotation. Many upper year fellows
also attend. Current articles from the hematology literature are also reviewed.
Hematology/Oncology Research Conference (Thursdays, 4:00-5:00
p.m.) - Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
investigators present their research. Fellows are encouraged to attend.
Solid Tumor Meeting (Fridays, 8:00-9:00 a.m.) – Clinical
conference to review solid tumor inpatients and new diagnoses and discuss
relevant journal articles.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Conference
(Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.) - Issues in transplantation are presented
by experts in the field.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Intake Rounds
(Mondays, 2:00-3:00 p.m.) - New patients referred to the transplant
service are reviewed.
Neuroradiology Conference (Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.-12:15
p.m.) - Patients with brain tumors are discussed during this
multidisciplinary conference.
Oncology Post-Clinic Conference (Daily, 12:00-1:00 p.m.) -
Each oncology care provider presents for review the patients seen by him/her
that day. Fellows attend weekly on their assigned day for outpatient oncology
clinic.
Pediatric Oncology Conference (Mondays, 4:00-5:00 p.m.) –
Presentation of clinical research and practice updates by local and invited
speakers.
Solid Tumor/Lymphoma Conference (Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00
p.m.) - Active patients with solid tumors and lymphomas are reviewed,
and diagnosis and management issues are discussed in this multidisciplinary radiology
conference (radiology, radiation oncology, oncology, surgery).
Translational Research Conference (selected Tuesdays, 11:00
a.m.-12:00 p.m.) - Lab scientists and clinicians from the program
review recent publications, discuss current studies within the department,
and/or discuss upcoming therapeutic protocols, with the goal of bringing basic
science and clinical practice together.
Fellows from all years take phone calls for the hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant services overnight, including both in-hospital and outside calls. In some circumstances (for example, a new patient with leukemia), fellows may be asked to return to the hospital from home, but this is relatively uncommon. In 2019-20, in response to increased clinical volume and fellow feedback, the call schedule format changed substantially. First-year fellows now typically take calls on their primary service one weekend per month (in-patient during the days on Saturday and Sunday, with home calls until midnight on Saturday night), and take outside phone calls from 6:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. 1-2 nights per month. We work hard to limit on-call duties in the second and third year of the program so as to protect research focus and productivity for these fellows. Therefore, the remainder of overnight calls (both weeknights and weekdays) are shared by second- and third-year fellows as well as early career faculty and hospitalists. As of August 2020, inpatient care for hematology and oncology patients overnight is directed by an in-house pediatric hematology / oncology hospitalist, who oversees the residents and nurse practitioners providing bedside care. This service was created to ensure adequate supervision for patients and to mitigate the potential for fellows to become fatigued due to prolonged work hours.