UBC Urologic Oncology Clinical Fellowship
Introduction
The Urologic Oncology Clinical Fellowship at UBC provides advanced training in the comprehensive clinical and surgical care of patients with urologic malignancies, as well as exposure to clinical trials, clinical research and translational research in Urologic Oncology.
The fellowship includes one year of clinical training in the clinics, operating room and inpatient setting. One or two years of research training is encouraged but not mandatory. Dedicated research fellowships without a clinical component are also available at the Vancouver Prostate Centre. The mission of the program is to train surgeons to provide excellent clinical care and apply integrated research and technological advances to the improvement of clinical care in all domains of Urologic Oncology.
We consider the Department of Urologic Sciences to be the leading urologic training program in Canada, headquartered in one of the world’s most respected cancer facilities. The Vancouver Prostate Centre is one of the world’s top translational research institutions in Urology.
Clinical Setting
The UBC Urologic Oncology Fellowship is housed primarily at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), which is the major teaching hospital for the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. VGH is the principle academic/tertiary care centre for Urologic Oncology for the entire province of British Columbia (population 5 million in 2023). Complex open Urologic Oncology surgeries are performed at VGH, in addition to robotic assisted and laparoscopic surgeries. UBC Hospital offers a second site where most endoscopic procedures (TURBT, TURP, ureteroscopy for UTUC, laparoscopic nephrectomy) are performed in addition to open radical prostatectomies. Outpatient clinics, the clinical trials unit, and research laboratories are located at VGH. A typical week will consist of 1-2 days of clinic and 2-3 days of surgery.
Educational Goals
- Gain an advanced understanding of the biology of urologic malignancies.
- Acquire the knowledge and ability to apply principles of medical oncology, radiation oncology, and uropathology in the day-to-day management of patients with urologic malignancies.
- Implement progressive and graded patient care responsibility.
- Gain experience in comprehensive medical and surgical management of patients with complex urologic oncology conditions.
- Familiarize with all state-of-the-art imaging modalities.
- Learn how to manage an academic or tertiary referral practice.
- Acquire the knowledge and experience in clinical trial methodology, study design, biostatistics, and data analysis.
- Acquire skills for self-education and collaboration in translational research.
- Participate in continuing medical education, review of manuscripts for journals, organization of meetings.
- Write book chapters and submit manuscripts for peer review publications
Other Important Information about Urologic Oncology Fellowship
- The fellow’s presence is intended to enhance the educational experience of UBC Urology residents. The fellow will take an active role in teaching of residents.
- The clinical fellow participates in clinics and helps to administer treatments in the clinic, including cancer therapies (intravesical, IM, IV).
- The clinical fellow will participate in the clinical trials unit and help with trial activities including therapy administration.
- Each clinical fellow will present at Urology Grand Rounds twice during the academic year.
- The fellowship offers monthly Journal Club and other educational sessions related to urologic malignancies, often in collaboration with BC Cancer.
- The clinical fellow will cover 3-4 nights of “first call” at Vancouver General Hospital per month and one weekend of “back-up call” every two months.
Fellowship Director: Peter Black
Fellowship Faculty: Martin Gleave, Alan So, Peter Black, Miles Mannas
Administrative Contact: Caroline Okulicz (caroline.okulicz@ubc.ca)
For Postgraduate Fellows, please submit an application form along with your CV and a list of three references (with contact information) to Caroline Okulicz.
Important dates:
Clinical fellowship starts July 1
Application due date: Jan 31 of year before anticipated start of fellowship
Anticipated notification date: Mar 31 of year before anticipated start of fellowship
