Background

ASCO advocates that the integration of palliative care be accomplished throughout the course of cancer treatment, regardless of prognosis, because patient outcomes are improved. Since 2008 when hospice & palliative medicine became formally recognized as a subspecialty, 630 physicians have obtained dual certification in both oncology and hospice & palliative medicine. In the intervening years, residents have independently sought training in both fields in a sequential fashion, however, there have been requests for a combined training option. Starting with the 2022 fellowship match cycle, ASCO is facilitating an approved ACGME pilot of a combined Hematology & Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship with 4 institutions.

Purpose

The goal of the Combined Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine Training is to pilot an efficient pathway for fellows to be dual certified in medical oncology (with or without hematology) and hospice & palliative medicine. The program targets trainees wanting to further their palliative care skills to be able to deliver high-quality cancer care with palliative/supportive care integrated across the continuum of care.

Program Description

The program offers the option to decrease the total duration of training by 1 year by omitting some elective or research time from standard medical oncology or standard hematology/oncology training and by providing training months that fulfill requirements for both subspecialties.

Current ABIM Training Time Standards

Medical Oncology is currently 24 months (2 years) in duration. Hematology and Medical Oncology is currently 36 months (3 years) in duration. Hospice & Palliative Medicine is 12 months (1 year) in duration. Currently, physicians wanting training that includes hospice and palliative medicine must pursue this training consecutively.

Proposed Training Time Standards

Key: CO = clinical oncology months; CH = clinical hematology months; CHP = clinical hospice and palliative months; ER = elective/research months

Option 1 offers a combined training program in medical oncology and hospice & palliative medicine of 24 months total duration. Those 24 months are all clinical and do not represent a reduction in total clinical training in each discipline. A half-day continuity outpatient clinic experience is required throughout the duration of fellowship training.

Option 2 offers a combined training program in hematology/oncology and hospice & palliative medicine of 36 months total duration. Only 6 months of the 3-year training scheme are devoted to elective or research time. A half-day continuity outpatient clinic experience is required throughout the duration of fellowship training.

NOTE: each participating institution will offer one of the above options. Some of the participating institutions also offer an additional research year.

See the full Combined Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine Training proposal.

There are currently 4 institutions participating in the combined fellowship program for the 2022 fellowship match cycle and 7 institutions for 2023, as shown in the table below. We are still accepting institutions to participate in the 2023 fellowship match cycle. To join the program or for questions, please contact Jamie Von Roenn, MD, FASCO