Overview of the Global Breast Cancer Fellowship
Our primary objective is to train breast cancer experts from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). We recruit physicians from LMIC who are interested in improving breast cancer outcomes in their communities. Over the course of 12 months, the fellows will be trained in breast cancer surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, genetics, and breast imaging at the University of Minnesota.
Additional training opportunities include participation in weekly breast tumor boards, journal clubs, didactic lectures, and attendance at a national breast cancer meeting. Fellows will also develop either a quality improvement or research project for their home country. After completing their fellowship, these highly trained breast cancer specialists will return home to lead breast cancer efforts in their countries.
Education Goals
Graduating fellows will develop expertise in the multidisciplinary care of breast cancer patients. The fellows will receive dedicated training in breast medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, plastic surgery, and radiology. They will participate in our weekly multidisciplinary breast conference, breast cancer journal clubs, and research activities. As a result of these activities, the fellows will be breast cancer experts and can lead breast cancer efforts in their home countries.
After completing this training, our fellows will have the necessary tools to provide enhanced breast cancer surgical care in their country including breast conservation, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and oncoplastic surgery. The fellows will also have the tools to initiate and lead multidisciplinary breast cancer conferences in their home countries. Few LMICs conduct multidisciplinary breast cancer conferences. Finally, the fellows will be able to identify barriers to breast cancer treatment and implement impactful changes.
Program Evaluation Committee
The Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) consists of the Program Director and teaching faculty representing the program’s six training specialties.
To ensure compliance with program requirements. It has oversight responsibilities for program policies and education activities occurring at our core University campus and across all sites. The PEC oversees the program evaluation systems.
To set program evaluation goals and performance metrics; to engage in ongoing monitoring of the program via ad hoc Surgical Education Council meetings; and to perform an annual review of the trainee, faculty, graduate, and program performance metrics. This annual meeting occurs in August.
Following the annual PEC meeting, the PEC completes a written report with action steps for improvement, which is distributed to faculty at large, the Department’s Executive Leadership Committee, and to the Medical School’s Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education.
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