Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship

Learn more about residencies and fellowships at the University of South Alabama and life on the Gulf Coast.

 

 

 


Medical Oncology Fellowship at the University of South AlabamaWelcome to the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship program. We are delighted that you have taken interest in our program and are glad you have taken the time to visit our website for more information. We accept two fellows per year to our ACGME-accredited three-year program.

Our mission is to train future generations of competent hematology and medical oncologists. Our graduates are trained to demonstrate excellence in clinical care, patient-based translational research, quality improvement and cancer prevention. We are uniquely positioned to provide solid hematology and medical oncology training because of our patient base that represent minorities and our team that consist of laboratory and clinical research faculty, expert clinical disease-focused multidisciplinary team and clinical trials (including phase 1) comprehensive program.

Our training is well-structured to provide an independent environment, yet it ensures adequate supervision.  The training is well balanced between clinical duties and protected time for each fellow to tailor their training to their future career plans. During their protected time, fellows can work with their mentors/teams on their clinical education, research, quality improvement projects, cancer prevention program, develop teaching skills required to be a physician educator or a variety of other pursuits. Our fellows have direct access to faculty that provide mentorship. A high faculty-to-fellows ratio affords a significant level of individual attention, and our faculty is dedicated to helping fellows achieve their goals.

Our culture encourages curiosity and challenges assumptions as we push each other to improve the health of patients. We sincerely believe in our stated mission: "We help people lead longer, better lives." As a fellow in the division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, you will be a part of this culture, these people, and this mission. We know you will find many unique features at USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute that make this an exciting and challenging place to pursue your career in oncology.

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▼   Program Aims
  • Adequately tailor fellowship training to prepare hematology and medical oncology fellows for their specific career interest (i.e. academic or private practice) while still ensuring competent training  with the broad skill set needed to treat cancer, contribute to science, educate students and trainees and participate in quality improvement and cancer prevention.

  • Train fellows to care for patients in all stages of cancer and blood disorders. Fellows will provide consultation on risk reduction, prevention, adjuvant, curative and palliative uses of chemotherapy.

  • Fellows will appraise and assimilate scientific evidence and continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning in an educational environment built on evidence-based practice.

  • Train fellows to participate in multidisciplinary teams that focus on patient-centered and tailored treatment plans appropriate to the individual goals of the patient.
▼   Overview

Medical Oncology fellows meeting in a hallwayThe Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program is a three-year program designed to provide the fellow with the education, training, and clinical skills necessary to pursue an academic career in Hematology and Medical Oncology medicine. Teaching facilities include the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute and the USA Health University Hospital

All fellows will participate in research during their training with the intent to train academic physicians. Research time is provided in order to maximize opportunities for career interests to develop. Fellows may choose mentors and projects ranging from clinical research to basic science research at the Mitchell Cancer Institute. Fellows are expected to present their research at local and international conferences and to prepare manuscripts for publication.

▼   Program Faculty

Omar Alkharabsheh, M.D.

Omar Alkharabsheh, M.D.
Program Director
Associate Professor 
Hematologic Oncology

Brian E. Persing, M.D.

Brian E. Persing, M.D.
Division Director, Medical Oncology; Associate Program Director; Arlene and Mayer Mitchell Chair of Medical Oncology; Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology

Ahmed Abdalla, M.D.

Ahmed Abdalla, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Gastrointestinal Oncology

 

Thomas W. Butler, M.D.

Thomas W. Butler, M.D.
Associate Professor
Palliative/Supportive Care

Daniel Cameron, M.D.

Daniel Cameron, M.D.
Associate Professor
General Oncology

Nabin Karki, M.D.

Nabin Karki, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Genitourinary Oncology

 

Pranitha Prodduturvar, M.D.

Pranitha Prodduturvar, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Thoracic

Zachary M. Trisel, M.D.

Zachary M. Trisel, M.D.
Assistant Professor
General Oncology

 

 

▼   Program Structure

Medical Oncology fellow with a patientWe offer a fully integrated, three-year hematology and medical oncology program. The 36 months of training incorporates in-patient rotation,  hematology and medical oncology specialties rotation, benign hematology rotation, stem cell transplant and research. The remaining rotations are selected by each fellow according to their interest and their future desired career. Our program offers flexibility during this time period in which fellows can pursue a wide range of interests. Some of the opportunities include spending time in a basic science laboratory, developing skills in clinical and translational research, training in quality improvement projects and developing teaching skills required to be a clinician educator. Our fellows are encouraged to pursue scholarly activities and research projects and compete for national and international presentations and awards. 

The general structure of the rotations is listed below, with each rotation lasting approximately one month:

In-patient Rotation:

  • In-Patient rotation at University Hospital

Hematology and Medical Oncology Specialties Rotations:

  • Benign Hematology
  • Breast Medical Oncology
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) Oncology
  • Genitourinary (GU) Oncology
  • Head and Neck Oncology
  • Hematologic Malignancies
  • Hematopathology
  • Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies
  • Neuro Oncology
  • Palliative/Supportive Care 
  • Soft Tissue Sarcoma
  • Thoracic Oncology
  • Transfusion Medicine

Stem Cell Transplant Rotation:

  • Stem Cell Transplant at The University of Alabama 

Elective Rotations

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Radiation oncology
  • Pathology
  • Radiology
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Endocrine Oncology

Research

  • Clinical Research
  • Translational Research
  • Basic science Research
  • Quality Improvement research
▼   Education

Fellows have formal education through clinical teaching, tumor boards, didactic lectures and other educational conferences. See other didactic lectures

▼   Research Opportunities

Medical Oncology fellows looking at data togetherFirst-year fellows participate in an Introduction to Research Series, in which leaders at USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute highlight research opportunities that fellows can pursue throughout their time in the program. Fellows hear from each department about topics that include:
 

  • Support for Grant Writing
  • Basic Science Research
  • Clinical Research
  • Translational Research
  • Quality Improvement Projects
▼   Meet Our Fellows

Medical Oncology Fellowship at USA

First-Year Fellows


Samuel C. Hall, D.O.

Samuel C. Hall, D.O.

Hometown: Brookhaven, Mississippi

Undergraduate: Mississippi College

Medical School: William Carey University, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama

 


Abraham Titus, M.D.

Abraham Titus, M.D.

Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Medical School:  Avalon University School of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine, Marshall University School of Medicine

 

Second-Year Fellows


Sana Ozair, M.D.

Sana Ozair, M.D.

Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida

Undergraduate: University of South Alabama

Medical School: University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama

 


Gaurav Sharma, M.D.

Gaurav Sharma, M.D.

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Undergraduate/Medical School: Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India

Residency: University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL

 

Third-Year Fellows


Anita Mazloom, M.D.

Anita Mazloom, M.D.

Hometown: San Jose, California

Undergraduate: Brown University

Graduate: Georgetown University

Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine, New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical College

 

 


Daisy Escobar, M.D.

Daisy Escobar, M.D.

Hometown: Sun Valley, California

Undergraduate: University of California Los Angeles

Medical School: Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina Guadalajara

Residency: University of South Alabama

 

 

Program Alumni


Delmer Montoya, M.D.

Delmer Montoya, M.D.

Hometown: El Progresso, Honduras 

Medical School: Catholic University of Honduras

Residency: Internal Medicine, Canton Medical Education Foundation

Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Care, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Plans after Mitchell Cancer Institute Medical Oncology Fellowship: Arizona Oncology Tucson, AZ

 

 


Alhareth Alsayed, M.D.

Alhareth Alsayed, M.D.

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University

Plans after Mitchell Cancer Institute Medical Oncology Fellowship: CGH Medical Center Sterling, IL

 

 


Pranitha Prodduturvar, M.D.

Pranitha Prodduturvar, M.D.

Hometown: Nirmal, India

Medical School: Govt Medical College

Residency: Saint Joseph Hospital

Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Care, University of Chicago

Plans after Mitchell Cancer Institute Medical Oncology Fellowship: Thoracic Oncology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN

 

 


Ashish Manne, M.D.

Ashish Manne, M.D.

Hometown: Hyderabad, India

Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Fellowship: Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Plans after Mitchell Cancer Institute Medical Oncology Fellowship: Gastroenterology Cancer Faculty at Ohio State University

 

 


Sunil Badami, M.D.

Sunil Badami, M.D.

Hometown: Vijayapura

Medical School: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute

Residency: Internal Medicine, Hurley Medical Center/MSU, Flint, Mich.

Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Care, MD Anderson Cancer Center

 


Zachary Trisel, M.D

Zachary Trisel, M.D.

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati

Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Residency: Internal Medicine, Drexel University

▼   Contact Us

Contact Us

Program Director: Omar Alkharabsheh, M.D. - oalkharabsheh@health.southalabama.edu

Associate Program Director: Brian Persing, M.D - bpersing@health.southalabama.edu

Program Coordinator: Alana Bell - alanabell@health.southalabama.edu

Telephone: (251) 445-8401