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Ϲ APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program

The APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at the Ϲ is a 12-month training program designed to prepare NPs and PAs in the multidisciplinary, evidence-based care of complex patients. Fellows gain hands-on clinical experience, didactic learning, and professional mentorship to strengthen clinical decision-making and develop specialized skills.
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Who should consider an APP hematology and oncology fellowship?

APPs with interest in advancing their clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat complex, ambulatory and acutely ill patients in hematology and oncology subspecialties.

APPs interested in transitioning to practice in a mentored environment to build a professional network and clarify through experience a best fit for clinical practice and starting their career.

What are the benefits of an APP hematology and oncology fellowship?

Gain the hands-on experience and dedicated learning time needed to develop confidence and competence in Hematology and Oncology – a fast-paced, high-acuity field.

Structured, supportive training helps newly graduated APPs or those transitioning from other specialties thrive in a new clinical environment.

Experience inpatient, outpatient, and specialty care with one-on-one guidance and a flexible curriculum tailored to your career goals.

Work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, while contributing meaningfully to team-based care for complex patients.

Advance your clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills in diverse, real-world environments.

Develop leadership skills, build resilience, and prepare to lead in a rapidly evolving healthcare system.

Apply to the APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program

Fall start dates are available; up to 2 fellows are selected annually. Practice locations include (Inpatient and ) and community sites.

Learn more about application details, including information about interviews, salary, and benefits.

Apply now

A Day in the Life of an APP Hematology and Oncology Fellow

Clinical Rotations

Clinic Day
Fellows can expect a traditional 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday patient care day in the outpatient setting. In collaboration with the APP preceptor and MD will see 3–6 patients in the clinic setting providing follow up care, chemotherapy care, episodic visits for focused problems and new patient consults.

Inpatient Day
Fellows can expect a 10-hour workday, variable times (i.e.) 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., 4 shifts/week – may include an occasional weekend. In collaboration with the APP preceptor and attending MD, fellows will be able to see 3–6 patients in the hospital setting, assess and manage their day-to-day care with the interdisciplinary team.

Continuity Clinic/Administrative Day
For 48 weeks of the year, fellows will have a weekly 4-hour clinic. With an assigned preceptor, the fellow will rotate through a dedicated clinic and a community site, each site for half the year. In the afternoons, the fellow will have administrative time to complete self-study, attend lectures, work on their research project and on any other assignments or required learning.

A Typical Day

  • 0730: Arrive to assigned clinic, review schedule for the day. Follow up any EPIC in-basket patient messages, RN messages and medication refill requests.
  • 0800-0830: Discuss with APP preceptor and attending MD plan for seeing patients for the day.
  • 0830-1600: See patients assigned to the clinic schedule, present patients to and discuss assessment/plan with the attending MD and/or APP preceptor. Complete clinic notes, work with RNs to address any clinical issues from patients calling in to the RN triage line, continue to complete and respond to any in-basket requests throughout the day. May need to see or respond to acute issues or rapid response situations in the Day Hospital where patients are seen in the outpatient setting for treatment. Responsible for any order entry for supportive cares or chemotherapy provided in the Day Hospital.
  • 1600-1700: Wrap up any outstanding clinical documentation, discuss patient assignments for the following day with the preceptor. Debrief and discuss patient cases and clinical progress in clinic.

How We Learn

The APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program focuses on hands-on, clinical experiences across all sub-specialties of cancer care with a mix of outpatient and inpatient clinical rotations. Our rotations include required clinical rotations which focus on the most common cancers in the United States. There are additional opportunities for elective rotations, which include sub-specialties in Hematology and Oncology. In addition to clinical rotations, the curriculum provides hands-on skill development through simulation labs, journal clubs and other didactic educational opportunities throughout the 12-month program.

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Didactic Education

The program includes dedicated time for didactic opportunities to enhance clinical learning experiences including:

  • In-person lectures
  • Case Presentations
  • Online learning modules
  • Monthly APP education lectures
  • Regular mentorship meetings
  • Reflective journaling
  • Journal Clubs
  • APP professional curriculum (APPLY)
  • Research/Quality Improvement (QI) Project
  • Simulation Labs
Hematology & Oncology Curriculum

During the first month, the fellow will go through “Boot Camp” to address critical topics to prepare them for the next 11 months of rotations.

Topics include:

  • Cancer 101
  • Oncologic Emergencies
  • Radiation Oncology 101
  • Sexual Health in Cancer Patients
  • Patient Encounters Basics
  • Billing and Coding
  • EPIC/Beacon Training
  • Precision Medicine
  • Immunotherapy Basics
  • Library Resource Training
  • APSHO Cancer Therapy Prescribing Course
Certification
  • BLS
  • ACLS
  • AOCNP (as available-post graduation)
Procedural Opportunities
  • Bone marrow biopsy
  • Intrathecal chemotherapy administration via lumbar puncture or ommaya reservoir
  • Ommaya reservoir access
Clinical Rotations

Required core rotations in the following areas (1-4 weeks):

  • Thoracic oncology
  • Genitourinary (GU) oncology
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) oncology
  • Breast oncology
  • Malignant hematology (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple myeloma, BMT-CT; 4 weeks inpatient, 4 weeks outpatient)
  • Head and neck oncology
  • Gynecological oncology
  • Continuity clinic (weekly throughout the year; hospital and community setting)
  • Palliative medicine
  • Benign hematology
  • 24 hour cancer clinic
  • Long rotation (APP fellow selects 1 specialty for an 8-week rotation)

Elective rotations (1 week): shadow experience(s) only, fellow selects 2 rotations

  • Psychology-oncology
  • Interventional radiology
  • Sarcoma
  • Phase 1/Precision medicine
  • Neurology-oncology
  • Radiation oncology
Simulation Labs

The APP Heme/Onc Fellow(s) will participate in seven (7) simulation labs throughout their fellowship year. The simulation labs are designed to provide engaging learning experiences and serve as a catalyst for honing the clinical skills essential for success in Hematology and Oncology. These subspecialized spaces are designed to replicate real-life clinical scenarios that allow our learners to engage in hands-on, immersive experiences that challenge and refine their decision-making processes, procedural competency and overall clinical acumen. Fellows will be provided real-time feedback by instructors, which allows learners to review and reflect on their actions in each scenario and apply skills and knowledge learned to future endeavors.

Highlighted Fellow Presentations

Melatonin for the Management of Cancer Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer: An Integrative Review
Jill Pontinen, PA-C
Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO) (publication pending)

Chest x-ray versus Chest Computed Tomography in the Initial Evaluation of Cancer Patients Presenting with Neutropenic Fever: An Integrative Review
Christin Lissmann, MSN, A-GNP-C, APNP

Featured Voices

Jill Pontinen, MPAS, PA-C

"I had the opportunity to rotate with the Ϲ Hematology/Oncology team as a PA student and greatly enjoyed my experience. I then chose to pursue my Hematology/Oncology APP Fellowship at Ϲ because I wanted to learn more about the complexities of managing oncology patients in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Being a new physician assistant, I wanted to grow my knowledge and my practice in a safe learning environment that would foster my growth. The leadership team and preceptors were caring and supported my learning. The fellowship built my confidence as a provider, and I will utilize what I learned throughout my career. I am grateful for the experience I have gained over the fellowship year and decided to stay in Ϲ as an inpatient APP. I want to continue to be involved with APP fellowships to support future fellows since I know what it is like to be in their shoes!"

Jill Pontinen, MPAS, PA-C

Mitch Fowler, PA-C

"Becoming a preceptor was an easy decision for me. I simply enjoy three things about it: 1) teaching what I know about medicine, 2) teaching what I have learned about the intricacies of practicing medicine, and 3) observing the fellow develop and grow into a high-quality provider for their patients. I have the rewarding opportunity to help our fellows strengthen their knowledge, clinical judgement, and clinical skills in their journey to becoming a well-rounded and exceptional hem/onc clinician. Our Hem/Onc APP Fellowship program offers our fellows a very high level of education, mentorship, and hands-on experience involving many hem/onc specialties with excellent preceptors. I am honored to be a small part of the process as the fellow completes our innovative and collaborative program here at Froedtert & Ϲ."

Mitch Fowler, PA-C

Current Fellow

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Karmel Torres, DNP, APNP, AGACNP-BC

APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellow

Meet Our Program Team

Education for the APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship program is supported by APP, MD, and education coordinator leadership team in addition to APP and MD specialists and educators from various specialties and key acute care rotations.

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Kristine Broge-Reynen, MS, APNP, ANP-BC

APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program Director

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Maressa Sweeney, PA-C, MPAS

APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Assistant Program Director

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Amy Harker-Murray, MD

Assistant Professor; APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program MD Director

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Brianna Just

APP Adult Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program Education Coordinator

Contact Us

For general fellowship questions or to submit additional application documentation
hemoncAPPfellowship@mcw.edu