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UF offers three new fellowship programs in Jacksonville

The University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville has received approval for three new fellowship training programs: hospice and palliative medicine, pediatric hematology-oncology, and pediatric maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery. These new programs each have ties to pediatric care and are possible thanks to UF partnerships not only with UF Health Jacksonville, but with other Jacksonville health organizations, including Nemours Children’s Clinic and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

The first fellows will begin in July 2014. With these additions, there are now 43 residency and fellowship programs at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville.

“Hospice and palliative medicine, both adult and pediatric, is a growing discipline and the new fellowship will provide a much-needed educational opportunity in this area,” said Linda Edwards, MD, the college’s senior associate dean for educational affairs.

“Pediatric hematology-oncology is an extremely important subspecialty within pediatrics and the presence of a fellowship will also strengthen the training of pediatricians,” Edwards said. “The pediatric maxillofacial and craniofacial fellowship, offered by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, will become one of the few programs in the country that provide training in this area.”

Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Development of the hospice and palliative medicine fellowship began about two years ago, said Kelly Komatz, MD, MPH, a UF assistant professor of pediatrics who serves as the fellowship program director. Mark McIntosh, MD, a UF associate professor of emergency medicine, is the program’s assistant director.

The program will accept two fellows each year — one with a pediatric focus and the other with an adult focus. Training areas will include palliative care pain management, oncology, psychiatry and rehabilitation. Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic, Brooks Rehabilitation and Baptist Medical Center are partnering with UF Health to provide the assets, space and personnel needed to run the program.

“I’m pleased to be part of a robust program and community that has the resources to bring this unique opportunity here,” Komatz said. “But more importantly, patients — including pediatric-aged patients — will benefit from the training of palliative care physicians right here in Jacksonville.”

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

The pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship program, which will be housed at Nemours Children’s Clinic, had been in the works for the past two years, said Manisha Bansal, MD, a UF courtesy assistant professor of hematology and medical oncology. She is serving as the fellowship program director.

One fellow will be accepted each year and each fellowship will last three years, with the time split evenly between clinical and research efforts. Training areas will include hematology, oncology and stem cell transplant. Fellows will also spend a month at the UF Proton Therapy Institute.

“I have had the unique opportunity to design a training program that I believe gives excellent clinical and research training,” Bansal said. “We are very excited to be able to play an active role in this mission to teach the next generation of pediatric hematologists and oncologists.”

Pediatric Maxillofacial and Craniofacial Surgery

A pediatric maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery fellowship program had been discussed for a while, with serious planning beginning in 2012, said Barry Steinberg, MD, DDS, PhD, who serves as the program director. He is a UF associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Nathan Ranalli, MD, an assistant professor of pediatric neurosurgery, is the program’s assistant director.

The program will house one fellow per year. Training areas for each one-year fellowship will include trauma, pathology, deformities and airway problems, with much of the work done at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Steinberg said there are only two other fellowship programs in the country that have an expansive scope similar to what UF will have. The offering will include cranial vault surgery.

“There is a great need here to have people trained in this subspecialty,” Steinberg said. “I think this will assist in the ability to take care of patents and will elevate our program to the next level.”

The fellowship programs in hospice and palliative medicine and pediatric hematology-oncology are accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Plans are for the pediatric maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery fellowship program to be accredited through the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

For more information about fellowship programs at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, call the Office of Educational Affairs at 904-244-3149 or visit hscj.ufl.edu/graduate-medical.

Featured Faculty

Manisha Bansal, MD

Manisha Bansal, MD

Courtesy Assistant Professor
Program Director, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellowship

Linda R. Edwards, MD

Linda R. Edwards, MD

Associate Professor
Dean, College of Medicine - Jacksonville

Kelly C. Komatz, MD, MPH, F.A.A.P., F.A.A.H.P.M.

Kelly C. Komatz, MD, MPH, F.A.A.P., F.A.A.H.P.M.

Associate Professor
Program Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Mark S. McIntosh, MD, MPH

Mark S. McIntosh, MD, MPH

Associate Professor
Medical Director, Palliative Care; Medical Director, UF Health Corporate Wellness

Nathan J. Ranalli, MD, FAANS, FAAP

Nathan J. Ranalli, MD, FAANS, FAAP

Associate Professor
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Craniofacial Fellowship