OICO Training Programs

Seven (7) available educational training options

Clinical “Hands-on” Training

Hands-on oncology training is available for experienced specialist physicians who want to gain advanced clinical experience in the fields of surgical, radiation or medical oncology. The qualified trainees must be a specialist, licensed to practice medicine in their own country and possess five (5) years experience in their speciality. The accepted trainees will receive medical instructions and be supervised by a licensed Roswell Park physician for a period not to exceed six (6) months. The trainees must enter into a written employment agreement with OICO. This training program has a flexible start date and requires an employment based visa (H-1B), which is sponsored and processed by OICO.

Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship

This ACGME accredited fellowship provides a comprehensive, three-year training experience that will enable fellows to acquire the knowledge, skills, clinical judgment and professionalism essential for the attainment of expertise in this subspecialty. The fellowship requires 36 months of hands-on clinical training with an intensive research component. Fellows successfully completing the program are eligible for board certification in both subspecialties of Medical Oncology and Hematology.

Eligible trainees must be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), have completed three years prior training in an ACGME accredited residency program, and be eligible for New York State medical licensure. Interested trainees shall submit an on-line application to OICO. The program has a July 1 start date and requires a J-1 clinical visa issued by ECFMG.

Medical Oncology Fellowship Training

This ACGME accredited fellowship offers a comprehensive medical and clinical oncology fellowship experience, under the direct supervision and responsibility of a Roswell Park licensed physician. The fellowship enables trainees to acquire the knowledge, skills and clinical judgment essential for medical practice. This is a two (2) year medical oncology fellowship program. One year is collaborative research training and the other is hands-on training in medical oncology. Fellows that successfully complete the program are eligible for board certification in medical oncology.

The qualified trainees must be licensed to practice medicine in their home country, have completed residency training, and be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). In addition, trainees must obtain a New York State limited license. The training has a July 1 start date, and requires a J-1 clinical visa sponsored by OICO and issued by ECFMG.

Preparation for Medical Residency Training

This training program offers the opportunity to advance the medical credentials of physicians who are preparing to apply for the United States medical residency match program. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and OICO do not guarantee residency acceptance, however, the training experience will enhance physicians’ curriculum vitae in a U.S. hospital and provide a more competitive edge to the trainees application into a U.S. residency program. This training provides an observational clinical oncology experience and hands-on translational cancer research.

The training will develop and enhance the ability of the trainees to design and perform a clinical cancer research project, which may lead to a submission for publication in peer-reviewed US journals. This training program is offered for one (1) to two (2) years depending on the training request. This training program requires the trainee to obtain a J-1 research visa, which is processed by OICO.

Post-Doctorate Oncology Research Fellowship

This training offers a great opportunity for medical specialists and general practitioners (MDs) to practice medical skills in an environment that fits their qualifications and provides clinical and translational oncology research experience. The training permits observational clinical oncology training and allows working independently in a medical oncology research laboratory under the mentorship and direction of an established Roswell Park principal investigator. Accepted trainees will be assigned and perform a translational oncology research project to investigate and generate data, which may lead to a submission for publication in peer reviewed journals. The training is for one (1) to three (3) years and has a flexible start date. It requires a J-1 research visa sponsored by OICO.

Clinical Electives

Clinical Electives Training Program (CETP)

CETP is designed for medical students that seek oncology research and observational clinical experience in the United States. The goal of this program is to provide students with an opportunity to develop and enhance their clinical (no hands-on) skills and knowledge. Students will be trained in one of the various subspecialties offered by Roswell Park, have an opportunity to network, obtain letters of recommendation and gain a general sense of the functioning environment of a U.S. hospital. This is a four (4) to eight (8) week program, which requires English language proficiency and has a flexible start date.

Biomedical Research and Clinical Elective (BRCE)

BRCE is designed for medical students that seek oncology translational biomedical research and clinical (no hands-on) observational experience in the United States. The goal of this program is to provide students with laboratory research skills combined with clinical knowledge. Students will be trained in one of the various subspecialties offered by Roswell Park and have an opportunity to network, obtain letters of recommendation and gain a general sense of the functioning environment of a U.S. hospital. This is  four (4) to eight (8) week program which requires English language proficiency and has a flexible start date.

Three (3) available educational training options

Post-Doctorate Oncology Research Fellowship

This training is for dentists (DDS) and doctor of philosophy (PhD). The research fellowship training program offers a great opportunity to practice medical oncology skills in an environment that fits trainees qualifications and provides clinical and translational oncology research experience. The training permits working semi-independently in an oncology research laboratory under the mentorship and direction of an established Roswell Park principal investigator. Trainees will be assigned and perform a translational oncology research project to investigate and generate data, which may lead to a submission for publication in peer reviewed journals. The training program is for one (1) to three (3) years and has a flexible start date. It requires a J-1 visa sponsored by OICO.

Laboratory Oncology Research Training

This training program is designed for healthcare professionals and medical staff who seek oncology research training. It is exclusively related to laboratory oncology research projects performed at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Trainees will be supervised by a designated Roswell Park staff identified by OICO. This training program is offered for one (1) to three (3) years, which depends on the training request. The areas of training are cancer genetics, pharmacology and therapeutics, immunology, pathology, cancer prevention, epidemiology and other requested areas of translational oncology research training. Trainees interested in this training program must obtain a J-1 visa, which is processed by OICO.

Research Electives

Biomedical Research Elective Program (BREP)

This training program is designed for medical students that seek oncology basic science and translational research experience in the United States. The goal of this program is to provide medical students with an opportunity to develop biomedical laboratory basic research skills and knowledge. This is a four (4) to eight (8) week program, which requires English language proficiency and has a flexible start date.

Biomedical Research and Clinical Elective (BRCE)

BRCE is designed for medical students that seek oncology translational biomedical research and clinical (no hands-on) observational experience in the United States. The goal of this program is to provide students with laboratory research skills combined with clinical knowledge. Students will be trained in one of the various subspecialties offered by Roswell Park and have an opportunity to network, obtain letters of recommendation and gain a general sense of the functioning environment of a U.S. hospital. This is  four (4) to eight (8) week program which requires English language proficiency and has a flexible start date.

Two (2) available educational training options

Degree Issuing Training

This nationally accredited program focuses on oncology education and is offered by the Roswell Park graduate division in partnership with State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY at Buffalo).

The oncology education program offers two (2) degree training options:

Masters Degree of Cancer Sciences (MS)

Candidates are competitively accepted into a nationally accredited cancer sciences program. Candidates must submit an application at least six (6) to eight (8) months before the start date of the program.

The program is for two (2) years, which includes academic courses and a research project. The area of the research project can be selected from multiple subspecialty oncology training programs (e.g. epidemiology, pharmacology, immunology, molecular pathology, bioinformatics, etc.) The relevant research and coursework would be conducted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center under the direct supervision of a Roswell Park faculty member. The program has a fixed start date in August of each year and requires an F-1 student visa, which issued by the University at Buffalo.

Doctorate Degree of Cancer Sciences (PhD)

Candidates for the PhD program are competitively accepted into a nationally accredited cancer sciences program. Candidates must submit an application at least six (6) to eight (8) months before the start date of the program.

The training program is for five (5) years which includes academic courses and a research project Candidates can select the topic of their research project from multiple subspecialty oncology training disciplines: Cancer Prevention, Cancer Genetics, Genomics and Development, Tumor Immunology, Cell Stress and Biophysical Oncology, and Experimental Therapeutics. The relevant research and coursework would be conducted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center under the direct supervision of a Roswell Park faculty member. The program has a fixed start date in August of each year and requires an F-1 student visa, which issued by the University at Buffalo.

The training program is available to allied health care professionals and medical staff. It provides candidates with the appropriate training in selective and supportive services, offered at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, under the supervision of an appropriate Roswell Park staff.

This training program is offered from three (3) to twelve (12) months and requires a J-1 visa, which is processed by OICO.

Five (5) available training options

Flow and Image Cytometry

Trainees will gain exposure in standard and advanced flow cytometry and imaging services. Trainees will work in the laboratory to prepare and analyze samples using innovative devices and methods, including: instrumentation set up, control panels, QC and prepare data analyses reports.

Procurement and Biobanking

Trainees will gain experience in biospecimen tissue procurement and banking, histology, leukemia procurement and banking, image scanning and analysis. Trainees will learn basic science methods in handling, preserving, staining, dissecting, imagery and analysis of cancer tissue.

Oncology Cytogenetics

Trainees will have an opportunity to gain experience examining chromosomes to look for genetic or acquired abnormalities that can detect cancer. Trainees will learn techniques such as spectral karyotyping (SKY) and fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) to detect missing or abnormal chromosomes in cancer samples.

Immune Analysis Facility

Trainees will gain experience in serial monitoring or immunologic functions in samples of oncology patients who are treated with immunotherapeutic and biologic therapies and participate in clinical trials or research protocols. Trainees will spend time in the laboratory, learning and monitoring the process of transitioning novel immune therapies from bench to bedside. 

Oncology Genomics

Trainees will gain experience in genomic analysis and gene expression. Trainees will learn how to process and perform multiple methods which may include next generation sequencing, image and basic data analysis, miRNA and gene expression, gene modulation, nucleic acid extraction and QC, SNP Genotyping, etc. These methods will be available based on the trainees requests and laboratory availability.

Two (2) available educational training options

Perspective in Oncology Nursing

This one (1) year certificate training program is administered by OICO in collaboration with the Department of Nursing at Daemen College. The program consists of two (2) phases. Each phase offers didactic courses and clinical hands-on practice. Didactic courses are held at Daemen College while the clinical hands-on oncology practice is performed at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The qualified trainees should be registered and licensed to practice nursing in their home country. This training program requires the trainees to obtain an F-1 student visa, which is processed by Daemen College.

The program has a fixed start date in August of each year. Applications are due six (6) to eight (8) months before the start date.

Master of Science in Nursing Education

Trainees, who successfully completed the Perspective in Oncology nursing certificate program, have the option to enroll in a degree-issuing training. In addition, this two (2) year training program is available to new oncology nurses as well. The qualified trainees should be registered and licensed to practice nursing in their home country. Didactic courses are held at Daemen College.

The clinical hands-on oncology practice is performed at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. OICO supervises the training administratively and provides help with the daily operational needs of the program. This degree training program requires the trainees to obtain an F-1 student visa, which is processed by Daemen College. 

The program has a fixed start date in August of each year. Applications are due six (6) to eight (8) months before the start date.

This training program is available to allied health care professionals and medical staff. The program offers training in multiple disciplines including pharmacy, infection disease and control, cancer prevention and control, nicotine and tobacco assessment and surgical pathology.

These training programs range from (3) months to two (2) years and require a J-1 visa, which is processed by OICO.

Five (5) available training options

Pharmacy Training

The training program provides visiting clinical pharmacists with the opportunity to conduct collaborative oncology research relevant to preparation of oncology medication and gain skills necessary to maintain efficiency in the work flow of an oncology pharmacy. In addition, the training program includes understanding the management of pharmacy personnel, management of formulary and non-formulary anticancer agents, understanding the role of electronic medical research and electronic medication administration record.

This program is divided into 4-6 week blocks of pharmacy collaborative oncology research, elective and management related to the following areas: bone marrow transplant, hematology/oncology: leukemia and lymphoma, gynecologic oncology, breast cancer, lung cancer, GI malignancies, GU/soft tissue medicine, and investigational drug services.

Infection Disease Prevention and Control Training

This training program focuses on how to reduce the risks of endemic, epidemic and hospital-inquired infections. Trainees will gain knowledge on how to establish best practices in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of complications in patients with cancer. In addition, trainees will work with other departments to identify potential risks and ensure infection prevention.

Cancer Prevention and Control Training

This training program allows trainees to investigate the development of cancer and intervention programs for at-risk communities. Trainees will shadow Roswell Park scientists to gain exposure to multidisciplinary approaches of cancer research, studying biologic, behavioral and social factors of cancer risks and outcomes.

This includes cancer epidemiology, prognostic biomarkers, cancer health disparities, tobacco regulatory science and tobacco cessation and cancer survivorship. 

Nicotine and Tobacco Assessment Training

This training program will allow trainees to gain experience testing for carcinogens in tobacco and nicotine products. Trainees will also have an opportunity to learn how to analyze biomarkers of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. This includes learning methods such as gas chromatography (GCI), pH and density meters, spirometer, CO monitors, smokerlyzer, repository of oral and pulmonary cell lines, particle counters, primary flow calibrators, etc. Trainees will learn and perform these methods based on the trainers availability. 

Surgical Pathology Training 

This training program offers a unique opportunity to focus on various oncology pathology subspecialty research services.The training provides an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to challenging cases from all organ systems. The trainees will rotate and gain skills in molecular pathology, cytopathology, solid tumors and cytogenetics laboratories. The trainees will shadow Roswell Park physicians and learn from laboratory staff.