Han-Wei Wu, M.D. is a first-year fellow in the joint pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He completed medical school at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
What does fellowship look like for a first-year pediatric hematology/oncology fellow?
First-year fellowship is a clinically heavy year. We complete blocks in inpatient and outpatient services at both institutions. It is a combination of busy inpatient primary team services, consults, outpatient blocks, and call nights/weekends. There is also protected teaching/lecture for 1 hour during morning and noon conferences.
Why did you decide to pursue a pediatric fellowship at Weill Cornell Medicine?
Fellowship at Weill Cornell Medicine was a good fit for me from professional and personal perspectives. Professionally, it was important to receive my fellowship training at an institution that provided strong clinical education and training in hematology/oncology while also having plenty of opportunities for research. During my residency, I was accepted into the Accelerated Research Pathway of the American Board of Pediatrics, so it was important for me to find a fellowship institution that could support my interests in academic research, which Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) provided. From a personal perspective, I grew up in the New York tri-state area before leaving for college, so I appreciate being back “home” near family.
What do you enjoy most about the program?
Being a part of a joint fellowship program allows an individual to experience two different kinds of hospital systems, patient cases, and workflows. It provides a diversity of diagnoses to learn from, ranging from “bread and butter” hematology/oncology conditions to rare cancers and hematologic conditions. My co-fellows, attendings, and mentors have been great sources of support. They have been wonderful teachers and co-workers, and I have learned so much from them since I started my sub-specialty fellowship. In addition, having the fellowship located in New York City means one has so much to do and explore outside the hospital. During my time off, I have enjoyed trying out new restaurants, exploring new neighborhoods, going to Broadway, walking around Central Park, etc. There is an endless list of things to do.
What inspired you to choose a career in pediatric hematology/oncology?
My biggest inspiration for choosing pediatric hematology/oncology as a career was the patient population. From medical school through residency, I had opportunities to take care of patients with hematologic and oncologic conditions. These patients have always kept me inspired and humbled in my work. It is that inspiration and humility that has kept me grounded, which I plan to carry with me as I advance in my career.
In addition, pediatric hematology/oncology has a good mix of inpatient (complex medical care) and outpatient (building longitudinal relationships with patients and families) medicine, which was an aspect I wanted in a sub-specialty.
Tell us about your interests and career goals.
Currently, my clinical interests are oncology-based. I have enjoyed being the primary fellow for my patients whose ages have ranged from infants to adolescents and young adults. My research interests are primarily in survivorship and health outcomes of oncologic patients, particularly in investigating the late effects of cancer treatments and implementing potential interventions.
My current career goal is to build a solid foundation in pediatric hematology/oncology and become a strong clinician. As I become more involved in research, I aim to integrate aspects of clinical care into my research questions with the goal of positively impacting patient outcomes. I also hope to be involved in medical education and mentorship as I progress further in my career. I have enjoyed teaching residents and medical students.
Do you have advice for those thinking about pursuing a fellowship in pediatrics at WCM?
Reach out early to program leadership or current fellows to ask questions and find out more about the specific WCM fellowship program. It will be important to make sure that WCM is a good fit professionally and personally since it will be the place where you will be spending your next stage of training. I would also advise exploring the WCM fellowship website prior to the application cycle to determine if the program can support both your clinical and research trainings, especially if you wish to specialize in a certain disease state or pathology within your specialty.
Visit the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship program website to learn more.