Hematology & Oncology
| Program Details | |
|---|---|
| Division Chief | Moro Salifu, MD, Acting |
| Program Director | Carol Luhrs, MD |
| Address | 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203 |
| Telephone | 718 613-8678 |
| Number of First year Fellows | 4–5 per year. Total 14 |
| Number of Faculty MD & PhD | 10 Clinical and 1 Research |
| Hospitals Fellows Rotate to | Kings County Hospital Center; University Hospital at Downstate; Brooklyn campus of VA-New York Harbor Healthcare System |
| Sample Schedule of Assignment |
|
| Research Interests of The Division | Health Disparities and Clinical Research in Breast Cancer, Adult T Cell Leukemia and Lymphoma, plasma cell neoplasm, diffuse large b cell lymphoma and multiple primary malignant tumors. |
| Conference Schedule | Weekly clinical Grand Rounds (2 hours); Weekly Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards; Weekly Journal Club alternating with Board Review; Weekly Hematopathology Conference; Weekly Morning conferences with topics on Patient Safety, Case of the Month and FDA Updates. |
| Description of the Educational Aspects and Advantages of the Program |
The program has both clinical and research strengths. The diversity of the patient population in the three hospitals provides an exceptional clinical experience which covers a broad spectrum of diseases encountered in inner city, minority, medically underserved and immigrant populations together with the usual hematologic and malignant disorders seen in adults. Extensive ambulatory care training is provided in the outpatient clinics which include general hematology, general medical oncology, and specialized clinics for breast cancer and hematologic malignancies. Each institution has a special chemotherapy unit staffed by specially trained oncology nurses. This clinical program is augmented with weekly conferences in hematology and medical oncology, multidisciplinary conferences with radiology, surgery, radiation oncology and pathology. Histology reviews of all cases are held weekly and led by a member of the Department of Pathology. The fellows are encouraged to participate in on-going clinical studies with a faculty mentor. |
| Application Information |
The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program. |
| Time frame for Interviews |
September-October of year preceeding start of fellowship. Board eligibility for American Board of Internal Medicine required. |
| Contact | Ms. Lois Cooper |
| Address |
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
| Telephone | 718 613-8678 |
| Fax | 718 270-1578 |
| lois.cooper@downstate.edu | |
Current Fellows
Jesus Flores Banda, MD
Medical School: Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi
Residency: University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, Texas
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? I selected SUNY Downstate for my fellowship due to its commendable work-life balance,
diverse patient population, and abundant teaching opportunities. As the sole academic
medical center in Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate plays a critical role in professional development
for healthcare providers. The fellowship offers a unique rotation experience through
three prominent hospitals: the Brooklyn VA, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and Kings
County Hospital, as well as select rotations at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
During the interview process, I was both inspired and made to feel comfortable by
the attending physicians, which reinforced my decision to join this program. The first
year of fellowship presents an invaluable opportunity to expand my clinical knowledge,
particularly through outpatient settings. This foundational experience will enable
me to effectively apply my learning as I advance into the second and third years of
the program.
Hobbies: Working out, running, participating in social events, exploring new cuisines.
Mina Meseha, MD
Medical School: University of Alexandria Faculty of Medicine.
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? I chose the SUNY Downstate Hematology–Oncology fellowship for its strong clinical training and the chance to work with a wide variety of complex cases. My positive experience as a resident at Downstate really influenced my decision; I felt supported, encouraged, and part of a great team. Training in Brooklyn also means caring for a diverse, underserved community while living in a lively, exciting city. It’s a great place to keep learning and growing.
Hobbies: Swimming, yoga, traveling and playing tennis.
Kazi Samsuddoha, MD
Undergraduate & Medical School: Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Residency: BronxCare Health System, New York
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? SUNY Downstate offers the perfect blend of academic and clinical training. The wide variety of patient population in terms of background and disease spectrum seen in all three campuses greatly enriches the clinical expertise and experience. Didactics are robust in this program. Most importantly, it's in Brooklyn!
Hobbies: Playing cricket, soccer.
M. Talha Ugurlu, MD
Medical School: Gulhane Medical School, University of Health Sciences, Turkiye
Residency: BMC Brighton, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? I chose SUNY Downstate for fellowship because it offers exceptional clinical training with a large and diverse patient population. The program supports fellows in pursuing their interests and creates an atmosphere for professional and personal growth. It is in NYC with a lot of opportunities.
Hobbies:
Cooking, skiing, hiking and running.
Mahtab Zangui, MD
Medical School: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? I chose SUNY Downstate for my hematology and oncology fellowship because of its strong academic environment and deep commitment to both patient care and medical education. The program offers invaluable exposure to a diverse patient population through clinical work at high-volume medical centers across Brooklyn, as well as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This rigorous and well-rounded experience provides the ideal setting for me to continue building on the foundation I developed during my residency at Downstate.
Hobbies: Yoga, playing violin, cooking.
Zakaria Alameddine, MD
Undergraduate School: Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Science
Medical School: Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Science
Residency: Staten Island University Hospital
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? I chose to pursue a Hematology & Oncology fellowship at SUNY Downstate because of its strong emphasis on serving a diverse patient population, its renowned faculty, and its commitment to cutting-edge research. SUNY Downstate's focus on providing comprehensive, compassionate care to underserved communities aligns with my passion for health equity. The opportunity to learn in a dynamic clinical environment, combined with the mentorship from leading experts in the field, makes it an ideal place to further my training and contribute meaningfully to patient outcomes and advancements in cancer and blood disorder treatments.
Hobbies: Table tennis.
Micha Gooden, MD
Undergraduate School: Stony Brook University, NY
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine, University of Buffalo, NY
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship?
I chose Downstate because Brooklyn is home. I enjoy working with this unique patient population and wanted to give back to this community.
Hobbies:
Dancing, reading, exploring new cities.
Farish Maraikayar Mohamed Maraikayar, MD
Medical School: Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bangalore, India
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? I chose my fellowship program because of its strong clinical training, diverse patient population and a growing emphasis on research. The program offers exceptional mentorship and opportunities to collaborate impactful projects, especially underserved communities.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing volleyball, cricket. I also love spending some good quality time with my family and friends going out for movies and restaurants.
Parima Saxena, MD
Undergraduate School: Western University, Ontario, Canada
Medical School: St. Georges University, Grenada
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship? Our program has a supportive environment that fosters professional and personal growth. I really love that Downstate is so close knit despite being at 3 different hospitals. The faculty are very dedicated to education and supporting the fellows.
Hobbies: Barry’s Bootcamp, wine tasting, and hanging out with my amazing co-fellows!
Imad Karam, MD
Undergraduate School: University of Balamand, Lebanon
Medical School: University of Balamand, Lebanon
Residency: St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, Missouri
Why did I choose Suny Downstate for Fellowship?
It truly was a gut feeling that led me to choose the Suny Downstate Fellowship program. Looking back, I couldn't have been more right. The sense of belonging, the support and the growth I have experienced confirmed that my intuition had guided me to the perfect place to cultivate my aspirations and thrive as a physician.
Hobbies:
Cooking; Exploring diverse cuisines; hiking; swimming, traveling, and singing
Harshasree Seelam, MD
Undergraduate school: Manipal University
Medical School: American University of Antigua
Residency: Richmond University Medical Center
Why I chose SUNY Downstate for fellowship: Strong clinical program with emphasis on academics and dedicated faculty who are committed to teaching. We have the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population and rotate at multiple hospitals which offer their own unique experiences. I was also impressed by the camaraderie between the fellows and the supportive work environment.
Hobbies:
Long distance running, hiking, watching documentaries and cooking shows
Gaudy Vanegas, MD
Medical School: Universidad Americana (UAM)
Residency:
St. John's Episcopal Hospital
Why I chose SUNY Downstate for fellowship?
During my rotation at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, I found a fantastic opportunity that matches my career goals perfectly: pursuing a Hematology-Oncology Fellowship. What really stood out were the fellows' strong sense of ethics, their dedication to research, and their responsibility in patient care. But what truly impressed me was the commitment of the Attending Physicians, especially the Program Director. She not only teaches but also cares about ethics and humanity. In short, I found the opportunity I've been looking for, and I'm ready to make the most of it.
Hobbies: cooking
Armine Bagdasaryan, MD
Undergraduate School: University of Southern California
Medical School:
Yerevan State Medical University
Residency:
One Brooklyn Health, Brookdale Medical Center
Why I chose SUNY Downstate for fellowship?
SUNY Downstate, located in the heart of Brooklyn, serves a largely diverse patient population allowing us to serve a community from different corners of the world, exposing us to a spectrum of pathologies. However, it goes without saying that the main reason are the people… from the welcoming staff, to helpful faculty with impressive professional backgrounds, to our patients who grant us purpose for all we do.
Hobbies:
Learning art history, playing the piano and spending time with friends and family
Rachele Hamadi, MD
Undergraduate School:
Universite Saint Joseph
Medical School:
Universite Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon
Residency:
Staten Island University Hospital
Why I chose SUNY Downstate for fellowship?
I am delighted to have chosen SUNY Downstate for my hematology/oncology fellowship, a decision driven by numerous compelling factors that align perfectly with my professional aspirations. The program's esteemed reputation in the field is a testament to its commitment to excellence and innovation, assuring me of the high-quality education and mentorship I will receive. The patient population's diversity, encompassing the VA, Kings County Hospital, and SUNY Downstate Hospital, will offer me exposure to a wide spectrum of cases. This exposure not only enriches my learning but also perfectly dovetails with my vision to integrate geriatric oncology into my future career. The program's location in the heart of New York City is the icing on the cake.
Hobbies: Rock climbing, hiking, pilates, yoga, reading, tennis