Curriculum

Transfusion medicine rotations

Core I

This rotation provides the fellow with an introduction to the operations of Transfusion Medicine Service and builds upon previous residency training to prepare him/her for taking direct responsibility for patient-and administrative decisions. The operation, and thus the orientation, includes Blood Bank (BB), Blood Donor Program (BDP), and Cellular Therapy Center (CTC). This rotation will have a significant amount of didactic activities as well as introduction to bench activities in the Blood Bank. At the conclusion of this rotation, the fellow should be intimately familiar with the daily operations, testing techniques, and capabilities of the entire operation.

Core II

This rotation provides the fellow with additional interpretive and action capabilities in the following areas: daily operations, inventory; immunohematology laboratory; blood component utilization (as practiced at this institution); utilization of blood derivatives; operating room; intraoperative blood salvage, outpatient transfusions; donor and therapeutic apheresis procedures; hospital based donor center operation and decision making; unexpected antibody work-up; transfusion reaction investigation; teaching of a CP resident, hemophilia center interactions, and transfusion committee activities.

Core III

The bulk of the fellowship is spent in this rotation where the fellow practices interventional and consultative transfusion medicine first alongside and then under the supervision of attendings (with increasing responsibilities). The fellow will serve as acting attending for as little as two weeks and as long as six weeks at the end of core III. The length of the acting attending term will be determined based on the faculty’s evaluation of the fellow.

Cellular therapy

This rotation exposes the fellow to activities related to cellular therapy, including procurement, processing and administration of cellular therapy products. It is expected that the fellow will spend some time on the BMT unit as well as in the cell processing laboratory.

HLA tissue typing

This rotation consists of two parts. The first part is a one week immersion in molecular diagnostics with its new technologies. The second week will be devoted to exposure to HLA testing in a high volume laboratory with particular emphasis on the use of HLA typing in cellular therapy, platelet transfusion and organ procurement/transplantation.

Hematopathology/coagulation

This rotation encompasses exposure to special coagulation laboratory, flow cytometry, and general hematology testing. The purpose is to ensure that the fellow is cognizant of and comfortable with the testing performed in these laboratories so that he/she can appropriately apply the information in their practice. The fellow will be responsible for directing, managing and interpreting all work-ups requested during this rotation, in consultation with appropriate faculty.

Blood donor center/IDM testing

This rotation familiarizes the fellow with activities involved in blood collection at a large donor center including recruiting, mobile donations and donor screening. The fellow will be exposed to a large volume infectious disease testing for blood donors, including EIA, NAT, confirmatory testing and automated testing.

Research

This rotation allows the fellow to pursue research projects and/or a specific area of interest.

Sample block schedule

Download a sample block schedule (PDF)

Conferences

The Transfusion Medicine Fellow is expected to participate in conferences at least once a month and must give a minimum of two presentations per year. The fellow will be expected to give 2-4 lectures during the academic year on a medical, or technical, topic and is expected to present at TMS Rounds, CP didactic conferences and journal club/research conference.

Leadership Preventive Medicine Residency

Successful and qualified candidates may apply to combine their fellowship with the Leadership Preventive Medicine Residency (DHLPMR) leading to a Master’s in Public Health from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) and to gain knowledge and skills in the measurement of outcomes and the leadership of change and improvement in healthcare systems.

For more information visit the Leadership in Preventative Medicine Residency page.