General scope of practice

NP's and PA's in medical oncology are involved in nearly all aspects of cancer care, including:

• Performing comprehensive assessments of patients, including medical history, physical exams, and interpreting diagnostic tests.
• Developing and managing treatment plans tailored to the specific needs of the patient.
• Prescribing medications, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and supportive care agents.
• Managing side effects of cancer treatments, providing symptom management, and improving patients' quality of life.
• Educating patients and families about their diagnosis, treatment options, and expected outcomes.
• Coordinating care with other healthcare providers, ensuring a seamless and holistic approach to cancer treatment.
• Participating in clinical research and trials, contributing to advancements in oncology care.

Didactic coursework

Didactic education:

• All fellows are required to complete a research/QI project and are given four hours every other week to work on this.
• Fellows are paired with an M.D. and APP mentor
• Brightspace is where most educational content is housed

Schedule and hours

For the majority of the fellowship, the learning schedule is primarily weekday hours with approximately 40 hours weekly. This does not include additional time spent on didactic responsibilities. The rotations may vary with eight-to-twelve hour days, four to five days a week depending on outpatient or inpatient schedule. The program provides you with four hours every other week as dedicated research time to achieve the best learning opportunities in clinical research to improve patient care outcomes.

Department and faculty

The Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Medical Oncology Fellowship is coordinated and taught by the clinical, scientific, and technical staff of Mayo Clinic. Faculty members are chosen for their commitment to teaching, as well as their clinical practice and research experience. Many have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields. Fellows will work closely with APPs as well as M.D.s in subspecialty clinics and hospital rotations. You have direct access to these individuals throughout the training program.

Visiting professors and lecturers

A hallmark of higher education excellence is the breadth and depth of information and experience provided to you by faculty and visiting experts. Many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic each year to lecture in their areas of medical and scientific expertise.

As a student at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, you are encouraged to learn from these valuable resources by attending all relevant conferences, lectures, and seminars prepared for students, interns, residents, fellows, and consulting staff.

Facilities

Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, includes an extensive outpatient complex, Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, and substantial research and education facilities. This Mayo Clinic site is among the largest, most advanced medical centers in the world.

Evaluation

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools:

• Written examination
• Demonstration of skills
• Self-assessment exercises
• Faculty reviews

Mayo Clinic's system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. This allows faculty and administrative staff to direct students who are experiencing academic difficulty to the appropriate support resources, including tutoring programs and counseling opportunities.