The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center accepts two fellows each year to its hematology and oncology fellowship program. Upon completion, fellows are eligible for certification in both disciplines.
Our Program
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only NCI designated Cancer Center in the state of New Mexico. As a fellow, you will gain excellent clinical skills, deep knowledge of oncology disciplines, a capacity for clear and critical thought, a mindset of investigation and a high standard of professional ethics.
New Mexico is home to an extremely diverse patient population with a variety of rare, complex and advanced pathologies. Our fellows are critical members of a team providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary care to patients of many cultural, ethnic and social backgrounds.
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
1 University of New Mexico
1201 Camino de Salud NE Albuquerque, NM 87102
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Clinical Rotations and Research
In the first year, fellows participate in:
- 3 months Hematology Inpatient Service
- 3 months Medical Oncology Inpatient Consults
- Experience in Radiation Oncology
- Experience in Palliative Medicine
- 1 month Classical Hematology Clinic
- 1 month GI Clinic
- 1 month Leukemia/Lymphoma/Multiple Myeloma Clinic
- 1 month Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic
- 1 month Head/Neck/Lung Clinic
In the second year, fellows participate in:
- 2 months Hematology Inpatient Service
- 2 months Medical Oncology Inpatient Consults
- Experience in Hematopathology
- Experience in Genetics
- 1 month Gynecology Oncology
- Experience in Blood Bank
- 1 month CNS/Melanoma/Sarcoma Clinic
- 1 month GU Clinic
- 2 months research
In the third year, fellows begin to take specialty electives and conduct research.
Clinical
- 2 month inpatient
- 1 month Bone Marrow Transplant
Research
Opportunities for clinical and laboratory based research:
- TOPS – Trainees in Oncology Programs
- Faculty actively involved in many research areas
- Devoted time concentrated in 2nd/3rd year
- Mentorship program
Each fellow will engage in a continuity/longitudinal clinic one day per week. They will rotate for 6 months at a time in each of the following 6 subspecialties:
- Breast
- Head/neck/lung
- GI
- GU
- Classical Hematology
- Malignant Hematology
Each 6 months is structured for the fellow to have in-depth exposure to disease processes in each area and work alongside and under the supervision of subspecialists in each area.
How to Apply
We accept applicants who have a Medical Doctorate, including providers with J-1 visas.
Applications for the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program are being accepted starting July 1st. The deadline for applications is August 15th. We accept two trainees into our program every year. Interviews begin towards the end of September. Please apply using the ERAS website.
Questions? Please contact us at UNMHemOncFellowApplicats@salud.unm.edu.
Our Program
3rd Year - Senior Chief Fellows
Tripti Chopade, MD - Graduates July 31, 2025
2nd Year
Harsh Sharma, DO - Graduates June 30, 2026
Mahmoud Abdelsamia, MD - Graduates June 30, 2026
1st Year
Neilmegh Lakshma Varada, DO - Graduates June 30, 20217
Christopher Hertz, MD- Graduates July 14, 2027
Elvina Lingas, MD- Graduates September 30, 2027
Dulcinea Quintana, MD, Fellowship Program Director
Ian Rabinowitz, MD
Ashley Kinsel, Medical Education Program Coordinator
505-925-0411
UNMHemOncFellowApplicats@salud.unm.edu
Our department has 20 Clinical Faculty:
- 7 Hematology/Oncology
- 13 Medical Oncology
More than half of the physicians who have completed our program have pursued careers in academia.
- 2009: UNM -> City of Hope
- 2010:
- Emory University; now at Fox Chase Cancer Ctr
- Private practice in Pueblo, Colorado
- 2011: University of Washington
- 2012
- University of New Mexico
- University of Washington
- 2013:
- Private practice in Albuquerque; now at the Veterans Administration in Montana
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida
- 2014:
- MD Anderson
- Private practice in California
- 2015: State University of New York at Syracuse
- 2016
- Private practice in Atlanta Georgia
- Private practice in Roswell New Mexico
- 2017:
- University of Minnesota
- Private practice in Phoenix, Arizona
- 2018
- University of California Davis
- Private practice in Minnesota
- 2019: University of New Mexico
- 2020: ALL THREE at University of New Mexico!!!
- 2021:
- Stanford fellowship in transplant and cell-based therapy
- University of New Mexico
- 2022:
- University of New Mexico
- Mayo Clinic
- 2023
- Stanford fellowship in transplant/cell-based therapy
- Private practice Pennsylvania
The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 57cancer centers — and the only one in New Mexico — to hold NCI Comprehensive designation.
Explore our website to learn about
- Our Mission and Senior Leaders
- Our Care Teams
- Our Research
- Our Shared Resources
- The Treatment Options We Offer
- The Patient and Family Support Services We Offer
and more!
The UNM Cancer Center serves the entire state of New Mexico. The New Mexico population is
- 49% Hispanic
- 37% non-Hispanic White
- 11% American Indian, Native American
- 6% Black/African-American
- 4% and growing Asian
New Mexico is ranked 48th in per capita income and 32 of 33 counties are medically underserved.
We value providing respectful cancer care, which includes attracting and retaining a diverse health care workforce of cancer physicians, scientists, nurses, pharmacists and advanced practice providers.
Learn more about New Mexico: https://www.newmexico.org/