Mayo Clinic Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program

Rochester, Minnesota
Program Director: Judy C. Boughey, MD, FACS, FSSO

The Mayo Clinic is renowned for excellence in patient care and education. The Mayo Clinic logo of three interlocking shields highlights the institutional commitment to patient care, education, and research. US News and World Report recognized Mayo Clinic as the #1 hospital in the nation for 2022-2023 for the seventh consecutive year, and the Mayo Clinic was on the US News and World Report best hospitals honor roll 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. In this setting, we offer a multidisciplinary fellowship in breast surgical oncology designed to provide expertise in the evaluation and multidisciplinary management of patients with benign and malignant breast diseases. We match three fellows each year for a one-year fellowship.

Facilities, Staff, and Case Volume

The Mayo Clinic breast surgical practice consists of 6 fellowship-trained breast surgeons who work closely with a multidisciplinary team including Breast Radiologists, Breast Medical Oncologists, Breast Radiation Oncologists, Breast Reconstructive Plastic Surgeons as well as Breast Internal Medicine Physicians. The outpatient practice is in the Mayo/Gonda Buildings located on the downtown campus. With over 10,000 patient visits per year in the Breast Clinics and over 1,000 breast surgical procedures performed at the Rochester site every year, there is ample clinical volume for excellent training experience. Several of the surgeons perform melanoma surgery as well as breast surgery and there is opportunity for education in melanoma surgery during the breast surgical oncology fellowship if interested; however, this is not required.

Core Curriculum

The fellowship curriculum is designed to meet the core educational objectives established jointly by the SSO and ASBrS. Clinical multidisciplinary components include diagnostic breast evaluations, management of high-risk women, breast imaging, hands-on breast percutaneous biopsy, breast radiation oncology, breast medical oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery (breast), breast pathology, breast genetics/familial cancer program, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. These non-operative components are alternated with the surgical experience, in order to allow for maturation of surgical skills over the length of the fellowship. While on the surgical service, the fellow will perform initial consultation, management decisions, operative interventions, and post-operative care with an increasing level of independence over the course of the fellowship. An off-site rotation in a private practice setting affords the hands-on experience with ultrasound and image-guided biopsy techniques.

Meetings and Conferences

Several of the surgeons perform melanoma surgery as well as breast surgery, and there is opportunity for education in melanoma surgery during the breast surgical oncology fellowship if interested; however, this is not required.

Research Opportunities

Several of the surgeons perform melanoma surgery as well as breast surgery and there is opportunity for education in melanoma surgery during the breast surgical oncology fellowship if interested, however this is not required.

Clinical Trials

The Breast team participates in a number of national cooperative group trials, including the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, NRG Oncology, and the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC). In addition, there is a portfolio of Mayo investigator-initiated clinical trials.

Eligibility

Positions: There are three positions available on a competitive basis every year.

Qualifications:  Qualified applicants for the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship must be on track to complete or have completed a general surgery residency at an accredited institution and be admissible to examination by the American Board of Surgery or be certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery.  Applicants must also be eligible for licensing in the State of Minnesota.

General admission requirements of the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education include:

• All graduates from medical schools outside of the U.S. or Canada must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to qualify for admission.
• J-1 visa accepted
• H-1B visa accepted with the following requirements:
  • Successful completion of USMLE Steps 1, 2CK, 2CS, and 3
  • Eligibility for appropriate state medical licensure
  • Not subject to the two-year home return requirement
• Provide certified or notarized English translation of transcripts from medical school
• Preadmission health review and current immunization record
• Pass criminal background check and drug screening

Contact Information