The University of Utah Health at the Huntsman Cancer Institute Breast Surgery Fellowship

Salt Lake City, Utah

Program Overview

The Breast Surgery Fellowship is part of the University of Utah Division of Surgical Oncology and offers advanced subspecialty training within a dedicated cancer hospital. Fellows benefit from the comprehensive clinical expertise, innovative research, and robust educational resources of Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah’s leading academic health system. This unique environment provides an exceptional foundation for developing expertise across the full spectrum of breast surgery, including multidisciplinary management of complex breast surgical oncology and evaluation and treatment of benign breast disease.

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah is the Mountain West’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West. Located in Salt Lake City, Huntsman Cancer Institute serves patients across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming – the largest geographic catchment area of any NCI-designated cancer center in the nation. This extraordinary reach provides fellows exposure to a diverse and complex patient population.

Training Program Details

The University of Utah Breast Surgery Fellowship is designed to provide a comprehensive, patient-centered educational experience spanning the full continuum of breast care. A central goal of the fellowship is to prepare fellows to manage patients with both benign and malignant breast conditions, from initial evaluation and diagnosis through treatment, surveillance, survivorship, and supportive care.

Fellows will spend approximately 60% of their time on the breast surgery service, with the remaining 40% dedicated to the multidisciplinary management of patients undergoing neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies, as well as those receiving surveillance and survivorship care. This integrated approach provides a broad understanding of breast disease management and the opportunity to develop expertise in both operative and nonoperative treatment strategies.

Focused clinical rotations will include Breast Surgical Oncology, Breast Imaging, Pathology, Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, Psychosocial Oncology, and Genetic Counseling. These experiences foster collaboration across specialties and equip fellows with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver coordinated, evidence-based, and individualized care.

Fellows will actively participate in the weekly multidisciplinary breast cancer tumor board, presenting cases and collaborating with specialists to develop individualized treatment plans. Additional educational opportunities include journal clubs and a comprehensive didactic curriculum designed to strengthen clinical knowledge, critical appraisal skills, and evidence-based decision-making.

The fellowship also provides a strong foundation in clinical research and the principles of evidence-based practice. Fellows will receive early training in research methodology, clinical trial design, statistical analysis, and the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects. Completion of relevant Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) modules will reinforce these foundational competencies.

Fellows will participate in group clinical trials and attend the monthly Huntsman Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Resource Group meeting, gaining firsthand exposure to clinical trial development, research collaboration, and the integration of emerging evidence into patient care. These experiences are designed to build confidence in critically evaluating the literature, understanding clinical trial protocols, and contributing to advances in breast cancer treatment.

Through comprehensive clinical training, structured multidisciplinary education, and meaningful research engagement, the fellowship prepares graduates to deliver exceptional breast care, advance the field through evidence-based practice, and emerge as thoughtful, collaborative leaders in breast surgical oncology.

Eligibility/ Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited General Surgery residency or Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in the United States or Canada and must be eligible for certification by the American Board of Surgery or American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Applicants must also be eligible for a Utah medical license and meet all institutional Graduate Medical Education appointment requirements found here: https://medicine.utah.edu/documents/gme-11-gme-trainee-eligibility-selection-and-credentialing

All application materials required by the University of Utah are those required by the SSO application.

Please refer to the SSO website regarding the application deadline, interview timeline, and match details.

Contact Information