Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Fellowship Program

Since 2009, the UCSF Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Fellowship has offered a one-year intensive training program designed for physicians aiming to lead in the evolving field of pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy.

We are currently accepting applications from Pediatric Hematologists/Oncologists and Pediatric Immunologists passionate about academic medicine and advancing patient care through clinical and translational research. 

 Skip to Section:

 About the Program

This fellowship offers a comprehensive blend of clinical training, research immersion, and personalized mentorship within a high-volume, world-class transplant center.

Core Focus Areas:

• Autologous & allogeneic transplantation
• Haploidentical transplantation
• Treatment of primary immunodeficiencies
• Advanced cellular therapies: Gene therapy & CAR-T

Goals and Objectives

Our mission is to prepare you for a successful academic career in pediatric BMT and cellular therapy, equipping you with:

• Expertise in clinical transplantation and patient care
• Exposure to the latest research and lab practices
• Confidence in teaching and leading within multidisciplinary teams

How to Apply

Interviews: August– September (for the following academic year)
  Application Requirements:

• Cover Letter
• CV
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (including one from your current fellowship director)

Eligibility:

• Board-certified in General Pediatrics
• Eligible for CA Medical License
• Completion of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology or Allergy/Immunology fellowship

Clinical Experience

Your clinical training takes place at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Mission Bay—a state-of-the-art facility performing 70+ transplants annually.

As a fellow, you'll:

• Manage care across pre-, peri-, and post-transplant stages
• Supervise residents, students, NPs, and RNs
• Perform key procedures: lumbar punctures, bone marrow biopsies, stem cell collections, infusions
• Rotate in Pediatric Immunology and Immunogenetics labs
• Gain exposure to clinical-grade cellular therapy manufacturing in UCSF’s GMP-approved lab

UCSF’s program is FACT and NMDP-accredited, ensuring the highest standard of care and training.

Research Training

We’ll support you in diving deep into clinical research, including:

• Joining investigator-initiated or national trials (COG, PTCTC, PIDTC, BMT-CTN)
• Learning data analysis
• Authoring and submitting peer-reviewed publications

Mentoring

At UCSF, you're never on this journey alone. As a Pediatric BMT Fellow, you’ll work side-by-side with dedicated BMT attending physicians in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Through daily rounds, patient case presentations, and collaborative discussions, you’ll receive hands-on guidance and real-time feedback. From your first stem cell collection to complex transplant decisions, every step is supported by experienced faculty who are invested in your growth. You'll also select a personal research mentor from our distinguished team of eleven UCSF Pediatric BMT faculty members, ensuring your clinical and academic development is tailored to your interests. 

Rotation Schedule

This immersive one-year fellowship balances clinical care with robust academic and lab experiences. Here’s how your year is structured:

• Inpatient BMT Service (14 weeks/year): Dive into hands-on care at our state-of-the-art UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.
• Outpatient BMT Clinic & Consult Service (18 weeks/year): Gain vital continuity-of-care experience.
• BMT Night Coverage (4 weeks/year): Sharpen your independent decision-making during overnight care.
• Pediatric Immunology Rotation (2 weeks/year): Broaden your expertise in managing patients with immunodeficiencies.
• Clinical Research (10 weeks/year): Dedicate focused time to a mentored clinical research project.
• Lab Training: Develop foundational skills in HLA typing and cellular therapy through rotations in the Immunogenetics and Pediatric Cellular Therapy Labs.

Conference Schedule

Learning goes beyond the bedside. Fellows participate in a rich calendar of weekly educational meetings:

• New Patient Intake Conference
• Inpatient Case Review
• Outpatient Case Review
• Education Conference – where you’ll present at least four times during the year

Want to explore further? Depending on your interests, you’re encouraged to attend additional Leukemia, Solid, or Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board, all in collaboration with UCSF’s nationally renowned Pediatric Oncology team, or immunology clinic care meetings with the pediatric immunology team. 

Program Leadership

Recent Past Trainees

• Geoffrey Cheng: Previous Fellowship: Montefiore Medical Center Current position: Children's Hospital Orange County

• Paulina Horvei: Previous Fellowship: Mayo Clinic. Current Position: University of Pittsburgh  

• Gabriel Salinas Cisneros: Previous Fellowship: Children’s National Hospital. Current Position: University of California, San Francisco 

• SooHee Cho: Previous Fellowship: Children's Hospital Colorado. Current Position: University of Utah 

• William Temple: Previous Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco. Current Position: University of California, San Francisco