MD Anderson advances nursing scholarship, excellence through oncology fellowship program
Advanced practice registered nurse Nilesh Kalariya is part of an exclusive group.
He is one of only four advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to be selected for this year’s Postgraduate Fellowship in Oncology Nursing at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The program started in 2006 and was the first of its kind in the nation.
Kalariya worked as a nurse in MD Anderson’s stem cell transplant unit for six years before his thirst for knowledge drove him to attain a master’s degree and apply for the highly competitive fellowship.
“It’s exciting to be part of oncology now because there are so many new developments and treatments — we have realized we can beat cancer,” said Kalariya, who also has a Ph.D. in life sciences. “I want to learn to be more impactful to cancer patients and contribute as
both a care provider and scientist to push the field of oncology forward.”
The year-long program provides fellows an opportunity to enhance their expertise in cancer care and includes exposure to the entire spectrum of oncology care, from prevention to end-of-life and survivorship.
Fellows also develop a manuscript with the goal of publication in a peerreviewed journal.
Only three to four fellows are accepted annually from100 to 150 applicants from across the U.S. It’s a unique experience that has proven to be beneficial for those with or without a background in oncology.
“Where else can you rotate through more than 20 oncology specialties, gain a better understanding of the complexities of each type of cancer, and get exposure to the latest developments in treatments and clinical trials?” said Brie Urschel, D.N.P., a nurse practitioner from Kentucky who was accepted to the program after working in oncology symptom management. “I look forward to using the knowledge and skills I’ve developed to educate patients and help them take more control over their health.”
Joyce Dains, Dr. PH, J.D., chair ad interim of MD Anderson’s Department of Nursing, helped launch the program13 years ago. She’s proud to see the program recently become the first APRN fellowship in Texas to achieve accreditation with distinction as a Practice Transition Program from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
“Receiving designation with distinction reflects the exceptional quality of our program and the dedication of our nursing community to ensuring its excellence,” Dains said. “Fellow graduates are highly sought after in the workplace, both at MD Anderson and cancer centers across the nation.”
Developing nurses to their full potential
MD Anderson is committed to developing nurses while providing a practice environment that is both empowering and rewarding.
In addition to the postgraduate fellowship, MD Anderson’s Clinical Nurse Residency Program also recently received ANCC accreditation.
This program has supported more than 1,680 graduate nurses through their transition to professional nursing, placing them on the forefront of administering cutting-edge cancer treatments while caring holistically for the patient and family.
Similarly, a recent gift from the Argyros Family Foundation is helping MD Anderson build its nursing research platform, as it focuses on the advancement of nursing scholarship through education, mentoring and support for a postdoctoral fellowship program.
For additional information about MD Anderson’s nursing education and training programs, visit www.mdanderson.org/ education-training/nursing