Teaching and training talented young physicians through fellowship programs is one of the ways Hoag is investing in the future. With visionary support from donors, Hoag currently offers fellowship programs in several specialties, including orthopedics, oncoplastic breast surgery and palliative care. While fellowship programs are more commonly offered at academic medical centers, Hoag is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between academic institutions and community hospitals by preparing up-and-coming clinicians for high-impact medical careers. These fellows go on to lead or join top institutions across the nation, carrying forward the knowledge and skill they’ve gained at Hoag to improve patient care in their communities.

Learning from a Pioneering Breast Cancer Program

Hoag treats more women with breast cancer than any hospital in Orange County. One reason for this is the scope of Hoag’s expertise in breast cancer surgery, including oncoplastic breast conservation, which combines removal of the tumor with plastic surgical reconstruction. In fact, Hoag’s very own Melvin Silverstein, MD, FACS, Gross Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery and medical director of the Hoag Breast Center, was among the first in the United States to pioneer this highly specialized technique and established Hoag as the first in Orange County to offer oncoplastic breast conservation. Under Dr. Silverstein’s leadership, Hoag has trained more than 50 fellows.
 
Thanks to the foresight and generosity of James and Pamela Muzzy, the Muzzy Family Endowed Fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery provides a sustainable source of funding for one of the three fellowship positions available each year. To date, the Muzzy family has supported a total of eight fellows.

Practicing Alongside the Country’s Top Orthopedic Surgeons

With fellowship programs in Adult Reconstruction and Total Joint Replacement, Surgical Spine, and Sports Medicine, the Hoag Orthopedic Institute is making an impact in the lives of countless patients through the gift of mobility—all while turning out some of the best fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons in the country. Hoag donors help make this possible. 

Ranked in the top 30 best orthopedic hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, the Hoag Orthopedic Institute offers fellows the opportunity to learn from some of the country’s most renowned surgeons. By participating in up to 800 surgical cases each year, fellows gain valuable hands-on experience that prepares them for any number of complex cases they might face in their careers. Fellows also engage in two long-term research projects with the goal of publication, national conferences and Hoag’s Annual Orthopedic Fellowship Research Day. The program is highly competitive, and as the Hoag Orthopedic Institute’s reputation has grown, so has its applicant pool of exceptional fellows. In August, the team welcomed its 2022-2023 cohort. For aspiring health care administrators, a Health Policy & Management Fellowship provides valuable administrative experience in the clinical environment for better outcomes and enhanced delivery of care.

Expanding an Emerging Specialty

Unlike hospice, which is a program of care for the terminally ill, palliative care is a specialty that optimizes life for people living with a serious illness. By relieving symptoms and stress from illness through medical management and emotional support, Hoag delivers care that honors patients’ dignity and respects their choices. 

Through the power of philanthropy, Hoag is proactively advancing the field of palliative medicine through its growing fellowship program, led by Dr. Vincent Nguyen, Palliative Care Program Medical Director. In partnership with UCI, Hoag provides essential specialized training for two fellows every year in a combined academic and community setting that deeply integrates palliative care services into the fabric of care at Hoag, further establishing it as a leader in shaping what it means to care for the whole person.

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