Fellowship Programs

Program Information

Program Description
The fellowship program in Gynecologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a three-year, comprehensive program incorporating surgical, inpatient and outpatient clinical, research, and educational activities in Gynecologic Oncology.  Our program received Initial Accreditation from the ACGME at their February 2023 review meeting.  During the first year, which is primarily devoted to research, the fellow will take call once per month, will participate in weekly gynecologic pathology consensus conference, and will take graduate-level courses in biostatistics and cancer biology.  The second and third years of the fellowship are devoted to learning the clinical practice of gynecologic oncology, including surgery, inpatient and outpatient clinical care, and the delivery of chemotherapy, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy.  Fellows will also spend time learning about Radiation Oncology as it applies to gynecologic malignancies and palliative care.  Fellows will actively participate in the education of medical students and residents during their clinical years.  The program offers an excellent mix of open, conventional laparoscopic, and robotic laparoscopic surgery.  Fellows have dedicated academic time one-half day per week during the clinical years.  Clinical experiences are obtained at Vanderbilt University Hospital.  Fellows participate in departmental Grand Rounds as well as Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement Conferences. Conferences in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology include fellow didactics, weekly Tumor Conference, weekly pre-op conference, and a monthly Journal Club.  Fellows are expected to complete a thesis project during their training that is of the focus and quality required to satisfy ABOG requirements for subspecialty board certification in Gynecologic Oncology.  Statistical and IT support are provided.

Upon completion of our program, fellows will be competent to independently practice the full spectrum of Gynecologic Oncology, including managing complicated surgical and medical issues in gynecologic oncology, scientific inquiry, and critical evaluation of the literature.  They will be qualified to serve as a consultant and practitioner of Gynecologic Oncology in an academic or private setting.   

Goals and Objectives 2024-2025

Program Faculty
Marta Ann Crispens, MD, MBA, FACOG 
Fellowship Director
Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
marta.crispens@vumc.org

Tara Timmons
Program Coordinator
tara.timmons@vumc.org

Gynecologic Oncology Faculty
Ronald Alvarez, MD, MBA
Alaina Brown, MD, MPH
Marta Crispens, MD, MBA
Kristin Jergensen, MD
Courtney Penn, MD
Lauren Prescott, MD, MPH

Advanced Practice Providers
Alison Barlow, APRN
Shari Jones, APRN
Robin Lane, APRN
Mallory McNeal, APRN

Current Fellows
Erica Carballo, MD (PGY6)
Katherine Kleinberg (PGY5)

Accreditation/Affiliation
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG)

Application Process
We appreciate your interest in the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship program. Applications are accepted and transmitted to us through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). 

Any questions or comments may be directed to Tara Timmons at tara.timmons@vumc.org or 615-343-8832.

Program Description
The fellowship program in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a three-year comprehensive program incorporating clinical, surgical, research, and educational activities in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Our program is approved by ACGME and ABOG and combines exceptional high volume clinical training in High-Risk Obstetrics with a wide variety of research opportunities to prepare trainees for a future in academic medicine, research, and/or community-based practice.

Clinical experiences will be obtained at the Vanderbilt University Hospital, One Hundred Oaks outpatient clinic, and the Fetal Center at Vanderbilt located in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Our fellows are expected to participate in departmental Grand Rounds, didactic education activities, and specialty-specific conferences that include weekly Fetal Conference, monthly Maternal Care Conference, and multidisciplinary sessions for complex cases. Fellows will also participate and assist in obstetric simulation in Vanderbilt’s Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment (CELA), focusing on critical care obstetrics and obstetric emergencies. Fellows are expected to complete a thesis project during their training that is of quality to satisfy the ABOG requirement for subspecialty board certification in Maternal-Fetal Medicine.  Dedicated blocks of research time, statistical, and IT support are provided. 

Upon completion of our program, fellows will be competent for independent practice of the full spectrum of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, including managing complex maternal-fetal health care problems, scientific inquiry, and critical evaluation of the literature and will be qualified to serve as a consultant and practitioner in Maternal-Fetal Medicine in an academic or private setting.

Program Faculty
Jennifer Thompson, MD
jennifer.l.thompson.1@vumc.org
Fellowship Director

Matt Grace, MD, MMHC
matt.grace@vumc.org
Associate Fellowship Director

Sheketha Davis, MBA 
Sheketha.davis@vumc.org
Program Coordinator

Maternal Fetal Medicine Faculty
Kelly Bennett, MD, MSc
Lavenia Carpenter, MD
Etoi Garrison, MD, PhD
Luke Gatta, MD
Matt Grace, MD
Laura Houston, MD
Andrea Johnson, MD
Rolanda Lister, MD
Dennis McWeeney, DO, MS
J Newton, MD, PhD 
Sarah Osmundson, MD, MS
Soha Patel, MD, MPH
Amelie Pham, MD
Jennifer Thompson, MD

Genetic Counselors
Martha Dudek, MS, LCGC
Brighton Goodhue, MS
Caitlin Grabarits, MGC
Arianna Guillard, MGC
Jill Slamon, MS, MAT

Accreditation/Affiliation
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG)

Application Process
Two fellow positions are available annually in our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program.  Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Applications are accepted and transmitted to us through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

All documents that ERAS allows and apply to an individual, must be uploaded in order for an application to be considered complete. Eligible candidates must have successfully completed an ACGME or AOA accredited Obstetrics and Gynecology program in good standing and have passed USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3.

Only those with complete applications are considered for interview. Per SMFM recommendation, the ERAS application deadline for our program is April 28, 2025. Initial interview offers will be sent on May 19, 2025. Candidates will be required to accept or decline interview invitation by May 27, 2025, after which interviews will be offered on a rolling basis.

Interviews will be held virtually for the 2025 application cycle. Interview dates will be posted soon. Information regarding registering for ERAS, applying to individual programs and application fees can be found on the ERAS website.

Any questions or comments may be directed to Tara Timmons at tara.timmons@vumc.org or 615-343-8832.

Program Description

The fellowship program in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a two-year comprehensive program incorporating clinical, research, and educational activities. The fellows (three) will benefit from working directly with ten active surgeons in a high volume surgical setting whose collective focus includes a full spectrum of laparoscopic, hysteroscopic, and minimally invasive procedures including infertility, urogynecology, gynecologic oncology and general gynecology. Significant experience in single-incision laparoscopic surgery and certification in robotically-assisted laparoscopy are both integral components of our fellowship program. Surgical experience will be obtained primarily at three sites: Vanderbilt University Hospital, a freestanding ambulatory surgical center (Cool Springs Surgery Center), and office-based procedures. The fellow will participate in both resident-based gynecologic clinics and an active private gynecologic consultative service. Teaching activities will include participation in Vanderbilt’s Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment (CELA), where resident instruction in endoscopic techniques employs an advanced skills simulator laboratory. There will also be supervision of basic endoscopic procedures in the laboratory and clinical settings. Active participation in departmental grand rounds, didactic educational programs, and weekly conferences is expected. At least one research project and three publications are required. This may take advantage of the many clinical or basic research opportunities ongoing in the division or may be uniquely designed by the fellow with faculty supervision. Dedicated blocks of research time, statistical and IT support are provided. Upon completion of this program, the fellow will be competent in a full spectrum of endoscopic surgical techniques and qualified to serve as a consultant in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery in an academic or private setting.

Program Faculty
Lara F. Harvey, MD, MPH 
Fellowship Director

Amanda Yunker, DO, MSCR
Assistant Fellowship Director

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Faculty
Ted L. Anderson, MD, PhD 
Howard Curlin, MD 
Lara F. Harvey, MD, MPH 
Amanda C. Yunker, DO, MSCR

Gynecologic Oncology Faculty
Alaina J. Brown, MD 
Marta Crispens, MD

Urogynecology Faculty
Rony A. Adam, MD 
David H. Biller, MD 
Rene M. Ward, MD
Carl W. Zimmerman, MD

Accreditation/Affiliation
American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) 
Society of Reproductive Surgeons (SRS)

Application Process
All applications are submitted through the AAGL website (aagl.org). The deadline is generally 1 year prior to the anticipated start date. The program participates in the NRMP matching program for fellowships.

For more information and to submit an application, please visit http://www.aagl.org/service/fellowships.

Any questions or comments may be directed to Brittany Walters at brittany.walters@vumc.org.