The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have developed a joint breast cancer fellowship for gynecologic oncologists, and have designated Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island's Breast Health Center as the training ground for the first recipient.

Marcia M. Humphrey Schmidt, MD, who will complete a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of South Florida next month, will begin her one-year fellowship here in July, studying breast care and the treatment of breast cancer and related disease. The fellowship, supported by a $75,000 grant from ACOG, is the third fellowship afforded to the Breast Health Center. Others exist for the study of breast disease and the nation's only fellowship that combines the study of gynecologic oncology with breast care, approved by the Society of Surgical Oncology.

"Women & Infants and the Breast Health Center are thrilled to welcome Dr. Humphrey Schmidt in this promising new hybrid of gynecologic and breast cancer study," said Dr. Skip Granai III, director of the Program in Women's Oncology at Women & Infants and past vice president of SGO. "The Program in Women's Oncology, which includes the Breast Health Center, is a leading force in the battle against women's cancers and our approach to training new physicians in this field has always been progressive and aggressive."
According to representatives from the organizations sponsoring the new fellowship, the goal is to encourage gynecologic oncologists to broaden their knowledge of women's cancers and, ultimately, create a single specialist to offer comprehensive care. The result should eventually alter the care and treatment available for women battling breast cancer.

"It seems only natural that gynecologic oncologists, who already possess an in-depth understanding of some women's cancers, would be interested in obtaining concentrated, advanced specialty training in the care and treatment of breast disease," stated SGO President Daniel Clarke-Pearson, MD.
The new fellowship is part of the medical community's movement to prevent, detect and treat women's cancers, added Gerald F. Joseph Jr., MD, ACOG president.

"Thirty-five years ago, only 75% of women survived five years after a breast cancer diagnosis. Today, according to the National Cancer Institute, that number has reached 90%," Dr. Joseph noted. "We are tackling this disease like never before."

Dr. Humphrey Schmidt agreed that such in-depth training is critical for today's medical specialists.