Neuro-Oncology

Fellowship Program Overview

The Neuro-Oncology Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania is a two-year, UCNS-accredited program designed to provide comprehensive clinical training, individualized research mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge translational science in neuro-oncology. We accept 1–2 fellows per year and provide a highly flexible training experience tailored to individual career goals.

Penn Neuro-Oncology is distinguished by major strengths in CAR T-cell and immunotherapy trials, epigenetics and cancer neuroscience, alongside a historic legacy in paraneoplastic neurology and neurologic complications of cancer.

We aim to train neuro-oncologists who are clinically excellent, scientifically curious, and prepared to lead the next generation of multidisciplinary brain tumor care, clinical trials, and translational discovery.

Fellowship Curriculum

First Year: Intensive Clinical Training

Training occurs across HUP, Penn Medicine outpatient practices, and CHOP.

Clinical exposure includes:

• Primary brain tumors
• Metastatic brain tumors and leptomeningeal disease
• CNS lymphoma
• Pediatric neuro-oncology
• Neurologic complications of cancer

Experiences include:

• High-volume outpatient neuro-oncology clinics
• Inpatient consult service (hybrid e-consult and in-person)
• Clinical trial participation

Rotations include:

• Radiation Oncology (planning, management, radiation toxicities)
• Neuroradiology (formal instruction in advanced imaging)
• Neuropathology

Second Year: Individualized Career Development

Flexible training tailored to career goals with opportunities in neurofibromatosis, CNS metastases, pediatric neuro-oncology, palliative care, CNS lymphoma, clinical research, translational research, and laboratory-based basic science research.

Application Process

We do not participate in the SF Match. All applicants must submit their application directly to the program email address provided below. Please ensure all required documents are included in your submission Dr. Richard Phillips and Penn Neuro Fellowships 

Requirement for Applicants 

• Successful completion of an ACGME-accredited Neurology residency prior to start of fellowship
• Eligible for medical licensure in the state of Pennsylvania, including successful completion of USMLE Step 3 (or COMLEX Level 3)

Application Requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement  
• Professional Photo 
• USMLE scores, Steps 1, 2 and 3 
• Three Letters of Recommendation

Applications Timeline:

• Application deadline: January 15 of PGY3 year
• Interviews: February–March

 Clinical Education

Weekly educational experiences include:

• Brain Tumor Board
• Clinical research meetings
• SRS Tumor Board
• Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board

Multidisciplinary collaboration with neurosurgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, neuroradiology, neuropathology, and palliative care.

General Resources:

Fellowship Director:

Richard Phillips MD PhD

Fellowship Coordinator:

Juliana Adedipe, MBA

Research Information Major research strengths:

• Immunotherapy including CAR T-cell therapy
• Epigenetics
• Cancer biology
• mRNA therapeutics
• Gene therapy

Clinical research opportunities include:

• Clinical trial participation
• Patient enrollment and monitoring
• Protocol development
• Translational science projects

Funding:

• NIH-funded T32 opportunities

Advanced Coursework:

Fundamentals of Clinical Research Program:

Neuro-Oncology Program Leadership and Faculty

Richard Phillips MD PhD

Program Director, Neuro-Oncology

Chief, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology

Presidential Assistant Professor of Neurology

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Stephen Bagley, MD

Assistant Program Director, Neurocritical Care

Section Chief in Neuro-Oncology, Department of Hematology and Oncology

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Arati Desai MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine (Hematology-Oncology)

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery

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Juan Pablo Ospina Botero, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology

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Amy Pruitt MD

Vice Chair for Education, Neurology

Division Chief, General Neurology

Advisory Dean

William N. Kelley Professor of Neurology

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