West Cancer Foundation has announced it awarded a grant to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) to fund its Oncology Fellowship program to increase local cancer research and education. The Foundation will award UTHSC $85,524 to fund a gynecological oncologist fellow for one year.

The West Cancer Foundation Oncology Fellows program awards grants to local universities to increase support for oncologists in training who work closely with supervising physicians on critical research and education to advance the fight against cancer. Since it was launched in 2020, West Cancer Foundation has awarded 15 grants to UTHSC totaling $1.19 million. The grants have funded 10 gynecological oncologist fellows, two medical oncologist fellows and three radiation residents.

“This highly competitive program brings the very best and brightest young minds to Memphis to train with the city’s leading oncologists,” said West Cancer Foundation Executive Director Leighanne Soden. “We are proud to provide grant funding to UTHSC, the largest educator of health care professionals in Tennessee, to help expand and improve cancer care in our community.”

The UTHSC oncology fellowship program has a dual focus in both clinical patient care and academic research. The multidisciplinary approach provides fellows training using the latest advancements in diagnostic imaging and testing, genetic screening, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapies, and minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques.

“We are developing the next generation of world-class oncologists through UTHSC’s Fellow and Residents Program, and it’s so rewarding to have West Cancer Foundation step up to add their support,” said Dr. Todd Tillmanns, Gynecological Oncologist and Program Director for the UTHSC’s Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship. “Our goal is for these fellows to learn the complex medical management required to care for our unique patient population in Memphis.”

West Cancer Foundation’s mission is to break through barriers to cancer care and improve patient outcomes by providing accessible patient resources, early detection and education, and research to improve health inequities. The organization provides free cancer services to those who are uninsured or underinsured including cancer screenings, transportation to and from treatment appointments, lymphedema garments, and post-mastectomy prostheses, garments and wigs.