Rheumatology faculty dedicated to your growth + success

Our fellowship at Tufts Medical Center is guided by an expert team of rheumatologists who are as committed to mentorship and education as they are to advancing clinical care and research. You’ll train with nationally recognized faculty who bring a wide range of experience, a spirit of collaboration and a shared dedication to helping you grow into a confident, capable rheumatologist.

Program leadership is at the heart of our supportive culture.

• Dr. William Harvey, MD, MS, FACR, serves as our Interim Division Chief, bringing deep clinical expertise and a passion for innovation in rheumatology
• Dr. Robert Kalish, MD, FACR, our Program Director, is a highly respected educator who’s committed to your professional development
• Dr. Sreelakshmi Panginikkod, MD, FACP, FACR, our Associate Program Director, offers personalized mentorship and academic guidance rooted in years of experience

From teaching at the bedside to guiding research and career planning, our faculty takes a hands-on, supportive approach to your training. You’ll be part of a close-knit team that prioritizes learning, values diverse perspectives and fosters the kind of mentorship that lasts well beyond fellowship.

At Tufts Medical Center, our people are what makes the difference—and they’re here to help you thrive.

What your hands-on training experience looks like in our rheumatology fellowship

The rheumatology fellowship program at Tufts Medical Center offers a structured, two-year experience that balances hands-on clinical work with academic development and career preparation. From day one, you’ll be part of a supportive team that values teaching, collaboration and high-quality care.

You’ll gain broad exposure to a full spectrum of rheumatic diseases across a variety of clinical settings at Tufts Medical Center. This includes:

• Inpatient consult services: You will evaluate and manage complex rheumatologic conditions
• Outpatient general rheumatology clinics: You will provide ongoing care for individuals with chronic rheumatic diseases
• Subspecialty clinic: You will develop specialized expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound, managing high-acuity cases
• Longitudinal continuity clinic: You will oversee a personal panel of patients under faculty supervision

In your second year, you’ll have increased independence and time to focus on scholarly work, including:

• Clinical research
• Quality improvement projects
• Teaching medical students and residents

Throughout the fellowship, our faculty at Tufts Medical Center are dedicated to helping you reach your goals—whether you're aiming for clinical practice, academic medicine or further research. The environment is collegial and mentorship-driven, with an emphasis on continuous learning and compassionate, evidence-based care.

Exceptional rheumatology fellowship training at Tufts Medical Center

As program director of the rheumatology fellowship at Tufts Medicine, I am proud to lead a program that offers exceptional clinical training designed to prepare the next generation of rheumatologists for fulfilling and impactful careers. Our program thrives in an environment of opportunity and collaboration between Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University. Although our primary goal is to train and develop excellent clinicians, research-oriented mentorship is also provided in collaboration with Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).

Our fellowship program is characterized by close working relationships among faculty and fellows in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We foster an environment where open dialogue is encouraged, creating a safe workspace where everyone is valued and respected for who they are. This supportive environment and diverse opportunities help fellows reach their desired career paths in rheumatology.

Our division is deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in education and the communities we serve. We take pride in our history of training physicians from diverse backgrounds and the innovative thinking that emerges from such collaborations. We are dedicated to furthering our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion under the guidance of our graduate medical education.

Dr. Robert Kalish, MD, FACR, Program Director
Dr. Sreelakshmi Panginikkod, MD, FACP, FACR, Associate Program Director

Conferences + presentations that support your learning

Our Hematology + Oncology Fellowship Program includes a robust conference schedule designed to complement your hands-on clinical training. These sessions are thoughtfully structured to reinforce core concepts, highlight the latest advances in the field, and sharpen your skills in clinical reasoning, communication and presentation.

You’ll learn from faculty experts across Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University, collaborate with peers and specialists across disciplines, and gain experience presenting your work. Fellows are active participants in both learning and teaching, with opportunities to lead discussions, present research and engage in multidisciplinary case reviews.

Educational sessions include:

• Summer Lecture Series for incoming fellows
• Topics in Oncology
• Hematopathology and Hem Morphology sessions (first-year focus)
• Chemotherapeutics
• Stem cell transplant conferences
• Division Conferences (Fellow Research/Coagulation Conference/New Patient/Case Conferences/Pathology /Staff lectures & Board review /Journal Club /Systems M&M and Palliative Care curriculum) 
• Blood Banking and Transfusion Didactics
• Board Reviews
• Oncology Grand Rounds (Cancer Center: Multidisciplinary) 
• Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards

This academic environment supports your development as a well-rounded hematologist-oncologist and prepares you for a successful career in clinical care, research or academic medicine.

Fellowship rotations + clinical experience by year

Fellows in the Tufts Medical Center Hematology + Oncology Fellowship Program follow a structured, progressive schedule that builds clinical expertise, deepens subspecialty knowledge and supports long-term academic development. Each year is designed to balance hands-on patient care with meaningful mentorship and academic growth.

1st year

• Outpatient subspecialty clinics at Tufts Medical Center
• 2-month rotation at Lowell General Hospital for community oncology experience

2nd year

• Advanced 6-month inpatient rotations (Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Inpatient Hematology/Oncology Consult service, 2-week Palliative Care rotation, 1-month elective rotation)
• Continuity Clinic: per fellow choice

Tufts Medical Center hematology + oncology fellowship: 80+ years of training excellence

We have over 80 years of comprehensive training for tomorrow’s medical leaders. The Division of Hematology + Oncology provides extensive hematology and oncology training to fellows in the program. For more than 80 years, the fellowship has trained hundreds of hematologists and oncologists from across the United States and overseas. Many graduates now practice in these specialties and hold leadership roles in major divisions, research centers, and training programs.

Since 1978, when the Divisions of Hematology and Oncology merged, the combined fellowship has accepted, on average, five fellows per year. Since 2006, recruitment to the fellowship has been conducted through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), with applicant pools exceeding 350 candidates annually. The division’s training program offers rigorous clinical training paired with broad exposure to basic laboratory research or clinical research experience, preparing fellows to excel in all aspects of hematology and oncology.