Educational Tracks

All rheumatology fellows, regardless of chosen track, complete the same basic clinical training program.  This program combines a comprehensive didactic curriculum with extensive practical/clinical experience under close supervision of the academic faculty.  Due to our extensive referral network, fellows directly care for patients with all common rheumatic diseases and a broad array of rare multisystem autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders.  The fellow is an active member of a health care team that is responsible for longitudinal patient management of patients with rheumatic diseases, with primary decision-making responsibilities under faculty supervision. While on the inpatient consultative service, the fellow works closely with faculty to provide care for patients and to teach medical students, residents and other trainees across our academic tertiary care, Veteran’s Administration, and community hospital settings. Fellows will also have to complete a scholarly project that can be basic, clinical or a QI project before the end of the second year.

Fellows who plan to be full time clinicians will have an additional continuity clinic in a community based practice setting in their second year. They will have eElectives that include tele-rheumatology and musculoskeletal ultrasound training in their second year.

Trainees choosing a career in medical education will receive the same basic clinical education as those in the clinician tract, with medical education emphasized in the second year.  These individuals participate in formal medical education programs provided by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine through the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Institute for Clinical Research Education. This program prepares fellows to be leaders in rheumatology education at academic centers. The certificate program comprises 15 credits that can be completed within a 2 two-year program. The Masters program comprises 30 credits that will require a third year that can be supported by applying for grant funding if the candidate is planning to stay on a T32 for a third year of research. The fellowship program will support obtaining these credits by adjusting their second year schedules in order to attend classes and complete course work. Fellows will also have to complete a scholarly project that can be basic, clinical or a QI project before the end of the second year. In addition, fellows are encouraged to publish interesting or unusual cases as brief reports.

Basic Biomedical Research Training Program

The goal of the biomedical research track of the Fellowship Program is to provide an exciting and productive training experience for those individuals interested in developing careers as independent physician-scientists. This requires at least a three year commitment. Trainees choosing a career in basic research will receive the same basic clinical education as those in the clinician track, with time in the lab and required course work emphasized in the second year. Fellows will meet with principal investigators to discuss specific projects and plans for career development midway through their first year. A research training program will be tailored to each candidate’s interests, abilities, and goals, and will be conducted with the close mentoring of established investigators in rheumatology or immunology areas.  Fellows electing this research area will require a third year of fellowship training supported by the T32 training grant.

Clinical Research Training Program

The goal of the Clinical Research Training Program is to provide fellows with the skills needed to become independent clinical investigators. These goals are optimally met in a three-year program. Trainees choosing a career in basic research will receive the same basic clinical education as those in the clinician track in their first year. In years two and three, fellows are encouraged to participate in the graduate training program in Epidemiology at the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh. Course work includes introduction to study design, methodology and biostatistics and an opportunity to obtain a Master’s in Public Health Degree (MPH) or a Masters of Clinical Research.

Additional educational and research opportunities for second and third year fellows are available through the Center for Research on Health Care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This nationally- recognized program provides expertise in conducting health services and outcomes research. Activities of the Center include research seminar and lecture series and collaborative endeavors on outcomes research and may result in certification in clinical research.

Both clinical and basic science research fellows are required to formulate and conduct a research project during the fellowship under the supervision of one or more full-time faculty members. Fellows will initiate a literature review, design a protocol, conduct their research, analyze and summarize their results, prepare them for presentation at regional or national meetings and submit a manuscript for publication. At the completion of this three-year program, fellows will be prepared to apply for early career stage grant funding to support the next stage of their academic career.