Nephrology Fellowship Training Program
Clinical Training
The Renal-Electrolyte Division offers fellows a comprehensive and well-structured training experience that integrates clinical excellence, research engagement, and professional development. The Division’s broad-based didactic curriculum combines formal lectures, case-based discussions, and interactive conferences that cover essential areas of nephrology and align with certification requirements. Throughout the year, fellows participate in a robust series of conferences, including Renal Grand Rounds, Biopsy Conference, Journal Club, Case Conference, and the Clinical Lecture Series, as well as the weekly Research Seminar Series that provides fellows and faculty a forum in which they may present and discuss ongoing research. Fellows play an active role in teaching UPMC Residents and University of Pittsburgh medical students and collaborating with faculty across related departments such as Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Immunology, and the Starzl Transplant Institute.
Clinical training is designed to provide a diverse and immersive experience across multiple UPMC hospitals, encompassing both inpatient and outpatient nephrology. First-year fellows complete 11 months of core clinical rotations, including general, critical care, transplant, and obstetric nephrology services at UPMC Presbyterian, Montefiore, Magee-Womens, and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Rotations are structured within multidisciplinary teams that include attendings, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, residents, and medical students. Fellows also gain early exposure to home dialysis and continuity clinics, ensuring broad experience across all modalities of kidney care.
First Year
| INPATIENT | ||||
| Rotation | Training Sites | Number of Months | Types of Consults | Team Composition |
| A service | UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore Hospitals | 2 | General Nephrology, Critical Care nephrology | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow - 1 Physician Assistant - ≤2 Residents - ≤2 Medical Students |
| B service | UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore Hospitals | 2 | General Nephrology, Critical care nephrology | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow - 1 Physician Assistant - ≤2 Residents - ≤2 Medical Students |
| C and F services | UPMC Presbyterian and Montefiore Hospitals | 2 | Transplant Nephrology | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow - 1 Transplant Fellow - 1 Physician Assistant - ≤1 Resident - ≤1 Medical Student |
| D service | UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital (Long-term acute care facility) | 2 | General Nephrology, Obstetric nephrology | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| VA Inpatient/Nightfloat | VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Hospital/UPMC Presbyterian | 2 (for each month, 2 weeks of VA Inpatient and 2 weeks of nightfloat | General Nephrology | For VA inpatient: - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| OUTPATIENT | ||||
| Rotation | Training Sites | Number of Months | Types of Consults | - Team Composition |
| Home dialysis | DCI Oakland Dialysis Clinic | 1 | Peritoneal Dialysis and Home Hemodialysis Outpatient Clinics/ TAKE VACATION | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| Continuity Clinic | UPMC University Center Clinic and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Clinic | 1 Half- Day Per Week | General Nephrology | - 2 Attending Physicians - 2-3 Fellows |
| OTHER | ||||
| Rotation | Training Sites | Number of Months | Types of Consults | Team Composition |
| Scholarly activity | N/A | 1 | Plan Research for 2nd year/ TAKE VACATION | N/A |
Second Year
Second-year fellows build upon this foundation with advanced clinical training in specialized areas such as onconephrology and transplant nephrology, alongside dedicated outpatient experiences in dialysis and VA-based clinics. The second year also offers up to eight months of protected time for scholarly activity, research, or clinical electives tailored to individual interests, including renal pathology, pediatric nephrology, plasmapheresis, critical care medicine, transplant nephrology, interventional nephrology, abdominal imaging, and palliative care.
| INPATIENT | ||||
| Rotation | Training Sites | Number of Months | Types of Consults | Team Composition |
| Onconephrology | UPMC Shadyside Hospital | 1 | Onconephrology | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| VA Inpatient / Nightfloat | VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Hospital / UPMC Presbyterian | 2 (for each month, 2 weeks of VA Inpatient and 2 weeks of nightfloat) | General Nephrology | For VA inpatient: - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| OUTPATIENT | ||||
| Rotation | Training Sites | Number of months | Types of consults | Team composition |
| VA outpatient | VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System | 1 | In-Center Hemodialysis Outpatient Clinic | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| Dialysis | Oakland DCI and Canterbury DCI Outpatient Dialysis Clinics | 2 Half- Days Per Month | In-Center Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, and Home Hemodialysis Clinics | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| Transplant clinic | UPMC Starzl Institute | 1 Half-Day Per Week | Transplant Nephrology | - 1 Attending Physician - 1 Fellow |
| Continuity Clinic | UPMC University Center Clinic and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Clinic | 1 Half-Day Per Week | General Nephrology | - 2 Attending Physicians - 2-3 Fellows |
| OTHER | ||||
| Rotation | Training Sites | Number of Months | Types of Consults | Team Composition |
| Scholarly Activity, Clinical Electives, and Specialty Clinics | Depends on the Elective | 8 | Depends on the Elective | Depends on the Elective |
Additional opportunities for clinical electives and specialty clinics in the second year:
| Clinical Electives | Specialty Clinics | ||
| • Renal Pathology | • Transplant | ||
| • Pediatric Nephrology | • Kidney Stones | ||
| • Plasma Exchange | • Hypertension | ||
| • Transplant Nephrology | • Glomerular disease | ||
| • Senior Teaching Fellow | • Renal Supportive Care | ||
| • Critical Care Medicine | • Onconephrology | ||
| • Palliative Care | |||
| • Abdominal Imaging | |||
| • Interventional Nephrology | |||
For more information, please contact:
Jane Wuenschel
Senior GME Department Manager
412-647-8394
wuenschelj@upmc.edu
Call Schedule
| NIGHTFLOAT SYSTEM | |||||
| Time Commitment | Schedule | Fellow Responsibilities | |||
| • First year: 4 weeks (during VA inpatient months) • Second year: 4-5 weeks (during VA inpatient months) | • 2 weeks at a time • Sunday to Friday 4:30pm–7am • No nightfloat on Saturdays | • In house coverage: 4:30pm – 9pm (urgent and nonurgent consults) • At home coverage: 9pm – 7am (urgent consults only) |
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| WEEKEND CALL FOR FIRST YEAR FELLOWS | |||||
| Days | Fellow On Call | Call Duration | Types of Consults Seen | Training Sites Covered | Call Frequency |
| Saturday | First Year Fellow “X” | 7 am to 7 am | New consults only. Established patients of all services are seen by attendings | UPMC Presbyterian | 1 in 6 |
| Sunday | First Year Fellow “Y” | 7 am to 4:30pm | New consults only. Established patients of all services are seen by attendings | UPMC Presbyterian | 1 in 6 |
| WEEKEND CALL FOR SECOND YEAR FELLOWS | |||||
| Days | Fellow On Call | Call Duration | Types of Consults Seen | Training Sites Covered | Call Frequency |
| Saturday and Sunday | Second Year Fellow | Saturday 7 am to Sunday 4:30 pm | New consults from Transplant ICU, UPMC Magee and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Established patients from Transplant ICU and UPMC Magee | Transplant ICU at UPMC Montefiore, UPMC Magee and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Hospital | 1 in 6 |
Training Sites
The hospitals and clinics of UPMC and the VA Pittsburgh Health System (VAPHS) provide exceptional venues for comprehensive clinical training. UPMC Presbyterian, the flagship tertiary referral center for western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and the broader UPMC network, offers extensive exposure to complex and diverse patient populations. The recently modernized VAPHS complements this experience by providing rich inpatient and outpatient training opportunities with a strong focus on continuity of care and veteran health. Together, UPMC and the VA form a dynamic and collaborative training environment that equips future physicians with the clinical expertise, compassion, and versatility needed to excel across a wide spectrum of patient populations and practice settings.
UPMC Presbyterian/Montefiore
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS)
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
UPMC Shadyside and Hillman Cancer Center
UPMC Kidney Clinic
Frank Sarris Outpatient Clinic
The Sarris Outpatient Clinic, part of the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, provides comprehensive pre- and post-surgical care for all abdominal organ and lung transplant recipients at UPMC. Recently renovated, the clinic features modern examination rooms, conference spaces, and dedicated phlebotomy labs to support seamless, multidisciplinary care. As part of the nation’s leading transplant program, it embodies STI’s mission to advance transplantation through innovation, collaboration, and excellence in patient care.