Fellowship Program
Conferences and Endocrine Grand Rounds
Information for Medical Residents and Students
Apply through ERAS

Fellowship Program

Introduction

The goal of the Training Program in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, is to prepare fellows for careers in academic endocrinology or in clinical practice, through a curriculum of clinical training in outpatient and inpatient settings combined with mentored scientific research. Aside from the two-year clinical track, the program also offers a three-year research track for fellows interested in pursuing more in depth research. Graduates from the program have been able to obtain positions at academic centers such as the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Thomas Jefferson Medical School and University of Wisconsin. In addition, program graduates provide excellent endocrine care for a big portion of the population in Wisconsin, practice in neighboring states or have established endocrine clinics in other states including California, Oregon, Idaho and Texas.

Trainees will demonstrate mastery of the six competency requirements in a broad range of topics in clinical endocrinology, including an understanding of fundamental concepts in pediatric and reproductive endocrinology. Upon completion of their clinical training, fellows will be proficient in the management of endocrine disorders in the outpatient and inpatient settings, including consultative evaluation of adult patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders. It is expected that trainees completing this program will be prepared for certification by the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism subspecialty section of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Trainees will also be required to develop a clinical or basic science research project with a faculty member of the University of Wisconsin. This training will be designed to provide fundamental research skills for fellows pursuing careers in academic endocrinology and provide an insight into research methods for clinicians. The broad objectives of this research component are to provide training in: 1) the understanding of basic methods of endocrine investigation; 2) the critical analysis of scientific literature; 3) the application of the scientific method to problem solving.

Overview of Clinical Training

Outpatient training occurs during 5 to 6 sessions (first year) and 1-2 sessions (second year) each week in the various Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Clinics. During consult weeks fellows will have no more than two clinics. Trainees will attend a weekly General Endocrinology/Diabetes Continuity Clinic, and will rotate through a series of required outpatient clinics including the Clinics at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Endocrine and Diabetes Clinics at the University of Wisconsin Hospital (UWH), Pituitary Clinics, Andrology Clinic, FNA Clinics, Osteoporosis Clinics and Prison Inmate Clinics. Several outpatient electives are also available for the second year fellows. Inpatient training occurs on the Endocrinology, Metabolism Consultation and Diabetes Management Service (EMDS), which provides adult endocrine services at the UWH, the VAMC and the Meriter hospitals. In addition to providing and coordinating clinical care, the fellows, in conjunction with an attending physician, will also be responsible for teaching students and house officers rotating on the EMDS. Fellows will spend approximately 3 months (first year) and 1.5 month (second year) on the EMDS. Clinical training will be supplemented by weekly conferences covering major areas of endocrinology and the evaluation of patients with endocrine disorders.

After completing the fellowship program, trainees will have a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and therapeutic management of endocrine disorders. They will also have been trained in the interpretation of laboratory tests, immunoassay techniques, endocrine imaging studies (e.g., radiologic, radionuclide and ultrasound), fine needle aspiration of the thyroid, and effective communication with referring health care providers.

Other Teaching Venues

Introductory lectures

In July and August Endocrine faculty and CDE will conduct 10 hours of introductory talks geared toward first year fellows.

Board Review Course

Every year in May about 10 hours of board review topics will be provided by Endocrine Faculty from UW and from the Medical College of Wisconsin. The fellows from both institutions participate.

Fellows Teaching Conference

These conferences are scheduled by the program director in consultation with fellows. These will be conducted 16-18 times per year and cover different topics of endocrine or general curriculum

DXA Workshop

Once per year Endocrine, Rheumatology and Geriatric fellows will participate in a 4-5 hour workshop providing "hands-on" experience with DXA reading.

Retina Clinic

Once per year Retina Clinic faculty will give a talk about Diabetic Retinopathy followed by several retina clinic sessions for each first year fellow. For the list of clinical conferences see below.

Hospital, Department and Section Orientation

In late June and early July new fellows will participate in 3 days of orientation. This will include extensive coverage of general core curriculum.

University Courses

In selected cases the Section Head and the Program Director will consider using section funds to pay tuition for UW courses needed to provide educational experience geared toward specific needs of a fellow.

Research Training

Mentor directed research experience
A defined and productive research experience is an integral component of the Fellowship Training Program. During the first several months of training, fellows are expected to interview UW faculty, and to select a mentor and a research project that they will pursue during their fellowship training. The faculty includes the members of the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and other clinical and basic scientists on the University of Wisconsin faculty who are doing endocrinology related research.

After a mentor and project have been chosen, the trainee will meet with the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship Director and the Section Head (or his/her designee) to review the planned project and to establish goals. Each trainee is then expected to document a project that can be completed within the time frame of fellowship training. Trainees will also be expected to design, perform, and analyze their studies. Effective oral and written communication skills will be stressed, with all trainees being expected to summarize their data for formal presentation at the local and/or national level and for publication. In addition, trainees interested in academic career and additional year of research training will be expected to write a competitive grant for submission during the second year of training. All Trainees will be evaluated periodically by the mentor and by other faculty in the following areas: Originality and Perseverance, Ability to organize scientific data, Proficiency in laboratory or during clinical research protocols, Presentation of research data, Presentation of Clinical Conference, Presentation of Research Conference.

Upon completion of the program, trainees will be expected to understand contemporary methods of endocrinologic investigation, including techniques in molecular and cellular investigation, clinical trials and biostatistical methods. It is expected that this knowledge will be derived from the trainee's individual project(s), participation in research conferences, and outside reading.

Research Conferences
Once to twice a year, trainees are expected to present their individual research projects formally to the Section. In addition, research-oriented faculty will present their research once per year.

Third Year Training

Fellows pursuing an academic and/or research career should indicate their intent for the 3rd year of training at the beginning of the 2nd year. This request has to be approved by their research mentor, program director and endocrine section head. The fellows will be guided by the above faculty through the process of submitting request for funding.

Most fellows staying for the third year will be appointed as clinical instructors and will have 10-15% time devoted to clinical responsibilities including serving as attending in clinic and on consult service. 85-90% of their time will be spent on research. The fellows, who cannot be appointed as clinical instructors for reasons of visa status or being on short track will maintain their continuity clinic and serve on EMDS for up to 3 weeks per year. The rest of their time will be spent on research.

Application Process

Applications are processed through ERAS.

You will need to provide the following material:

1. Common Application Form
2. Three letters of recommendation
3. MSPE (Deans Letter from application for Residency)
4. Transcripts
5. USMLE or COMLEX transcript
6. ECFMG status report (for foreign medical school graduates)
7. Personal Statement
8. Curriculum vitae

The only visa sponsored by the program is J-1. The program does not sponsor the H-1 visa.

Conferences and Endocrine Grand Rounds

Endocrine Grand Rounds

This weekly conference is presented by Endocrine Section or other UW faculty, fellows or invited guests from other universities in the U.S. or abroad. The topics usually cover updates pertaining to the clinical endocrine curriculum and research. Each fellow presents once per year.

Wednesday Diabetes Conference

This weekly conference takes place in West Clinic and is teleconferenced to UWHC. The conference lasts 30 minutes and is devoted to clinical issues related to Diabetes Mellitus. The presenters are faculty, fellows, nurses and other health care providers involved in diabetes care. Each fellow will present twice per year.

Friday Clinical Case Conference

This weekly conference is based on interesting cases from EDMS or clinics. The fellows are the major presenters most of the time. Relevant literature is discussed at this opportunity. Once a month the conference is devoted to surgical cases and participants in addition to Endocrine faculty and fellows include Surgeons, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology faculty and Pathologists (Combined Conference).

Journal Club

In this monthly conference the fellow chooses and discusses a recently published article(s) that relates to important issues in clinical or basic endocrinology. The Faculty assigned to be the mentor approves the choice of article. A copy of the article(s) is sent to all fellows and faculty a week prior to the meeting, so that everyone will have read the article prior to the journal club. The fellow leads a discussion of the article(s). This is a way in which fellows develop communication skills as well as the ability to critically review literature. Depending on the article selected, the journal club discussion may cover a variety of other important issues, such as statistical analyses, ethical concerns, or cost containment.

Information for Medical Residents and Students

Medicine Residents

PG2 and PG3 generally have a 4-week rotation in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism. They spend 20% of their time in their continuity clinics, 40% in different Endocrine and Diabetes clinics and 40% on consult service. This rotation is considered by many residents as one of the best organized subspecialty rotations.

Medical Students

The Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism section offers 2-week and 4-week rotations as an elective for 4th Year medical students. The 2-week rotation is exclusively on consult service. The 4-week rotation is split equally between clinics and consult service.
Several faculty members also offer lab rotations and graduate-student positions for MD/PhD students. (Please see Basic Research.)