Rheumatology Fellowship

The ACGME accredited Rheumatology Fellowship program has provided intensive clinical training and research opportunities for physicians who are board-certified or board-eligible in internal medicine since 1976. Fellows acquire the necessary skills to deliver expert medical care to patients with rheumatic diseases and gain experience in continuous quality improvement. If desired, opportunities exist for participation and training in clinical research. The program accepts candidates with J-1 visa status. Interviews will be conducted virtually for the upcoming application season.

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Applications for this fellowship program are accepted through ERAS.

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Curriculum

Under the direction of Steven Hugenberg, MD, the program consists of two years of training of which 18–21 months are devoted to clinical training and three to six months to scholarly activities such as quality improvement or research. The clinical experience is broad and includes extensive training in the diagnosis and management of patients with systemic inflammatory connective tissue disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, spondyloarthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis and gout. In addition, training includes experience in providing consultative care to patients with other musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and fibromyalgia. Pediatric rheumatology experience is also part of the Fellowship training program.

Rheumatology grand rounds, core curriculum conference, a radiology correlation conference, journal club, and difficult case conference complement patient care activities.

Fellows are provided funds to attend a local or national rheumatology meeting annually and to purchase other educational materials.

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The Rheumatology Fellowship is based at Indiana University School of Medicine–Indianapolis. Training occurs at four teaching hospitals: IU Health University Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center and Eskenazi Health. All are within walking distance of each other.

Fellows have two continuity clinics for the duration of training; one at Eskenazi and the other at the VA.

The program offers training and experience in musculoskeletal ultrasound and rotating assignments to a dedicated procedure clinic.

The program also participates in various Indiana University Health clinical rotations with Sports Medicine, Dermatology, and PM&R.

This fellowship fulfills requirements for certification in rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

The program has many opportunities to do clinical research and gain experience in doing pharmaceutical sponsored studies. Collaboration with other specialties in research projects is also possible.

Rheumatology Grand Rounds: Occurs every other week on Tuesday morning and is presented in one of the following ways: Fellow w/faculty mentor, Faculty, or outside speaker

Core Curriculum Conference: Occurs weekly on Wednesday morning and is presented by a fellow

Journal Club: Occurs the first Wednesday morning of each month and is presented by a fellow with a faculty mentor

Difficult Case Conference: Occurs the second Tuesday morning and is presented by either a fellow or a faculty

Musculoskeletal Radiology: Occurs twice monthly on Friday

Program director