Fellowship Training

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship trains expert pediatric rheumatologists for careers in academic medicine with experience in basic and translational sciences, clinical and epidemiologic trials, quality improvement studies and health services research. The program at IU School of Medicine offers an in-depth fellowship experience combining excellent, multi-disciplinary education, personal mentorship, and a flexible curriculum that allows each trainee to achieve his/her career goals as a pediatric rheumatologist.

Program Leadership

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship is led by Program Director Stacey Tarvin, MD, and Associate Program Director Melissa Oliver, MD.

Apply for Fellowship

Physicians interested in applying for the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship program at IU School of Medicine should submit an application through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and include the required documents.

ERAS

Program Director

Stacey E. Tarvin, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

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Program Coordinator

Erika Naylor

Fellowship Coordinator

Associate Program Director

Melissa S. Oliver, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

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Video

See what the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship has to offer

Curriculum

Year one of the fellowship is predominantly clinical but allows two months for electives and research. Clinical training encompasses all subspecialty aspects of pediatric rheumatology, including arthritis in childhood; enthesitis-associated arthropathies; and psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and related autoimmune diseases; childhood sclerodermas; pediatric vasculitis; auto-inflammatory diseases; and the periodic fever syndromes as well as inflammatory muscle diseases; sarcoidosis; inflammatory brain disease; transition to adulthood for youth with chronic rheumatic disease; and the mechanical musculoskeletal pain syndromes.

Electives are available in adult rheumatology, ophthalmology, immunology, genetics, radiology, orthopedics and sports medicine among others. Fellows can design a training program that best fits his/her career plans.

Year Two and Three

During years two and three, fellows focus on research with 20 percent of their time reserved for clinical training, including a weekly ambulatory continuity clinic, inpatient consultations and urgent ambulatory consults. Fellows are expected to participate in the teaching of medical students and residents.

Additional education occurs during weekly Pediatric Rheumatology Grand Rounds on topics needed to be experts in the field. Weekly case conferences and monthly journal club meetings round out the regular educational schedule. The rheumatology team meets with pediatric musculoskeletal radiologists for a combined teaching conference each quarter and with renal pathologists several times a year to review images. Every six months, rheumatology fellows and faculty meet with regional colleagues for a half-day of medical education activities (PENTA). Fellows are expected to attend the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology with the goal of presenting each fellow’s research as a poster or podium presentation in years two and three of the fellowship.

Current Fellows

Brittany M. Huynh, MD, MPH

PGY 7
Indiana University School of Medicine

Undergraduate School: Purdue University Fort Wayne
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Outside of work I enjoy baking, spending time with my family, and hiking.

Research/QI Interests: Scholarly interests include reproductive health in adolescents with rheumatic disease. I have been involved in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) reproductive health work group during residency, participating in projects to understand the experiences of adolescents with rheumatic disease regarding their reproductive health and identifying areas of further education for pediatric rheumatology providers. I am currently working on a project in our own department to assess patient knowledge of the impact of their disease and medications on their reproductive health and to identify risk factors for poor reproductive health outcomes.

Why Pediatric Rheumatology?
Pediatric rheumatology is such a well-rounded field. The diseases can impact every organ system, so you get to continue to use and refine your knowledge of the whole body. It’s a field in which we help diagnose some of the most complex diseases, so we are often involved in the most interesting cases in the hospital. We work with critically ill patients in the inpatient setting, but we also spend much of our time on the outpatient side where we can develop fulfilling, long-term relationships with our patients and their families. Not only this, but rheumatology has grown so much even in the past few decades. Kids who would have had debilitating disease are now able to live longer and better lives as a result. It is so exciting to be part of a field that is still seeing such rapid advancement in our ability to improve kids’ lives.

Why IU/Riley?
Having trained at Riley during residency and medical school, I have been very involved with the pediatric rheumatology division and couldn’t imagine a better place to continue my training. The department itself is made up of such an outstanding group of people who are incredibly dedicated to teaching, advocacy, research, and mentoring the next generation of physicians. They are committed to tailoring the program in any way possible to help prepare you for the career you want to have. The program at Riley benefits from being the only pediatric rheumatology practice in the state, guaranteeing that you will see a wide variety of diseases and their presentations. It also benefits from being on the campus of a college and medical school, offering opportunities to get a Master’s degree. Finally, the research network at IU School of Medicine is robust, supporting programs such as the Morris Green Physician Scientist Development Program, which provides a research curriculum, funding, and a mentoring network for trainees, and facilitating collaboration with other departments. Riley is a great place to be because it offers the resources and opportunities to shape your career into anything you want it to be.

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Rebecca Hetrick, MD

PGY 6
Baylor College of Medicine

Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Hobbies: Outside of work you will find me spending time with my two kids and two dogs. I love to garden, cook, and stay active with my family!

Leadership:
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Rheumatology Executive Committee Trainee Representative
Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Health Equity Research Fellow Liaison

Research/QI Interests: As a resident, I built a strong foundation in caring for vulnerable and underserved patients in a primary-care, advocacy-focused categorical pediatrics program. I remain passionate about addressing social determinants and health disparities in the setting of pediatric rheumatologic diseases. I have joined the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Health Equity Research work group. We are working on a project to examine how well CARRA registry participants socially, economically, and demographically represent the underlying patient populations and what implications this has for pediatric rheumatology research.

Why Pediatric Rheumatology: Many rheumatologic diseases are systemic disease that can affect a number of organ systems and mimic many other conditions. I love the challenges that comes with treating and managing such a group of diverse conditions. I also enjoy having the opportunity to develop longitudinal relationships with patients. I find it rewarding to watch patients grow and develop as we work together to treat their disease and keep them healthy.

Why IU/Riley: Our Pediatric Rheumatology program is made up of an amazing group of people. Our faculty bring diverse perspectives and strategies for treating rheumatologic disease and this creates a rich learning environment for fellows. Additionally, we have amazing nursing, administrative, and research staff members who are dedicated to our patients. I love that my coworkers are great teammates that inspire me to do my best.

There are endless opportunities for research, education, and collaboration as a fellow at a large institution like IU. During my fellowship, I plan to obtain an MS in Clinical Research, which is designed specifically for working healthcare professionals. I am grateful for this opportunity to develop my skills as a clinician researcher and receive tailored mentorship.

Lastly, Indianapolis is a great place for young families. Indianapolis is an affordable and friendly city with some beautiful green spaces and biking trails. From sunflower festivals and pumpkin patches to concerts and sporting events, there is always something fun to do on the weekends.

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Research

Research Pediatric rheumatology fellows have opportunities to participate in multi-center clinical trials of which IU School of Medicine is a partner. The Pediatric Rheumatology team is an active member of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) and the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. Clinical studies within the division include depression and psychological resilience in children with rheumatic disease, readiness for transition to adult care and development of a new model to provide transition care, several translational studies in childhood lupus, and the role of puberty-related hormonal changes in SLE activity.

IU School of Medicine has a strong basic science faculty in microbiology and immunology, cell biology, and genetics who supplement the research interests of pediatric rheumatology faculty and provide a broad range of translational research opportunities for fellows. The most recent Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship graduate has begun a career in clinical pharmacology using cultured endothelial cell precursors to examine how immune suppressive medications affect vessel inflammation and repair.

Research Project

Fellows are encouraged to undertake at least one research project of their own design with supervision from a faculty mentor of their choosing. Trainees learn how to write a research protocol, submit a proposal to the Institutional Review Board, do statistical analysis, and prepare a manuscript for publication. Each fellow ends the training program with at least one published or publishable manuscript of his/her own work. Depending on the project and the mentor, trainees may produce several manuscripts.

Trainees who wish to enhance their research training can simultaneously earn a Master’s degree in clinical or translational research. They may also choose to extend fellowship by a year to obtain additional training in adult rheumatology (two years each of internal medicine and pediatrics) or to gain further research training.

Diversity

The Department of Pediatrics is committed to recruiting a diverse group of individuals for fellowship. To learn more about diversity initiatives at the department and school level, follow the links below.

GME Diversity

Pediatrics Diversity