Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship

Overview

The second-and-third years are largely focused on research and other scholarly activities. Second-and-third year fellows continue to see patients in dedicated fellows’ clinics and other rheumatology clinics and attend multidisciplinary clinical experiences.

Outpatient Clinics

The primary clinical goal during the second and third years is for the fellow to develop more expertise and competence in the diagnosis and management of rheumatologic disorders in children and young adults. Trainees gain experience in continuity of care of a cohort of patients over several years and competence in the management of chronic conditions. Fellows have the chance to tailor their outpatient clinics to meet their career goals. For example, fellows interested in ultrasound may have dedicated ultrasound appointments.

Inpatient Experience

Each second- and third-year fellow spends at least one month (in one-week blocks) on the rheumatology consult service. During these weeks, fellows gain further experience in assessment and management of acutely ill patients. Trainees continue to develop expertise in interacting as consultants with primary care providers, hospitalists, and other specialty services, as well as teaching residents, medical students, and other team members. These fellows also develop knowledge and skills by working with and instructing first year fellows in a supervisory role. An attending rheumatologist is always available for guidance and supervision of all consults.

Research

The major goal of the second-and-third year of fellowship is development of a high-quality research experience that meets the requirements for scholarly activity of the American Board of Pediatrics. Fellows meet with their research mentors on a regular basis, present research at dedicated works in progress sessions and receive guidance from their scholarly oversight committee. Fellows interested in a career in academic medicine begin preparation of grant and/or career development award applications with assistance from their research mentor(s). Second- and third-year fellows are encouraged to present their research at a regional or national meeting and expected to have a manuscript ready for submission by the end of their third year.

Other Scholarly Activities

Second- and third-year fellows devote a greater percentage of time to other scholarly activities. They attend all regularly scheduled rheumatology program conferences and attend conferences/lectures that are relevant to their research interest. Fellows are expected to assist in the preparation of case reports, review articles and book chapters with the assistance of clinical and research faculty mentors. Fellows are actively involved in teaching first year fellows, pediatric residents and medical students who rotate through rheumatology clinics. They also have time to prepare for the pediatric rheumatology subspecialty certification exam.

Multidisciplinary Experiences

Our program is proud to collaborate with the University of Colorado’s adult rheumatology fellowship program and research groups across the University of Colorado campus, providing our fellows a vast array of educational opportunities.

In addition, fellows attend multidisciplinary experiences including conferences and/or clinics with other subspecialists including:

Didactics & Conferences Overview

Fellows are expected to attend conferences and engage in additional local and regional educational opportunities to meet their academic needs. These include, but are not limited to, pediatric rheumatology conferences, adult rheumatology conferences, and Grand Rounds.

Pediatric Rheumatology Academic Conferences

The section of pediatric rheumatology’s academic conference meets weekly. Topics range from journal clubs, chief complaint lectures, faculty development, wellness and collaborative case review conferences. Topics are designed to complement and supplement clinical experiences. Attendees develop skills within the competencies of patient care, knowledge, and practice-based learning.

Weekly Pediatric Rheumatology Case Conference

Fellows lead a 10 minute “rheumination” – a short review of a clinical concept and then review inpatient cases and issues in outpatient care with pediatric rheumatology faculty and staff.

Weekly Chapter Reviews

Fellows participate in weekly chapter reviews. During these sessions, fellows review chapters in the Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology. By the end of training, fellows will have completed an entire review of the textbook at least once.

Quarterly Academic Half Days

Approximately every 3 months the section of pediatric rheumatology hosts 3 hour-long academic half days. Sessions sometimes address typical rheumatologic topics/conditions, but very often are multidisciplinary and focus on topics or conditions more “adjacent” to rheumatology. For example, a pulmonary focused academic half day covered interstitial lung disease and interpretation of pulmonary function testing.

Adult Rheumatology Academic Conferences

Pediatric rheumatology fellows join the adult rheumatology weekly fellowship conference, where faculty and fellows lead lectures within the following categories: scientific basis of rheumatic disease, chapter reviews from Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology, musculoskeletal ultrasound, statistics and epidemiology, and orthopedics. Pediatric rheumatology faculty and fellows join the adult rheumatology division’s Tuesday morning academic conference for Grand Rounds, problem case conferences, radiology and other multidisciplinary lectures, journal club and research conferences.

Ultrasound Training

Upon completion of fellowship, trainees will be competent in the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis in common joints utilizing ultrasound and gain experience with ultrasound guided injections. Fellows are instructed in the fundamentals of bedside musculoskeletal ultrasound, including operation of the equipment, and identification of normal and abnormal anatomy using standard viewing techniques. Fellows learn to perform ultrasound guided injections of joints and tendons and learn how to input procedures in the medical record.

Interested second- and third-year fellows are eligible to participate in USSONAR (Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists) musculoskeletal ultrasound training and achieve certification in the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Certification in Rheumatology RhMSUS (license for rheumatology ultrasound), if funding permits.

Interprofessional Collaboration

The Section of Rheumatology has a dedicated rheumatology clinical pharmacist who is available for questions related to medications and patient assistance. The team also includes a certified pharmacy technician with expertise in prior authorizations. Our registered nurses and medical assistants serve patients alongside the providers during clinic. In addition, a clinical social worker and family navigator help support our patients. 

Fun Stuff

The Section of Rheumatology is known throughout Children’s Hospital of Colorado for their humor and camaraderie. We enjoy frequent celebrations, including monthly birthday parties and an annual fellowship graduation. We participate in the hospital’s annual Halloween celebration, complete with a group costume and dance routine.  

Additional Learning Opportunities

Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program  :

The University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics is proud of offer the  Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program   for subspecialty pediatric fellows committed to an academic career in medical education.

The SEELS program  guides fellows through an 18-month program that     provides research mentorship, coaching, and instruction.

The overall   goal of SEELS is to equip these fellows with the necessary knowledge/skills/attitudes for success as future medical educators through educational scholarship and professional identity development, faculty and peer mentorship, and engaging in an educational community of practice.

Pediatric Fellowship Educational Series

This educational series has been developed by the Committee on Fellowship Education to address areas  of scholarly interest common to all pediatric fellows. Nearly 100 sub-specialized physicians in training will attend 5-6 half-day seminars spread across their 3 years of fellowship.

Attendance is mandatory and the trainee is excused from clinical responsibilities.

In addition to providing core educational material, these sessions allow trainees in different disciplines and throughout the department to meet and interact with one another in an informal and collegial environment.

Pediatric Biostatistics for Clinicians Course:

This course is primarily intended for 2nd and 3rd year Department of Pediatrics fellows as part of the comprehensive fellowship educational program. Designed to help fellows develop an ability to be a critical consumer of the literature and develop familiarity with many commonly used statistical methods. This course comprises five 2-hour sessions. 

Advanced Degrees Available at CU

Masters of Public Health

Masters of Science in Clinical Science

1st Year Fellows

Michelle Lee Kim, MD Medical School: University of Nevada School of Medicine Residency: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Eleanor Gray Lorton, MD Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine Residency:  University of Colorado Pediatrics Residency

2nd Year Fellow

Mitchell Grant Clingo, MD Medical School: Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Residency: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – El Paso

3rd Year Fellows

Carla Ivy Levin, MD Medical School: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Residency: Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's

Kathryn Elise Scheinberg, DO Medical School: Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Residency: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

4th Year Fellows

Adam Bartholomeo, MD Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine Residency: Medical University of South Carolina

Samuel M Lazaroff, MD Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Cent

Dear Applicant

The ACGME-accredited University of Colorado fellowship program in pediatric rheumatology is based at Children's Hospital Colorado. We generally accept two new fellows per academic year. Applicants must have an MD or DO degree from an accredited institution and must be board eligible or board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. The rheumatology fellowship training program accepts applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We begin reviewing completed applications in July. Selected applicants are invited to interview, during which they meet with our faculty, fellows and other team members. Virtual interviews are generally completed in August, September and October. If you have questions about the online application and interview process, feel free to reach out to our program director.

The University of Colorado pediatric rheumatology fellowship program adheres to all policies and procedures mandated by the University of Colorado, the Graduate Medical Education Committee, and the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Policies and additional information can be obtained at the University of Colorado GME website.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers salary and benefits packages that are competitive with other fellowship programs across the country. Current salary levels can be found at the School of Medicine - Graduate Medical Education Stipends.

Application Checklist

1. ERAS application
2. Personal Statement
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. USMLE Part 1, 2, and 3 scores and/or COMLEX scores
5. Medical school transcript
6. Medical school performance evaluation

7. Three letters of recommendation (including one from the applicant’s residency program director)

ERAS Application Timeline

NRMP Fall Match Timeline

Contact Us

For additional questions please contact:

Katherine "KD" Nowicki, MD
Pediatric Rheumatology Program Director
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
University of Colorado School Of Medicine

Email: Katherine.Nowicki@childrenscolorado.org