To provide innovative training for the future leaders of nephrology to excel in their roles as clinicians, researchers and teachers.

Program Overview

We accept five fellows each year, with applicants choosing between a two-year clinical track and a three-year research/clinician educator track

1. Two-Year Clinical Track

• The clinical track trains fellows to be outstanding in clinical nephrology and prepares fellows to become leaders in patient care.
• Clinical training includes required rotations and a wide variety of electives.

2. Three-Year Research Track

• The track is designed for fellows who want to pursue a basic, clinical or translational research career in academic nephrology.
• NIH T32 Training Grant provides funding.
• Numerous opportunities in basic, epidemiologic and outcomes research and clinical trials
• Fellows have the option to pursue advanced research training towards a PhD or certificate in basic or clinical science.          

3. Three-year Clinician Educator Track

• The track is designed to develop future leaders in medical education. Focuses on the core components of educational scholarship and curriculum.
• First two years are similar to the two-year clinical track and the third year of training is dedicated to clinician educator training.
• Mentored pathway.

Transplant Nephrology Fellowship

• American Society of Transplantation (AST) accredited 1-year (clinical-track).
• Designed to provide trainees who have satisfied their ACGME general nephrology clinical training obligations, the opportunity to acquire further specialized training in transplantation.
• Internal applications given preference whenever possible

Practice Patterns After Graduation

            ~50% Academics        ~50% Private Practice                    

Clinical Training Sites

University of Colorado Hospital

UCH is a new, state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary and multi-specialty academic health center and research facility, opened in 2004.  US News Report has UCH in the top 15 hospitals around the country. This hospital provides care to patients throughout the State of Colorado and has a referral base that includes seven surrounding states. Directly adjacent to the medical campus lies the Colorado Science and Technology Park at Fitzsimons, a biotechnology haven complete with cutting-edge patient care and research facilities. The hospital serves the basic health care needs of the local community as well as provides advanced quaternary care services including solid organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, stroke care, and advanced critical care. Renal Transplant training occurs at the University of Colorado Hospital.

Denver Health

Denver Health is a Level-One Trauma Center, providing integrated primary and acute care to 25% of the residents of Denver, Colorado. Denver Health is a nationally renowned model for “safety net” hospital systems with its unique integration of inpatient, urgent care, and outpatient facilities with shared diagnostic facilities and electronic medical record. The Denver Health care system consists of a main hospital and 8 outlying community clinics. The patient population is very diverse, with a spectrum of indigent to fully-insured patients. Additionally, there is a large Spanish-speaking population.

Denver Veterans Association Medical Center

The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System/Denver VA Medical Center is a premier hospital within the VA system in a new state of the art facility located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, serving veterans and their families from Colorado and the surrounding region. The hospital is equipped with a fully staffed ICU, complete imaging capabilities, and subspecialty care.

Clinical Training

First Year of Fellowship:

• Fellows rotate through inpatient and outpatient services at the three sites. The multiple hospital sites provide remarkable patient and clinical diversity and fellows receive training in all aspects of nephrology.
• Weekly half-day continuity clinic.
• 2 months of elective time with several electives to choose from including opportunities in glomerulonephritis, onconephrology, Polycystic Kidney Disease, toxicology, palliative care, critical care nephrology, radiology, transplant, and pediatric nephrology.

Second Year of Fellowship:

• The second year of training depends on the chosen track but all fellows have a weekly continuity clinic.
• Clinical fellows continue to develop clinical skills by rotating on consult services, chronic dialysis services and clinical electives.
• Research fellows begin their research training with minimal clinical duties.      

Innovative Curriculum

• Two monthly dedicated, protected education days for fellows.
• Educational conferences 3-4 days per week including clinical case conference, renal grand rounds, journal club and research conference.
• Weekly vascular access conference.
• Monthly pathology conference.
• One-half day per month wellness days for fellows.
• Night float.

Research in Renal Division

• Division is consistently ranked nationally by US News and World Report​.
• $86 million in research funding to the Department of Medicine.
• $11.3 million in research funding in the Renal Division (highest among all divisions in the Department of Medicine).

Mentorship

• Large program = flexibility.
• Each fellow has a primary mentor assigned during first year.
• Research Track and Clinician Educator Track fellows also have mentorship committee.
  • ​​Mentoring committee consists of 3 faculty members in addition to primary mentor. Mentoring committee assesses progress, the mentor/mentee relationship and mentee career development.
• Mentorship Director who oversees mentoring experience.
• Specific mentoring tailored to career goals.
• ​Private Practice/Dialysis Medical Directorship.
• ​Basic Research Career.
• Clinical Research Career.
• ​Clinician Educator Career.
• Transplant Nephrology Career.

Program Strengths

• Outstanding educational program.
• ​​Multiple hospital sites provide remarkable patient and clinical diversity.
• Innovative longitudinal didactic curriculum.
• Training in all aspects of nephrology including peritoneal dialysis, transplant, ICU nephrology, plasma exchange, etc.
  
• Outstanding house staff and faculty.
• Personalized career development.
• ​​Broad basic and clinical research opportunities.
• Successful fellowship and job placement.
• ​Formal Clinician Educator Track.
• AST accredited Transplant Nephrology Fellowship.
• Ability to obtain Master’s Degree in Public Health or Clinical Sciences.
• Ability to gain experience in research including presenting results at National Meetings.
• Protected monthly education days for fellows.
• Monthly wellness days for fellows.
• Weekly educational conferences.
• Responsiveness to fellow feedback.
• Night float.
• Focus on work/life balance.
• Colorado.

We are about You ~ our Goals

To help you to be in charge of creating the fellowship training that is most suited to your future plans and your future patients.

To mentor you in identifying research projects that promote your learning and career advancement.

To provide opportunities to learn about teaching, participate in medical leadership, and foster your commitment to others.

To equip you with the tools of life-long learning so that your informal training is unending.

Website: Renal Fellowship Program​

Download this sheet by clicking Fellowship Fact Sheet

Contact Us:

Jessica Kendrick MD, MPH
Program Director 
Jessica.Kendrick@cuanschutz.edu

Katie Cornish, MPA
Program Coordinator
Katherine.Cornish@cuanschutz.edu
(520) 906-7440