Curriculum 

CLINIC EXPERIENCE :

We have developed a clinical curriculum that will prepare fellows for eligibility to sit for the ABIM Certification Examination in Rheumatology after two years of fellowship.

During the first Year of fellowship training will be more focus on clinical training. First year of fellowship training will consist of monthly clinical rotations involving both inpatient and outpatient experiences evaluating patients with rheumatic disease and autoimmune diseases.

Outpatient clinics are located in the 11^th floor at the Smith Tower and inpatient at Houston Methodist Hospital. All in in one center located in the heart of Houston Medical Center Campus, the world’s largest healthcare complex. Fellows will not need to travel to other locations except during their pediatric rheumatology rotation at University of Texas.

Also, fellows will have the opportunity to participate in elective rotations like ILD clinic, osteoporosis clinic, sports medicine, pediatric rheumatology etc. All this to enhance a multidisciplinary approach that is so much needed during the care of rheumatology patient’s .

During the second year of training fellows will continue their clinical training but the inpatient rotation time will be decreased to allow time for scholar activities. Projects are tailored to the specific needs and skills of the fellow. Projects including but not limited to poster presentations, case series, review articles or quality improvement projects. All activities are supervised by one of our faculty or faculty from other Methodist academic departments.

DIDACTIC PROGRAM

1^st year Bootcamp

During the first weeks of fellowship first year fellows will attend the annual Penn Rheumatology first year fellows conference virtually . This conference covers key introductory topics to rheumatology aimed at helping prepare trainees to begin fellowship.

Also, fellows participate in the University of Texas program cadaver  injection  lab during the 1^st weeks of their fellowship.

Didactics

Core lectures: Include a wide variety of topics from MSK, immunology basics, to autoimmune conditions. Lectures are prepared by faculty, fellows and some by experts on the field invited to provide lectures.

Case Conference: in our rheumatology conference, trainees present clinical cases which are discussed by fellows and faculty. Fellows are encouraged to do a brief literature review about the topic of interest.

Journal Club: Fellows will present up to date articles from the last 6 months. Article are discussed in depth.

Radiology Conference: Fellows attend a quarterly radiology conference. These conferences are intended to teach fellows the basics of musculoskeletal radiology.

Multispecialty conferences: Fellows will be exposed and present interesting cases at multispecialty conferences like ILD or Glomeronephritis conference.

Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Weekly clinical or translational conference for all members of the Department of Medicine.