How many fellows are accepted into the program?
We accept 3 fellows per year, enabling close mentorship and a collaborative learning environment; fellows across all three years frequently engage with, befriend, and mentor each other! See our current fellows page for more information.
As a first-year fellow, what is the division of my clinical time?
A first-year fellow will spend approximately 33% of time on each of the three services: inpatient diabetes service, inpatient consult service, and outpatient service. Caring for patients in these various settings involves patients with primary endocrine disorders and endocrine complications of other disorders.
What are the responsibilities for inpatient/consult service during the second and third years of fellowship?
The second- and third-year fellows are responsible for the inpatient service during on-call nights and weekends. The third-year fellows complete a 4-week clinical rotation that is usually divided into smaller portions such as 1-2 weeks at a time. During this clinical rotation, fellows are encouraged to be the “pre-tendings” and run the service accordingly! Our fellows are well trained to handle a large variety of clinical situations due to our service divisions. In other words, fellows most often easily and readily transition to practicing clinicians/ faculty post-graduation!
What is the overnight call structure for fellows?
First year fellows generally are responsible for covering 3-4 weeknights per month (Monday through Friday); this responsibility decreases during the second and third years. Evening sign-off/on generally occurs at approximately 5:30 p.m. for hospitalized patients. Our diabetes educators answer outpatient diabetes calls until 11:00 p.m. The on-call fellow is then responsible for all calls from 11 p.m. until the following morning around approximately 7:30 am.
What is the weekend call structure for fellows?
Weekend calls frequently begin on Saturday morning at 7:30 am and extend until Monday morning. The on-call fellow rounds with the on-call attending faculty member on Saturday and Sunday. After rounds, they divide documentation responsibilities. Fellows spend the remainder of their weekend taking calls from home.
In general, first-year fellows are responsible for 9 weekends per year, which translate to roughly one weekend per month. Second- and third-year fellows have fewer weekend calls each year. Flexibility exists in the scheduling system, with fellows sometimes choosing to divide weekends.
Does a fellow’s particular track – research or clinician educator – impact their funding opportunities, etc.?
The short answer is no. Fellows on both tracks receive guaranteed funding through our division! Fellows on both tracks are also able to apply to our pediatric endocrinology T32. Other funding opportunities through the Department of Pediatrics, UPMC, etc. are also available.
Where can I find information about the stipend and benefit package offered to fellows in your program?
This information can be accessed via our UPMC GME page:
https://www.upmc.com/healthcare-professionals/education/gme/benefits
Do fellows receive funding for continuing medical education (CME)/ additional coursework?
Yes! All fellows receive a yearly CME through UPMC as well as possible funding to take University of Pittsburgh courses through the Social of Public Work/ Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Fellows on our T32 NIH Grant are also guaranteed CME specific funding and may take coursework and/or pursue a Master’s degree through the University of Pittsburgh, too.
Does the fellowship program have a fellow "pocket guide" or a shared list of guidelines for caring for endocrine disorders?
Yes! Over the years, fellows have developed a pocket guide. Resources are also available on our shared computer network. Faculty and senior fellows provide orientation discussions to the "new" fellows. We review common "on-call" scenarios, stimulation tests, hospital orientation. Over the first few months of fellowship, fellows also participate in weekly sessions with the adult endocrinology fellows for an orientation to endocrinology. And, finally, fellows are encouraged and welcomed to discuss patients/disorders with faculty.