The primary mission of the rheumatology fellowship program at the University of Missouri is to train outstanding clinical rheumatologists.
Our fellows get extensive exposure to a broad spectrum of rheumatic diseases during the two years of clinical training. Fellows learn the presentation, natural history, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of common and uncommon rheumatic diseases. Graduates of our training program are fully prepared to enter independent clinical and academic practice and are in private practice and academic programs throughout the country.
Overview of Educational Program
Our program has been structured to ensure that the fellows enhance their competencies in all the six ACGME domains of Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Systems-Based Practice, Professionalism and Interpersonal Skills. The comprehensive curriculum offers learning opportunities through outpatient and inpatient care, divisional and departmental conferences, participation in research and independent learning.
Clinical Training
The fellowship program consists of two years of clinical training. Each year the fellows have three continuity clinics at University Hospital and one at the VA hospital. Each fellow does four months of inpatient consult service per year. Electives are available in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Podiatry and Pediatric Rheumatology. An ultrasound machine is available, and fellows get hands-on experience in the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Conferences
Case-based clinical conferences are conducted every week. The fellows and faculty present patients with interesting clinical problems. At the Quality Improvement Case Discussion Series Conference, complex cases involving medical errors, complications and difficult decision-making processes are presented.
The conference schedule includes regularly scheduled core curriculum lectures by the faculty, basic science review sessions, board review sessions, journal clubs and seminars given by fellows. Each fellow gives four seminars per year. They present an in-depth discussion of a particular clinical problem and review relevant research literature. In general, fellows get opportunities to attend two or more national or regional conferences during their training.
All conferences are on Thursday afternoons from August to June. They are held in the Clinic Support & Education Building, Room CE 332.
- Board Review & Journal Club (once a month): 2-4 p.m.
- Clinical case conference (every week): 2-3 p.m.
- Core curriculum lecture (every week): 3-4 p.m.
Research
Every fellow is expected to complete at least one research project resulting in a publication or a poster presentation. Fellows can also participate in the divisional QI projects and pharmaceutical clinical trials.
Application Process
Applications for the Rheumatology Fellowship positions are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). We participate in the NRMP match. We currently have three fellows. One or two fellows are accepted per year, and the number alternates each year.
For fellowship information, contact:
Chokkalingam Siva, MD, MS, FACP
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Rheumatology Fellowship Program Director
Email: umhsintmedimmufc@health.missouri.edu
