The Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology offers post-doctoral training in both clinical science and basic research in inflammatory diseases, autoimmunity, and immunology. All fellows complete a rigorous program of clinical medicine that includes an outpatient continuity clinic, inpatient consultation service, and specialty rotations that are tailored to the interests of the trainee. Possible rotations are available in the following:

Rotations in other areas related to Rheumatology may also be available depending on the fellow's interests. Staffed by a rotation of faculty, the continuity clinic offers fellows the opportunity to acquire a cohort of patients to follow throughout their years as fellows, allowing them to gradually increase their competence and independence as clinicians. The degree of faculty supervision gradually decreases as the fellow's experience and proficiency grows, giving the fellow more responsibility for patient care. Patient encounters and learning are enhanced by a close working relationship with other divisions such as, orthopaedic surgery, pediatric rheumatology, dermatology, nephrology, ophthalmology, and allied health professionals. Our goal is to train compassionate, thoughtful scholar/clinicians who will be leaders in their communities.

All fellows participate in classroom training including the core lecture series for fellows, rheumatology grand rounds, medicine grand rounds, journal club, research-in-progress seminar, and numerous other didactic sessions offered at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and other venues throughout the UNC campus. All fellows are ABIM-eligible in rheumatology at the completion of the program and will exhibit a high level of competency in clinical practice.

The Division of Rheumatology has a long tradition of providing a fertile environment for training research-oriented physicians. All post-doctoral trainees choose a faculty mentor, based on their interest and the mentor's expertise, who will guide them through their research training. Opportunities are available in both clinical and basic research and include training in research methods, statistical methods, IRB procedures, grant writing, data analysis and interpretation, research ethics, and writing skills as determined by their chosen research focus. Over the course of the training period, the trainee will research, design, and conduct a project that will lead to presentations at regional and national meetings, and peer-reviewed publications and ultimately toward the trainee becoming an independent investigator at an academic institution.

Trainees with an interest in clinical research will have the full resources of the University including the UNC School of Public Health, The Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the Institute on Aging, and Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. Fellows interested in research training in epidemiology, biostatistics, or health policy may elect to do a Master's in Public Health. At the completion of the training period, a successful fellow will be prepared to become the principal investigator for his/her own research project.

It has been our experience that offering a flexible training program, and providing both clinical and research opportunities, is optimal for the trainee's growth and development. Most fellows elect to spend three or more years in the program to continue with their clinical training and to refine their research skills. Although it is not currently available, we anticipate being able to offer a two-year program for trainees interested primarily in a career in clinical rheumatology. Applicants interested in a clinical track should discuss this with the training program director at the time of application.