The WashU Med-Peds Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program delivers combined training to candidates with medicine and pediatrics backgrounds. Our mission is training rheumatologists who deliver excellent clinical care across the age continuum and, as leaders in their careers, will guide the future of our field. By the end of fellowship, graduates are eligible for rheumatology certification in both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics.
From the Program Directors
Welcome to the WashU Med-Peds Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program! Our mission is training rheumatologists who deliver care across the age continuum and, as leaders in their careers, will guide the future of our field. The strong partnership between WashU Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology, our emphasis on the pediatrics-to-adult rheumatology transition, and the plethora of resources available to trainees at WashU makes our fellowship program successful.
The WashU Med-Peds Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program is a four-year fellowship that meets the requirements of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. The first two years concentrate on adult and pediatric clinical training, and the third and fourth years continue clinical learning while engaging fellows in scholarship and professional development to achieve their early career goals. By the end of fellowship, graduates are prepared for dual certification and clinical practice in adult and pediatric rheumatology.
The WashU Med-Peds Rheumatology Fellowship Program is based on the strong partnership between the Adult and Pediatrics Rheumatology divisions and fellowship programs. Our collaboration is well established, and we share collegiality, conferences, research initiatives, faculty, and even patients. Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s Hospitals are even connected geographically on same medical campus! This integration paves the way for easily coordinated, high quality, comprehensive training in both disciplines at medical centers that are consistently ranked as top hospitals in the nation by US News & World Report. Med-Peds fellows spend substantial time in both adult and pediatrics programs, and their websites share additional specifics about the programming that will enhance your experience.
WashU Rheumatology invests in the tenants of Med-Peds Rheumatology, including supporting health care transitions from pediatrics to adult rheumatology. Reema Syed, MD, a med-peds attending physician, leads the Rheumatology Health Care Transitions Clinic, where patients at risk of poor outcomes receive holistic care from an interprofessional team of physicians, social workers, and nurses. Adult and pediatrics rheumatologists meet routinely to discuss patients at varying stages of their transition. Fellows actively participate throughout the health care transition, screening patients’ readiness, identifying factors that may prevent a successful transition, and helping patients navigate the adult health care system. During her fellowship, Joy Um, MD, a former WashU med-peds rheumatology fellow and current WashU attending physician, developed a protocol that guides the transition process with evidence-based practices.
Med-Peds rheumatology fellows benefit from WashU’s resources in professional development and community engagement. Professional development programs are organized at the university and department levels, including the WashU Teaching Physicians Pathway (WUTPP), Graduate Medical Education resources, and research opportunities and support. Additionally, the adult and pediatric rheumatology divisions foster connections with community partners who advocate for people with rheumatic diseases. In the past, fellows have engaged with local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation, AiArthritis, and the Lupus Foundation of America. Med-Peds rheumatology fellows can access these opportunities and more at WashU!
We hope this introduction to the WashU Med-Peds Rheumatology Fellowship Program has whet your appetite for the training we provide. Our goal is to prepare you for a successful career as a med-peds rheumatologist and leader in academia or community-based practice, and we design a fellowship program that features clinical training enriched with career development to help you accomplish your goals. We cannot wait to support you in your professional journey.
Yours sincerely,
Director, WashU Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program
Director, WashU Pediatrics Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program