Fellowship Training
Clinical Training and Rotations
The fellowship offers a comprehensive curriculum encompassing inpatient consultation, high-volume outpatient continuity care, focused subspecialty electives, and dedicated research training. Faculty-supervised rotations provide structured opportunities for competency development through direct observation, individualized feedback, and milestone-based assessment.
Outpatient Continuity Clinics
Fellows participate in two half-day continuity clinics per week throughout both years of training, fostering longitudinal patient relationships and exposure to a broad spectrum of rheumatic diseases under direct faculty supervision. This sustained experience builds expertise in complex diagnosis, therapeutic decision-making, immunosuppressive management, and continuity of care while promoting progressive autonomy.
Inpatient Consultations
The curriculum includes eight inpatient consult blocks, 4 weeks each, over 2 years of training, providing exposure to acute and complex rheumatologic conditions. Fellows develop expertise in the evaluation of multisystem inflammatory diseases, management of complications and emergencies, and delivery of urgent immunosuppressive therapy in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Procedural Training
Fellows receive comprehensive training in musculoskeletal ultrasound and procedural rheumatology under direct faculty supervision. Instruction includes both landmark-guided and ultrasound-guided arthrocentesis, aspirations, and injections across joints, tendons, and bursae.
Dedicated procedure clinics are held once a week, providing fellows with protected, hands-on experience to develop and refine procedural skills in a high-volume, supervised setting. The program provides an ideal environment to build the necessary skills for independent use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in clinical practice.
Additional training includes salivary gland ultrasound and temporal artery ultrasound, expanding diagnostic capability in conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome and vasculitis.
Mentorship for structured ultrasound education pathways through the USSONAR is available to provide opportunities to develop expertise in diagnostic and interventional MSK ultrasound and shape their future career in musculoskeletal ultrasound, for interested fellows.
Elective Rotations
A diverse range of electives allows fellows to tailor training to individual career goals while gaining multidisciplinary experience. Options include:
- Orthopedics, and PM&R
- Dermatology
- Ophthalmology
- Metabolic Bone Clinic with Endocrinology
- Nephrology
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Hematology
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Neuromuscular Medicine
- Musculoskeletal Radiology
- Geriatrics
- Pediatric Rheumatology
Electives may be further individualized based on fellows’ interests and career pathways.
Research and Scholarly Development
Protected research time supports scholarly productivity and academic growth. Fellows engage in study design, IRB development, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and presentation of research at regional and national meetings.
Ongoing projects include investigations in systemic sclerosis–associated pulmonary hypertension and initiatives to improve herpes zoster vaccination in immunocompromised populations. Fellows consistently present at national meetings, including the American College of Rheumatology and American Thoracic Society. Opportunities to learn advanced techniques, including synovial biopsy, are also available.
Pediatric Rheumatology
Dedicated pediatric rheumatology training, supported by collaboration with 5 pediatric rheumatologists at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, strengthens expertise in childhood-onset rheumatic diseases, transition to adult care, and comprehensive long-term disease management.
Vacation
Fellows receive four weeks of annual vacation, with flexible scheduling in accordance with institutional policy. We value a collaborative culture that encourages career development while respecting personal time and wellness.
Teaching and Educational Engagement
Fellows actively participate in medical education, teaching students, residents, and interdisciplinary trainees. Senior fellows assume increasing responsibility in supervision and mentorship, fostering skills in bedside teaching and academic leadership.
Evaluation and Feedback
Fellow performance is assessed through a competency-based framework aligned with ACGME milestones. Regular feedback from faculty and multidisciplinary teams supports continuous growth, while fellows contribute to program evaluation to ensure a high-quality learning environment.
Didactics
The didactic curriculum is longitudinal, multidisciplinary, and aligned with the full ACR Core Rheumatology Curriculum, with integrated ABIM board preparation. Educational content incorporates case-based learning, immunology, imaging, therapeutics, and evidence-based guidelines to support the development of well-rounded rheumatologists.
Protected academic time is scheduled every Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, free from clinical responsibilities and dedicated to fellow education. The weekly schedule includes Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, Rheumatology Grand Rounds, and core didactic sessions led by faculty and fellows.
Case conferences feature real inpatient and outpatient cases, emphasizing diagnostic reasoning, imaging interpretation, serologies, pathology, and management strategies.
Board preparation is longitudinally integrated through board-style questions, high-yield review sessions, and test-taking strategies.
Monthly focused sessions include:
- Immunology for Rheumatologists
- Radiology and Musculoskeletal Imaging Conference
- Journal Club
- Medications and Therapeutics
- ACR/EULAR Guideline Review
Recurring multidisciplinary case conferences involve nephrology, nephro pathology, dermatology, dermatopathology, pulmonology, musculoskeletal radiology and neuromuscular medicine. Expert faculty guide the discussion of complex and challenging cases presented by fellows.
Research-in-progress conferences provide a structured forum for presentation of scholarly projects, quality improvement initiatives, and case reports, with dedicated faculty feedback and mentorship.
Additional sessions in billing, coding, documentation, infusion services, prior authorizations, and transition to independent practice prepare fellows for careers in both academic and community settings.
Current Clinical Trials
- A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Phase II Study to Determine the Safety and Efficacy of Obecabtagene Autoleucel (Obe-cel) in Participants with Severe, Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Active Lupus Nephritis.
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral Nerandomilast treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).