Curriculum

Our Nephrology Fellowship encompasses three years of training, divided among four primary clinical experiences over a total of 15 months. The first year is primarily focused on clinical training, while the latter two years increase the time focus on research and scholarly activities.

First Rotation

The first rotation includes eight months of direct inpatient and consultative patient care. This encompasses the care of patients on the pediatric nephrology inpatient service, the provision of acute renal replacement therapies, care for new kidney transplant recipients and general nephrology consultations for hospitalized children and adolescents.

Second Rotation

The second rotation focuses on end-stage renal disease, encompasses a total of five months. Fellows work closely and collaboratively in the outpatient hemodialysis unit and peritoneal dialysis programs to provide outpatient renal replacement therapy. Fellows also actively participate in all aspects of the kidney transplant program, including outpatient kidney transplant clinic, patient review conferences and the pre-transplantation clinic.

Third Rotation

The third rotation focuses on general outpatient nephrology experience. Fellows spend extensive time in the outpatient nephrology and transplant clinics at Children’s National Hospital.

Fourth Rotation

The fourth rotation includes two weeks devoted to a multispecialty rotation, in which fellows spend time in outpatient urology and rheumatology clinics, radiological services including renal ultrasonography and nuclear imaging. Fellows spend another two weeks in an intensive renal pathology experience at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

Evaluations

Each fellow is evaluated on a monthly basis by faculty leading clinical rotations as well as semi-annually by their identified research mentor. Competence is assessed in procedural and technical skills, practice-based learning, written and verbal communications, professionalism and knowledge of relevant health care systems. Every six months, each fellow will meet with the Program Director to discuss in-training exam scores, academic progress and individualized learning plans.

The fellow will also be expected to complete an evaluation of each teaching faculty member in the division semi-annually.