Rheumatology

Four-Week Session

Prerequisite:
Current resident in Internal Medicine

Course Coordinator:
Sharon Hines sharon.hines@nih.gov 301-594-0529

Course Description
We welcome one resident at a time for a four-week clinical rotation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The resident will join the consulting team and take part in the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of a wide spectrum of rheumatology problems occurring in patients participating in research protocols. These activities frequently require extensive interaction between a variety of specialists. An essential part of providing rheumatology consultation in the clinical environment requires use of the various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available at the NIH Clinical Center, the 240 bed research hospital on the NIH campus, at which training is provided. In addition, a review of existing literature and learning about new clinical and/or research tools pertinent to the clinical problems are included in all evaluations. Residents can use the enormous resources of the NIH computer system and one of the finest medical libraries in the United States to search for information about the patients they are seeing. Weekly Rheumatology Rounds and journal club are held and the resident is expected to attend and present a case at the conclusion of the rotation. There is no required evening or weekend duty.

Course Objectives
Expand the resident's knowledge and skills in the 6 ACGME competencies specific to Rheumatology. (Full objectives list provided separately).
Resident must present one of their patients at one of the weekly Rheumatology Grand Rounds.

Eligibility Requirements
Residents must be currently enrolled, and in good standing, in an Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited internal medicine program in the United States (US) at the time of application for an elective rotation. A letter must be provided by the program director that lists the PGY level, salary, benefit and malpractice coverage information, and contact information. In addition, foreign medical school graduates must have ECFMG certification and provide a copy of the validated certificate.

Selection of Applicants
One resident will be selected to participate in this rotation each month, with preference given to those with a stated interest in academic medicine in Rheumatology
A current curriculum vitae and a brief letter of career goals should be submitted to Sharon Hines at the e-mail above. Include months available for an elective rotation.

Living Arrangements
At present, no living quarters are available on the NIH campus. For information on rooms for rent or other available housing in the area, please call the NIH Recreation and Welfare (R&W) Association-Housing Office at (301) 496-4600 or visit Housing on the R&W website http://www.recgov.org/housing/housing.html [disclaimer]. Residents are responsible for making their own travel and living arrangements.

Selection of applicants
Applicants will be selected based on review of the resident's credentials and cover letter, which should outline their goals for the rotation. Usually only one resident will be allowed per session. Availability may be limited due to program constraints.

Selected residents are required to have malpractice/liability coverage provided by their training program or sponsoring institution for the duration of the elective period.

Clinical Faculty
Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, MD, Staff Clinician
Mark Gourley, MD, Director, Clinical Care and Training
Daniel Kastner, MD, PhD, Chief, Genetics and Genomics Branch
Richard Siegel, MD, PhD, Group Leader, Immunoregulation Group
Michael Ward, MD, Clinical Investigator
Gabor Illei, MD, PhD, Chief, Sjögren's Syndrome Clinic, NIDCR