Our curriculum is based on the requirements set by the American Board of Pediatrics for board certification in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. Content outline is available at the American Board of Pediatrics website. We take pride at utilizing a novel learner-centered educational model of team-based learning approach to cover the core pediatric diabetes and endocrine topics, enhanced by faculty-led didactic sessions.
Our fellow’s education is also complemented by educational session offered through the subspecialty Fellows’ College.
Fellows' Curriculum
Thursday afternoons are reserved for fellow education. In addition to traditional lectures by our Endocrine faculty, our curriculum incudes:
- Team-based Learning Sessions
- Case-based Learning Sessions
- PREP-style Board Review Sessions
- Lectures by content experts that include guest speakers from major academic institutions worldwide
- Career development and professionalism sessions
The whole division meets weekly for Division Conference with a focus on fellow's presentations that include Journal Club, Research Conference, Endocrine Debates, Clinical Case Conference, Endocrine M&M, and fun activities like Endocrine Jeopardy and Endo Star Wars!
Fellows’ College
Fellows’ College provides a community of learning and collaboration among pediatric subspecialty fellows, faculty, and coordinators who have a common goal of delivering high-quality education that will enable fellows to achieve accelerated personal and professional growth.
Through Fellows’ College events, fellows unite across programs and become part of a larger community, which fosters strong working relationships, mutual respect, and an optimal learning environment.
Tracks
Fellows are given the opportunity to choose their track based on their career path and preference. Most fellows decide on their track in the second half of their first year.
We offer three tracks:
- Clinical: designed for those who will be taking a primarily clinical job, with greater emphasis on clinical exposure.
- Research: designed for those who will be pursuing faculty positions with the aim to pursue grant-funded research, with exposure to extensive clinical or bench research and grant writing.
- Degree: provides opportunity for an advanced degree, such as Masters of Education or Public Health. The Master’s degree programs are supported by the BCM Department of Pediatrics with partial tuition assistance.
Regardless of the fellow’s individual track, all fellows will receive training in research and quality improvement principles and have the opportunity to participate in scholarly projects.
I chose the clinical track because it allows me to gain experience with a wide variety of diabetes and endocrine pathologies, provides exposure to many multidisciplinary clinics that facilitate holistic patient care, and prepares me to be a well-trained physician for my future career. It also gives me sufficient time to work on clinical research and academics, helping me become the well-rounded physician I aim to be.
Additional Opportunities
Rotations
The first year is primarily clinical. Fellows rotate through the diabetes and endocrine inpatient services and outpatient clinic. First-year fellows will also begin to establish their regular continuity clinic.
The second and third year primarily focuses on scholarly activity and completion of outpatient clinical rotations. Fellows attend continuity clinic weekly and provide weekend call coverage. Specifically in the third year, fellows will serve four weeks as a junior attending to prepare for the transition to faculty.
All fellows attend Thursday afternoon fellows’ education and division conferences.
