About the Program
Our fellowship training program is Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education- accredited and led by Dr. Andrea Ramirez, Program Director and Dr. Maria Pereira, Associate Program Director. Dr. Ramirez spearheads the oversight of fellows' clinical and research training activities.
Some of our recent graduates have completed master-level degrees as part of their fellowship training. We support advanced ultrasound training though USSONAR. Many of our graduates in the last decade have continued to practice in Texas. Five separate pediatric rheumatology centers have been started by former fellows.
We are one of the largest pediatric rheumatology centers in North America with thirteen rheumatologists, two advanced nurse practitioners and eight fellows. Our division is involved in national pediatric rheumatology mentoring initiatives and institutional efforts to enrich the educational experiences of the pediatric subspecialty trainees. We are committed to providing high quality and personalized patient care, ACGME-accredited medical training and education, and clinical and basic science research in pediatric rheumatology.
The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, provides an exciting, diverse, and stimulating learning environment for fellow training. The Department of Pediatrics is a national leader in research funding and is a leader in international child health, cardiology, hematology/oncology, nephrology, and neurology research.
See a list of faculty.
Unique Curriculum Features
- Pediatric Subspecialty Fellows College is an educational opportunity for all BCM pediatric fellows focusing on basics of quality improvement design, scientific writing, literature appraisal, academic medicine, wellness initiatives and career development.
- A rheumatology boot camp during the first three weeks of fellowship includes introductions to musculoskeletal exam skills, intra-articular joint injections, cadaver lab, and introduction to common rheumatology topics.
- American Board of Pediatric based curriculum with content provided by rheumatology faculty, and guest lecturers.
- Elective opportunities include sports medicine, musculoskeletal radiology, adult scleroderma clinic, adult rheumatology, nephrology, pain clinic and palliative care.
- Monthly musculoskeletal radiology rounds and bimonthly renal rounds with pathology and nephrology.
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound curriculum with hands-on practice
Admissions and Benefits
Applicants from across the world can apply, but all must complete a pediatric residency before starting this fellowship and be a U.S. citizen, be a U.S. permanent resident or have a valid J-1 visa. Applications are accepted via the Electronic Residency Application Service and should be submitted the year prior to starting fellowship training (with a July 8 start date). Later submissions will be considered in special circumstances, and if a position remains open. Questions should be addressed to the fellowship program director.
All required clinical education for entry into ACGME-accredited fellowship programs must be completed in an ACGME-accredited residency program, an AOA-approved residency program, a program with ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation, or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada. - ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Pediatric Rheumatology (Subspecialty of Pediatrics). Effective July 1, 2022.
Information about stipends and benefits is available on the Graduate Medical Education website.
Maintaining your physical and emotional wellness is a prerequisite to professional success. Our fellows have access to a number of programs to support their well-being.
Affiliations with leading research and healthcare institutions in and around the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest healthcare complex, provide access to an exceptionally diverse array of people and resources. Discover how our affiliations enhance our education programs.