Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Curriculum

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship is three years of training designed specifically to prepare qualified pediatricians for an academic and clinical career in rheumatology. The program provides subspecialty fellows with the background and experience to care for children with a spectrum of rheumatic diseases. This expertise is gained through a balanced, progressive training program that includes clinical, teaching, consultative, research and technical experiences. The program strives to be an educational innovator in the community and utilizes an "open classroom" model and features of an "inquiry-based curriculum" to empower fellows to become lifelong adult learners.

Nine months of clinical service consists of both inpatient and outpatient experiences. Fellows alternate inpatient hospital service one week at a time. On alternate weeks the fellow sees new and return patients in the outpatient setting 4-5 half day clinics a week (this includes a continuity clinic). The remaining 3 months is dedicated to research while incorporating 2 weekly clinics. 

There is an emphasis on research with two months of combined inpatient and outpatient clinical service for 2nd-year fellows, and an inpatient clinical month for 3rd-year fellows. During years 2 and 3, fellows have their own panel of continuity patients weekly. Also, they complete at least two clinics a week to ensure a robust clinical experience. All clinics are supervised by attending faculty.

Throughout years 2 and 3, fellows have a weekly panel of continuity patients. Fellows complete at least two clinics per week, ensuring a comprehensive clinical exposure overseen by attending faculty.

Academic Tracks and Advanced Studies

The last two years of training include formal academic coursework and mentor guided research.

Educational Scholar Track

Andrea Ramirez, M.D., M.Ed. (Program Director) assists fellows with an interest in an educational scholar track. This track is the most utilized track and aligns with a strengths of our department. Fellows complete an educational project. Fellows are encouraged to complete IHI QI coursework or the BCM Educational Scholars Fellowship Program. This track includes a project focused on curriculum development, effective teaching methods, development of meaningful evaluation methods, portfolio development, evaluation methods, and development of evidence-based medicine modules. Previous graduates have completed educational coursework during their training and obtained M.Ed. degrees during their fellowship.

Clinical Research Track

Andrea Ramirez, M.D., M.Ed. (Program Director) and Eyal Muscal, M.D., MS (Division Chief) designate appropriate clinical research mentors that have a successful track record in nurturing mentees. Current mentored work includes projects in SLE, ANCA associated vasculitis, JIA, Kawasaki disease, and pharmacology to name a few. Fellows are involved in clinical research through participation in either ongoing clinical trials or observational studies.  Fellows become trainee members of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance and are exposed to national collaborative research projects. Our fellows assist in the IRB submission and recruitment process for CARRA sponsored or institutional research studies. Clinical research qualification is obtained by all our research fellows through Baylor College of Medicine Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative and/or Good Clinical Practice certificates.

Basic and Translational Research Track

Tiphanie Vogel M.D., Ph.D. and Eyal Muscal, M.D., MS (Division Chief) assist fellows with an interest in bench research. They oversee hypothesis formulation, experimental design, and coordinate fellow interviews with basic and translational research mentors.

Baylor College of Medicine is one of 12 centers in the United States in the Undiagnosed Disease Network funded by the NIH. Baylor is one of three Model Organisms Screening Centers that help understand how genetic changes contribute to disease. Dr. Vogel is the Rheumatology liaison for the UDN and is involved in diagnosing novel diseases involving inflammation.

Academic coursework available is drawn from the following programs:

• MS level courses, Clinical Research Program (UTHSC – McGovern Medical School)
• Clinical Scientist Training Program (BCM Clinical Scientist Training Program)
• MPH level courses (UTHSC - School of Public Health)
• Biostatistics, bio-informatics, health services research and epidemiology (UTHSC - School of Biomedical Informatics)

• Baylor College of Medicine is one of the premier medical schools with robust training in all specialties.

Curriculum improvements are made based on fellow input at monthly meetings with the program director, biannual program evaluation committee and during the annual program update.

• Autoimmune Encephalitis Clinic - Texas Children's is one of the largest contributors of systemic vasculitis and inflammatory brain disorders patients in international registries.
• Lupus & Vasculitis Clinic - Care for Systemic Lupus and Vasculitis involves a collaborative approach, featuring a multidisciplinary clinic in conjunction with nephrology. Additionally, there are monthly multidisciplinary discussions, uniting multiple specialties and ancillary services including rheumatology, nephrology, gynecology, social work, TCH specialty pharmacy, research coordination for comprehensive care coordination.
• Fellows attend clinic sessions at various community-based clinics and in the medical center.
• Fellows maintain their own panel of continuity patients starting midway through the first year of fellowship.