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
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.
Benefits
Fellow stipend details can be found on the BCM Graduate Medical Education page.
Baylor College of Medicine's vacation and leave policies can be found on the BCM careers benefits page.
Maternity and Paternity Leave
Fellows may be permitted leave in accordance with the Federal Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for the birth of a child or the adoption or foster placement of a child. Fellows taking leave under FMLA for their own health condition must first use sick days, and if necessary, may take any available paid vacation and personal time off. Medical leave is available for those not meeting the minimum requirements for leave under FMLA.
Fellows are provided with medical, dental, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance with premiums paid by the program. In the event a fellow becomes seriously ill or sustains an injury requiring absence from work for more than six months, long-term disability insurance is provided at no cost. Fellows can also enroll in Baylor College of Medicine's short-term disability plan at their own expense.
Medical coverage is provided through the ResidentCare medical plan. The ResidentCare network includes physicians from several practice organizations and a full complement of services offered through affiliated hospitals. Coverage for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care is included in the medical plan. In addition, there is a psychiatric counseling service, staffed by Baylor faculty, which offers up to 12 free sessions to trainees and their spouses or significant others.
Fellows receive free professional liability insurance coverage in limits that exceed $1 million per occurrence and $3 million in the aggregate through the Baylor College of Medicine's Self-Insurance Program. With occurrence coverage, the program will respond to a claim after the fellow leaves Baylor if the claim is based on treatment rendered during the formal training experience.
Fellows are permitted to travel to approved educational conferences (ACR Convergence, ACR PRYSM) when presenting an accepted poster, abstract or oral presentation. Additional meetings are permitted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of division/program leadership.
Memberships in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), American Academy of Pediatrics Pedialink (AAP Pedialink) and re-certification of Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are provided to fellows.
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.