Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

The first 12 months of training are devoted primarily to clinical training (with some exceptions). The following 12 months are focused primarily on laboratory training and on basic and/or translational or clinical research activities. The final year is split between clinical and research.

The fellowship training program has a number of unique elements worthy of specific mention:

Fellow continuity clinic: Each fellow has his/her own group of patients for whom he/she serves as primary physician for the entirety of the fellowship. The patients derive from the same demographic as those of the attending physicians and the patients view the fellow as their primary physician.

• Close consultation with faculty provides guidance, but the experience affords the fellow uncommon independence, allowing excellent preparation for his/her independent practice.
• Uncommon formal training and experience in Pediatric Endocrinology: working with a world class faculty one clinic/week for 2-3 months during the third training year, with emphasis on disorders of growth and puberty. A dedicated Turner Syndrome clinic is an important feature of this experience.
• Uncommon formal training in Medical Endocrinology: working directly with an attending physician one half day/week for two months during the third training year, with emphasis on disorders of thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary function.
• UNC culture: Our fellows function as junior members of the faculty and have many of the privileges and responsibilities of faculty. Fellows are viewed by residents as a resource, not as competition. The Department has fellowship training programs in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Clinical Research, Urogynecology, Advanced Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain, and Family Planning, in addition to Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. The training atmosphere is collegial.
• Assisted Reproductive Technology Program: Our volume (approximately 425 retrievals/year) is ample to provide thorough training but not so large as to dominate training time. Fellows are actively involved in cycle management, perform numerous oocyte retrievals, and perform actual embryo transfers.
• Advanced Laparoscopic Training: Dr. Linnea Goodman, faculty in the REI Division, serves as our reproductive surgical expert and provides advanced laparoscopic training during the fellows’ weekly surgical time.

The program faculty members all are engaged in a wide range of research activities and encourage active fellow participation. Division research currently is funded by multiple grants and by Division endowments.

Fellows are expected to undertake at least one substantive project under the direct guidance of a member of the program faculty, but otherwise are welcome to work with any of a wide variety of investigators throughout the institution. Each fellow meets at regular intervals during fellowship for guidance in thesis research study design, implementation, and eventual publication.

The program has had a total of 20 graduates since 1993, when Dr. Fritz became Program Director. As of August 2019, 18/20 have been certified by ABOG in Reproductive Endocrinology and 2 are active candidates. Eight graduates entered academic medicine after completing fellowship and the remaining entered private practice. We have maintained a 100% first-time pass rate on both the written and oral ABOG subspecialty certification examinations.

The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill-Cary metro area has a population of about 2.2 million people and is anchored by three research universities plus the research triangle park, and thus ranks among the top five areas of the country for concentration of people with advanced degrees. Chapel Hill is a quintessential university town. The campus is widely considered one of the most beautiful in the United States, offers a wide array of educational, athletic, and other activities and experiences, and is located less than three hours from both coastal beaches and the mountains. The universities and global businesses have fostered significant ethnic and cultural diversity. The area has a mild, four-season climate and opportunities for urban, suburban, or rural living. At the same time, the moderately-priced local housing market allows many residents and fellows to own, rather than rent their residence.