Research

The second and third years are typically devoted to a scholarly pursuit in either research, advocacy, medical education, or quality improvement.

Research: Several fellows have opted to complete their Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology, or Masters of Science in Clinical Research at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health under a training grant. Opportunities also exist for clinical or basic science research in molecular and cell biology, immunologic, genetic, and translational aspects of kidney disease within our division. A multitude of research opportunities exist within UNC between disciplines, where nephrology and other subspecialties meet. Mentors are available from within nephrology, the School of Public Health, and at times from other divisions within UNC or a neighboring institution.

Advocacy: The JELF scholarship program (participants selected after a competitive application process) provides a two-year immersive experience in leadership and advocacy skills development during pediatric nephrology fellowship training. Past graduates of note include Dr. Ray Bignall (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital) and Dr. Kiri Bagley (a UNC pediatric nephrology graduate, currently at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte). https://aspneph.org/jelf-advocacy-scholars-program/

Quality Improvement: Opportunities abound for large-scale quality improvement projects under the guidance of the fellowship program director, Katie Westreich, who herself completed a fellowship in quality improvement and patient safety at UNC, as well as formal training in QI methodology at Intermountain Health.

Education: Through the UNC Academy of Educators program https://www.med.unc.edu/aoe/, we are able to offer a year-long training program in medical education during fellowship training called the FLAGship Program https://www.med.unc.edu/aoe/programming/flagship-program/, which is a mentored leadership development program with didactics and activities geared toward learning methods of academic scholarship, teaching, curriculum design, and mentoring within medicine.

All fellows have a Scholarship Oversight Committee to provide oversight over their scholarly experience. Fellows are strongly encouraged to present their work at national meetings.

During the second and third years of fellowship, if funded by a training grant, clinical experience is limited to two full days of clinic and one weekend of the consult service per month to protect time for research productivity. If not funded by the training grant, fellows are generally on the consult service one week per month and have a full day of clinic each week they are not on service—exact schedule is flexible and is determined collaboratively by the fellow and program director together to best meet each fellow’s needs.