In the first track, each fellow spends 24 months (6 months during the 1st year, 12 months during the 2nd year, and 6 months during the 3rd year) in a research experience that is supervised either by endocrine division faculty or by other members of the faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. These two years of the fellowship are usually funded by an NIH Training Grant administered within Case Western Reserve University. This grant has a residency requirement, and therefore, fellows requiring funding for their fellowship must be either US citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Acceptable research projects range from basic science to clinical, patient-based research.
In the clinician/clinician educator track, each fellow spends 15 months in research. This work can be basic or clinical, although it is expected that fellows in this track will more likely gravitate toward clinical research projects. Our goal is for these projects to involve faculty and patients from both Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital as well as the Children’s Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. This track has less restrictive funding sources and is, therefore, open to a broader pool of applicants.
During the research component of both tracks, clinic time is reduced to continuity clinics only. In the research-intensive track, this is a ½ day within the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital system; in the second track, continuity clinics are held at both Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Fellows often enter the program with prior research experience, but this is not required. Research projects and mentors are chosen during the first six months of fellowship with the assistance of the Training Program Director.