Nephrology Fellowship

Overview

The renal fellowship program is based at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, which is an approximately 1000 bed quaternary care center that handles a diverse population of patients from the commonplace to the esoteric. The fellowship was started in 2006 with 3 fellows. The fellowship provides an opportunity to experience all areas of nephrology, including general nephrology consults, dialysis, hypertension, and transplantation as well as clinical research activities. The fellowship is 2 years in duration. 

The Nephrology Division has approximately 15 active faculty staff members with vast experience in providing up-to-date training in the diagnosis and management of patients with renal disease, acid-base electrolyte disorders, complicated hypertension and renal replacement therapies. 

Unlike most other programs where the fellows carry services of 20+ patients, the program ensures fellows see 15 or less. This allows the fellows to concentrate on their education as opposed to providing service. The graduates of the fellowship continue to excel. In the last 10 years, the fellowship has had a 100% ABIM board passage rate. Additionally, because of their excellence, almost all graduating fellows obtain their first choice in employment.” 

Rotations/clinic

Fellows participate in the following rotations each year:

• Inpatient consult service
• Transplant service
• Renal pathology
• Research
• MICU
• IR
• Elective

Fellows are allocated dedicated clinic time during each rotation, during which they will participate in a range of clinical activities, including:

• Hemodialysis Clinic – monthly
• Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic – monthly
• Home Hemodialysis Clinic – monthly
• CKD Clinic (Continuity Clinic) – weekly
• Fellow Clinic – every few months (fellows share this monthly responsibility)

Fellows have call one day a week and one weekend a month.

Conferences

Fellows are required to attend routine conferences, including:

• Renal Conference (including Journal Club)
• Fellow Teaching Conference
• Pathology Conference
• Chiefs Conference

Research

Baylor Scott & White Research Institute conducts numerous clinical trials in kidney transplant, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. In addition, fellows are assigned an outpatient continuity clinic and a dialysis shift, and they are encouraged to develop their own projects. Our program is active in participating in clinical research programs. Several clinical research protocols are available and active, including new immunosuppressive medications as well as studies including post-transplant complications and outcome. There are several NIH sponsored trials on campus as well. The fellow is also trained in the basics of how to perform clinical research and is encouraged to publish manuscripts as well as present abstracts at national and international meetings.