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Program Curriculum

A timelapse photo of the exterior of Midwest Orthopoedics at RUSH building during night. Lights from traffic blur together in the foreground.

In the rheumatology fellowship, you can expect a rich and personalized fellowship experience, including the following:

  • Supervised by faculty, you will work in an office-based, private rheumatology practice at RUSH University Medical Center, learning to assess patients, formulate diagnoses and develop comprehensive care plans.
  • You will provide inpatient and outpatient consultations at RUSH and John H. Stroger, Jr., Hospital of Cook County, as well as outpatient consultations at community clinics.
  • You will also manage acute and chronic diseases over time, practicing an interdisciplinary approach to patient care that integrates other specialists and allied health professionals including the following:
    • Physical therapy
    • Occupational therapy
    • Orthopedic surgery
    • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
    • Pharmacology

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The academic year is divided into 12 one-month rotations.

Sample Fellowship Schedule

Year 1

  • 6 months on rheumatology consult service (3 months at RUSH and 3 months at Stroger Hospital)
  • 5 months on research rotation
  • Research and consult rotations alternate
  • 1 month combined outpatient orthopedics and outpatient rheum pediatrics
  • 4 half day clinics (2 at RUSH and 2 at Stroger Hospital)
  • Includes specialty clinics (SLE, Osteoporosis, Scleroderma/Myositis & Musculoskeletal Ultrasound)

Year 2

  • 6 months on rheumatology consult service (3 months at RUSH and 3 months at Stroger Hospital)
  • 6 months on research rotation
  • Research and Consult rotations alternate
  • 4 half day clinics (2 at Rush and 2 at Stroger Hospital)
  • Includes specialty clinics (SLE, Osteoporosis, Scleroderma/Myositis & Musculoskeletal Ultrasound)

Departmental Teaching Programs

Our fellows have multiple teaching opportunities that provide them with broad exposure to the topics essential to becoming a well-rounded rheumatologist as well as to the subject matter tested on the ABIM examination.

Clinical Conference (every Thursday 8-9AM)

Core Curriculum Conference (most Wednesdays 7:30-8:30AM)

Journal Club (once a month)

Medicine Grand Rounds (Wednesday 12 Noon – 1:00 PM): The Department of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds occurs every Wednesday. It provides an academic forum for case-based didactics and research presentations by faculty and distinguished guest lecturers that include international, national, regional and RUSH speakers.

Rheumatology Research Conference (Once Monthly 12 Noon – 1:00 PM)

Medicine Research Grand Rounds (Once Monthly 12 Noon – 1:00 PM): This conference provides an opportunity for research faculty from RUMC as well as guest scientists to present their current or completed endeavors at the clinical or basic science level. These conferences occur one Tuesday per month in the place of noon conference.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Why Choose RUSH?

  • Diverse and world renowned faculty
  • Diverse patient population
  • Approachable faculty and nurturing learning environment
  • Support and protected time available for research and other scholarly activities
  • Two major teaching hospitals (RUSH and Cook County)
  • Continuity clinic experience with patient ownership
  • Specialty clinics: SLE, Osteoporosis, Scleroderma/Myositis & Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
  • Outpatient rotations in orthopedics and pediatric rheumatology
  • Dedicated musculoskeletal radiologist for educational purposes
  • Regularly scheduled clinical, core curriculum, radiology, and research conference. Plus monthly journal club and renal pathology experiences.
  • Ample opportunity to perform arthrocentesis
  • Full service infusion, DEXA, and radiography within rheumatology office
  • Digital radiography and fully functional EMR
  • 100% board pass rate over last 10 years