Meet our Fellows

“I chose Rush for my Rheumatology training for many reasons. The open-door policy and family feel of the program is something that is very important at Rush and has fostered a supportive and safe environment for fellow learning and training. The friendly atmosphere of the program keeps me excited to go to work and allows me to do my best learning and work. The diversity of patients and pathology at Rush and Cook County Hospital allow fellows to become comfortable recognizing and treating both bread and butter Rheumatology cases as well as the more rare and difficult cases. I think that this is invaluable for preparing to practice confidently as an independent Rheumatologist after fellowship. There is no shortage of faculty to mentor the fellows on research projects. There are multiple conferences for the first month of fellowship for the first-year fellows to help create a solid knowledge base at the beginning of the year and then weekly conferences and didactics to further bolster our learning throughout the year. The faculty here at Rush are totally invested in the fellows and are committed to making you a great Rheumatologist in whatever avenue of practice you are interested in, whether that be academics, private practice, research or industry. The program is everything I hoped it would be and more and I consider myself very lucky to have been chosen to join this Rheumatology family. ”

 

Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Chicago, IL
Residency: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

“Choosing Rush for my Rheumatology fellowship training has been a great decision for forwarding my medical education. The close-knit faculty and staff, the variety of patients between Rush University Medical Hospital and Stroger Cook County Hospital, and the all around support fellows have to pursue their interests make this the ideal choice for fellowship training. In terms of attendings there is a wide variety of experience and interest, which provides us with opportunities to learn from a diverse group. I am confident that my training here will prepare me for any environment of practice.”

 

Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL
Residency: University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Residency, Miami, FL

“My desire to pursue rheumatology began in my last year of medical school. I was drawn by the complexities of the systemic illnesses frequently encountered in the field. In residency that interest only grew. When it came time for me to apply for fellowship, I knew I wanted to be at a program with many faculty members who have expertise and interest in different areas within the field. I also wanted to train at a large referral center, getting exposure to a broad range of pathology. These aspects drew me to Rush. At my interview, which was virtual, I was struck by the friendliness of the faculty and tight-knit environment of the department. Since starting here, I have felt their patience and their willingness to teach. Between the experiences at Rush and Cook County Hospital, this program allows you to see a vast array of patients with an equally vast array of pathology. I have learned a tremendous amount in my first six months of fellowship and am excited to see what the next 18 months will offer. I am sincerely grateful to have matched here at Rush.”

 

Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH
Residency: Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY 

“Training at Rush for Rheumatology has been a wonderful experience. Rush offers a diverse clinical experience by allowing the fellows to rotate at two very different hospital. Rush University Medical Center is a tertiary referral that cares for extremely complex and rare patient cases. Cook County Hospital is a safety net hospital and provides care to underserved patients, many of whom have lasting sequela from Rheumatologic disease. Additionally, the Rheumatology Department at Rush fosters a supportive and collegial learning environment. The priority on fellow’s learning is clear with structured didactics every week. There are a number of great attendings to work with that can accommodate any research interest.  Lastly, Chicago is a world class city and a wonderful place to live in during fellowship and beyond.”

 

Medical School: Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

“The main reasons I chose Rush for my Rheumatology fellowship training were the collegial environment and the opportunity to rotate at two unique sites. All faculty in the department have an open-door policy. They are supportive of the fellows’ endeavors, both within the field of Rheumatology and in other interests in life. Days in the office are filled with excellent scheduled didactics, insightful spontaneous teaching pearls, and an amazing ancillary staff. We spend time outside the office together with events like holiday parties, wellness dinners, and fellow hang outs. Half of the training occurs at Rush University Medical Center and the other half is at Cook County Hospital. This provides the opportunity to manage tertiary referrals with complex medical histories at Rush, while also treating a safety net population at Cook County who often have not seen Rheumatology previously and have late-stage disease. This provides a breadth of training that will prepare me for wherever my career takes me. I am so thankful that I am doing my fellowship at Rush. The first eight months have flown by, but when I reflect, I realize how much I have learned already. I am excited to see what the rest of my fellowship has in store for me.” 
 

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL
Residency: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL