Carolinas Medical Center Program

The Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center is a structured program designed to provide advanced training in liver disease and liver transplantation for individuals who have completed an ACGME-accredited gastroenterology fellowship. This one-year fellowship not only emphasizes clinical training but also includes significant opportunities for research, collaboration, and academic engagement.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum of the Transplant Hepatology Fellowship encompasses several critical components:

• Clinical Training: Fellows will engage in the management of patients with diverse liver diseases, attending to cases of varying complexity. They will monitor post-liver transplant patients regularly in outpatient settings, ensuring comprehensive care throughout the transition period.
• Research Commitment: Approximately 25% of the fellows' time is dedicated to clinical research. Fellows are expected to formulate and submit research proposals to the IRB, execute research plans, and present findings at prestigious national meetings, such as AASLD and ACG.
• Educational Conferences: The educational experience is enriched through a series of local conferences at Carolinas Medical Center, including medical grand rounds, liver pathology discussions, case selection conferences, and monthly hepatobiliary conferences.
• National Involvement: Fellows are encouraged to attend at least one national conference during their training, further enhancing their education and networking opportunities.

Rotations and Responsibilities

During their fellowship, participants will take on various responsibilities:

• Active participation in weekly rounds for both pre- and post-liver transplant patients, where they will generate care plans to be evaluated by supervising liver faculty.
• Opportunities to observe and participate in live liver transplant operations and organ procurement processes, gaining hands-on experience in critical components of transplant medicine.
• Collaboration with the liver faculty consists of multiple specialists, enhancing the educational breadth.

Training Sites

The primary training site for the fellowship is the Carolinas Medical Center, which has established itself as a premier center for liver transplant services. This center offers extensive clinical exposure, a dedicated hepatology team, and the resources necessary to facilitate advanced education and research.

Application Process

To apply for the fellowship, candidates must utilize the AASLD Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Application System. Applicants are required to have completed an ACGME-accredited gastroenterology fellowship before entering the program. Furthermore, the fellowships demand that individuals have a board-eligible or board-certified status in internal medicine for clinical fellowships.

Visa Support

The program provides visa support for qualified international medical graduates. Typically, the fellowship is able to sponsor J-1 visas for eligible candidates, accommodating those who require such facilitation to participate in the fellowship training.

Competitiveness and Special Application Requirements

The fellowship is considered competitive, particularly for international medical graduates (IMGs) and candidates from DO backgrounds. Applicants are expected to provide their qualifications, including any relevant clinical experience and research contributions. Additionally, specified application requirements entail that no more than one failed USMLE Step exam is allowed.