Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Program

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is a three-year program accredited by the ACGME, designed to train fellowship-level pediatric rheumatologists. The program admits one fellow annually and is situated in Hershey, Pennsylvania, providing a unique blend of academic training and practical exposure, enabling fellows to develop the necessary skills to excel in academic rheumatology.

Fellows are engaged in a well-rounded core curriculum that is shared across all pediatric fellowships, paired with additional program-specific training that emphasizes evidence-based medicine. This dual approach not only prepares fellows for the required board exams but also equips them with a robust experience in treating a diverse patient population that includes various ethnic backgrounds and specific disease processes such as immunodeficiency-associated autoimmunity.

The fellowship’s training environment benefits significantly from the collaborative relationship with the adult rheumatology division at the nearby Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, allowing for integrated clinical rotations and academic conferences. This fosters a comprehensive learning atmosphere enriched by a variety of clinical practices and expert oversight.

Training and Rotations

The first year of fellowship emphasizes hands-on clinical experience through inpatient consultations and outpatient clinics, along with rotations in adult rheumatology, pediatric orthopaedics, and musculoskeletal radiology. Specifically, the first-year structure includes:

• Inpatient consultations (11 months)
• Staff outpatient clinics (five half-days per week for 11 months)
• Adult rheumatology rotation (four weeks)
• Pediatric orthopaedics rotation (two weeks)
• Musculoskeletal radiology rotation (one week)

In the second and third years, fellows engage in scholarly and quality improvement projects while maintaining clinical responsibilities in their continuity clinic.

Research Opportunities

Research is integral to the fellowship, with every fellow expected to identify a research mentor early in their training, develop a research project, and have a manuscript ready for publication by the end of the fellowship. The program provides foundational knowledge in research methodology and offers access to a variety of research resources, including the Pediatric Research Group and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Fellows are encouraged to attend annual meetings such as the Pennsylvania Rheumatology Society meeting and the American College of Rheumatology meetings, which serve as excellent platforms for networking and presenting their research.

Wellness and Support

The program emphasizes wellness, recognizing the importance of emotional, social, and physical health throughout training. It offers resources aimed at promoting well-being among fellows, including an employee health program and various support activities designed to ease the transition to a new city.

Furthermore, the fellowship program has a structured approach to community engagement, encouraging fellows to participate in activities such as summer camps for children with rheumatologic conditions and local events supporting the Arthritis Foundation.

Application Requirements and Visa Support

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship participates in the National Residency Matching Program’s Pediatric Subspecialties Match and accepts applications exclusively through ERAS. Eligible candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in pediatrics or internal medicine/pediatrics, and they must hold or be eligible for a Pennsylvania medical license. Applicants may apply if they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or J-1 visa holders, as the program does not sponsor other visa types.

While there are no strict limitations on the number of attempts at the USMLE step examinations, past performance on these assessments could influence an application’s strength. All candidates will be evaluated holistically, without any form of discrimination.

Unique Aspects of the Program

One notable feature of the program is its commitment to a strong educational environment, characterized by faculty actively involved in teaching and mentoring, as well as numerous opportunities for scholarly activities. Additionally, the program isolates key initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring a supportive environment for training.

With its comprehensive curriculum, strong research component, wellness initiatives, and diverse training population, fellows at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital are well-prepared to embark on successful careers as pediatric rheumatologists.