St Luke’s Hospital – Anderson Campus Program

Overview of the Program

The St. Luke’s-Anderson Endocrinology Fellowship is an ACGME accredited clinical training program that offers rigorous training in the field of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. The program spans two years, with three fellowship positions available annually. This fellowship is designed for those who have completed an accredited residency in Internal Medicine prior to joining. The program does not include a dedicated third year of research training, emphasizing clinical training instead.

Curriculum and Training Structure

The curriculum is structured to provide comprehensive education in endocrinology and diabetes. The goals include advanced understanding of endocrine physiology, applying knowledge to diagnose and manage disorders, and developing skills to conduct hypothesis-driven research and quality improvement activities. Fellows participate in various didactic sessions, journal clubs, and case discussions, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.

Fellowship conferences occur weekly, covering essential topics in endocrinology, case presentations, and reviews of current literature. Specific meetings include Endocrinology Grand Rounds, Patient Care Conferences, and a Board Review series. Each fellow is expected to lead sessions, showcasing their expertise and enhancing their educational stature.

Rotations and Clinical Experience

The fellowship offers both inpatient consult services and outpatient clinic experiences, ensuring exposure to a wide range of endocrine conditions from common to rare. Year 1 focuses on general care, with 14 weeks on inpatient consultation service. Fellows maintain continuity clinics weekly regardless of their rotation schedule.

Year 2 expands clinical experiences, adding elective rotations in complementary specialties such as Pediatric Endocrinology, Reproductive Endocrinology, and Diagnostic Radiology. This diverse exposure prepares fellows for complex endocrine cases and enhances their skill set.

Facilities and Training Environments

The program is based at the St. Luke’s Hospital – Anderson Campus in Easton, PA, and fellows have access to high-quality resources for clinical education and training. Outpatient rotations occur at various locations, including the St. Luke’s Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology.

The Anderson Campus serves as the primary training site, complemented by resources at the Bethlehem hospital. This multiplicity of sites ensures that fellows encounter a breadth of clinical scenarios and patient demographics.

Research and Scholarly Activities

Engagement in research is a critical component of the fellowship. Each fellow must develop a research project and a quality improvement initiative during their training. Research planning begins early in the program, and fellows meet regularly with mentors for guidance and support. This scholarly work is encouraged to extend beyond endocrinology, allowing fellows to collaborate with other medical disciplines and participate in national conferences.

Support for International Medical Graduates

The program is friendly to DO (Doctor of Osteopathic medicine) and IMG (International Medical Graduate) candidates. Graduates of accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical schools are eligible for fellowship. The program supports candidates in acquiring the necessary credentials and offers visa sponsorship for eligible fellows, typically obtaining J-1 or H-1B visas, ensuring that international trainees can participate fully in the training experience.

Application Process and Competitiveness

The application process requires submission via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), with an NRMP program number of 1434114197. Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited internal medicine residency program, and eligible candidates include those with recent graduation from medical school. The program has three available positions each year, making it a competitive fellowship option. It is advisable that applicants have a strong academic background and relevant clinical experience in internal medicine and endocrinology to enhance their chances of acceptance.

Salary and Benefits

The fellowship provides a competitive salary and benefits aligned with the standard for medical fellowship training within the region. Specific details on remuneration and support programs for fellows, including spousal/partner support, wellness initiatives, and additional educational resources, are available through the program's Office of Medical Education.

Unique Aspects of the Program

A key feature of the St. Luke’s-Anderson Endocrinology Fellowship is its strong focus on mentorship and training collaboration across a broad healthcare network. The program values community health and emphasizes the importance of transitioning fellows into educators and leaders in the endocrinology field. This commitment to education is evident through interactions with medical students and other trainees in the network.

In addition, the program is part of a larger university health network that has received numerous accolades for its quality and safety in healthcare, providing fellows with a sense of pride and robust institutional support throughout their training.