Temple University Hospital Program

Temple University Hospital’s Nephrology fellowship program offers a comprehensive two-year training designed to provide extensive education and experience in nephrology, hypertension, and kidney transplantation. Situated within the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, this fellowship is nested in a 721-bed teaching hospital, which presents a broad exposure to a diverse range of medical conditions. The hospital serves over 250,000 ambulatory patients and sees more than 20,000 hospitalized patients each year, making it an ideal training ground for fellows.1

Curriculum Overview

The fellowship curriculum is structured into clinical and didactic components, ensuring that fellows gain both practical experience and theoretical knowledge.

Clinical Curriculum

Fellows engage in numerous clinical services that allow them to explore various nephrology-related aspects. Major components include:

• Inpatient Consult Service: Fellows conduct nephrology consultations for a diverse patient population, focusing on acute kidney injury, electrolyte disorders, and glomerular diseases. They also become proficient in managing critical therapies like continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).
• Chronic Dialysis Service: This service focuses on patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), allowing fellows to gain insights into both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
• Transplant Service: Fellows participate in the care of hospitalized patients who have undergone kidney or kidney-pancreas transplants. They work with a multi-disciplinary team, engaging in morning rounds and outpatient evaluations of transplant candidates.
• Outpatient Services: The fellowship emphasizes a significant outpatient experience with fellows managing their own nephrology patient cohort.
• Multi-disciplinary Clinics: Fellows engage in specialized clinics, including a Lupus Nephritis Clinic and a Multi-Disciplinary Hypertension Clinic, receiving cross-disciplinary training alongside endocrinologists and rheumatologists.

This structured framework allows fellows to immerse themselves in both inpatient and outpatient nephrology experiences without overlap, thus deepening their clinical acumen.2

Didactic Curriculum

The fellowship also emphasizes ongoing education through various didactic sessions, such as:

• Weekly Journal Clubs: Debates and discussions on current nephrology literature foster critical analysis skills.
• Renal Pathology Conferences: These weekly meetings focus on the discussion of recent kidney biopsies, enriching fellows' understanding of renal pathology.
• Nuts and Bolts Series: Introductory lectures ensure fellows acquire fundamental nephrology knowledge early in their training.

Research Opportunities

Active research is encouraged in the nephrology fellowship with opportunities to study important topics such as transplantation, glomerulonephritis, and social determinants of health. Fellows may engage in clinical trials, especially in the context of lupus nephritis, giving them exposure to cutting-edge nephrology research.3

Unique Aspects of the Program

The program is recognized for offering:

• Structured board preparation initiatives.
• A dedicated outpatient experience devoid of inpatient duties during the first year.
• Access to a high-volume solid organ transplant center.
• Support for attending national conferences by providing educational stipends.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

As a well-regarded fellowship, the program is considered highly competitive but open to various candidates, including DO and IMG students. Candidates should be aware of specific application requirements, including medical school graduation timelines, and eligibility based on USMLE scores and other qualifications.

Visa Support

The program sponsors J-1 visa applications, providing crucial support for international medical graduates pursuing training opportunities.4