University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Program

The University of Arizona Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program is ACGME accredited and is designed to offer a comprehensive and well-rounded training experience over a span of 24 months. The structure of the fellowship includes a balanced distribution of clinical, research, and educational activities, comprising 50 percent clinical exposure, 25 percent research, and 25 percent didactic education. This structure aims to train exceptional clinicians, academic leaders, and educators in the field of allergy and immunology.

Curriculum and Rotations

The curriculum is meticulously crafted to ensure fellows gain both inpatient and outpatient clinical experience. Rotations take place at the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and the Banner’s Wilmot Pediatric Subspecialty Clinics. The fellows are engaged in diverse clinical settings, managing pediatric and adult patients presenting with various allergies and immunological conditions. Furthermore, fellows have opportunities to pursue elective rotations in numerous subspecialty areas, which enhances their clinical skills and knowledge base.

The educational component of the program includes participation in didactic and interactive learning activities that meet the ACGME allergy-immunology program requirements. These activities are designed to foster engagement in hypothesis-driven research projects and quality improvement initiatives. The program emphasizes active fellow involvement in both investigational and problem-solving tasks that influence patient care.

Research Opportunities

Research is a cornerstone of the fellowship, and each fellow is expected to develop and complete a hypothesis-driven research project under the mentorship of faculty members. In addition to this, fellows must produce a scholarly work, such as a review article or case report, aimed at submission for national presentation. Quality improvement projects focusing on patient safety and health disparities are encouraged, fostering a culture of continual enhancement of practice standards within allergy and immunology.

The program is associated with the UA Health Sciences Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, which serves as a significant research facility for fellows. Further research opportunities are available through collaborations with institutions such as the UA BIO5 Institute, which features advanced research and simulation lab facilities.

Training Sites

Major training sites for the program include the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and the Diamond Children's Wilmot Multispecialty Pediatric Clinic. These sites provide resources and facilities conducive to extensive clinical exposure. Each facility is well-resourced to support fellows during training, ensuring exposure to a diverse patient population and various clinical scenarios relevant to allergy and immunology.

Visa Support

The program is open to international medical graduates (IMGs), who are encouraged to apply. Candidates must possess a standard ECFMG Certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, along with either U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status. It is important to note that the fellowship cannot accept applicants with H1B visas; however, it does accept candidates with J-1 visas, permitting international fellows to participate in the program.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

This fellowship program is highly competitive, with a preference for candidates who have graduated from ACGME-accredited residency programs in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, or a combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics track. Applicants must be board-certified or board-eligible in their respective areas. The program usually accepts 1 or 2 fellows each year for its two-year fellowship.

When applying, candidates are required to submit several documents through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), including a personal statement and three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their recent professional experience. Additionally, applicants must have successfully completed the USMLE (Steps 1, 2, and 3) or the COMLEX examination to qualify for an interview.

Fellows enter the program at the PGY-4 level, regardless of prior experience. Strong candidates typically demonstrate a solid background in clinical practice, quality improvement measures, or research activities.