University of North Carolina Hospitals Program

The Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship program at the University of North Carolina Hospitals offers a comprehensive training experience designed for physicians aiming to specialize in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Over the course of a three-year fellowship, participants will gain expertise in both clinical and research domains, positioning them to become leaders in academic medicine or clinical practice. By the end of the fellowship, trainees will be board eligible in both pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Throughout the fellowship, the program emphasizes a balance of clinical training and research, thereby fostering skills essential for long-term success in medical practice. All fellows can opt to extend their training with an additional year focused on research and academic development.

Clinical Training

Clinical training occurs across multiple sites, including UNC Medical Center, UNC Pulmonary Clinics, and UNC Hillsborough Hospital. This setup allows fellows to engage with a diverse patient population representing a wide array of pulmonary diseases and critical illnesses. Notably, the first year of fellowship is fully dedicated to clinical training, followed by a training model that allocates 75% of the subsequent years toward research while continuing clinical exposure.

During the first year, fellows rotate through various clinical areas, including Ambulatory Pulmonary Medicine, Inpatient Pulmonary Consults, Pulmonary Transplant, Interventional Pulmonary, and the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). In the second and third years, fellows will continue to refine their clinical skills and advance their capabilities in critical care medicine through targeted rotations and electives.

Research Training

The program features a well-established NIH T-32 fellowship training grant, which has been operational since 1975, showcasing a commitment to fostering future investigators in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Fellows are expected to devote a significant amount of their time to research training, assisting them in developing their academic interests and research competencies.

Fellows will collaborate with experienced faculty mentors to develop and execute their research projects throughout their training. With access to robust research centers, including the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, fellows are provided opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and prepare for academic careers.

Application Process

The fellowship program at UNC accepts five competitive positions annually. To be considered for an appointment, applicants must have completed at least three years of residency training within the United States, regardless of whether they graduated from a US or international medical school. Candidates are evaluated based on their preparedness, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal attributes.

Applicants must submit an ERAS application, three letters of recommendation (including one from their residency program director), an official medical school transcript, and a current CV. Interviews are conducted virtually, and candidates are selected predominately from the pool of over 500 applications received each year.

Visa Support

The program's visa policy is specific: while H1-B visas are not sponsored, the program will consider residents with a J-1 Visa, provided they have a current ECFMG certificate. This aligns with the program's focus on supporting international graduates while maintaining strict compliance with immigration regulations.

Competitiveness and Uniqueness

The fellowship at UNC is recognized for being highly competitive, welcoming candidates from diverse educational backgrounds, including both DOs and IMGs. The strong emphasis on research training coupled with exceptional clinical opportunities establishes the program as a prime choice for candidates wishing to excel in the field of pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Overall, the University of North Carolina Hospitals Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship provides an unparalleled environment for training the next generation of leaders in this specialized medical field.