University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga Program

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga offers a competitive three-year Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship that received initial accreditation from ACGME in January 2024. This fellowship will start accepting applicants to fill two positions at each level, expected to admit its first fellows on July 1, 2025. The program is structured to support aspiring pulmonary and critical care specialists through comprehensive training and academic development.

Key Leadership

The fellowship is led by Dr. Radhika Shah, a seasoned pulmonologist with expertise in medical education and critical care simulation. She is supported by Dr. Anne Mainardi, the Associate Program Director, who brings extensive experience in handling various pulmonary problems and inpatient care. The faculty's diverse expertise ensures a rich learning environment for fellows seeking comprehensive training in pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Clinical Training

The program emphasizes rigorous clinical training through core clinical rotations, ensuring that fellows gain foundational skills in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Major components of clinical training include:

• Pulmonary Consult Service: Fellows will provide consultations for various pulmonary diseases, becoming proficient in pleural procedures and management of complex respiratory conditions.
• Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU): The MICU features a high-acuity setting where fellows lead rounds, supervise residents, and execute critical care procedures. This rotation promotes collaborative care within a multidisciplinary team.
• Pulmonary Procedures Rotation: In this rotation, fellows conduct bronchoscopy under supervision, learning advanced procedures, including endobronchial ultrasound and specialized biopsy techniques.
• Neuro Critical Care and Cardiac Critical Care: Fellows partake in consultative and primary services, collaborating with specialists across neurological and cardiac disciplines.
• Pulmonary Outpatient Continuity Clinic: This clinic allows fellows to manage their own patient panel, experiencing a variety of pulmonary conditions in an outpatient setting.

Curriculum

Fellows follow a structured curriculum that includes boot camps on core topics in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, alongside didactic learning through various conferences tailored to develop important clinical reasoning skills. Key conferences include:

• Fellows’ Case Conference: An interactive platform for fellows to present clinical cases.
• Didactic Conference: Regular updates on current practices in the field.
• Internal Medicine Grand Rounds: Monthly sessions featuring advanced medical topics to broaden fellows’ knowledge.
• Thoracic Tumor Board: A multidisciplinary conference discussing thoracic oncology cases.
• Physiology Conference: Weekly discussions focusing on complex physiological concepts.

Research Opportunities

The fellowship promotes robust research participation, providing fellows with mentorship and resources for clinical research. Fellows can engage in various projects and are required to contribute to a Quality Improvement initiative. Recent research topics have included COPD management and diabetes control in ICU settings, ensuring fellows are well-versed in both clinical and translational research methodologies.

Visa Support

The program offers visa support for international medical graduates (IMGs) and can sponsor J-1 visas. This support is critical for ensuring a diverse cohort of fellows who can bring varied perspectives to the program.

Competitiveness

The fellowship is highly competitive and is structured to encourage a diverse applicant pool. It is conducive for both U.S. and international medical graduates, with no specific caps on failed STEP exams noted, allowing a broader range of candidates to apply.

Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed three years of an accredited internal medicine residency by June 30, 2025, and are required to apply through ERAS. The application includes CV, USMLE scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. A holistic approach is taken to evaluate candidates, assessing their experience, motivation, and teamwork abilities.