Fellowship Program Information
History
The long and rich tradition in endocrine-metabolic
research at Washington University School of Medicine can be traced to
the Nobel Prize-winning work of the late Drs. Carl and Gerti Cori. Among
their many trainees who rose to leadership positions in endocrine-metabolic
research were Drs. William H. Daughaday and David M. Kipnis, who
molded and lead the Metabolism Division, now known as the Division of
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, to prominence in the 1950s-1970s.
That tradition continues. The current endocrine-metabolic faculty is large
(numbering about 50 in the departments of Medicine and Pediatrics alone).
Their research and clinical interests are diverse, providing opportunities
for broadly based training. See
for more information.
Training
Up to four new postdoctoral fellows are accepted into the clinical and research fellowship program each year. The fellowship program is supported from diverse sources, including the Division’s NIH-funded training grant. Although the program is based in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, clinical and research training is provided by faculty from the entire Metabolism Group, and in some instances, from faculty in other divisions and departments of the School of Medicine. The number of strictly research fellows varies.
Perhaps best known for research training, our Program
consistently ranks among the top 10 in the nation. Research activities
are organized vertically, albeit with substantial collaboration within
the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism group and with faculty in other
clinical and pre-clinical departments. Clinical training is organized
horizontally. Fellows gain clinical experience through inpatient consultations
in Barnes-Jewish Hospital (about 1000 beds), a diabetes program, and general
outpatient clinic in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,
and in the clinics of the Division of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, the
Division of Atherosclerosis and Lipid Research, the Division of Endocrinology
and Metabolism in the Department of Pediatrics and the Reproductive Endocrinology
clinic in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
provides a rich environment for young investigators,
as well as established investigators who are expanding into new areas.
Clinical and research conferences are also organized across these groups.
The research and clinical experiences are supported further by the Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC) and the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). These multi-disciplinary centers are directed and utilized extensively by faculty of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. The DRTC, directed by Dr. M. Alan Permutt, includes clinical research, radioimmunoassay, mass spectroscopy, morphology, tissue culture, human islet and molecular biology cores, as well as a research-oriented behavioral/educational component. The GCRC, one of the oldest in the nation, provides inpatient and outpatient research space, research nurses and dietitians, a core laboratory, and a computer system with an array of software. The Mass Spectrometry Resource, directed by Dr. John Turk, provides additional research support.
In general, clinical training is distributed over the first two years of the fellowship. Thus, fellows become active in research training from the beginning. To complete research training, we consider a third (and in some instances a fourth) year of fellowship fundamentally important.
Clinical training includes inpatient and outpatient consultations. The inpatient consultation team – fellow, resident(s), student(s), and consultant – sees patients in Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Outpatient rotations include experiences in general endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism – consultation office with individual faculty members, fellows’ continuity clinic and VA endocrinology and metabolism clinic – as well as pediatric endocrinology and metabolism, bone health, lipid disorders, reproductive endocrinology and thyroid.
The Program's primary source of support is a National Institutes of Health Institutional National Research Service Award ("Training Grant"), now in its 33rd year of funding and recently renewed with full funding. This training program is one of the oldest and most successful NIH funded programs in the country. Only United States citizens or permanent residents are eligible for support from the Training Grant. However, other sources of support may be sought for highly qualified citizens of other countries.
To Apply
We will be accepting applications for the 2010 program, beginning
December 1, 2008 through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The website address is:
. Our program will be able to download applications for the 2010 training year on December 1, 2008 . When you register through ERAS be sure to include three letters of recommendation. One letter should be from the Chief of your clinical service or your thesis advisor. If you have had prior research experience, a letter from your former mentor is requested. A copy of your Dean's letter of recommendation for internship would be helpful.
Those individuals qualifying for our training program on the basis of academic accomplishment and proven clinical skills will be interviewed. The period of training is for not less than two years. Three years are strongly recommended. Appointments are generally made a year in advance.
Stipends
Stipends are determined by years of training after M.D. or Ph.D. degree in accordance with National Institutes of Health Guidelines. These are supplemented to match postdoctoral levels at Washington University.
