Rheumatology & Immunology Fellowship Program

The goal of the Rheumatology Fellowship Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is to provide strong training in clinical rheumatology, research investigation, and in developing the fellow as a teacher.

Clinical Training

Clinical training is accomplished with an emphasis on outpatient rheumatology.  Rheumatology fellows see patients in several outpatient settings including Rutledge Tower, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (VAMC), and MUSC's Specialty Care West Ashley. Rheumatology fellows gain exposure both to adults and children with rheumatic diseases. Each fellow has continuity clinics in these locations which meet weekly and the patients are seen under the supervision of faculty rheumatology attendings. Inpatient rheumatology consultations are seen at University Hospital, MUSC's Children's Hospital, Ashley River Tower, and at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

The Rheumatology Fellowship program uses the MUSC Medical Center as the teaching hospital. The MUSC Medical Center currently has 709 licensed beds in four inpatient facilities:University Hospital, Ashley River Tower, MUSC Children's Hospital, and the Institute of Psychiatry Outpatient Rheumatology training occurs at Rutledge Tower, MUSC Health West Ashley, MUSC Health East Cooper and the VAMC. There are more than 10,000 outpatient visits in the rheumatology clinics per year. Fellows gain a broad exposure to clinical, general rheumatology, including pediatric rheumatology, through both outpatient and inpatient responsibilities as well as areas of particular clinical emphasis which include:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Scleroderma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Vasculitis

Research

Each rheumatology fellow participates in a research project during the course of fellowship training. Each fellow identifies a faculty mentor early in the first year of training and works closely with this faculty mentor on a clinical or basic science research project. The fellow is involved in the project design and Internal Review Board approval process. Rheumatology fellows also are given the opportunity to participate in clinical trials that are ongoing in the Division of Rheumatology. 

Education

Rheumatology fellows participate in several areas to enhance their skills as teachers. The fellows serve as the teaching fellow on a monthly rotational basis and are responsible, in conjunction with a teaching attending, for the weekly rheumatology division rounds. The teaching fellow participates in informal didactic teaching sessions with the medical students and internal medicine house staff rotating on the rheumatology service. The rheumatology fellows are given the opportunity to present their research at the local, regional, and/or national level.

Rheumatology fellows attend conferences on a regular basis which include both weekly and monthly conferences. The weekly conferences are Rheumatology Division Grand Rounds and Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. Other conferences include Pathology conference, Radiology conference, Radiology tutorial conference, Professors’ rounds, Basic Science conference, Carolina Fellows’ Conference, and Journal Club. Other opportunities available to rheumatology fellows include utilizing a three-year training period to enhance training as a research fellow and/or to obtain a Masters in Clinical Research. These opportunities are available and require specific discussion and planning with the rheumatology division.

More information on fellowship training is available on the American College of Rheumatology website.

Fellowship Training Application Form

Rheumatology at MUSC participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the national match process. The application is available online and three letters of recommendation, as well as all application materials, can be submitted online. Any questions should be directed to the Fellowship Coordinator at muscrheumfellowship@musc.edu.

All correspondence should be directed to the Fellowship Director:

Dr. Faye Hant
96 Jonathan Lucas Street
Suite 822, MSC 637
Charleston, SC  29425