Fellowship Program

The Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation maintains basic science and clinical research laboratories on the university’s Irvine campus, at the City Tower near the UCI Medical Center in Orange, and at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System.

During the program, fellows are expected to dedicate two months to active participation in research.

Given the diverse research interests of our faculty members, fellows are able to choose from a broad range of exciting research experiences.

The Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation has weekly educational activities designed to encourage the participation of faculty, fellows and community physicians. The conferences include clinical and basic science seminars about the pathophysiology of renal disorders.

Teaching conferences are as follows:

Weekly:

• Mondays, Nephrology Grand Rounds and practice-based learning and improvement conference (alternates between UCI Medical Center and the VA in Long Beach)
• Tuesdays, research seminar (VA)
• Tuesdays, Department of Medicine Grand Rounds (UCI Medical Center)
• Wednesdays, Journal Club/research conference/basic science lecture (UCI Medical Center)
• Fridays, Journal Club (VA)

Monthly:

• Wednesday, renal biopsy conference (UCI Medical Center)
• Dialysis quality assessment and program improvement (UCI Medical Center)

For more information on upcoming conferences, contact fellowship coordinator Jillian Meltebarger.

Most clinical, didactic and research experiences occur at UCI Douglas Hospital at UCI Medical Center in Orange, and at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. Outpatient dialysis training occurs at affiliated community dialysis centers.

Both medical centers have state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment modalities and offer all forms of dialysis in-house, including peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and continuous renal replacement therapies. Both serve multiethnic patient populations with a diverse range of medical disorders. UCI Medical Center has one of the fastest growing kidney transplant programs in California.

Fellows provide renal consultations for patients admitted to any of the hospitals’ clinical services. They also provide ambulatory patient services at outpatient clinics for chronic dialysis and chronic kidney disease at both medical centers, and consult on kidney transplant patients at UCI Medical Center.

Fellowship applicants must have:

• Completed a U.S. residency in internal medicine
• Board-certification or board-eligibility in internal medicine
• Proof of medical school graduation (original diploma)
• Proof of passing the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE).
• A California medical license prior to beginning the fellowship
• U.S. citizenship, permanent residency status or a valid J-1 visa.

Applicants with permanent residency or J-1 visa status also must provide current certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

The Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation accepts three new fellows every year. Applications will be accepted beginning in early July of each year through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

For questions about the application process, go to ERAS or call 215-966-3940.

Applications are reviewed from mid-July through the end of October. Interviews will be scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from August through October.

All applicants must be registered with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

Applicants are notified by email if they are selected for interviews. Match Day is scheduled annually by the NRMP.