Pediatrics and Medicine Allergy-Immunology Fellowship Training Program

About Our Program

 

History

The allergy-immunology fellowship program was founded at the Medical College of Georgia, receiving approval on July 18, 1977, by Drs. Betty B. Wray and Chester T. Stafford. The program is known throughout the United States and in many parts of the world for excellence in patient care, excellence in academics and clinical research, and for training superb clinician-educators in the subspecialty of allergy-immunology. Most graduates of the program are actively engaged in community practice; some have volunteer, part-time, or full-time positions in academic medical centers.

Mission

The mission of the allergy-immunology fellowship program at MCG at Augusta University is to prepare specialists in allergy-immunology to provide excellent, expert medical care for patients of all ages with allergic and immunologic disorders, to be respected allergy-immunology consultants, clinician-educators, and to be self-directed lifelong learners staying abreast of developments in the field.

Vision

Graduates of this Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited 2-year training program are recognized as outstanding clinicians, consultants, and educators in the subspecialty of allergy-immunology. Graduates who have completed three years of training are also recognized as excellent physician-scientists in the field of allergy-immunology.

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Prerequisites for application for fellowship training

• The applicant must have successfully completed a program in internal medicine and/or pediatrics accredited by the ACGME or RCPSC by the time of beginning fellowship training. At present, we do not have a “research pathway” that under certain circumstances would allow people to enter fellowship after 2 years of residency.
• The applicant must also meet MCG institutional requirements for resident eligibility.
• Successful candidates will demonstrate preparedness for fellowship training, as well as ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, motivation, and integrity.
• The program does not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or any other applicable legally-protected status.
• The program uses the ERAS application system and the NRMP fellowship match.

The program

• This is a completely integrated pediatric and internal medicine program, providing experience with and progressive responsibility for patients of all ages throughout the entire fellowship.
• It uses a community practice model for scheduling, with 6-month rotation blocks.
• Fellows see patients, participate in clinical and/or bench research projects, make presentations at state, regional and national meetings, and publish articles in peer-reviewed journals and books.
• Within the division there has been major research emphasis on development of asthma in children, adverse drug reactions, allergic fungal sinusitis, allergen characterization, and education.
• Fellows are also encouraged to develop their own interests and projects, and may develop collaborative projects with other researchers on campus.

Duration and scope of education

• The length of the educational program is 24 months. This may be 24 consecutive months of education (which is the local norm), or (by special arrangement) time spread out over 36 months that includes a total of 24 months devoted to satisfying the program requirements. This latter option is for individuals interested in a career as a physician-scientist (generally, an extramurally-funded medical school faculty member). It requires that the fellow secure a funding source (e.g., extramural grant) for the extra 12 months of training, as well as specific approval by the MCG Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) and the ACGME allergy-immunology residency Review Committee (RC).
• Augusta also offers a Certificate Program and a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Translational Science that, with additional funding, could be undertaken in an extension of fellowship experience. 
• If for some reason the fellow cannot complete training in 24 months, an extension of training can be granted with GMEC approval, provided that there is available funding. If an extension of more than three months in the educational program is necessary, it will also be necessary to obtain written approval in advance from the allergy-immunology RRC.
• The program provides complete “cross-training” in the care of patients of all ages with specific competencies required in asthma, other allergic disorders, immunologic disorders, and immunodeficiency diseases (see below) in the care of both children and adults. Patients of all ages are seen in the 3rd floor Medical Office Building (MOB) site, as would commonly be the case in an allergy-immunology private practice. All faculty and fellows serve as inpatient consultants to all AUMC services (including pediatrics and internal medicine). In a given week, the fellow will see patients of all ages.
• In order to graduate from the program, fellows must demonstrate competencies in both children and adults with asthma, other allergic disorders, immunologic disorders, and immunodeficiency diseases.
• Over the 24 months of training, the fellow will spend at least 50% of time in direct patient care activities (outpatient and inpatient care, clinical case conferences, record reviews), at least 25% of time in research and other scholarly activities, and the remainder of time in other educational activities (including clinical and academic endeavors).
• The program has a substantial andragogic (self-directed, learner-centered) individual educational commitment, in preparation for life-long postgraduate learning.
• Electives are available in laboratory immunology (required), dermatology, rhinology (ENT), infectious disease (adult, pediatric or a combination), pulmonary medicine (adult, pediatric or a combination), rheumatology (adult, pediatric or a combination), and community-based practice. Other electives can be developed as the need arises. For an elective, the fellow establishes custom goals and objectives based on templates in this manual, and individual need.

Rotation in allergy-immunology for residents or medical students

• An elective in allergy-immunology is available to interested pediatric, internal medicine, otolaryngology residents who are in training at Augusta University.
• A space-available month-long elective in allergy-immunology is also possible for external pediatric and internal medicine residents in ACGME-accredited training programs at other institutions. If interested, please contact Ms. Joanie Fichtel, AI Program Administrator, for details well in advance of the anticipated elective timeframe.
• Fourth year medical students at MCG at Augusta University may also select a month-long elective in allergy-immunology.