| Physical examination of the musculoskeletal system |
2 months dedicated to physical exam training with individualized assessment and feedback in July-August. |
| The use of pharmacotherapeutics for rheumatic diseases |
Work with our pharmacist to develop comprehensive didactics for all available rheumatic disease medications. |
| Critical thinking in differential diagnoses |
Weekly case conferences and interdisciplinary rounds with dermatology, pulmonary, nephrology, and pathology, as well as written clinical vignettes based on readings for rare rheumatic conditions (with individualized feedback). |
| Diagnostic synovial fluid aspiration and analysis |
Microscopy training and feedback throughout the fellowship. |
| Joint, bursa, and enthesis injections |
Including cadaveric joint injection training on a yearly basis. |
| Musculoskeletal ultrasound assessment |
Weekly hands-on training for joint regions, didactic pathology sessions, and feedback. Fellows participate in USSONAR and an additional musculoskeletal ultrasound workshop. |
| Nailfold capillary microscopy |
Practiced in clinic and through special seminars with access to videocapillaroscopy equipment. |
| Teaching experience |
Fellows develop over 25 didactic presentations yearly with individualized feedback. Second-year fellows also teach introduction to clinical medicine to medical students. |
| Clinical and/or basic science research |
Fellows conduct a research project with expectations of a major presentation or publication. They participate in the Research Accelerator, work with epidemiology teams, and receive training through journal club sessions. |
| Broad thinking in rheumatic diseases |
Learning opportunities with endocrinology (osteoporosis, bone disorders), genetics (Ehlers-Danlos, connective tissue disorders), amyloid clinic, pulmonary (sarcoidosis, ILD, PH, allergy, immunodeficiency). |
| Radiology interpretation |
Weekly sessions dedicated to interpreting radiographs, with access to a growing collection of over 2,000 images. |
