The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at UAB offers postdoctoral fellowship training in Obesity Medicine for one year, providing outstanding clinical training preparing physicians for a career in academic medicine and/or clinical practice.

Clinical Rotations

The fellow is offered electives in several subspecialty clinics to broaden their clinical exposure. The training curriculum incorporates multiple subspecialty clinics, which can be customized to the fellow’s interests and career goals. Working one-on-one with multiple faculty members in different subspecialties provides a strong foundation and confidence in the treatment of obesity-related diseases and provides holistic care to people with obesity.

Weight Loss Medicine Clinic

Obesity Medicine Fellows must participate in five half-day sessions in the UAB Weight Loss Medicine Clinic as a mandatory clinical rotation. Each half-day session lasts four hours. The clinic helps patients with a desire to lose weight through medical oversight from physicians, FDA-approved medications when appropriate, and group visits. The multidisciplinary team includes physicians who are board-certified in obesity medicine as well as internal medicine and endocrinology working alongside registered dietitians, diabetes educators, and nurse practitioners. 

Pediatric and Adolescent Obesity Medicine/Eating Disorders

Obesity in children and adolescents is a complex, multifactorial, and treatable disease.The Pediatric and Adolescent Obesity elective offers fellow to gain experience in assessing and managing pediatric and adolescent obesity working with a multidisciplinary team. The elective will introduce fellow to clinical presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment approaches for eating disorders. The fellow gains experience working with multidisciplinary teams in managing patients with eating disorders.

UAB Behavioral Health

The UAB Behavioral Health elective focuses on the integral role of mental health in overall well-being and its interconnection with physical health. The elective provides a holistic understanding of psychological factors influencing obesity and cognitive behavioral therapy. The elective enhances fellow’s ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with patients with obesity, understandings their anxieties and emotional stressors.

UAB Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

UAB Medicine’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program has performed weight-loss procedures for over 30 years. It was the first American College of Surgeons Level 1 Bariatric Surgery Center in Alabama and is designated a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The fellow work with Bariatric surgeons and a multidisciplinary team. The elective offers an in-depth experience for the fellow in preoperative evaluation, understanding the surgical techniques, postoperative care, and longitudinal follow-up care.

UAB Sleep Medicine

UAB Sleep Medicine elective offers insight into the spectrum of sleep disorders associated with obesity. The elective offers fellow the chance to deepen their understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep disorders, diagnosis, and management of sleep disorders with a focus on obstructive sleep apnea. The elective covers multiple aspects of sleep medicine, including the pharmacology of sleep disorders and sleep surgery. The elective allows the exploration of sleep disorders in adults with obesity.

UAB Hepatology

UAB Hepatology elective offers fellow to work with hepatologists to enhance clinical knowledge and understanding of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The elective offers comprehensive experience in diagnosing, managing, and long-term care of patients with Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, including using imaging modalities and understanding the role of lifestyle modifications and pharmacological treatments.

UAB Advanced Diabetes Management (Outpatient)

UAB Advanced Diabetes Management elective provides structured experience in managing all types of diabetes and its complications and comorbidities, including hypertension and lipid disorders in adults. The Fellow learns about diabetes technology (CGM devices, insulin pumps, alternative insulin delivery devices, the role of social determinants of health related to diabetes and obesity, therapeutic lifestyle changes, and pharmacotherapy. The elective includes clinical experience, weekly didactics, and conference experience.

UAB Hypertension Clinic

The Hypertension Clinic Rotation at UAB provides an in-depth and comprehensive learning experience, focusing specifically on the complex aspects of hypertension, particularly within the context of obesity. The rotation offers a comprehensive learning experience focused on the multifaceted aspects of hypertension, particularly in the context of obesity. During this rotation, fellows will acquire extensive knowledge and practical expertise in diagnosing, treating, and managing hypertension over the long term. The curriculum covers a wide array of topics, including the pathophysiology of hypertension, the critical role of lifestyle interventions alongside pharmacotherapy, and the influence of social determinants of health on hypertension outcomes. The elective encompasses hands-on clinical experience in outpatient settings, weekly didactic sessions, and opportunities to participate in relevant conferences and seminars.

Endocrinology Clinic

UAB Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic Rotation is an elective that provides an excellent opportunity to learn from a variety of patient populations with a variety of endocrine and metabolic disorders, including thyroid disease, calcium disorders, secondary hypertension, hyperlipidemia, pituitary disorders, PCOS, metabolic bone disease, adrenal disorders.

Faculty/Fellow Inpatient Glycemic Service (FIGS)

Faculty/Fellow Inpatient Glycemic-control Service, also known as FIGS, is an elective rotation where an obesity medicine fellow has the opportunity to manage a diverse range of patients with hyperglycemia in the inpatient setting. This service is composed of 1 faculty member and two endocrinology fellows. The OM fellow experiences how medical treatments, medications, and acute illnesses impact blood glucose levels. The elective is available to obesity medicine fellow interested in inpatient diabetes management.

Teaching Conferences

Our training program is designed to provide our fellows with significant opportunities for teaching. Fellows are expected to teach our medical students and residents. Fellows participate in the obesity and nutrition module for teaching medical students. Fellows must present once during the weekly endocrinology grand rounds and two journal clubs during their training.

• OMFC monthly lectures

• TOS monthly Grand Rounds

• Obesity LIVE monthly virtual case conference

• Core Curriculum Obesity Lecture Series and Obesity Board review with clinical faculty and program director

• Diabetes Research Center lecture series

• Endocrinology Grand Rounds

• Endocrinology Journal Club 1-2 times per month

• Best Case of the Week conference – weekly interactive multidisciplinary discussion and opportunity to present interesting cases or diagnostic dilemmas.

Research Training

Research is also an essential part of our training program. The fellows meet with research mentors in the first month of training to identify a research mentor and participate in a research project based on interest. Research may be a clinical or transitional project depending on interest.  Fellows are expected to participate in Quality Improvement or Research projects during their one-year training. Quality Improvement is an opportunity for the fellow to help improve patient care in various obesity-related areas. Presentation of their research findings at regional or national scientific meetings is strongly encouraged.

Thank you for your interest in our Obesity Medicine Fellowship Program at UAB. Our program is a one-year program and requires three years of previous US ACGME-accredited training. The program sponsors H1B visas. 

Requirements

• Completion of an ACGME-accredited residency: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, OBGYN, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Preventive Medicine, or Psychiatry
• Board Eligible or Board Certified in completed specialty
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency/green card or H1B visa (the program can sponsor H1B visa)
• Alabama State medical license, which must be obtained in advance of the start date of the Obesity Medicine Fellowship