The Division of Nephrology at UAB offers a one-year ACGME-accredited postdoctoral fellowship in Renal Transplant Nephrology, providing outstanding clinical training preparing physicians for a career in academic medicine and/or clinical practice.

Fellowship Experience

Our program provides solid renal transplant training in a collaborative environment. We have specialty clinics across our medical campus, which is anchored by our 1,200 bed inpatient center UAB Hospital—the eighth largest public hospital in the nation. The hospital is in close proximity to the Birmingham VA Medical Center, UAB Hospital Highlands campus, The Kirklin Clinic, and Children's Hospital of Alabama where fellows also train.

Patients come from all over the state to take advantage of our life-changing care, offering a diverse population and breadth of clinical learning opportunities. We approach medicine in a multi-disciplinary modality across a broad variety of endocrine-related conditions through mandatory and elective rotations. We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service.

Clinical Rotations

Our fellowship offers unique electives in various subspecialty clinics to enhance clinical exposure.

During inpatient rotations, fellows will participate in a four-month transplant nephrology service where they will manage a variety of medical problems including acute kidney injury, malignancies, opportunistic infections, and perform inpatient transplant biopsies.

They will also participate in a two-month postoperative and consult service that focuses on the care of kidney, kidney-pancreas, and liver-kidney transplant patients, covering pre-operative evaluation, immunosuppression management, and postoperative complications.

On the outpatient side, fellows assess prospective transplant recipients and donors, and perform renal allograft biopsies. Fellows also participate in a continuity clinic for long-term follow-up of transplant patients.

During elective rotations, trainees will participate in a mandatory two-week immune-histocompatibility lab rotation and chose additional training in aphaeresis, liver transplant service, transplant infectious diseases, renal pathology, and pediatric transplant nephrology. During this two-to-three month rotation, fellows will be expected to work on a clinical research project with an aim to present at a national conference.

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. Multidisciplinary conferences include the Nephrology Research and Training Center Conference, the Renal Pathology Conference, the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, the Transplant Case Conference, and the General Nephrology Fellows Noon Conference.

Research Training

Research is an essential part of our training program. Our fellows are required to find a mentor during the first four months of their fellowship, and begin working on their projects during their first year. This time is spent meeting with leadership to discuss research opportunities and the fellow's long-term project interest. Research time increases significantly during the second and third years of training.

Research may be in clinical or basic science projects depending on fellow interests. By the end of the second year of training, our fellows are expected to prepare their research findings and submit them for publication. Presentation of their research findings at regional or national scientific meetings is strongly encouraged.

Thank you for your interest in our Renal Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Program at UAB. Our program is a one-year program and requires at least two years of previous US ACGME-accredited training. The program supports qualified J1B and H1B visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• Completion of an ACGME-accredited residency: Internal Medicine residency and the Nephrology fellowship

• 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 Renal Transplant Nephrology Fellowship

Fellowship Application
To complete your application to our Renal Transplant Nephrology Fellowship, please submit the following documents:

• Completed Application Form

• Personal Statement

• Curriculum Vitae

• Medical School transcripts

• Medical School diploma

• Medical School dean's letter

• Three letters of recommendation, including former nephrology training program director

• Certificate of ACGME-accredited residency training

• Certificate/verification of ACGME-accredited fellowship training (and anticipated graduation date, if applicable)

• A copy of all 3 USMLE STEP scores and/or COMPLEX score if applicable

• Valid ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions