In our comprehensive fellowship program, you will receive a broad range of hands-on clinical experience and individualized instruction from nationally-known physicians and investigators in a collegial environment.

Fellowship Experience

Our program provides critical care medicine training in a collaborative environment, to include a unique blend of clinical training and clinical-and-laboratory-based research. Fellows have access to our busy ICU service with cross-training in surgical, cardiac, and neurology intensive care settings. 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 pulmonary and critical care medicine conditions through mandatory and elective rotations. We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service.

Clinical Training

Fellows in our program can observe in the Lung Transplantation Program and gain exposure to advanced techniques through our Interventional Bronchoscopy Program. Our Advanced Lung Disease Service, one of the busiest ECMO providers in the nation, offers clinical and research opportunities in environmental medicine, COPD, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, mycobacterial infections, and lung cancer. Additionally, our NIH-funded T32 Training Program in Lung Biology and Translational Medicine supports 2-3 years of post-doctoral training, and our division maintains a biospecimen repository and clinical database for fellow-initiated research projects.

Our division has transitioned to four medical intensive care unit teams, with two teaching and two non-teaching services. Fellows in the ICU will rotate through transfer and admission responsibilities weekly. Those assigned to the University Hospital Consultation Services lead the team, manage patient care, perform bronchoscopies, and supervise residents. Additionally, fellows will learn advanced endoscopic procedures, such as Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), under the guidance of our faculty and Interventional Pulmonary Fellow.

Teaching Conferences

Our Nuts and Bolts conferences are designed to give the foundation of Pulmonary and Critical Care clinical knowledge. Fellows will learn the basics of asthma, COPD, ILD, respiratory failure, sepsis, and the full breadth of Pulmonary and Critical Care medicine.

In our Medical Grand Rounds, UAB Faculty and visiting professors present on topics of clinical relevance and cutting edge research. Third-year Fellows, especially those in the Physician Scientist Track, are expected to present their research results in a one-hour session towards the second half of their third year.

The Interstitial Lung Disease Multidisciplinary Conference is a working conference where cases are presented for diagnostic and management considerations. Fellows are encouraged to bring their own ILD cases from clinic or inpatient rotations for discussion.

The Mortality and Morbity conference is presented monthly and is designed to update our fellows and faculty on outcomes data from our inpatient services.

Our thoracic tumor board aims to answer clinical questions regarding diagnosis and management of patients with thoracic malignancies. The tumor board is led by our IP team and is attended by thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists.

Research Opportunities

Research is an essential part of our training program. Our fellows are required to find a mentor during the first four months and begin working on their projects during their first year. This time is spent to discuss research opportunities, followed by meetings with selected faculty members offering long-term projects of interest to the fellow.

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. Many fellows seeking a career in basic science may be eligible for further training under our NIH-funded T-32 Training Program in Lung Biology and Translational Medicine.

Our NIH-funded T32 Training Program in Lung Biology and Translational Medicine supports 2-3 years of post-doctoral training. Our division maintains a biospecimen repository and a clinical database to support fellow-initiated research projects.

The Clinical Scholar Track is designed for fellows who wish to pursue a career in academics with a focus on teaching and clinical care, and for those who plan to enter private clinical practice. Fellows on this track will complete 22-30 months of clinical time with 6-14 months protected for research.  Fellows on the Clinical Scholar Track are required to complete a scholarly project. This project can be a research, quality improvement, educational, or clinically-based project, with a tangible outcome such as an abstract, manuscript, review, curriculum, or new process.

The Physician Scientist Track is designed for individuals who have an interest in pursuing an academic career focused on research. It is anticipated that the trainee will complete 18 months of clinical time and have up to 18 months to devote to research.  Fellows may pursue basic, translational, or clinical research projects; but each project must be under the direction of an established mentor.  Many fellows in this track may be eligible for further training under our NIH-funded T-32 Training Program in Lung Biology and Translational Medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions