Pathways:

Two training pathways are offered.

The Clinical Pathway is a 2-year program, designed for fellows with an interest in a clinical practice career. For this pathway, approximately 15-18 months are clinical training, and 6-9 months are dedicated to research and scholarship.

The Research Pathway (Academic Physician Scientist) is designed for fellows with an interest in an academic career, with development of skills in education and research (either basic or clinical). This is a 3-year program, with approximately 12-14 clinical months and the remainder dedicated to research and scholarship. This track may be partially funded by a T32 NIH Fellowship Grant.

Clinical training

The clinical experience occurs primarily at University Hospital and the VAMC. Experience will be gained in acute and chronic hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, renal transplantation, renal biopsy, and continuous renal replacement therapy, as well as in the interpretation of renal pathology specimens and radiographs. The development of diagnostic skills in renal disease, and fluid and electrolyte disorders is of primary importance in the training program. The fellow will receive extensive experience in patient evaluation, diagnosis and treatment design.

In addition to inpatient responsibilities, the fellow will participate in the hypertension, transplantation and nephrology outpatient clinics of the division, and the outpatient chronic hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis programs. The fellow will be supervised by a faculty member on each rotation, and will be responsible for the supervision of house officers and medical students.

Research Training

Research training is the focus of the second and third years and is designed to develop the fellow’s ability to become an independent investigator or to enrich the fellow’s clinical investigation skills. With direction from the Division Head (David H. Ellison, M.D.), Fellowship Director (Sharon Anderson, M.D.), and Director of Fellowship Research (David Cohen, M.D.), the fellow will select an area of research interest and a faculty preceptor for accomplishing his or her research objectives. During research months, fellows will have limited clinical responsibility, usually consisting of a weekly outpatient clinic, continuity dialysis patients. The remainder of the fellow’s time is focused on research projects, and continued participation in the educational conferences of the division.

The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension has a large and diverse research program that includes clinical and basic science investigations.

Areas of research

• Progressive diabetic nephropathy
• Bartter's and Gitelman's syndromes and hereditary salt wasting
• Pathogenesis of edematous disorders
• Osmotic control of kidney cell function
• Fetal origins of adult hypertension and cardiovascular and renal disease
• Developmental regulation of angiotensin receptors
• Prevention and treatment of kidney transplant rejection
• Mechanisms of gender differences in perinatal programming for adult disease
• Molecular basis of hypertension (familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension)
• Depression and quality of life in ESRD patients
• Polycystic kidney disease

In addition to the aforementioned research components, an active Clinical Study group, comprising several study coordinators, all employed by the Division, assist nephrology investigative efforts.

Funding

Funding is provided by a variety of public and private sources, including an NIH Nephrology Training Grant. Other sources include the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and National Institute of Child Health & Human Development); VA Merit Review and Cooperative Studies research grant programs; American Heart Association (national and northwest affiliates); Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation; March of Dimes; industry; and other national and local research foundations.

Requirements

Applicants must have completed three years of postgraduate training in internal medicine prior to beginning the fellowship. Applications are judged on the basis of the applicant’s academic and clinical training record, recommendations of medical school and postgraduate training supervisors, and personal interviews with division faculty.

We are unable to sponsor J1 or H1B visas at this time.

Applications for the 2009 NEPHROLOGY fellowship program will be accepted ONLY through ERAS. See the website at: http://www.aamc.org/students/erasfellow/start.htm for information on applications and upload information.

We plan to participate in the national nephrology match, and will not accept applications outside the match except in special circumstances. Please contact our office if you wish to discuss special circumstances.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications will not be reviewed until all the required information is received. Incomplete applications will not be considered. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure applications are complete via ERAS. Phone inquires will not be accepted.

Application requirements:

1. Completed ERAS application
2. Personal statement
3. Letter of recommendation from:
• the Dean of the applicant's medical school — This IS REQUIRED not optional. Applications are not complete and will not be reviewed without the Dean’s letter, transcripts do not substitute. If you are a foreign graduate and have difficulty with a Dean’s letter, please email the information to nhfellow@ohsu.edu.
• the Director of the applicant’s internship program
• the Director of the applicant’s residency program
• any physician or medical scientist having special knowledge of the applicant’s ability or performance. TWO are REQUIRED, additional letters in this category are recommended.
4. All letters of recommendation should include beginning and ending dates of training.
5. ECFMG certificate is required, if applicable.
6. Board scores and transcript must be provided.
7. CELL PHONE and PAGER NUMBERS.

Candidates for interview will be contacted directly by our office. Email nhfellow@ohsu.edu with inquires. NO phone calls regarding application or interview status are accepted.