FELLOWSHIPS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPLANT MEDICINE AND SURGERY
EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS
FELLOWSHIPS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPLANT MEDICINE AND SURGERY
As a leader in organ transplantation , the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute ( CTI ) takes seriously its role in saving lives and restoring patients ’ quality of life . But it ’ s also focused on training the next generation of transplant physicians and surgeons . management of kidney transplant patients and how to identify and treat kidney transplant complications . Fellows also learn from lectures , research projects with mentors , and case conferences . To date , there have been 41 graduates of the program .
EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS
Highlighted below are the five fellowship programs in transplantation , which provide fellows with the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of renowned teachers and mentors . These fellowships epitomize our dedication to excellence , innovation , and a bright future for organ transplantation .
• Arnold G . Diethelm Fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery This two-year fellowship provides training on kidney , liver , pancreas , and uterus transplants , as well as on deceased-donor organ recovery . Over the course of their fellowship , fellows complete as many as 200 kidney transplant cases , 100 liver transplant cases , 120 multi-organ recovery cases , as many as a dozen pancreas transplant cases , and two dozen hemihepatectomy cases . To date , there have been 19 graduates of the program .
• Transplant Hepatology Fellowship This one-year fellowship prepares GI and hepatology physicians to evaluate and treat candidates for and recipients of liver transplantation . Fellows round with transplant surgeons , care for inpatients with liver transplants , and are responsible for their own continuity clinic . To date , there have been five graduates of the program , two of whom now practice at UAB Medicine .
• Renal Transplant Fellowship This one-year fellowship offers those who have already completed two years of a nephrology fellowship the opportunity to become eligible for certification as a transplant physician . Fellows spend four months caring for kidney transplant patients admitted with medical issues and two months caring for postoperative kidney transplant patients . They also spend six months caring for outpatients , learning about long-term
• Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Fellowship This one-year fellowship is designed to train physicians who already have completed a cardiology fellowship . Fellows gain knowledge and experience in managing patients in the Heart Transplant ICU , as well as cardiology patients who are critically ill . Fellows do a deep dive into temporary mechanical circulatory support and ventricular assist devices , and they learn from UAB ’ s specialty programs , such as Cardio-Obstetrics and Cardio-Oncology .
• Pulmonary / Critical Care Fellowship This three-year fellowship encompasses wide-ranging opportunities for learning and practice . During their first 18 months , fellows have clinical rotations in several areas , including transplantation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( ECMO ). Fellows then spend six months on clinical electives and scholarly pursuits . During their third year , fellows work with a mentor on a research project or a clinical quality improvement project .
These five fellowship programs are designed to train fellows to become stellar clinicians and surgeons and empower them as leaders who will propel the field of transplantation . In addition to honing the skills of fellows in patient care , procedures , surgical techniques , organ procurement , immunosuppression , and rejection management , the CTI fosters a research-focused environment that drives innovation and paves the way for future breakthroughs .
By nurturing excellence , fostering leadership , and advancing research , these fellowships uphold the organization ’ s commitment to enhancing the lives of patients while reaffirming its role as a catalyst for progress in the field of transplantation . uabmedicine . org / refertransplant 9