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The Division of Rheumatology at UCI School of Medicine offers a highly competitive, two-year fellowship program that provides extensive clinical training in rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders.
The aim of our program is to train fellows to be excellent Clinical Rheumatologists, prepared to treat both complex and bread and butter Rheumatology cases across a diverse patient population, while possessing habits of life-long learning to build upon their knowledge, skills and profession.
The specific goals of our training program are derived from the Mission Statement: 1) clinical competence, 2) capable of working in a variety of settings, and 3) a life-long learner. These specific goals are further amplified as follows:
At the completion of the rheumatology fellowship training, the fellow should have mastered the following specific objectives as they pertain to each of the specific goals of the curriculum:
We are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
The program is based at UCI Medical Center, Orange County's only university medical center.
Division fellows receive in-depth clinical rheumatology experience in consultative hospital and outpatient care at the UCI Medical Center in Orange and its state-of-the-art UCI Douglas Hospital as well as at the VA Long Beach Health System. Fellows also train in pediatric rheumatology at CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County.
Rheumatology fellows spend two-thirds of their time in clinical training and the remainder in research. Mentored research opportunities include basic science or clinical research as well as clinical trials. Fellows get exposure and education in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and are encouraged to do the ACR USSONAR training course. Fellows are expected to present their work at regional or national Rheumatology meetings.
Didactic training includes:
Moonlighting as a rheumatologist is not permitted.
The 2023-2024 annual salary scale for Rheumatology fellows is:
Fellows receive full health benefits including medical, dental, and vision at no cost. These plans are designed to meet the needs of the fellows and their families.
Life insurance is provided at no additional cost to the fellow only.
Long-term disability insurance is offered at an additional cost through the University of California Regents.
Fellows also receive professional liability coverage for all activities that are part of the Rheumatology fellowship training programs.
Professional liability coverage for all activities that are part of the Rheumatology fellowship training program.
Fellows receive 28 days of vacation, 12 sick days, and 8 weeks paid parental leave (per PGY year).
Fellows and residents training at UCIMC are unionized. Union benefits are valid strictly from July 1 to June 30 each year of training. Funding is not rolled over year to year.
Below are the union benefits that apply to Rheumatology Fellows:
UCI School of Medicine Statement on the ACGME-accredited Residency and Fellowship interview season
The UC Schools of Medicine have reached consensus agreement regarding the residency and fellowship interview season: All interviews must be held remotely, even if the candidate lives locally. This policy is in alignment with guidance provided by the Coalition for Physician Accountability, which is composed of key national medical educational stakeholders, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), LCME, AAMC, AMA and the ACGME.
The UCI School of Medicine is supportive of this approach, because we must take into consideration the safety and well-being of applicants, physical restrictions and financial barriers to travel, and shifting shelter-in-place orders. To promote an equitable selection process, all applicants should have the same interview experiences and opportunities to interact with the program’s faculty and residents.
We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), which is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges. You can search for the University of California Irvine Rheumatology Fellowship Program by Accreditation ID: 1500521108. We also participate in the National Residents Matching Program (NRMP).
Fellowship candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency program. Applicants also must have:
Thank you for your interest in our program and we look forward to meeting you!
Michael Cheng, DO
Fellowship Program Director
For more information about the Division of Rheumatology's fellowship program, please contact:
Lanette Guerrero
Fellowship Program Coordinator
mlguerr1@hs.uci.edu