Our General Internal Medicine fellowship offers two training pathways—medical education and research. Fellows are prepared for successful careers in academic medicine or other similar settings.

Fellowship Experience

Our fellowship program provides the opportunity for physicians to gain the experience and expertise necessary to become successful clinician-educators, clinician-investigators, or leaders in quality improvement or operations.

We have numerous primary care and 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, and The Kirklin Clinic 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.

Medical Education Pathway

The Medical Education Pathway focuses on developing the next generation of clinician-educators. Your fellowship will be designed based on your interests and career goals with availability to train in the following areas:

• Medical Education Pedagogy & Scholarship

• Social Learning Theory

• Clinical/Bedside Teaching

• Small & Large Group Teaching

• Curriculum Development and Assessment

• Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

We offer clinical training opportunities in both inpatient and outpatient services at our university hospital, the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and our county health clinic, Cooper Green Mercy Health Services. Our medical education fellows interact with internal medicine residents and medical students during their clinical rotations and through our educational conferences.

Research Pathway Overview

Training and skill development is provided through seminars, journal clubs, didactic coursework, and individualized mentorship. Training is focused on the following areas, with an emphasis on the practical application of clinical and population health sciences methodology.

• Health Services Research

• Community Engagement

• Patient-Centered Outcomes

• Comparative Effectiveness

• Learning Health Systems

• Dissemination & Implementation Science

• Health Disparities and Health Equity

• Substance Use Disorders / Addiction

• Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention and Treatment

• Social Determinants of Health

Fellows who do not already have a master’s degree are encouraged to pursue a degree through the UAB School of Public Health or Collat School of Business. Other formal training opportunities include graduate certificates in areas such as mixed methods research, applied biostatistics and epidemiology.

How to Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by program leadership beginning October 1 of each year, and interviews are offered selectively. The Fellowship start date is July 1.

Are there work requirements to train at the VA?

UAB fellowship programs are fortunate to partner with the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Health Care System as a part of our training experience.

Am I Eligible Checklist: Please ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for training at the VA by accessing the “Am I Eligible Checklist.” Failure to be able to rotate at a major teaching location will, in most cases, result in a revocation of an offer to train, termination, or non-renewal of your GME Agreement.

Selective Service Registration: VA policy states that any male U.S. citizen who did not register for selective service before age 26 is not eligible to work at a VA, no exceptions. You can register for selective service or verify that you have already registered for selective service online with the U.S. Selective Service System.

What are the current vaccination requirements?

Vaccinations are required based on CDC recommendations for Health Care Workers including routine childhood vaccines, Hepatitis-B, COVID-19 and Influenza, except in the case of an approved exemption.

Applications should include:

• 1-2 page Letter of Interest

• Curriculum Vitae

Two letters of recommendation will be requested from applicants after initial application review.

Apply Now

Are there work requirements to train at the VA?

UAB fellowship programs are fortunate to partner with the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Health Care System as a part of our training experience.

• Am I Eligible Checklist: Please ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for training at the VA by accessing the “Am I Eligible Checklist.” Failure to be able to rotate at a major teaching location will, in most cases, result in a revocation of an offer to train, termination, or non-renewal of your GME Agreement.

• Selective Service Registration: VA policy states that any male U.S. citizen who did not register for selective service before age 26 is not eligible to work at a VA, no exceptions. You can register for selective service or verify that you have already registered for selective service online with the U.S. Selective Service System.

What are the current vaccination requirements?

Vaccinations are required based on CDC recommendations for Health Care Workers including routine childhood vaccines, Hepatitis-B, COVID-19 and Influenza, except in the case of an approved exemption.