The Division of Nephrology at UAB offers a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Renal Transplant Nephrology that provides outstanding training to prepare physicians for a career in academic medicine or clinical practice. Graduates of our program will meet criteria to be a United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) certified Transplant Physician. We are certified by the AST Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Training Accreditation Program.

Fellowship Experience

Our program provides renal transplant training in a collaborative environment. We have a Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Specialty Clinic and our program is part of the 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.

We perform 250-350 kidney transplants a year. 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.

Clinical Rotations

Our fellowship is divided into 6-months in the inpatient service and 6-months of outpatient care and electives to enhance clinical exposure.

During inpatient rotations, fellows will participate in transplant nephrology inpatient service where they will manage a variety of medical problems including acute kidney injury, malignancies, opportunistic infections, and perform inpatient transplant biopsies. Fellows will also participate in the postoperative and consult service that focuses on the care of kidney, kidney-pancreas, and liver-kidney transplant patients, covering pre-operative evaluation, immunosuppression management, and postoperative complications.

On the outpatient side, fellows will evaluate prospective transplant recipients and donors, perform renal allograft biopsies, and see patients in the kidney-pancreas transplant clinic. Fellows also participate in a continuity clinic for long-term follow-up of transplant patients.

During elective rotations, trainees will participate in a mandatory two-week immune-histocompatibility lab rotation and chose additional training in areas such as aphaeresis, liver transplantation, transplant infectious diseases, renal pathology, and pediatric transplant nephrology. During this time, fellows are expected to work on a clinical research project with an aim to present at a national conference.

Teaching Conferences

Our training program is designed to provide our fellows with significant opportunities for teaching. Transplant fellows are expected to teach at nephrology fellow conferences and present at weekly transplant journal club. Multidisciplinary conferences include the Nephrology Research and Training Center Conference, the Renal Pathology Conference, the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, the Transplant Case Conference, the Transplant Journal Club, and the General Nephrology Fellows Noon Conference.

Research Training

Research is an essential part of our training program. Our fellows are required to find a mentor during the first four months of their fellowship and begin working on their projects during their fellowship. This time is spent meeting with leadership to discuss research opportunities and the fellow's long-term project interest.

Research may be in clinical or basic science projects depending on fellow interests. By the end 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.

Thank you for your interest in our Renal Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Program at UAB. Our program is a one-year program and requires at least two years of previous US ACGME-accredited training. The program supports H1B visa applicants and exceptional J1 visa applicants.

Requirements

• Completion of an ACGME-accredited US based Internal Medicine residency and the Nephrology fellowship

• Board Eligible or Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology

• US citizenship or permanent residency/green card or H1B/J1 visa

• Alabama State medical license, which must be obtained in advance of the start date of the Renal Transplant Nephrology Fellowship

Fellowship Application
To complete your application to our Renal Transplant Nephrology Fellowship, please submit the following documents:

• Completed Application Form

• Personal Statement

• Curriculum Vitae

• Medical School transcripts

• Medical School diploma

• Three letters of recommendation, including one from your nephrology fellowship program director.

• Certificate of ACGME-accredited residency training

• Certificate/verification of ACGME-accredited fellowship training (and anticipated graduation date, if applicable)

• A copy of all 3 USMLE STEP scores and/or COMPLEX score if applicable

• Valid ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions