The Division of Rheumatology at NYU Langone offers an extensive academic and didactic curriculum for our fellows consisting of core teaching conferences and several supplemental conferences. This constellation of conferences forms the educational backbone of our fellowship program and the academic activities of the division. These gatherings foster collegiality among fellows and faculty alike and enable everyone to keep abreast of a constantly evolving field and share ideas.

During your first fellowship year, you participate in multiple conferences, including but not limited to the Rheumatology Grand Rounds and Seminar Series, Rheumatology Journal Club, Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, Radiology Rounds, inpatient and outpatient case presentation conferences, and morbidity and mortality conference.

We suggest you participate in a personal scholarly activity during your first year. This may be a case report, review article, book chapter, or other similar accomplishment, or it may take the form of focused participation in a research project with one of our division’s clinical investigators.

During your second year, you continue to attend multiple conferences. In addition to the scholarly activity related to your research project, we encourage you to write and publish at least one case report, book chapter, review article, or similar project. We recognize obtaining foundation-level grant support for research, particularly for second-year fellows continuing on to a third year, as another scholarly activity.

Core Teaching Conferences

All fellows are required to attend core conferences. With the exception of the summer series, these conferences run from September through May.

Rheumatology Grand Rounds and Seminar Series

At the weekly Rheumatology Grand Rounds and Seminar Series, invited speakers present their clinical and basic science research or offer expert reviews of important topics in rheumatology. Fellows also have the opportunity to present their research at grand rounds and host small meet-the-professor sessions with invited speakers. Grand rounds are also open to rheumatologists and other medical professionals for continuing medical education credit.

The morbidity and mortality conference and the pathology conference are part of the Rheumatology Seminar Series. In the fall semester, first-year fellows present at one of these conferences. For this formal case presentation and discussion of a related topic, you prepare slides and include a literature review and, whenever possible, invite other medical professionals to present important case data. This is an exciting opportunity for you to begin developing expertise in a specific area.

Rheumatology Journal Club

Fellows and faculty attend a weekly journal club and present reports of the latest clinical and basic research data to the division for consideration and discussion. There are typically two presenters each week. As a fellow, you present about once a semester.

Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

We expect you, whenever it’s possible, to attend the Department of Medicine’s weekly grand rounds, which present speakers from all divisions within the department. As a division of the Department of Medicine, we typically host two to three speakers annually in the department’s grand rounds, and you must attend those sessions.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Case Conference

This weekly conference is an opportunity for the first-year fellow covering the inpatient consultation service at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue to present an interesting or challenging inpatient case to two faculty directors. The presented case is that of an in-house patient so that the group can convene at the patient’s bedside for examination.

Outpatient Case Conference

Held approximately once a month, the outpatient case conference allows you to present outpatient cases to a panel of experienced attending physicians and discuss outpatient management as well as diagnostic or treatment dilemmas.

Radiology Rounds

Usually held monthly, Radiology Rounds enable you to review X-rays and other imaging studies with a radiology attending. This is an important, high-yield opportunity for learning about bone and joint imaging.

Case Presentation and Systems-Based Practice Conference

The case presentation and systems-based practice conference includes classic case presentations of inpatient cases, reviews of musculoskeletal X-rays, and the “Musculoskeletal Minute,” a self-teaching session on soft tissue rheumatology. Attendance is mandatory for first-year fellows, and second-year fellows are encouraged to attend.

Didactic Series for Fellows

Typically held weekly, the didactic series for fellows addresses basic and advanced rheumatology, interdisciplinary topics relevant to rheumatologists, and basic and clinical science. Sessions vary and may include the Immunology Club, clinical research methodologies, a neurology–pathology interdisciplinary conference, and supplemental core lectures.

Fellows’ Medley

Held twice a week, this medley of fellow-focused small group sessions covers board review questions, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Continuing Assessment Review Evaluation questions and image library, reviews of published treatment guidelines, musculoskeletal ultrasound topics, an interdisciplinary musculoskeletal radiology conference, and other interdisciplinary conferences (e.g., Division of Maternal–Fetal Medicine interdisciplinary conferences). We also discuss practice management topics, quality improvement issues, supplemental clinical topics, and assorted other subjects.

Summer Series

This fellow-oriented course runs five mornings a week throughout July and August with lectures given by a wide range of NYU Langone clinical and research faculty. The purpose of the series is for first-year fellows to develop a solid knowledge of the core concepts that are necessary for the practice of rheumatology and for second-year fellows to solidify these concepts. Advance reading on the topics presented is strongly recommended. The summer series also includes workshops on joint and soft tissue procedures.

Supplemental Conferences

Rheumatology fellows are encouraged to participate in these additional valuable supplemental conferences.

Immunology Club

Immunology Club is the weekly research conference for the immunology section of the Department of Pathology. Prominent speakers present cutting-edge research, and rheumatology fellows planning to pursue additional research training should attend this conference in their second year.

Osteoporosis Study Group and Interdisciplinary Conference

At this monthly conference, attending physicians from several specialty areas present cases to each other and offer valuable insight into a challenging topic.

Other Educational Conferences of Interest

Rheumatology fellows are encouraged to attend our division’s continuing medical education courses and seminars, as well as these other conferences of interest:

• the Advances in Autoimmunity Symposium, sponsored by the Judith and Stewart Colton Center for Autoimmunity
• the Department of Medicine Research Day
• the Office of Science and Research’s research lecture series, which includes the Dean’s Lecture Series, Honors Program Lecture Series, and NextGen Stars Lecture Series

External Conferences

The ACR/APR Annual Meeting provides you with an outstanding educational and professional networking opportunity. The Division of Rheumatology makes every effort to coordinate your schedule so you can attend part or all of this meeting. First-year fellows generally attend at least a portion of the meeting, and second-year fellows usually attend the entire meeting.

Selected fellows may go to other away conferences according to their academic need, particularly in their second year. These may include ACR educational activities, such as the State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, Winter Rheumatology Symposium, and Rheumatology Research Workshop; the Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists training program; and the American Association of Immunologists Annual Meeting.