The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Maryland Medical Center have enjoyed a long relationship of jointly training fellows. Our University of Maryland PCCM Fellowship NIH/NHLBI Track was formed in July 2015, and one position is offered through the NRMP each year. This track prepares fellows to become successful physician-scientists and/or clinical investigators at academic medical centers.

Research Training

The curriculum is designed to have fellows complete all their required clinical training at the UMMC, Baltimore VA Medical Center, and Shock Trauma Center in the first 18 months of their 3-year fellowship. This is followed by 18 months of research in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at NIH in Bethesda, MD under the supervision of Amisha V. Barochia, MBBS, MHS.

The program transitions fellows from competent clinicians to emerging physician-scientists by giving them 18 months of protected time in a research-rich environment. In addition, the NIH/NHLBI has the option to appoint the fellow for an additional fourth year of fully supported training as a research fellow to continue their mentored research and prepare either for the submission of a Career Development Award for NIH extramural funding or an Associate Clinical Investigator award for NIH intramural funding. All fellows in this track thus far have opted for the 4th year.

This collaborative track would enable fellows to be superbly trained clinically and given a solid foundation in research in pulmonary diseases to pursue careers as physician-scientists.

Useful Links

The following table is a representation of our rotation curriculum for the NIH/NHLBI track. There are 13 four-week blocks per year. One block is for vacation each year.

Sample Curriculum

Rotation Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
UMMC MICU 3 blocks 1 block -
UMMC Pulmonary Consults 2 blocks - -
UMMC Critical Care Anesthesia 1 block - -
UMMC Interventional Pulmonology 1 block - -
UMMC Lung Transplant 1 block - -
VA MICU/Consults 2 blocks - -
NIH Pulmonary Consults 1 block

1 block

-
Pulmonary Electives .5 block Chest Radiology 2 blocks -
Non-Medical ICUs .5 block CC Ultrasound 2 blocks -
Research @ NIH (Bethesda, MD) - 6 blocks 12 blocks
VA Pulmonary Clinic 1/2 day weekly 1/2 day biweekly 1/2 day monthly
Center for Pulmonary Health Clinic - 1/2 day biweekly 1/2 day once or twice weekly