Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Fellowship Program

Mission Statement

The mission of the Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Fellowship program of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine is to prepare highly-qualified physicians for careers in academic or clinical endocrinology. With our outstanding faculty and facilities and our comprehensive curriculum, we aim to provide fellows with exceptional clinical training and research experience. The goal of the program is to provide comprehensive and evidence-based clinical training and experience, and to provide in-depth research training opportunities within a broad range of clinical, translational, and basic research domains. The breadth and strength of research opportunities across the Northwestern campus, coupled with the strong atmosphere of collaboration among and within the different divisions, is a major strength of our research program. Through our comprehensive Core Curriculum, we provide didactic teaching that focuses on multidisciplinary patient care and covers all core endocrine topics including physiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, therapy, genetics and molecular biology of endocrine disorders. The practicum components of our Core Curriculum additionally provide practical clinical experience in the major subspecialty areas housed within endocrinology. With the mentorship and guidance of faculty who model clinical excellence, scholarship, and professionalism, we aim to train and educate a diverse group of endocrinologists who will acquire and incorporate new knowledge into practice, and use this training to educate future generations of endocrinologists. 

Program Aims

The Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Fellowship program of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is a two-year training program which provides fellows with the opportunity to acquire the medical knowledge, procedural skills, interpersonal and communication skills, professional qualities, and practical experience to become independent and highly-skilled endocrinologists. While enrolled in the fellowship, fellows have the opportunity to develop basic or clinical research projects under the mentorship of Endocrine faculty. The Endocrinology Fellowship program aims to prepare fellows for successful careers in clinical endocrinology, as well as for individuals interested in becoming physician-scientists in basic or clinical research.  Many of our recent graduates are now in junior faculty positions at academic institutions throughout the country, and we make every effort to continue this tradition.

The Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Fellowship program trains fellows to become highly competent in caring for patients with a broad range of endocrine disorders. The fellows receive formal instruction, clinical experience, and opportunities to develop expertise in the evaluation and management of patients with a broad range of conditions and stages of illness. The different rotations provide fellows with exposure to patients with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and to the complexities surrounding health care resources and delivery.

Fellows are mentored in both the clinical and research settings by faculty members who serve as role models in clinical care, professionalism, and research. The fellowship program emphasizes the importance of professionalism, humanistic qualities, and compassionate medical care. Faculty mentors provide fellows with a thorough introduction to clinical endocrinology and research methodology.  Our faculty is enthusiastic about its teaching mission and is committed to providing the best possible fellowship experience.

A formal and comprehensive Endocrinology Core Curriculum provides fellows with didactic teaching covering all major domains of clinical endocrinology, instruction regarding fundamental skills in the critical appraisal of scientific literature, and exposure to practical topics and skills in clinical endocrine practice.  A comprehensive reading list covering core endocrine topic areas is updated annually and available to the fellows electronically via a Northwestern-supported file sharing service, and targeted readings for each didactic session assist the fellows in achieving the goals and objectives of each session.

Input and feedback from fellows is encouraged and continually integrated into the program in an effort to maximize the learning experience. Fellows are expected to be active participants and partners in fostering a climate of academic excellence and outstanding patient care.

Further program details, including our housestaff manual, are available on our McGaw Medical Center Graduate Education site. Likewise, we recommend reading through our FREIDA listing (program number 1431621060).  The program consists of compulsory two-year training, followed by a research year that is contingent upon performance and funding.  The program meets the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements for board eligibility in endocrinology.

The clinical training program is based at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), Northwestern Medical Group, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (VA) and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Collectively, they form the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. NMH is an 894-bed academic medical center hospital that is the primary teaching affiliate for the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. NMH is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Chicago and Illinois and as No. 10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. NMH is recognized for providing exemplary patient care and innovative advancements in a variety of clinical areas, including cardiovascular care, oncology, neurology and neurosurgery, solid organ and soft tissue transplants, orthopedics, and women’s health at Prentice Women’s Hospital within Northwestern Memorial. The NIH-supported Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) provides essential infrastructure, resources and services to scientists at Northwestern University. Lurie Children's Hospital serves as a major referral center for pediatric patients.

The first year of the fellowship focuses primarily on clinical training. During the first year, fellows rotate on the inpatient endocrinology consult service, have a continuity general endocrine clinic, rotate in the VA outpatient endocrinology clinic, and rotate through various subspecialty rotations. The continuity outpatient clinic continues during the second year. Second-year fellows continue to rotate through various subspecialty clinics and the VA outpatient endocrinology clinic, as well as the inpatient consultation service.

Subspecialty clinics are an integral part of the training program. They include:

• Thyroid ultrasound and fine needle aspiration
• Bone health
• Continuous glucose monitoring
• Pediatric endocrinology
• Diabetes in pregnancy
• Thyroid cancer
• Pituitary disorders
• Adrenal disorders
  
• Lifestyle medicine/weight management
• Lipid disorders
• Female reproductive endocrinology
• Transgender medicine

All fellows are assigned a faculty research mentor early in fellowship. Core Faculty Mentors for the Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism fellows, from both the Endocrine Division as well as collaborating Divisions and Departments across the greater Northwestern research community, mentor our fellows on a diverse range of clinical and basic research projects.  The breadth and strength of research opportunities across the Northwestern campus, coupled with the strong atmosphere of collaboration among and within the different Divisions, is a major strength of our research program. During the first and second years, fellows are committed to clinical or laboratory research projects during the time that they do not rotate on the inpatient endocrine consult service. 

The faculty in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine include innovative scientists who have established programs at the forefront of investigation in metabolism and energetics.  For example, the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome study seeks to advance knowledge on the relationship between maternal glycemia and maternal-fetal risks. This massive research initiative has spanned over two decades and has involved thousands of pregnant women at 16 sites worldwide.  With a strong commitment to excellence in patient-centric research, our faculty are leading the way in clinical investigation and are making significant contributions to bridging gaps between bedside and bench science.

Among the basic science laboratories, there is a current focus on investigating the regulation of metabolism by circadian rhythms, islet cells function and the genetics of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.

NUPEDHA

For qualified fellows who wish to further pursue research during the third year of training, the Northwestern University Program in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hormone Action (NUPEDHA) provides fellows with support for research training and protected research time (75 percent). The NUPEDHA is mentored training program sponsored by an institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (Grant # 5T32 DK007169) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The purpose of this program is to train scientists and physicians who can make scientific discoveries and apply these discoveries to the prevention and treatment of diseases in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. For over 30 years, NUPEDHA has supported graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at Northwestern University, providing trainees access to an outstanding group of program mentors and valuable career development resources. Find more information about NUPEDHA.

Core educational conferences are integral to the Endocrinology training program. They include:

Core Didactic Curriculum: Mondays, 1 to 2 p.m.

Didactic lectures covering all core endocrine topics including physiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, therapy, genetics, and molecular biology of endocrine disorders are presented by key faculty from endocrinology and selected faculty from other disciplines. Targeted assigned readings from the primary literature accompany each lecture to broaden the fellows’ exposure to foundational endocrine literature. In addition, a comprehensive reading list covering core endocrine topic areas is updated annually and available to the fellows electronically via a Northwestern-supported file-sharing service.

Research Conference (Endocrinology Seminar Series): Thursdays, 5 to 6 p.m. (biweekly)

Local, regional, and national experts are invited to present recent research findings.   

Clinical Case Conference: Thursdays, 5 to 6 p.m. (biweekly)

Fellows present recent cases from the inpatient consultation service or outpatient clinics, and a multidisciplinary high-risk thyroid cancer tumor board is held monthly. The fellows present cases and discuss management questions with the faculty of the Division of Endocrinology.

Endocrine Practicum Series: Select Mondays, 12 to 1 p.m.

Fellows are exposed to select practical topics in clinical endocrinology, including diabetes technology (insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring), DXA interpretation, and thyroid biopsy.

Journal Club: Select Mondays, 12 to 1 p.m.

Research faculty facilitate critical reviews of current studies and teach fundamental skills in critical appraisal of scientific literature.

Wellness Curriculum: Select Mondays, 12 to 1 p.m.

Seminars focusing on varying aspects of personal and professional wellness for Endocrinology fellows.

Health Equity Curriculum: Select Mondays, 12 to 1 p.m.

Fellows receive endocrine-specific education in social determinants of health via active learning modules, didactics, and readings.

Board Review Series: Monthly, Mondays 12 to 1 p.m.

Endocrine board review sessions are held monthly using an interactive format.

Summer Boot Camp: Daily for two weeks in July

Faculty present focused lectures targeting core endocrine emergencies and basic endocrine management skills.

Fellows are offered support to attend a national conference annually.

• Ron T. Ackermann, MD, MPH
• Grazia Aleppo, MD
• Grant D. Barish, MD
• Joseph T. Bass, MD, PhD
• Lisa Beutler, MD, PhD
• Christina E. Boots, MD
• Mercedes Carnethon, PhD
• Kasey Coyne, MD
• Dina M. Elaraj, MD
• Allison J. Hahr, MD
• Wenyu Huang, MD, PhD
• Kristen L. Knutson, PhD
• Jelena Kravarusic, MD, PhD
• Robert F. Kushner, MD
• William L. Lowe, Jr., MD
• Clara Bien Peek, PhD
• Cord Sturgeon, MD
• Emily D. Szmuilowicz, MD
• Margaret Urbanek, PhD
• Amisha Wallia, MD
• Jeffrey Weiss, PhD

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism fellowships are offered to MDs who have completed at least two years of postgraduate training in internal medicine in an ACGME-accredited program.  All applicants are expected to be board eligible in internal medicine when beginning the fellowship.  This implies that a physician must have completed the requisite pre-doctoral medical education, meet the postdoctoral training requirements, and demonstrate clinical competence in the care of patients. It is expected that all Endocrinology fellows will have passed USMLE steps 1, 2, and 3 as requirements of training.  In addition, applicants must be eligible for an unrestricted Illinois medical license.  Eligibility for the National Institutes of Health T32 training grant that supports most fellows during the research years requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status.   Applicants holding J-1 visas will be considered for the 2-year clinical track, but only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for positions on the T32 training grant and for a third year of fellowship.    Applicants holding H-1B visas will not be considered.  Non-US citizens who are entering a Northwestern ACGME-accredited training program are required to obtain visa sponsorship prior to beginning their program.

The program meets and exceeds the requirements for board eligibility in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.

Core Requirements of Endocrinology Fellowship

I. Patient Care and Procedural Skills:

1. Outpatient general endocrinology continuity clinic (one half day per week)
2. Outpatient VA continuity clinic (two fellows per week; one in two weeks averaged over the two years of fellowship)
3. Rotation through subspecialty outpatient clinics (up to three half-days per week in addition to the continuity clinics above when not rotating on the inpatient endocrinology consult service)
4. Clinic sessions include 4-5 hours of patient care, completion of visit notes/documentation, and providing results interpretation/recommendations to patients in a timely manner after discussion/review with supervising attending preceptors.  If a fellow cannot attend a required clinic outside of the ACGME-specified vacation weeks, the clinic must be rescheduled for another date with the approval of the faculty preceptor.
5. Manage the inpatient endocrine consult service, with attending supervision and guidance, for 18-24 weeks (typically 18 weeks per year, subject to modification) in the first year and 8-14 weeks (typically 8 weeks, subject to modification) per year in the second year.  All inpatient rotations include required weekend and evening/overnight call.  Consult service hours typically require 10-11 hours per day, and must be less than 11.4 hours per day on average (<80 hours per week) when averaged over 4 weeks, to include patient care, documentation, communication with consulting teams, and answering pages from the consult pager (fellows are required to log work hours on New Innovations).  When prespecified criteria are met, the consult service is divided between the primary inpatient fellow and the fellow assigned as the back-up inpatient fellow.
6. Perform endocrine-specific history and physical exam for patients evaluated in outpatient clinic assignments and inpatient rotations
7. Learn to order and interpret endocrine-specific diagnostic tests.
8. Learn to prescribe and assess response to pharmacotherapy in managing endocrine conditions.
9. Learn to perform endocrine-specific procedures (thyroid biopsy, continuous glucose monitoring, DXA interpretation) and consistently attend subspecialty clinics which provide instruction in above procedures
10. Provide outpatient and inpatient consultations, respond to consulting providers with assistance in inpatient and outpatient settings, recognize disease acuity, provide recommendations to primary team/consulting provider, convey consultative assessment, rationale, and contingency plans to health care team members, mobilize resources to provide care in high- acuity situations; all of the above performed under attending supervision and with ongoing communication with attending preceptor

II. Medical Knowledge:

1. Synthesize and discuss with supervising attending clinical questions to guide evidence-based care
2. Locate and apply evidence to the care of patients with common conditions
3. Critically appraise conflicting or ambiguous evidence to guide patient care
4. Seek feedback and demonstrate receptiveness to feedback regarding the care of patients
5. Modify care based on feedback and establish personal and professional goals based on gaps in knowledge and skills
6. Create and implement individualized learning plans, use performance data to assess the effectiveness of the learning plan, and improve learning plans when necessary

III. Practice-based Learning and Improvement:

1. Synthesize and discuss with supervising attending clinical questions to guide evidence-based care
2. Locate and apply evidence to the care of patients with common conditions
3. Critically appraise conflicting or ambiguous evidence to guide patient care
4. Seek feedback and demonstrate receptiveness to feedback regarding the care of patients
5. Modify care based on feedback and establish personal and professional goals based on gaps in knowledge and skills
6. Create and implement individualized learning plans, use performance data to assess the effectiveness of the learning plan, and improve learning plans when necessaryIV

IV. Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

1. Establish therapeutic relationships with patients using active listening and clear language
2. Independently use shared decision making to make personalized care plans
3. Communicate information and provide feedback to all health care team members concerning the clinical care/treatment provided to patients.
4. Use input from all team members to build consensus and resolve conflicts as needed with respect to the clinical care/treatment to provide patients.
5. Accurately record current and relevant information in the patient's chart
6. Document diagnostic and therapeutic reasoning

V. Systems-based Practice:

1. Identify and report patient safety events using the institutional reporting system
2. Use knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and metrics to analyze the factors that contributed to a patient safety event
3. Identify opportunities for quality improvement projects and participate in quality improvement projects
4. Transition and coordinate care of patients between different fellows, communicate regularly with attending preceptor regarding patient changes in clinical status and to assess whether changes in care plan are needed based on patients’ clinical courses
5. Consider how health care disparities impact patient care and ways to reduce disparities

VI. Professionalism:

1. Consistent attendance at required outpatient and inpatient rotations
2. Consistent attendance and participation at weekly required didactic sessions
3. Consistent attendance and participation at weekly divisional educational conferences
4. Consistent attendance at all required individual and group fellowship meetings
5. Demonstrate ethical behavior.
6. Demonstrate professionalism in interactions with patients.
7. Perform all requested administrative tasks and responsibilities with attention to detail and with completion within the requested timeframe.
8. Recognize status of well-being in oneself or peers and develop a plan to improve well-being of oneself or peers, including use of institutional or external resources
9. Fellow must strive for excellence in all aspects of patient care and teaching. Fellows must be familiar with and adhere to all of the Endocrinology training program's policies, as well as the Conduct and Responsibilities policies of McGaw, other policies of McGaw, and the policies of any McGaw member hospital.
10. Fellows must have a valid Illinois medical license.

VII. Progressive advancement in training: The fellow must demonstrate satisfactory development of the knowledge and skill needed to advance in the training program per the Clinical Competency Committee.  The fellow must demonstrate a learning trajectory that anticipates the achievement of competency for unsupervised practice that includes the delivery of safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care.

The Division of Endocrinology participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We do not accept any paper applications. For more information about ERAS, consult the ERAS website. In addition to ERAS, we also participate in the National Residency Match Program for applications. For more information, including deadlines, visit the National Resident Matching Program site.

We have committed to conducting all applicant interviews virtually for the 2025-26 recruitment cycle (including local applicants), consistent with the Recruitment Recommendations from the Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (APDEM) Fellowship Recruitment Committee.

While we preferentially review applications from those who signal our program, we also consider other factors in an applicant’s portfolio in making a decision on extending an interview invitation.

Housestaff training through McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University provides diverse and challenging clinical experiences and world-class education located in the heart of the beautiful city of Chicago. Learn more via the links to the McGaw website below.

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