Renal Transplant
 Fellowship Program

The Carlos and Marguerite Mason Trust has funded three consecutive one-year training programs for nephrology fellows to participate in a transplant specific experience.  The fellow will be involved in all aspects of pre- and post-transplant care, including selection of immunosuppressive regimen, donor and recipient evaluations, neurologic evaluation and treatment of medical complications in transplant.  The fellow participates in clinical research, in transplantation and participates in post-transplant care through the satellite clinics.

The Section of Nephrology, Medical College of Georgia, is offering a one year AST approved Renal Transplant Fellowship starting July 1, 2008.  The mission of the fellowship is to provide broad-based and in-depth training in the field of Transplant Nephrology, with the aim of developing outstanding Transplant Nephrologists and future leaders in this field.

The transplant program is an area of excellence for the Section of Nephrology and the Medical College of Georgia.  Our program was started in 1968, and to date has performed a total of 1839 kidney and kidney–pancreas transplants.  It is an area of rapid growth--100 transplants were completed in 2007, representing a 40% increase over 2006.  We are projected to do more than 125 transplants next year.  Our program is at the cutting edge of transplant nephrology and takes part in innovative clinical trials.   The Medical College of Georgia has excellent research facilities and internationally renowned investigators at the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics (IMMAG), who frequently collaborate with our medical staff.

With more than 3,000 outpatient visits per year, the transplant clinic offers a unique environment to participate in the outpatient management of kidney and other solid organ transplant recipients.  A number of different services are provided through the clinic including focused transplant care, attention to blood pressure, cardiac, bone, and metabolic aspects that are unique to transplantation.

We offer a transplant nephrology fellowship certified by the American Society of Transplantation with comprehensive and stimulating training.  The trainee will be exposed to all facets of kidney and pancreas transplantation.

Specific didactic educational goals will include the following:

• As a nephrology transplant fellow, you will receive the education and experience necessary to become highly proficient in caring for kidney and pancreas transplant patients.
• Preparing for a successful career in nephrology, with an emphasis on kidney and/or pancreas transplantation.
• Understanding and applying innovative, multidisciplinary living-and-deceased donor kidney transplantation protocols.
• Achieving United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) certification in kidney and pancreas transplantation.
• Extending your academic and research experience in the area of organ transplantation.
• Attendance in American Transplant Congress and the AST Winter symposium.

 The Clinical component will include:

• Four months of inpatient service, following our kidney and pancreas transplant patients.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to Nephrology Fellows, regarding Transplant patients.
• Interaction with the Transplant surgeons regarding Post Transplant management of new transplants (a minimum of ten patients).
• Active participation in weekly Recipient and Donor Evaluation meetings.
• Participation in the Post Transplant Clinics at the Medical College of Georgia, and our Satellite Clinics at Savannah and Macon. Fellows will be directly responsible for providing post-transplant care for a minimum of thirty patients.
• Perform a minimum of twenty Transplant Kidney biopsies.
• Observation of a minimum of three transplant procedures.
• One month's rotation at the Pediatric Hospital outpatient transplant clinic.
• One month spent in Transplant Pathology/Radiology training.
• One month spent in the Histocompatibility lab.

 The Research Component will include:

• Participation in Multicenter Clinical Trials.
• Opportunities for Translational research in areas of interest with the Immunotherapy Center, Vascular Biology Center, and Molecular Biology and Genetics.
• Opportunities for Database/Epidemiological research with the Department of Bio-Statistics, and the Georgia Prevention Institute.
• Extramural funding opportunities from the Carlos and Marguerite Mason Trust for both Clinical and Basic Science Research.
• Participation in Basic Science Seminars.

We have an excellent Faculty, which include two Transplant Nephrologists—Dr. Laura Mulloy, who also serves as the Interim Chair of Medicine and Section Chief of Nephrology, and Dr. Murali Jagadeesan. The Transplant Surgical Faculty include Dr. James Wynn—Section Chief of Transplant Surgery, and Dr. Todd Merchen. The Histocompatibility Laboratory is headed by Dr. Sandra Helman. The Program is ably supported and staffed by five pre-transplant coordinators, two post-transplant coordinators, two social workers, two financial counselors, and an inpatient and outpatient transplant pharmacist.

All applications should include:

• Transcripts
• Letters of Recommendation (three)
• Personal Statement
• Photo
• Curriculum Vitae
• USMLE scores

If you have any questions regarding the application process and/or the scheduling of interviews, please contact:

                                     Brandi McCorkle

Fellowship Coordinator
Division of Nephrology
bmccorkle@mail.mcg.edu

(706) 721-2861

Copyright
Medical College of Georgia
All rights reserved.

Department of Medicine | Medical College of Georgia
Please email questions and comments to:

January 17, 2008