How do I get a Rheumatology Fellowship?

Rheumatology fellowship programs prepare a doctor for a career as a specialist in the field of rheumatology. In order to qualify for this type of fellowship, a doctor needs to complete a three year residency. Fellowship programs are competitive and require that the doctor have a good academic record, which will need to be submitted for consideration as a part of the application process. Preparing for a rheumatology fellowship requires years of training and study.

Before a doctor can be considered for any type of fellowship, he or she must have the proper education. An undergraduate degree and completion of medical school are required before the doctor completes a residency and a fellowship. Though doctors from other countries can apply for a fellowship in the United States or Canada, they will need to prove that their education is equivalent to the education necessary in one of these countries before they can be considered. In the United States and Canada, where fellowship programs are offered, rheumatology fellowship programs require that a doctor have at least three of years of experience as a resident in internal medicine. This requirement ensures that the doctor has practical medical experience.

Each hospital or university that offers a rheumatology fellowship has specific requirements that prospective fellows need to fulfill. To be considered for a fellowship, a doctor should check with the prospective programs and follow all the instructions for application completely. Most programs will ask for a copy of the doctor’s academic transcripts, and test scores as well as a curriculum vitae and a number of letters of recommendation.

Qualified doctors may be asked to interview with the program director or other staff. Preparation for this interview is important. Though there are no set questions that are asked at these interviews, preparing to answer commonly asked questions can help to ensure that the interview goes well. This will greatly increase a doctor’s chances of receiving a rheumatology fellowship.

Staying on top of the latest research and writing for medical journals can give a prospective fellow an advantage over competing doctors. Though most rheumatology fellowship programs do not make publication in a medical journal a requirement, doctors who have a few published articles have an increased chance of receiving a fellowship. Publication in the field of rheumatology can be especially advantageous.