Educational objectives of the program are to train physicians experienced in all aspects of burn care including critical care, resuscitation and wound management; train physicians in the surgical correction of postburn deformities; develop a strong research background relating to burn prevention and care; teach and train in management of complex wounds and exfoliative skin disorders; and train physicians to be able to interact and coordinate with various specialties such as infectious diseases, pulmonology and internal medicine in order to deal with various issues relating to burn patients.

The fellowship is available to physicians who are board eligible or certified in plastic or general surgery or those who have completed three years of general surgery training. International medical graduates are also considered with appropriate medical qualifications and ECFMG certification.

Back to top

Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship
Romesh Khardori, MB, MD, FACP
Professor
web site

The endocrinology, metabolism and molecular medicine division offers a two-year fellowship training program to provide experience in evaluation and management of common endocrine and metabolic disease such as diabetes mellitus, lipid abnormalities, and diseases of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands. Fellows participate in joint activities such as combined ENT-endocrinology clinic for evaluation of thyroid-parathyroid disorders. Our clinics also offer opportunities to evaluate patients with growth/developmental and pubertal disorders.

Apart from outpatient clinic experience, fellows see a large number of patients on the consult service. Trainees in our program see a significant number of children and adolescents with endocrine and metabolic disease as well. The fellowship program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Rotations through ophthalmology, laboratory medicine and nuclear medicine are provided during the training period. Optional rotations include medical genetics, urology and reproductive endocrinology. Fellows have daily interactions with residents on rotation and with students on electives. Residents and students are privileged to have our fellows act as teachers.

Fellows participate in bench research under department faculty supervision and in collaboration with other medical school departments. Our research laboratory has drawn research funds from the American Diabetes Association, National Institute of Health and American Heart Association as well as intramural awards. Fellows are expected to complete two research projects (clinical/bench), have at least two abstracts published, and prepare one manuscript by the end of the second year of training.

Back to top

Vascular Surgery Fellowships
Kim Hodgson, MD
Professor
web site

The vascular surgery division offers a two-year peripheral vascular surgery fellowship, with both years accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Fellows must have completed an ACGME approved residency program in general surgery and be board eligible in the specialty.

Your first year concentrates on endovascular procedures, non-invasive vascular laboratory interpretation and clinical research, while the second year is devoted to operative vascular surgery. The caseload is varied, covering virtually every aspect of peripheral vascular surgery, but is weighed toward carotid endarterectomies, aneurysm resections, femoral-popliteal and femoral-tibial grafts. During the year, the fellow can expect to perform approximately 200 major vascular reconstructions. In addition, you can expect to perform 150 percutaneous diagnostic arteriograms, 75 percutaneous balloon angioplasties/ stents, and approximately 25 endoluminal aneurysm repairs. The fellow also is responsible for interpreting non-invasive laboratory studies, seeing consultations, preparing a weekly vascular conference, and assisting in the outpatient clinic.

The peripheral vascular service operates well-equipped and busy non-invasive vascular laboratories at Memorial Medical Center and St. John's Hospital. Duplex imaging is performed in both laboratories using state-of-the-art color-coded flow scanning.

Ample time is provided for the fellow to participate in clinical and non-invasive laboratory research. Most of the previous fellows have been able to publish several papers during the two years.

The vascular surgery division also offers a variable length fellowship, from one to three months, which provides comprehensive training in the full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular procedures.

Diagnostic angiography experience includes aortoiliac, renal/mesenteric, brachiocephalic/carotid, and upper and lower extremity vessels. Interventional experience includes balloon dilatation, stenting, endoluminal grafting of all peripheral vascular distributions and any associated embolizations or thrombolysis.

Numerous investigational protocols of new endoluminal devices and thrombolytic agents are in progress, offering you a wealth of investigational experience and opportunities to participate in evolving endovascular technologies.

The overall volume of endovascular experience obtained is dependent upon the length of the fellowship, but the goal is to afford you the opportunity to meet the credentialing guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Back to top

Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship
Dean Naritoku, MD
Professor
web site

The neurology department offers a one- or two-year fellowship program designed to provide you with comprehensive training in the field of clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy. Emphasis is placed on pharmacologic and surgical management of patients with intractable epilepsy, EEG, intensive neuromonitoring, electrocorticography and intracranial electrographic recordings, and neuropsychologic evaluation.

Many opportunities are available to you for clinical or basic research during the fellowship. Research interests of the faculty include clinical and basic electrophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, and clinical drug and device trials.

Your responsibilities include teaching medical students and residents. Successful completion of an accredited neurology program is prerequisite. The fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education.

Back to top

Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Nancy Khardori, MD
Professor
web site

The infectious diseases division offers a two-year fellowship designed to provide hands-on experience in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases. The clinical part of the training includes outpatient care in the SIU Clinics and inpatient experiences at both Memorial Medical Center and St. John's Hospital. The inpatient hospital load includes consultations from various surgical and medical services involving every organ system.

The outpatient clinics include infectious disease clinic, travel clinic and STD clinic. Fellows have their own continuity clinics where they see patients with HIV, HCV and other infectious diseases. The sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic that we staff for the Springfield Department of Public Health has always been an excellent site for teaching and research.

The division serves as the medical consultant for Sangamon County's Public Health Department and actively participates in antibiotic formulary and infection control for the hospitals.

The fellowship, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, offers you opportunities in both basic and clinical research including in vitro susceptibility testing, microbial adherence, fungal and viral immunology and trials of new antimicrobial agents. An optional third year can be a full-time research position. As a part of your research training, infectious disease fellows learn to design and complete clinical and/or laboratory research projects. Fellows are expected to publish their work and/or present it at a regional or national meeting. You choose a faculty mentor to work with to do basic science or clinical research. The infectious diseases division has a case conference, a journal club and a microbiology round every week. In addition, the Department of Internal Medicine has a grand round lecture every week.

Rotations in pediatric infectious diseases, diagnostic microbiology and infection control/epidemiology are a part of the program. Fellows have significant daily interactions with medical students and residents. This gives you direct and early teaching experience.

Back to top

Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship
Joseph Henkle, MD
Associate Professor
web site

The two-year fellowship in pulmonary medicine encompasses training in pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine and sleep disorders. The program includes training for you in all aspects of pulmonary medicine, intensive care unit management, and sleep related breathing disorders in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Training and participation in research is also provided. A faculty mentor facilitates the research involvement of fellows. Fellows participate in the education of residents and medical students.

Facilities include well-equipped ICU's, an accredited sleep disorders center, an excellent pulmonary function laboratory, and top-notch pulmonary radiology and pathology support services.

The fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Back to top

Spine Surgery Fellowship
Per Freitag, MD
Professor
web site

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine offers a one year fellowship in spine surgery. Applicants must have completed an approved orthopaedic residency and be eligible for an Illinois state medical license.

Our spine fellowship is comprehensive, dealing with all aspects of care and treatment of the spine including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. The fellowship provides you with well rounded exposure to problems arising from trauma, deformity, degenerative disease, infection and neoplasia. Treatment includes nonoperative management, outpatient preoperative evaluation, the use of physical and occupational therapy, and the importance of behavioral sciences as well as operative intervention. Where appropriate, you will learn approaches from either the anterior or posterior aspects of the spine as well as utilization of appropriate implants and internal fixation devices.

Four full-time spine surgeons and one neurosurgeon work with you throughout the year. The fellowship follows the requirements for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which requires participation in research and educational activities within the orthopaedic residency program. Those completing the program should feel comfortable in handling all aspects of orthopaedic spine surgery.

Although SIU School of Medicine is located in a small urban area, our patient referral base comes from a population of over one million. The volume of exposure, therefore, is adequate for a strong preparation and experience. We are located in a midwest environment, ideal for raising families.

Back to top

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
Ayame Takahashi, M.D.
Assistant Professor
web site

The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry offers a two year training program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  This is a new program recently accredited by the ACGME. There is a shortage of child psychiatrists throughout the country and especially in the rural areas. The mission of the medical school has always been to educate medical professionals to provide medical care to the population in central and southern Illinois. To that end, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training program will train child psychiatrists who are familiar with rural populations and comfortable working in a community setting.

This program is well balanced and eclectic, providing training in multiple community settings. Of special note are the Telepsychiatry, Developmental Disabilities and School rotations. Trainees will also gain solid grounding in the “bread and butter” of child psychiatry in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Not only will trainees do new evaluations in inpatient and several outpatient settings, they will also have the opportunity to follow a core of patients for medication management and psychotherapy through their 2 year course of training. Opportunities for scholarship and research are also available.

Eligible applicants must have completed USMLE steps I, II and III. Completion of at least 3 years of residency training in general adult psychiatry is required for external applicants.