Adolescent Medicine

The Adolescent Medicine Fellowship Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Irving Medical Center aims to produce leaders in adolescent medicine by training fellows to 1) provide state-of-the art clinical care, 2) educate and mentor the next generation of health care providers and advocates, and 3) conduct clinical and epidemiological research to improve the state of knowledge within the field.

Curriculum

First Year

The first year of fellowship focuses primarily on clinical training, although teaching and the development of a research project are also critical to this year. Adolescent medicine fellows usually spend three sessions each week providing primary ambulatory care in the general adolescent practice, where they see their own patients under faculty supervision and receive clinical mentorship. Over the year, they also spend time at a school-based health clinic setting with the opportunity to have a longitudinal experience there, a faculty practice in midtown Manhattan for a more focused subspecialty clinical experience, and on a psychiatry inpatient consult service. At one point, they spend a month at the Weill-Cornell Medical Center campus where they see patients in various adolescent health settings and help with the teaching of trainees. Fellows also provide consultative care for adolescent patients admitted to the hospital, under the supervision of an attending physician. Educational conferences include the following: weekly core adolescent medicine lectures/meetings, bi-weekly research meetings (in conjunction with the primary care/academic medicine fellowship), weekly pediatric grand rounds, and chief-of-service rounds. During their first year, fellows are also expected to meet with research faculty, choose a research mentor, and develop a well-defined research question.

Second Year

The second year of training is devoted to furthering clinical and teaching skills as well as to embarking on a research project. Fellows are also expected to identify a quality improvement project and begin its implementation along with faculty guidance and mentorship.  Approximately half of the fellow’s time is protected for research and conference activities. In addition to providing three sessions weekly of general adolescent ambulatory care, fellows rotate through the following settings: the New York State Psychiatric Institute's eating disorder inpatient treatment unit, a college health setting, a specialty clinic for HIV at-risk and infected youth and various elective clinics. They continue to consult on the pediatric inpatient service at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Fellows are encouraged to be active participants in clinical and research conferences, leading discussions about journal articles and presenting their research work at conferences.

Third Year

The third year of training is dedicated to advancing research, scholarship, teaching, administrative, and clinical skills. Adolescent medicine fellows are given two outpatient clinical continuity sessions per week where they continue to care for their own patient panel. They are also given increasing responsibility for precepting residents and medical students during this year, often functioning as co-attending physicians. Fellows also participate in a longitudinal LARC training in IUD and contraceptive implants and removals.  Other possible electives include spending time in the following clinics: diabetes, sickle-cell/hematology, dermatology, bariatric surgery, adolescent GYN, neurology/headache and sports medicine.  Fellows continue to consult on the pediatric inpatient service. Between 50-70 percent of their time is protected for research and scholarly endeavors. Third-year fellows are expected to take a leadership role in administrative work, education, conferences, and program development. By the end of their third year, fellows are expected to have completed their scholarly project and are encouraged to submit at least one paper reporting their findings to an established medical journal.

Why Columbia?

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is a top-ranked academic institution with a health science campus that includes schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing and public health. Our hospital system (the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital) offers care to a high volume patient population with the full spectrum of adolescent and young adult medical and psychosocial problems. CUIMC also has the full range of subspecialty services available for consultation and collaboration to meet patient care needs. In addition to clinical care, our faculty are noted for their commitment to the education and training of our learners. 

Benefits

Residents are employees of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and affiliated with Columbia University Irving Medical Center. With these affiliations come many benefits!

Faculty

• Marina Catallozzi, MD
• Jane Chang, MD
• Gail Gutman, MD
• Julen Harris, MPH, MD
• Lisa S. Ipp, MD
• Samuel Master, DO
• Mara Minguez, MD, MS
• Dina Romo, MD
• Karen Soren, MD

How to Apply

Applications to our fellowship are processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) system. Materials are accepted starting in July for fellowship positions beginning the following year. Those who wish to apply must be board eligible or board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, American Board of Internal Medicine, or American Board of Family Medicine, depending on their primary specially. Please note that a completed application includes:

• Completed ERAS forms
• Three letters of recommendation, including one letter from the applicant's department chairman or residency director
• Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Additional information, such as USMLE transcript and photo, are recommended

Acceptances to the fellowship are made through the Pediatric Specialties Fall Match of the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Please refer to the NRMP website for details about the match submission deadline.

Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are equal opportunity employers. Please note that Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital do not sponsor H1B visa trainees.

Contact

Martha Bolivar
Fellowship Administrator
212-305-7159
mb1451@cumc.columbia.edu