ENDOCRINOLOGY AT UTSOUTHWESTERN

The Endocrinology Division of UT Southwestern enjoys a rich tradition of excellence in scholarship, in clinical practice, and in the application of new knowledge to improve the health of people. Therefore, there is no value more fundamental to our work as physicians or our participation in the community of scholars than simple honesty. We place high value on integrity, not only as a personal trait, but also as a "social virtue" which dictates that a person honestly represents their best judgments, while respecting those of others. Intellectual satisfaction, personal fame, and monetary enrichment are among many factors that can give incentive to our work, but genuine concern for others can illuminate the physician's life when other motivations disappear

Application Process

We use the ERAS application service, which provides tremendous benefit to both applicants and programs by standardizing the application forms and process. We will also participate in the Endocrinology and Metabolism Match run by NRMP. The Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology and Metabolism has overwhelmingly endorsed the match as a way to provide applicants with opportunity to interview with as many programs as they wish without experiencing undue pressure to make early decisions. A timeline of the process is available at the APDEM web site.

The UT Southwestern Program provides rigorous training in endocrinology and metabolism over three years and is designed specifically for those who might contemplate and academic career combining clinical practice with research and teaching. The clinical training environment is outstanding; we enjoy the resources of a large public hospital, a major VA medical enter, and the University hospitals for our trainees' exposure to the broad spectrum of hormonal and metabolic disorders. The research training environment is similarly rich. UT Southwestern is one of the great medical research institutions in the world and our fellows pursue their interests ranging from molecular biology to clinical trials under the tutelage of a distinguished faculty.

The second and third year experience in our training program is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Federal regulations thus require that our fellows have either U. S. citizenship or Permanent Resident status. A "Payback" provision is also included in this funding--so that NIH support for the fellows' stipend in year 2 of the program carries the obligation to continue in research for one additional year. This is accomplished by completion of the third year of the program.

What You Should Expect

Your experience at Southwestern will provide comprehensive and rigorous clinical training in Endocrinology and Metabolism leading to ABIM subspecialty certification. This clinical training is pursued intensely in the first year, while continuity clinics and other specialized training experience take place through all three years of the program. In the second and third years of training we provide in-depth training in a research discipline in the area of your choosing. The process of selection of your research mentor begins in the first year of training, as you gain exposure to areas of active inquiry and begin to refine your own particular interests. All the faculty work to assist you in selecting your project and mentor. We intend for your research experience to provide solid preparation for a career in academic endocrinology. This includes attendance and presentation of your work at national meetings, and publication of your work in high quality, peer-reviewed journals. You should expect open access to all faculty members in a training environment where all of us are learners. You should expect an honest and constructive evaluation of your work and solid career guidance. You should expect to work hard and to have fun.