FELLOWSHIP TRAINING IN ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
OVERVIEW
The Division of Allergy and Immunology (Department of Internal Medicine) at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern) was founded in 1979. The “Adult” Allergy Division currently includes two full-time clinical faculty members (Drs. Rebecca Gruchalla and David Khan). In the year 2003, a new Pediatric Allergy Division (Department of Pediatrics) was created with the addition of 2 new full-time and 1 part-time pediatric A & I faculty (Dr. Neaville, Dr. De La Morena and Dr. Warrier). While administratively separate, the 2 Allergy Divisions function as one with a blending of teaching, clinical and research responsibilities. In addition to our 4 full-time and 1 part-time A & I faculty at Southwestern, we boast another 29 clinical faculty in private practice (listed on next page). Full-time faculty members are certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, clinically active and firmly committed to clinical teaching. Although recognized for its scientific achievements, the Division of Allergy and Immunology is highly committed to excellence in clinical care and teaching. Toward this end, its Allergy and Immunology Training Program (headed by Dr. Khan) has grown in both size and stature (four fully funded residency positions) since it enrolled its first resident in 1982.
ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY TRAINING AT UT SOUTHWESTERN
A BALANCE BETWEEN ADULT AND PEDIATRIC CLINICAL EXPERIENCES - Our view is that successful training in Allergy and Immunology should consist of balanced exposure to training experiences involving adults and children, no matter what the training background or the long-term plans of any particular Fellow in Training. Drs. Gruchalla and Khan oversee the adult teaching clinics at Parkland while Drs. Neaville, De La Morena, and Warrier oversee the teaching clinics at Children’s. Further staffing of both adult and pediatric clinics is provided by our 29 volunteer clinical faculty. Approximately 40% of our Allergy Fellows have come from pediatric housestaff programs and approximately half of the outpatient clinics required of Allergy and Immunology Fellows primarily involve children (please see enclosed schedule of training activities).
RESEARCH - The Division of Allergy and Immunology strongly concurs with the American Board of Allergy and Immunology in requiring an effort of at least 25% on an original research project. Current and past projects have been extremely diverse - most clinically oriented and some involving basic science - a reflection of the differing interests of our past and current fellows. Because training positions are fully funded by Parkland Memorial Hospital (and not by Federal Training Grants), our fellows are encouraged to consider research opportunities in a diversity of fields. Fellows are encouraged to present the results of their research studies at national meetings.
NATIONAL ALLERGY MEETINGS - Fellows in Training are encouraged to travel to one national meeting during each of the two training years and are provided financial support for this purpose.
SUCCESS OF TRAINING PROGRAM GRADUATES - Over 90% of the graduates of UT Southwestern’s Allergy and Immunology Training Program have passed the Allergy and Immunology Board Examination Most graduates are currently in private or group practice settings, however a few have become full-time medical school faculty members. Over half of our clinical faculty are prior graduates of our A & I training program.
