CURRICULUM

Our patient base provides exposure to basic and complex rheumatologic diseases, both at UI Health and Jesse Brown VA. Our fellows are well prepared to evaluate and manage all aspects of rheumatologic disorders in outpatient and inpatient settings. Our fellows have the opportunity to rotate with Pediatric Rheumatology at UI Health.  This experience is invaluable and allows them to receive remarkable training in all aspects of Rheumatology. 

Our program provides training and exposure that allows our graduates to be competent and familiar with rheumatologic and autoimmune disorders, diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions.  We provide training in ultrasound, and we offer electives in various subspecialties including, but not limited to physical medicine, rehabilitation, pediatric rheumatology, electromyography, interstitial lung disease, allergy immunology and orthopedics.  Our rheumatology pass rate is 100 percent for the past five years. 

Fellows take call from home, with flexible weekend coverage.  There is also a faculty member on call 24 hours a day who supports the fellows and evaluate all inpatient consults with the fellow.

Evaluations are performed on regulator basis and after each rotation. 

Outpatient Clinics
The division operates a busy outpatient clinic at UI Health and other satellite locations.  We have subspecialty clinics in sarcoidosis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory eye disease, scleroderma and myositis.

Inpatient Consultation Service
One fellow is supervised by one faculty along with rotating house staff.  We manage patients at UI Health and Jesse Brown VA.  The inpatient consult service serves patients with multiple rheumatologic disorders with high complexity.  The weekend or holiday calls are shared by fellows and faculty as there is always a fellow and faculty on call for 24 hours. 

On average, fellows rotate through the hospital consult service three months per year.

Research Opportunities
The basic and translation research lab in rheumatoid arthritis provides research and academic opportunities. The Clinical Trials Unit of the division provide exposure to phase I and phase II clinical trials.  There are opportunities to participate in various research projects in rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory eye disease, scleroderma and myositis.  There is opportunity to do scholarly work, quality improvement projects and participate in various committees. 

Conferences
Grand Round and Conferences are held weekly on Wednesday afternoon from 1:30pm – 3:30pm.  There are joint conferences also with Rush University once a month.

Rheumatology Contact
Dr. Shiva Arami, Program Director, Professor of Medicine
Dr. Nadera Sweiss, Division Chief, Professor of Medicine
Beena E. Mathew, Director, Administrative Operations and Fellowship Coordinator
Silvia Galicia, Executive Assistant

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