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 quality improvement initiatives, 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. Over the year, they also spend time at a young men's clinic, a clinic for HIV infected youth, a faculty practice in midtown Manhattan and on a psychiatry inpatient consult service. At the end of the year, 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. Additionally, for 16 weeks, under the supervision of an attending physician, fellows provide consultative care for adolescent patients admitted to the hospital. 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 acquiring research skills and strengthening teaching and clinical skills. 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 gain expertise in managing patients with eating disorders during a one-month rotation with the New York Psychiatric Institute's eating disorder inpatient treatment unit. They also rotate through school-based health clinic settings and consult on the pediatric inpatient service for 16 weeks. Fellows also spend time at a family medicine practice associated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where they learn how to insert long-acting, reversible contraceptives. Fellows continue 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. During this year, they also rotate through a college health program, and again provide 16 weeks of inpatient adolescent medicine consult 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

• David L. Bell, MD, MPH
• Marina Catallozzi, MD
• Jane Chang, MD
• Alwyn T. Cohall, MD
• Melanie A. Gold, DO
• Lisa S. Ipp, MD
• Mara Minguez MD, MS
• Susan L. Rosenthal, PhD
• John Santelli, MD, MPH
• 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; applications from women and minorities are encouraged. 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