A Primer for New Rheumatology Fellowship Program Directors

Unnamed (oil) by Ralph C. Williams Jr.

Editor’s note (March 23, 2022): In 2022, the Division Directors Conference and Program Coordinators Conference will both be part of ACR Education Exchange, held April 28–May 1 in Orlando, Fla. Registration is now open.

New fellowship program directors often step into the role with little in the way of training, resources or mentoring. That’s where the ACR’s Division and Program Directors Conference comes in. At the 2021 event in March, Beth Jonas, MD, distinguished professor of medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Anisha Dua, MD, MPH, associate professor and fellowship program director, Northwestern University, Chicago, provided expert guidance for new fellowship program directors.

Do Your Homework

One of the first things new program directors should do is familiarize themselves with the program requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), as well as their program’s information on the ACGME-accreditation data system website.

Make sure you have access to your program on the ACGME website and review your program’s information. Log in to the Accreditation Data System, and look around to become comfortable with the system.

Check for important dates, such as when your next 10-year site visit will be, as well as when you should you start self-study (i.e., perform a formal, complete assessment of your fellowship program in preparation for the 10-year site visit).

Know Your Team

Your team members may include an associate director, a program coordinator, staff in the graduate medical education (GME) office and key clinical faculty. Other individuals who can be helpful include program directors in other divisions at your institution and rheumatology program directors at other institutions.

Early on, it’s a good idea to get together with your program coordinator and associate director (if you’re lucky enough to have one) to clearly delineate roles and responsibilities. Set up regular meetings to stay on top of deadlines and any issues that may arise.

One of the first things new program directors should do is familiarize themselves with the program requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Develop Timelines

A program calendar will help you stay on top of important dates and deadlines: No one wants the unpleasant experience of being surprised by a deadline for something that requires a great deal of preparation.

Timeline for Applications & Interviews

A big part of a director’s role is handling new fellow applications and orientation. In preparation for application season, plan ahead and delegate work before your colleagues’ schedules get full.