General Nephrology Fellowship

Message from the Program Director

Welcome!

The University of California, San Diego Nephrology fellowship is designed to prepare physicians for a career in nephrology with the option to pursue a two-year clinical program or a three-year program focusing on basic science or clinical nephrology research. Working with the Pediatric Nephrology fellowship at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, we also offer a combined adult and pediatric nephrology program. All programs are accredited through ACGME and provide comprehensive training in nephrology. We typically accept four fellows per year across the clinical and research programs. Applications for fellowship are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and the selection of fellows is conducted through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

The first year of each program offers wide exposure to all aspects of nephrology. Fellows rotate through five services at three hospitals. Fellows spend time at the UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, Jacobs Medical Center, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center in La Jolla, and the VA San Diego. Exceptional faculty and a broad patient population are hallmarks of the training experience.

In the two-year clinical training program, the second year is divided between additional inpatient training and outpatient electives tailored to the interests and needs of each fellow. These electives have included additional exposure in Peritoneal Dialysis, Apheresis, and Transplant, as well as rotations outside our division in high-risk Obstetrics, Palliative Care, Pediatric/Adolescent Nephrology, Urology or Interventional Radiology. Our fellows are distinctly positioned to participate as key team members during all aspects of transplant, rather than being marginally involved in pre and peri-transplant care. UCSD's internationally recognized apheresis program - managed by nephrology - allows our fellows' opportunities to treat kidney and non-kidney disorders with plasmapheresis. Fellows are also encouraged to use elective time for scholarly pursuits.

In the three-year research program, the research years offer the fellows protected time to conceive, pursue, present, and publish original investigations in nephrology and related fields. Our division has active research interests that span the bench to the bedside. During the research years, fellows work closely with the mentor of their choice, and clinical duties are kept at a minimum, thereby allowing the fellows an opportunity to excel in the academic aspect of nephrology. Fellows attend a continuity clinic during their second year and various specialty clinics during their third.

We are very proud of our ability to teach and mentor new nephrology colleagues in our program. As you explore our website, I welcome you to reach out with any questions.

Cindy Miracle, MD

About the Fellowship

The UC San Diego General Nephrology Fellowship is designed to prepare physicians for a career in clinical nephrology with added emphasis on research or academic medicine as per their requirements. The program is accredited through ACGME and provides training in all aspects of nephrology. The fellowship offers both a 2-year clinical program concentrating on training in clinical nephrology and a 3-year research program which consists of 1 year of training in clinical nephrology and 2 years of either basic science or clinical research. In addition, we offer a combined program in adult and pediatric nephrology.

Curriculum Overview

In all of our programs the first year offers a wide exposure to all aspects of nephrology. Fellows rotate through 5 different services at 3 different hospitals. Fellows spend time at the University Medical Center in Hillcrest, Thornton Hospital and Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center in La Jolla and the VA San Diego. Exceptional faculty and a broad patient population are hallmarks of the clinical training.

Get Unique Experience in Transplant and Apheresis

Program Highlights:

• Robust exposure to peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis 
• Comprehensive experience in kidney transplantation, including direct oversight of post-transplantation management 
• Nephrology-managed apheresis, with the largest outpatient apheresis unit in the country, for both kidney and non-kidney disorders including leukopheresis, photopheresis, and LDL-pheresis

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Program Director

Dr. Cynthia Miracle

Associate Program Director

Dr. Tyler Woodell