Rotation schedule

This is a sample schedule:

Rotation descriptions

Allergy and immunology consultations (pediatric and adult)

During this rotation, time is divided between outpatient consultations and inpatient consultations at the Saint Marys Campus and Methodist Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. The allergy and immunology outpatient consultations include self-referred patients and those referred from Mayo Clinic and non-Mayo Clinic physicians.

In addition to the referral practice, this rotation includes a large number of local patients. Fellows see patients with common problems as well as highly complex problems in allergy and immunology.

Fellows also work in the clinical laboratory for allergic diseases, where specialized procedures are conducted, such as bronchoprovocation, spirometry, immediate type hypersensitivity testing and immunotherapy. The faculty provides one-on-one supervision and teaching throughout the rotation.

Both the internal medicine and the pediatric fellows participate in both the internal medicine and pediatric allergy clinics. This cross-training provides clinical background to enable the graduating fellow to sit for the American Board of Allergy and Immunology examination.

Research

During this fellowship, trainees have the opportunity to engage in nine uninterrupted months of research. Most fellows conduct a laboratory-based project.

Before starting a research assignment, fellows interview investigators from several of Mayo Clinic's allergy and immunology laboratories to evaluate any opportunities for assisting them with their research projects. Many such projects are multidisciplinary, involving collaboration with clinical and basic science research colleagues in thoracic diseases, dermatology, pathology, general medicine and pediatrics. Most fellows complete two or more research projects during the training program, including both clinical and bench research.

Fellows are expected to present their research at national or regional meetings and to publish their results in peer-reviewed journals. Elective time may be used to extend a research experience, if desired.

Fellows who are planning a career in clinical medicine usually choose clinical or applied research to supplement their curriculum.

Subspecialty rotations

Trainees have three months of subspecialty rotation time during the fellowship, which allows the curriculum to be tailored to their specific career goals. Each assignment may last from two to eight weeks, and each is arranged individually.

Popular rotations include:

• Dermatology
• Laboratory medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Pulmonary Function Laboratory
• Thoracic diseases
• Primary immunodeficiency
• HIV disease

Electives

Fellows can use the three-month elective rotation to conduct laboratory-based or clinical research. To supplement the cross-training experience, trainees can take electives in allergy and immunology. Many fellows arrange additional subspecialty rotations, such as rheumatology or clinical immunology.