The Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Fellowship incorporates core clinical rotations, diverse specialty clinic opportunities, as well as extensive clinical research opportunities. 

Clinical training

Core training experiences cover:

• Inpatient and outpatient endocrinology consultations
• Pediatric endocrinology
• Specialized endocrine function testing
• Nutrition
• Continuity clinic
• Specialties clinic
• Research

First year rotations include:

• 26 weeks of outpatient longitudinal and specialty clinics
• 10 weeks of inpatient consults at Mayo Clinic Hospital
• 4 weeks of outpatient pediatric endocrinology rotation at Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• 12 weeks of research  

Second year rotations include:

• 26 weeks of outpatient longitudinal and specialty clinics
• 10 weeks of of inpatient consults at Mayo Clinic Hospital
• 4 weeks of outpatient clinics at the Phoenix VA Hospital
• 12 weeks of research 

Outpatient clinics

As a fellow, you will have an individualized schedule, with a strong focus on continuity of care. Your outpatient clinic experience will include, but is not limited to general endocrinology, diabetes, pituitary disorders, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis and metabolic bone disorders, andrology, pediatric endocrinology,  polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause and women’s health. 

Examples  of specialty clinics in the outpatient setting include:

• Thyroid ultrasound and biopsy clinic
• Diabetes technology clinic
• Bariatric intake clinic
• Metabolic clinic
• Pituitary and adrenal clinic
• Transgender care clinic
• Women's health clinic

Inpatient rotation

The inpatient consult rotation is conducted at Mayo Clinic Hospital for 10 weeks each year of fellowship.  The consult team typically consists of an attending endocrinologist, a fellow, three advanced practice providers and one to two diabetes educators. The consult team typically sees five to 10 new consults per day and provides follow-up evaluation and management of the problem(s) for which the consultation was requested. This is done under close interaction with the patients' admitting physicians on the wards.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital & Phoenix VA Health Care System

Fellows rotate through Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Phoenix VA Health Care System, engaging with patients from a wide range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Both sites serve individuals from the Phoenix metropolitan area, the greater Southwest, local at-risk and underserved communities, as well as Native American populations.

As a fellow, you learn to navigate different healthcare systems, collaborating and coordinating care with faculty, fellows, and residents from multiple disciplines. You will also develop strong communication skills while working directly with a diverse patient population from various ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Research

All endocrinology fellows are required to participate in research. Individual participation is variable, and program leaders will work with you to develop your specific interests and research projects. Dr. Eleanna De Filippis, our program’s research lead, works directly with our fellows every step of the way. From the beginning of formulating a research plan, to elaborating the hypothesis and aims of the project, Dr. De Filippis helps you create a detailed proposal and offers guidance in the generation of related Institutional Review Board (IRB) documents. In addition, Dr. De Filippis and other mentors will support you during the project execution.

Once the project is completed, your mentor will provide feedback on manuscripts and posters. Dr. De Filippis provides research oversight and always remains available for additional supervision and feedback. Fellows work with their physician mentors closely to analyze data and develop their presentation skills. Trainees are encouraged to submit abstracts to regional and national meetings, as well as write manuscripts for submissions to peer-reviewed journals. The research curriculum comprises multiple opportunities for asynchronous learning via online modules that are strategically packaged together to enable you to expand your knowledge of the components of clinical and translational research. These components provide essential knowledge to promote understanding of the process of bringing discoveries to the bedside and then to the population. Biostatistical support is present at the institutional level and can be requested based on project needs.

In November 2024, the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Mayo Clinic in Arizona launched the inaugural Annual Endocrine Research Day. During this half-day event, multiple clinical and basic science research presentations were featured, including intramural presentations from our partnering institutions, the Endocrinology Division of Veteran Affairs - Phoenix and the Pediatric Endocrinology Division at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Andjela Drincic, a pituitary expert from the University of Nebraska was the first keynote speaker with her presentation on new developments in the  perioperative care of patients with pituitary tumors. 

The Endocrine Research Day is anticipated to be an annual event, and plans are underway for another exciting day, which will highlight the remarkable scholarly work of our learners and staff across many endocrine disciplines and share the collective commitment of the MCA Division of Endocrinology to education and research.

Electives

A variety of elective opportunities allow you to individualize the fellowship to best meet your career goals. Elective experiences are available in related specialties such as endocrine surgery, pathology, radiology, ophthalmology, nephrology, and hypertension. Our program has also partnered with the American Diabetes Association, creating a unique “real world” pediatric experience for our fellows. Towards the end of your PGY-4 academic year, fellows can participate at the AZDA camp which is led by staff trained in ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes. Camps are focused on adhering to the highest safety standards, in all aspects essential with diabetes management skill, including emotional well-being, while encouraging children to connect with peers in a supportive environment.

Call frequency

Your call schedule is different for each rotation. Mayo Clinic follows the recommendations of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Because much of the training is outpatient based, as is the clinical practice of endocrinology, most of the rotations do not require night call.