The didactic sessions are structured for a well-rounded educational experience. Formal lectures are supplemented by pathology case discussions, Journal Clubs, and case discussions. The lectures are structured to include a curriculum recommended by the AST. The topics covered include:

• Recipient evaluations and preparation for kidney and pancreas transplantation
• Evaluation of potential living kidney donors
• The biologic basis of HLA and transplant rejection
• Methods of tissue typing, crossmatching, alloantibody measurement, and clinical application of these methods
• Pharmacology and clinical use of established and emerging immunosuppression for kidney and pancreas transplantation
• Evaluation and comparison of different combinations of immunosuppressive mediation in kidney and pancreas transplantation
• Perioperative and early outpatient care of recipients with kidney and pancreas transplants
• Recognition of surgical complications of kidney and pancreas transplantation
• Evaluation and management of acutely ill recipients of kidney or pancreas transplants
• Diagnosis and management of infections in transplant recipients
• Long-term medical management of kidney and pancreas transplant recipients
• Diagnosis, pathogenesis, and clinical management of renal allograft dysfunction
• The use of plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and other techniques to lower or modify anti-HLA antibody in sensitized patients
• Allocation of deceased-donor organs for transplantation
• Ethical considerations in organ transplantation

Note:

• Recipient selection committee meeting: Every Tuesday
• Donor selection committee meeting: Every Thursday
• Complex patients committee meeting: Every Thursday

In addition, fellows also attend the internal medicine grand rounds or the abdominal transplant surgery fellows core curriculum meetings scheduled every Friday.