Medical College of Wisconsin Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship

• History: Program established in 2005
• Duration: 3 Years
• Prerequisite Training/Selection Criteria: Must have completed certified residency program
• VISAS Accepted By MCW: J1, & H1B
• VISAS Accepted By Program: J1

Goals & Objectives for Training
The broad educational goals of the program are to develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes that will allow the pediatric endocrine fellow to provide excellent care to children with endocrine disorders and diabetes mellitus. This will be accomplished by providing opportunities for direct inpatient, outpatient, and consultative patient care to patients with endocrine disorders and/or those referred for endocrinology consultation under the direct supervision of full-time faculty.

In addition, the program will train fellows to have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attributes to pursue a career that will combine scholarly activity with clinical care. During all years of training, the fellow will have the opportunity to pursue clinical and/or laboratory-based research.

Instruction regarding study design, epidemiology, and biostatistics will be available through the research mentor, pediatric endocrine faculty, and the Joint Fellowship Curriculum, with the goal of training the fellow to be academically productive. Both within the section as well as in collaboration with other sections of the Department of Pediatrics, multiple scholarly opportunities exist. Under the supervision of a research mentor, the program will aim to develop the academic potential of the pediatric endocrine fellow. A summary of the goals of the training program will be distributed to each pediatric endocrine fellow and faculty member within the section, as well as to each research mentor on an annual basis.

Program Certifications

• Nationally recognized/accredited diabetes program
• USNWR nationally ranked clinical program in Endocrinology and Diabetes

• From the start of fellowship, fellows have their own Diabetes and Endocrinology continuity clinics. The fellows’ own continuity clinics allow them to build relationships with families and learn more about the pathophysiology and progression of various diseases including Diabetes Type 1 & 2, puberty, and growth disorders.
• Fellows participate in specialized clinics including: Disorders of Sexual Development, Gender Health clinic, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Brain Tumor, Bone Marrow Transplant, Metabolic Bone Disease, and Genetics clinics.
• Inpatient experience at Children's Wisconsin allows fellows to build expertise in evaluation/management of endocrine and diabetes mellitus issues while patients are acutely ill or post-surgical following a recent procedure.

Fellows have full access to the active and thriving McGee Diabetes Research Center, a multi-disciplinary type 1 diabetes research center engaged in basic, translational, and clinical research. The McGee Center receives extramural and intramural funding and is involved in investigator-initiated and consortium-based protocols. There are amble opportunities to participate in bench and animal work and also to translate those findings to clinical research protocols. There are two research coordinators, 3 full-time research faculty, and a pediatric Translational Research Unit managing multiple projects with over 400 study visits/year. Past fellows have been active leaders on interventional clinical trials, presented at national meetings, and received authorship in peer-reviewed articles. There are also ample opportunities for non-diabetes research, including quality improvement initiatives, chart review, and case reports.

Clinical
“The pediatric endocrine fellow will be supervised at all times by a faculty member and will provide inpatient care, outpatient care, and consultative services on under direct supervision. Goals and objectives of each clinical rotation (as described by the six ACGME competencies) will be distributed to each pediatric endocrine fellow and faculty member within the section.

As laid out in the “A Day in the Life of a Fellow” below, during the first year of training, the pediatric endocrine fellow will be on service or “on-call” and in the outpatient clinic more often than during the 2nd and 3rd years of fellowship. This early experience under the direct supervision of faculty is designed to facilitate the fellow’s development of expertise in caring for pediatric endocrinology and diabetes patients. Over the entire 3 years, the fellow will have the opportunity to follow patients longitudinally in their own endocrinology and diabetes continuity clinics, under the supervision of experienced faculty, to gain a greater understanding of the chronic nature of the endocrine and diabetes-related disorders of childhood. In addition to patient-care experiences, the fellow will receive regular, didactic instruction regarding clinical care of endocrine disorders and diabetes mellitus.”

Work Product of Scholarly Activity
Involvement in scholarly activities must result in the generation of a specific written "work product" as outlined by the ABP. Examples of include, but are not limited to:

• A peer-reviewed publication in which a fellow played a substantial role
• An in-depth manuscript describing a completed project
• A thesis or dissertation written in connection with the pursuit of an advanced degree
• An extramural grant application that has either been accepted or favorably reviewed
• A progress report for projects of exceptional complexity, such as a multi-year clinical trial

The fellow’s Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC) will be instrumental in guiding the fellow’s activity towards an acceptable product. In addition to the work of the SOC, the department will provide all subspecialty fellows with the opportunity to participate in a departmental research, education, and scholarship forum to present their work product and receive feedback from department faculty.

Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC)
The SOC in conjunction with the trainee, the mentor, and the program director will determine whether a specific activity is appropriate to meet the ABP guidelines for scholarly activities. These activities require active participation by the fellow and must be mentored. The mentor(s) will be responsible for providing the continuous ongoing feedback essential to the trainee’s development.

Review of scholarly activity and the written work product will occur at the local level with each fellow having a SOC responsible for overseeing and assessing the progress of each fellow and verifying for the ABP that the requirement has been met. The SOC must consist of three or more individuals, at least one of whom is based outside the subspecialty discipline; the fellowship program director may serve as a trainee’s mentor and participate in the activities of the oversight committee, but should not be a standing (i.e. voting) member. Particular emphasis will be placed on encouraging identification of committee members whose professional and research responsibilities encompass elements of the trainee’s scholarly interest, but who do not necessarily have a primary appointment in the Department of Pediatrics. Examples of such individuals include faculty in clinical departments, faculty in basic science departments, or faculty in the Schools of Public Health or Education.

This committee will:

1. Determine whether a specific activity is appropriate to meet the ABP guidelines for scholarly activity.
2. Provide guidance in charting a course of preparation beyond the core fellowship curriculum to ensure successful completion of the project.
3. Evaluate the fellow's progress as related to scholarly activity.
4. Meet with the fellow early in the training period (within 6 months of initiation of fellowship training) and regularly thereafter.
5. Require the fellow to present/defend the project related to his/her scholarly activity.
6. Advise the program director on the fellow's progress and assess whether the fellow has satisfactorily met the guidelines associated with the requirement for active participation in scholarly activities.

The fellow, in conjunction with the fellowship director or designee and research mentor, should identify the direction for the fellow’s scholarly activity. At the first SOC meeting, the purpose will be to hear the general path the fellow has chosen, to help further outline the path, and determine the specific steps for the fellow to meet the outlined path. The SOC should meet again within 4-6 months of the first meeting and at least semi-annually thereafter to further update and guide the fellow on developing their scholarly path.

A written report by the chair of each trainee's SOC should be completed twice a year and forwarded to the fellowship program director. The Department Education Office will provide the subspecialty training programs with standard forms for documenting each SOC meeting. The fellowship director and the head of the fellow's SOC are expected to monitor whether additional SOC meetings are necessary for fellows who need more help or may be changing their scholarly activity.

The final responsibility of the SOC is to review and approve the final scholarly “work product” of the applicant prior to submission to the ABP.

External Oversight
A program’s ability to provide a satisfactory scholarly experience for all trainees will be evaluated periodically, as described below.

• The Pediatric Residency Review Committee (RRC) of the ACGME will be asked to review the training program’s structure as it relates to the scholarly activity requirements.
• External periodic peer review of the quality of the training environment related to scholarly activity, in addition to that undertaken by the RRC, is highly recommended.

Responsibilities of the Training Program Director
In addition to meeting the requirements of the ACGME related to the six general competencies, the responsibilities of the training program director shall include the creation of a core curriculum in scholarly activities, the identification of a mentor, the creation of the Scholarship Oversight Committee responsible for overseeing and assessing the progress of each trainee, and providing verification to the ABP of the successful completion of training.

It is the responsibility of the training director to review the SOC documentation and clarify the responsibilities and outcomes for each fellow. The SOC and the Fellowship Program Director are both accountable for scholarly progress of individual fellows and will share their recommendations with the Department Chair.

Verification of Scholarly Activity
Upon completion of training, the ABP will require:

• Verification from the training program director that the clinical and scholarly skills requirements have been met.
• A comprehensive document (i.e. personal statement), written by the fellow, describing the scholarly activity that includes a description of his/her role in each aspect of the activity and how the scholarly activity relates to the trainee’s own career development plan.
• The actual “work product” of the scholarly activity as described above.
• Signature of the fellow, program director, and members of the Scholarship Oversight Committee on both the personal statement and work product of the fellow as described above.

The fellow will need to produce the work product and personal statement, as well as obtain approval from the SOC to be eligible to sit for the Subspecialty Board Examination. The decision about the adequacy of the work product is the responsibility of the SOC and the program director.

The pediatric endocrine fellows and faculty will perform annual reviews of the training program, including whether the goals and objectives are being met. The comments will be collated and discussed at an annual meeting including the faculty and pediatric endocrine fellows to discuss these concerns. Changes to the goals, objectives, or curriculum may be implemented when necessary based on feedback received at these review sessions.

• Evaluation of fellows by faculty
• Evaluation of faculty by fellows bi-annually
• Evaluation of program by faculty, staff, and fellows annually

Learn more about our joint fellowship curriculum

• 1 continuity clinic per week (either diabetes or endocrine)
• 2 attending clinics per week (exempt when on-call)
• Service or on-call experience
• While on-call, the 1^st through 3^rd year fellows are the first call for families and provider within Children's Wisconsin.
• In the 3^rd year only while they are on-call, the fellows will also be first call for provider consults or questions outside of Children's Wisconsin.
• Fellows find this practice (with an attending there to staff with) during their 3^rd year prepares them for working independently after graduation.
• Number of call weeks:
• 1^st year: 16 weeks of 24hr call
• 2^nd year: 12 weeks of 24hr call
• 3^rd year:  8 weeks of 24hr call + 4  weeks of overnight call (430PM-8AM)
• Schedule when on-call  (weekdays)
• 7:30AM: see patients with new onset diabetes in clinic
• 9AM: see patients with urgent endocrine problems in clinic
• 10AM-Noon: round on established patients in the hospital
• 1-4PM: consult on new patients in the hospital
• Schedule when on-call   (weekends and Holidays): round in the hospital as needed.
• Holidays are divided among the fellows, as per their preference
• During non-business hours, call is “home call”

• Remaining time dedicated to research and other academic pursuits

Third-Year Fellow (2021-2024)

Justin Dey, MD

Hometown: Chandler, AZ

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin

Research /Scholarly Project: The Cardiometabolic Effects of Testosterone on Transmen

Mentor(s): Dr. Susanne Cabrera

Research interests: Open-minded to all parts, but recently took an interest in learning about obesity pharmacology as well

Interests and Hobbies: Golf, playing guitar, spending time with my wife and our dog, exploring new restaurants/breweries, sports (Arizona Cardinals fan, love going to Bucks games,  jumped on the Formula 1 bandwagon)

Why did I choose MCW for fellowship? After completing residency here, I knew that I would be exposed to a breadth of clinical diversity while learning in a fostering and supportive environment that also supports learner autonomy. Children’s Wisconsin cares for a large volume of children annually who are referred from all over the country and offers a comprehensive range of services, so I know that after my training I will be ready for anything that lies ahead!

Second Year Fellows (2022-2025)

Shrestha Banga, MD

Hometown: Gwalior, India

Medical school: Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India

Residency: Brookdale hospital/One Brooklyn health, Brooklyn, New York

Research /Scholarly Project: Endocrinopathies, neuropsychiatric outcomes and hypothalamic obesity in pediatric craniopharyngioma: a single center experience

Mentor(s): Dr. Elizabeth Dabrowski, MD

Research interests : Endocrinopathies in brain tumor , DSD, gender health, adrenal pathology, diabetes technology, obesity

Interests and Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, reading, sketching, trying new recipes

Why did I choose MCW for fellowship?

Children's Wisconsin has an incredible Endocrinology program that offers a chance to see the entire spectrum of endocrine pathologies and learn from the diverse and knowledgeable faculty. Children's Wisconsin caters to a large population of children with diabetes and strives to provides wholistic care, supported by the cutting-edge research at the McGee Diabetes research center. The various subspecialty clinics were an added attraction, especially gender health and brain tumor, which are my areas of interest. The warm and collegial nature of the program was evident during the interview, and I knew I would love being a part of this Endocrine family. The program provides mentorship in a nurturing environment while supporting fellows to advance in their chosen path and help them become unique and skilled Physician- scientists. Lastly, I was living in Milwaukee for a year prior to beginning fellowship and truly enjoyed the culture and everything the city has to offer.

One of the best things about living in Milwaukee?

It has all the great aspects of a big city life without the drawbacks of traffic and a hectic lifestyle. My family and I enjoy the different seasons that bring the breathtaking fall colors, pristine snow and lovely summer, with tons of related activities.  We appreciate the leisurely pace of life, warmth of the people and affordable cost of living. It also has one of the best school systems in the country.

Anne Gladding, DO

Hometown: Cranston, RI
Medical school: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine/Midwestern University
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Wisconsin
Research/Scholarly Project: Looking at consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners in patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes compared to patients without diabetes. My quality improvement work is looking at urine microalbumin screening in our type 1 diabetes patient population.
Mentor(s): Susanne Cabrera, MD; Bethany Auble, MD; Peter Wolfgram, MD
Interests & Hobbies: Playing sand volleyball year-round (yes, somehow possible in Wisconsin!), reading books with my book club, running and staying active
Why did I choose MCW for fellowship? Having done pediatric residency at Children's I was already familiar with the diverse Endocrine pathology I would see but the people are what make MCW such a wonderful place to train. The Endocrinology group at MCW feels like family and I could not imagine completing my fellowship anywhere else!
One of the best things about living in Milwaukee? No matter where you are in the city anything you could want to do is probably only 10 minutes away.

First Year Fellow (2023-2027)

Jeries Said, MD

Hometown: Jordan

Medical school: University of Jordan

Residency: MCW

Research /Scholarly Project: Providers Adherence for new onset Type 2 Diabetes Guidelines

Mentor(s): Dr. Susanne Cabrera

Research interests: Type 2 Diabetes

Interests and Hobbies:  Soccer , swimming  listening to music

Why did I choose MCW for fellowship? Supportive staff. The providers are great teachers.

One of the best things about living in Milwaukee? Food is so delicious!!!

At MCW and within the Department of Pediatrics, we have several programs and resources focused on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Our departmental and institutional focus is confronting negative perceptions and welcoming our community. Below is just a sampling of the efforts across our institutions to embed the principles of diversity and inclusion into our culture.

• DOP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council | Our Diversity Council, led by Dr. Mike Levas, the DOP Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion, and comprised of faculty, staff, administration, and trainees, is focused on connecting with partners across our system and within the community to ensure the DOP is a diverse, equitable and inclusive employer.
• DOP Fellowship and Residency Diversity and Inclusion Committees | In a city filled with its own diversity and rich cultural history, our fellows and residents recognize the importance of addressing diversity, health equity, and inclusion within our programs. As such, the program is proud to recognize the presence and work of its Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• DOP Unconscious Bias Training | The AAMC has partnered with Cook Ross, Inc., a leading consulting firm, to create training focused on the science behind unconscious bias to help academic medical staff and faculty mitigate disparities. Seven members of our team have earned a certification as unconscious bias trainers through Cook Ross. These trainers have translated what they’ve learned into a two-hour training for our faculty and staff. By learning how to identify and confront unconscious bias, it is possible to mitigate the impact and promote respect for all groups.
• Trauma-Informed Workplace Training | This committee has undertaken actions including a department-wide survey and the creation of four online training modules sharing the principles of trauma-informed approach and how to recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in ourselves and others. This group started as part of Fostering Futures, a state-wide initiative aimed at infusing a trauma-informed approach into all the systems and organizations that touch the lives of Wisconsin citizens with the goal of expanding across the state to make Wisconsin the first trauma-informed state in the nation.
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion | Established in March 2016, the MCW Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) partners within MCW and with community partners to foster and drive inclusion excellence as an effective, empowering enabler of MCW mission and strategic goals.
• Spring Festival of Cultures | The annual Spring Festival of Cultures encourages an increased awareness and celebration of the visible and non-visible identities among our MCW community. This three-day event is an opportunity to promote the fostering of diversity, inclusion and unity at MCW.
• President’s Diversity and Inclusion Award | MCW’s President's Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students, residents, trainees, and community members in contributing to diversity and inclusion through exemplary leadership.
• Institute of Health and Equity | The Institute for Health & Equity is focused on researching the root causes of health disparities in our communities, and advancing the best ideas to foster health equity throughout the world. We target populations with abnormally high rates of disease and injury – urban and rural alike – and then we find out why. Partnering with community health collaborators who live and work closest to the most vulnerable populations, we are making an impact on reducing those disparities, one community at a time.
• GMF-MCW Partnership | Through their overall partnership, MCW and GMF will bring complementary expertise on a range of strategies to invest in the health, equity and economic well-being of people across Milwaukee, beginning with the neighborhoods adjacent to the new development. Guided by community priorities and data, the GMF-MCW Partnership will be a catalyst for additional investment and community impact. Together, the partners will:
  • Engage resident and community partnerships
  • Improve social determinants of health
  • Catalyze change that leverages resources and investment

Learn about MCW's Office of Diversity and Inclusion

About the Medical College of Wisconsin
With a history dating back to 1893, the Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,400 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In the last ten years, faculty received more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,600 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 4.0 million patients annually.

About Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2019, Children’s invested more than $130 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Milwaukee is one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets and a prime location for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s main campus. A one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW students, faculty and employees take pride in calling Milwaukee home.

Learn more about housing and rental options.

More About Milwaukee

Our 3-year fellowship program is ACGME accredited and begins on July 1 each year. We accept one fellow every year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Applicants must have completed a US-accredited residency program. Applications from prospective applicants are accepted from July through October via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will access your application and contact you to make interview arrangements.

Complete applications should include the following:

• ERAS application form
• At least 3 letters of reference including Program Director letter
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation/Dean's Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement
• MD Applicants: USMLE scores - Steps 1, 2, and 3 or
• DO Applicants: COMLEX scores – Levels 1, 2 and 3
• ECFMG certificate for foreign medical school graduates (see visa information below)

Our program currently accepts the following visas:

• Permanent Resident Visa
• Visitor Exchange Visa sponsored by ECFMG (J-1)
• Temporary Professional Workers (H-1B)

For additional visa information please visit MCW’s office of Graduate Medical Education.

Apply on ERAS

Fellows are employed by the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH).

See MCWAH Benefits, Conditions & Terms of Employment for information regarding vacations, leaves, insurance, stipends and professional liability.