Pediatrics

Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship

Welcome!

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program at UCLA started in 2004 and is an ACGME accredited three-year training program providing comprehensive training in pediatric rheumatologic diseases. The training program is designed to prepare specialists in the delivery of skilled medical and consultative care to patients with a broad spectrum of rheumatic conditions found in childhood and adolescence. It is specifically directed towards pediatricians interested in pursuing academic careers in Pediatric Rheumatology with research in clinical, translational, and or basic science.  The program is under the direction of Deborah McCurdy, MD (Clinical Professor of Pediatrics), and includes Alice Chang Hoftman, MD (Associate Program Director), and other board certified Pediatric Rheumatologists.

Mission of the American College of Rheumatology

The Mission of all rheumatology fellowship training programs is to produce physicians that:

  • Are clinically competent in the field of Rheumatology
  • Are capable of working in a variety  of setting
  • Possess habits of life-long learning to build upon their knowledge, skills, and professionalism

Mission and Overall Objectives of Pediatric Rheumatology at UCLA

The goals of the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program at UCLA are derived from the Mission Statement and the Pediatric subsection of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and expanded to produce physicians that:

  • Are clinically competent in the diagnosis and management of children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases
  • Understand the pathogenesis of Rheumatic Diseases within the limits of current knowledge
  • Are capable of working in variety of settings
  • Are professional members of the medical community and have developed good interpersonal and communication skills
  • Understand methods of education and are involved in teaching of colleagues, other subspecialty residents, medical students, and allied health professionals
  • Understand methods of education and are involved in teaching patients and parents
  • Possess habits of life-long learning to build upon their knowledge, skills and professionalism
  • Understand methods of education and statistics to better evaluate and analyze the literature in the field
  • Participate in local and national or organizations to enhance medical knowledge, provide quality assurance, and ensure up to date medical knowledge and care
  • Know community and national resources and programs for children with rheumatic diseases and their families
  • Learn principles of generating new knowledge thorough the understanding and participation in research and completion of a basic science or clinical research project