Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellowship | Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism | Department of Internal Medicine | UC Davis Health

Fellowship Programs

Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellowship

This program is two years in length and emphasizes clinical endocrinology and research training.  Our clinical facilities are based in the major teaching hospital of the university, UC Davis Medical Center. The University established the medical center in 1973 to support the clinical and research missions of the UC Davis School of Medicine.  Fully accredited, UC Davis Medical Center is the leading tertiary care referral center for 33 counties with nearly 5 million residents. The hospital is home to the region's only level 1 trauma center and comprehensive adult and pediatric emergency department.

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MDS 406 - Endocrinology, Nutrition, Reproduction and Genetics (9.5)

Lecture—3.8 hours; discussion/laboratory—2.8 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Chemistry 410A; Human Physiology 400. Restricted to Medical students only. Basic and pathophysiologic processes involved in human reproductive and endocrine control systems, nutritional regulation, and foundational genetics across the lifespan. Integrate information across these systems and use clinical reasoning to identify and understand relevant perturbations and diseases. May be repeated three times for credit. (P/F grading only; deferred grading only, pending sequence completion.)

ENM 460 - Clinical Clerkship

Clinical activity (inpatient-outpatient service)—full time (3 days per unit). Prerequisite: Internal Medicine 430 and/or consent of instructor. Limited enrollment. Participation with members of subspecialty service in the initial evaluation, work-up, management, and follow-up of patients with endocrinologic disorders. (H/P/F grading only.)

Foreign Medical Students: The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism does not accept foreign medical students. 

Professional Course Coordinator
Marissa Valentin-Clark

email: mevclark@ucdavis.edu
Fellowship and Student Programs Coordinator

Continuing Medical Education

Continuing Medical Education

Annual

Weekly (January – June)

  • Journal Club
  • Clinical Case Conference

The fellows' principal clinical duties are related to the consultative and clinical activities of the endocrine division in both outpatient and inpatient settings. These involve on average 10 to 15 consultations per week in the inpatient settings (UC Davis Health or Mather VA Medical Center) and outpatient clinics. Rotating medical residents and fourth-year medical students participate in these functions under the supervision of the endocrine fellow and members of the endocrine division faculty. While on the inpatient services, consultative rounds with faculty members are held three or more times per week and at least one teaching conference in endocrinology is scheduled weekly. The program provides clinical exposure to a wide variety of acute as well as chronic endocrine conditions and offers an opportunity for fellows to participate actively in diagnosis and management.

The endocrine fellow is also scheduled for dedicated research time, during which it is anticipated that the fellow will participate in quality improvement, basic or clinical research in the general field of endocrinology or metabolism. Research opportunities are available within the division as well as with other investigators within the School of Medicine and at the UC Davis campus. The fellow will be encouraged to seek grant support and we anticipate that the results of these research activities will be published. UC Davis is one of twelve institutions that received the Clinical and Translational Science Center award from the National Institute of Health. This center provides theoretical and practical research training to the endocrine fellows.

The Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship Training Program at UC Davis Health System is two years with an emphasis on clinical endocrinology and research. The educational objectives of the training program are to develop clinical competence in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism in order to diagnose and manage patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings. The fellowship program has 2 training sites at the UC Davis Medical Center and at the nearby VA Mather Medical Center. During their training, fellows are expected to:

  • Learn appropriate and cost-effective means to diagnose and treat patients with endocrine, diabetes, metabolism and clinical nutrition disorders.
  • Learn how to be a consultant in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism in inpatient and outpatient settings.
  • Learn biochemical and physiological aspects of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic disorders.
  • Develop experience in the performance and interpretation of clinical laboratory tests including immunoassays.
  • Gain experience in conducting ultrasonography and ultrasound guided fine needle aspirations of the thyroid gland.
  • Participate in and learn from a multidisciplinary diabetes education and treatment program.
  • Learn how to read, analyze and critique journal articles relevant to endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism including statistical analysis, study design, power statistics, and writing clinical research protocols.
  • Participate in research under the mentorship of an experienced scientist in order to learn the principles and practice of scientific inquiry. 

During their training, fellows will be provided opportunity to achieve cognitive knowledge, psychomotor skills, interpersonal skills, professional attitudes, and practical experience required of an endocrinologist.  The training program emphasizes scholarship, professionalism, self-instruction, development of critical analysis of clinical problems and the ability to make appropriate decisions.  Fellows will be encouraged to participate in professional organizations, community programs, and institutional committees.  
 
At the end of the training program, fellows will develop expertise in the evaluation and management of endocrine disorders including disorders of the parathyroid, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and gonads, and endocrine function of the kidney, brain, and other "non-endocrine" tissues, lipid disorders and basic principals of nutrition.

Endocrine Case Conference
Fellows decide on cases to be presented, with faculty guidance. During the conference, a case is introduced with supporting laboratory and radiographic studies, and the fellows provide their opinions regarding differential diagnosis and appropriate work-up. The presenting fellow provides a literature review of the topic discussed. 

Clinical Practice Course 
The core curriculum conference consists of lectures covering core topics in the field of Endocrinology. Clinical faculty provides lectures on their areas of subspecialty expertise and guest lectures provide talks on key topics in the field of Endocrinology. This lecture series is linked to board review sessions. During these sessions, In-Training Exam questions and answers are also reviewed, and Board Review topics are covered.  

Fellows Training Series
All fellows are registered for and have access to all modules offered in the Fellow Training Series created by the Endocrine Society. Modules can be covered independently and reviewed with core faculty at teaching sessions throughout the year. Prior In-Training Exam questions are also provided through this resource. 

Research Conference 
During the fall of their first year, the fellows complete a formal research design course. It is expected that the fellows will begin a research project at this time, and continue the research project throughout the two years of fellowship. Bi-annually, each fellow provides a review and status of their research and quality improvement projects. This conference is designed to provide an interactive forum for the fellows to update the division regarding their projects and to receive feedback. 

Journal Club 
Endocrine Journal Club occurs monthly. The objective of the journal club conference is for fellows to acquire skills in evaluation of scientific publications, review and discuss the article with the clinical faculty, and present and critique the article. 

Adrenal Clinic Conference and Tumor Board 
This multidisciplinary conference is scheduled every third Thursday. Attending physicians from Endocrinology, Endocrine surgery, and Radiology as well as fellows and residents review adrenal cases. Cases presented are those of patients undergoing evaluation of an adrenal concern with Endocrinology and/or Endocrine surgery.  The conference is an interactive forum for real-time case discussion, adrenal imaging and lab review and problem solving. 

Thyroid Clinical Conference and Tumor Board 
This multidisciplinary conference is scheduled every fourth Thursday. Attending physicians from Endocrinology (adult and pediatric), ENT, Endocrine surgery, Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology as well as fellows and residents review thyroid and parathyroid cases. Cases presented are those of patients undergoing evaluation of thyroid and/or parathyroid concerns with Endocrinology and/or ENT and/or Endocrine surgery.  The conference is an interactive forum for real-time case discussion, thyroid imaging and lab review and problem solving. 

Pathology Conference 
Division faculty and the fellows meet quarterly to biannually with an attending pathologist to review clinical cases in which endocrine division members have been involved, and a cytologic or pathologic sample has been obtained. 

Nuclear Medicine Conference 
Division faculty and the fellows meet quarterly to biannually with an attending Nuclear Medicine physician and residents to review clinical cases in which endocrine division members have been involved, and a nuclear medicine study (PET/CT, WBS, Thyroid uptake and scan, DXA, Sestamibi or MIBG) has been obtained to review imaging and discuss the clinical case for which the imaging was obtained. 

2019–2021 Class

Mopelola Adetola Adeyemo, M.D.
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Grand Rapids, MI
Residency: UC Riverside Medical Center
Riverside, CA

Andrea Marina Gonzalez Falero, M.D.
Medical School: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Residency: New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Program
Brooklyn, NY

2020–2022 Class

Jun Beom Park, M.D.
Medical School: The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Toledo, OH
Residency: St. Vincent Hospital
Indianapolis, IN

Deepti Pujare, M.D.
Medical School: New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY
Residency: Kaiser Permanente
Santa Clara, CA

Ushaanthy Ravindran, M.D.
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Miramar, FL
Residency: The Wright Center
Scranton, PA

2021–2023 Class

Aaron-Ross Jimenez, M.D.
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Grenada, West Indies
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York City, New York

Minhthao Nguyen, D.O.
Medical School: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Mesa, AZ
Residency: UH Regional Hospitals
Cleveland, OH

Where Are They Now?

2018–2020

Kearnan Welch, D.O.
Montage Medical Group
Monterey, CA

Arta Zowghi, D.O.
Sutter Health
Roseville, CA

2017–2019

Jameson Azul, M.D.
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA

Wei Yang, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
San Jose, CA

2016–2018

Arianne Furman, D.O.
Loma Linda Medical Center
Loma Linda, CA

Erin McCorry, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
Vacaville, CA

2015–2017

Naseem Eisa, M.D.
Sierra Endocrine Associates
Fresno, CA

Naseem Eisa, M.D.
Sierra Endocrine Associates
Fresno, CA

Richa Singh, M.B., B.S.
West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston
Charleston, WV

2014–2016

Christine Cox, D.O.
Sutter Health
Roseville, CA

2013–2015

Samineh Madani, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
San Jose, CA

Chrystal Wa, M.D.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Santa Clara, CA

2012–2014

Audrey "Lisa" Arzamendi, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Capitola, CA

Dana Sheely, M.D.
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA

2011–2013

Maya Allen, M.D.
Northbay Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology
Vacaville, CA

You Sher Tay, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
Sacramento, CA

2010–2012

Jaspreet Kaur M.D.
Endo and Diabetes Center
Danville, CA

Rami Mortada, M.D.
Endocrine Center of Kansas
Wichita, KS

2009 – 2011

William Thomas Amess, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
Vacaville, CA

Brandon Edward Chock, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
Ontario, CA

2008–2010

Joyce Leary, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente
Sacramento, CA

UC Davis Health Medical Center

The fellow is part of a consult team that also includes the attending physician and often an internal medicine resident and/or a fourth year medical student. Additionally, the inpatient diabetes consults are supported by a certified diabetes educator and a nurse practitioner. Educational bedside rounds with designated staff take place several times a week. We welcome the involvement of our endocrine fellows in quality improvement efforts targeted at inpatient diabetes care, as well. 

VA Mather

The fellow is part of a consult team that also includes the attending physician. Educational bedside rounds with designated staff take place several times a week. The focus of this rotation is the care of Endocrine diagnoses in veterans within a VA health care model. On this rotation, the fellows participate in outpatient clinics several half-days per week in addition to inpatient rounds in the afternoons. 

The outpatient clinic experiences include but are not limited to diabetes, thyroid, general endocrine, gestational diabetes, andrology, pituitary, pediatric endocrine, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and fellow’s continuity clinics.  Additional clinic opportunities are available to rotate gestational diabetes, Obesity/nutrition, and fertility clinics. 

Fellows have two continuity clinic sessions per week, on Tuesday morning (VA clinic) and Friday morning (UC Davis Health). The fellows have their own schedules and emphasis is placed on continuity of care. In the continuity clinic, the fellows see patients with a variety of endocrine disorders, including thyroid disease, adrenal disease, osteoporosis, pituitary disorders, PCOS and diabetes mellitus.

While on outpatient rotations, fellows participate in attending clinics specializing in Type 1 Diabetes, Male infertility & Hypogonadism, Pituitary disorders, Obesity, Gestational Diabetes and Pediatric Endocrinology. A multidisciplinary team at the outpatient clinic for diabetes care includes Certified Diabetes Educators and Registered Dieticians who work together to provide comprehensive diabetes care, education, nutritional advice, and support. In addition to the variety of diabetes and clinical services, UC Davis Health offers self-management educational programs and quality improvement research opportunities.

During FNA clinic, fellows learn formal neck ultrasonogram techniques in order to visualize thyroid nodules, parathyroid glands, and neck lymph nodes for 1) post-operative thyroid cancer surveillance, 2) fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules and suspected parathyroid adenomas, and 3) suspicious lymph nodes in patients with a prior history of thyroid cancer. Three to four FNA biopsies are typically performed during each half day clinic. Fellows learn to prepare specimens using both air dried and alcohol-fixed slides for standard cytologic examination, as well as for gene expression classification when indicated. First year fellows will attend a formal training course in addition to training sessions with faculty to hone skills in neck ultrasonogram & FNA techniques.

First and Second year fellows rotate through Endocrine surgery clinic, nuclear medicine, podiatry wound clinic and have the opportunity to observe thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pituitary surgeries.

The research experience allows the fellow to work with a supervising research mentor who will help them to design and implement a new research project that is carried out throughout the duration of the fellowship. This research project may involve basic or clinical research, depending on the interests or career goals of the fellow. In addition to specific research activities, the fellow will also attend the research design course and national scientific meetings to deliver poster or oral presentations.  
  
Fellows are expected to write up and publish interesting cases that they encounter during their training. We strongly encourage fellows to present at least one poster per year at a national meeting. 

  • To provide a meaningful, supervised research experience.
  • To learn the design and interpretation of research studies, responsible use of informed consent, and research methodology and interpretation of data.
  • To provide instruction in the critical assessment of new therapies and of the medical literature.

Fellows are also expected to be involved in Quality improvement projects during the course of their fellowship. The fellow will work with core faculty members on an ongoing project of one of their own design over the course of their fellowship. 

Bi-annually, each fellow provides a review and status of their research projects. This conference is designed to provide an interactive forum for researchers to update the division regarding their projects and to receive feedback as well.

Applications for the Endocrinology Fellowship program must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Interviews are by invitation only. Following the review of your application, you will be notified by email as to whether or not you have been selected for an interview. We begin reviewing applications in July. 
 
We conduct interviews annually from August through October

Items of note:

  • We currently are only able to accept J-1 visas
  • A valid California Medical License is required
  • Beginning July 2020, the fellowship start date will be July 15


For further information, please contact:
 
Marissa Valentin-Clark
Program Coordinator
UC Davis Medical Center
Endocrinology Fellowship Program
4150 V St., STE G400
Sacramento, CA 95817 
 
Telephone: 916-734-8328
Email:mevclark@ucdavis.edu