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Home > NICHD-NIDDK Interinstitute Endocrine Training Program

NICHD-NIDDK Interinstitute Endocrine Training Program

  • Lynnette Nieman, MD, Associate Director, Interinstitute Endocrine Training Program
  • Smita Baid, MD, Staff Clinician
  • Vishal Mahabir, MD, Clinical Fellow
  • Wai Pi Li, MD, Clinical Fellow
  • Shannon Sullivan, MD, Clinical Fellow
  • Peter Butler, MD, Clinical Fellow

The Inter-Institute Endocrinology Training Program (IETP) seeks to train internal medicine physicians to become excellent endocrinologists who seek investigative careers. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Diabetes Branch, Metabolic Diseases Branch, Clinical Endocrinology Branch and the Islet Autoimmunity Branch); The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Developmental Endocrinology Branch, Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch); and The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research participate in this program, with faculty from all three institutes. As part of the fellowship program, fellows see patients who are enrolled in teaching and training protocols. A clinical component of these studies allows residents to learn by participating in clinical care; an optional research component permits investigation of unusual disorders not covered by specific hypothesis-driven protocols. Fellows also care for patients enrolled in hypothesis-driven protocols.

The IETP provides a comprehensive training experience that involves not only the NIH clinical branches working in endocrinology, but also the Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The basic and clinical endocrine research facilities at the NIH are among the most extensive and highly regarded in the world. Thus, the fellowship is ideal for physicians who seek a broad education in both research and clinical endocrinology. Clinical training occurs largely in the first year. Fellows are responsible for five to ten patients, at any one time, on the inpatient service of the NIH. The trainee has complete responsibility for all aspects of the patient’s care, under the supervision of the endocrine faculty. Fellows make daily rounds, discuss patients with the attending physicians, and participate in management decisions related to both patient care and clinical investigation. Although all patients are admitted under peer-reviewed research protocols, there are many other aspects of diagnosis and patient care that fall entirely under the discretion of the endocrine fellows.

The remaining two years are spent primarily in laboratory or clinical research under the direction of a senior investigator in one of the several endocrinology branches of the NIH. During this research period, active clinical experience continues through a weekly continuity outpatient clinic, and participation in clinical conferences. In addition, fellows on the endocrine service serve as consultants to the rest of the Clinical Center, where patients are not selected with regard to endocrine problems. Thus, the fellows gain experience with a number of common problems of endocrine disease that may occur in any general medical ward. Clinical research activities include programs in all the areas of endocrine and metabolic diseases. Study design, outcome measures statistical analysis, and ethical and regulatory issues are stressed.

Publications

  • Levens ED, Whitcomb BW, Csokmay JM, Nieman LK. Selective venous sampling for androgen-producing ovarian pathology. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2009 70:606-614.

Collaborators

  • Monica C. Skarulis, MD, Director, IETP, NIH, Bethesda, MD
  • Francesco Celi, MD, Clinical Endocrinology Branch, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD
  • Michael T. Collins, MD, Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, NIDCR, Bethesda, MD
  • Phillip Gorden, MD, Diabetes Branch, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD
  • David M. Harlan, MD, Diabetes Branch, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD
  • Stephen J. Marx, MD, Metabolic Diseases Branch, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD
  • Lawrence Nelson, MD, Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, NICHD, Bethesda, MD
  • Karel Pacak, MD, Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, NICHD, Bethesda, MD
  • Constantine Stratakis, MD, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, NICHD, Bethesda, MD
  • Nicholas Patronas, MD, Diagnostic Radiology, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD
  • James C. Reynolds, MD, Nuclear Medicine Department, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD
  • James Segars, MD, Director, Reproductive and Infertility Gynecology Training Program, NICHD, Bethesda, MD
  • William F. V, MD, Metabolic Diseases Branch, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD
  • Lee S. Weinstein, MD, Metabolic Diseases Branch, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD
  • Marina Zemskova, MD, Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, NICHD, Bethesda, MD
  • Joseph Verbalis, MD, Director, Endocrine Training Program, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
  • Kenneth Berman, MD, Director, Endocrine Training Program, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC
  • Henry Burch, MD, Director, Endocrine Training Program, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

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