Curriculum

 Our curriculum mostly utilizes an adult learning approach to didactics rather than the traditional lecture methods.  Fellows are given structured task to do and are reviewed in group settings for 20-30 minutes daily to provide short frequent bursts of learning.  Formal lectures and journal clubs are used to enhance the adult learning style to didactics. 

First year fellows and second year fellows have separate didactics except for journal club and lectures. 

To enhance learning through clinic exposure, fellows will rotate outside the A/I clinic with various fields such as:

Pulmonary

Otolaryngology 

Dermatology

Rheumatology

Pathology

Electives (3 main blocks total over 2 years)

Research (3 main blocks total over 2 years, with extra dedicated time allowed during nearly every rotation)

All fellows are required to complete Citi-training and enroll in WVU fellow research academy.  Fellows are guided on all aspects of research starting from project conception and design, IRB submission and grant writing, data collection and analysis and manuscript preparation.

Applications for grants are encouraged at multiple levels starting from departmental to nation organizations and companies.  Fellows both work as a group on long-term research projects as well as initiating independent short-term projects.  Reseach is presented at local conferences.  Applications to present research at regional and national conference is also highly encouraged.  Laboratory bench research is possible for those interested.  

Attendance to regional and national A/I conferences is supported financially and highly encouraged regardless of rotation or time of year.  During a fellow's 2nd year, attendance to the American Academy of Immunology course on immunology is mandatory and supported by separate funding.