Endocrinology

View from Old Library to Fountain

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at OHSU has a longstanding tradition of excellence in patient care and commitment to education and research. Our program consists of faculty members who are experts in the field of endocrine disorders as well as accomplished researchers and clinicians. We are actively involved in both clinical and basic science research, and collaborate with over 20 research laboratories dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders.

Our Fellowship Program is designed to prepare pediatric endocrinologists for successful and productive careers in academic medicine. Fellows have the opportunity to develop their clinical and research skills alongside experienced mentors in an institution that combines healing, teaching, research and service. Not only do our Fellows have the opportunity to become proficient Pediatric Endocrinologists, they do it in the urban setting of Portland, Oregon which is only an hour away from skiing, the Pacific Ocean and wilderness which can only be found in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

The Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program is a comprehensive three-year program that provides the necessary training to become board eligible by the end of the third year. The first year focuses on developing key clinical skills and acquiring the basics of pediatric endocrinology along with the introduction of basic research concepts. Approximately 70% of time will be spent in clinical training and 30% on acquiring introductory research skills

The goal of the second and third years of fellowship training is the acquisition of research skills and the accomplishment of a meaningful research project.  During the second and third years, approximately 80% of the fellow's time is spent in basic science or clinical research with 20% in clinical responsibilities. The second and third year fellows have their own clinic schedules, splitting time between general endocrinology and diabetes. This allows the fellow, under the supervision of staff pediatric endocrinologists, to follow their own patients from initial diagnosis through treatment and follow-up. This program's goal is to prepare fellows for board certification and a successful career in pediatric endocrinology.

We accept one or two into our program each year. The Pediatric Endocrinology program is on the NRMP Pediatric Subspecialty Fall Match and follows their timeline: http://www.nrmp.org.

Questions regarding the fellowship program may be directed to the Program Director, Lisa Madison, M.D. via email or telephone.

For more information contact:
Lisa Madison, MD, Fellowship Program Director
Oregon Health & Science University
707 S.W. Gaines, CDRC-P
Portland, OR 97239
503-494-1926

Application process

The Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program will now be participating in ERAS and the NRMP Fall match. Please apply accordingly though these programs.

For your ERAS application, please provide the following:

  • 1-page personal statement
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • Medical School Dean's letter
  • Resident Program Director's letter verifying your training
  • Medical school transcript
  • CV

Fellowship training program

Bruce Boston No Gray HairThe first year

The specific aims of the first year are to impart the factual knowledge necessary to understand endocrine pathophysiology, to enable the trainee to assess data obtained by history and physical examination of infants and children with endocrine disorders, and to develop meaningful differential diagnoses. The fellow will learn to undertake appropriate diagnostic studies, interpret test results so as to arrive at the correct diagnosis, and finally, to initiate appropriate treatment and make plans for follow-up care. These objectives are met by participation in outpatient and inpatient clinical experiences, including after hours call, and attendance at and participation in teaching conferences and course work.

The trainees will be assigned to patient evaluations in outpatient clinics at Doernbecher Children's Hospital for a total of 6 half day clinics per week as follows:

Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic: 4 half days
Pediatric Metabolic Clinic: 1 half day (6 months only)

All patients evaluated by the trainees will be presented to a faculty staff member who also examines the patient and helps guide the trainee in selecting diagnostic studies and planning treatment. Our Pediatric Endocrinologists see approximately 3600 endocrine and 2900 diabetes outpatients each year, including 170 diabetes telemedicine visits. In addition, there are approximately 150 inpatient endocrine and 170 inpatient diabetes admissions yearly. The patients seen represent the full spectrum of endocrine and metabolic disorders. The trainees are assigned to see all of the scheduled inpatient admissions and consultations. Inpatient rounds are made with the attending staff daily or as needed. First year trainees will take home call in week long blocks no more than every third week. The call and duty hours are in compliance with the guidelines established by ACGME.

Pediatric Endocrine Fellows will also begin to develop specific research skills in the first year. They are taught experimental design, statistical analysis, and will begin to design their ongoing projects.

The second and third years

Trainee's focus primarily on research in the second and third years with the clinical activities limited to that required for board certification. The primary purpose of the second and third year of training is the acquisition of hands-on research experience and the completion of a reasonable research project that can potentially serve as the foundation for a fellow's research emphasis when they secure a junior faculty position in academic medicine. During the first year, fellows will meet with the Director of the training program and choose between a primarily clinical or basic science research track (see below).

Approximately 20% of their time is spent in a Pediatric Endocrinology continuity clinic, which allows them to establish a relationship with and follow patients longitudinally during their three years of training. Fellows also participate in the after-hours call schedule no more than one week every three weeks. Fellows continue to participate in weekly endocrine research conferences.

Basic science research track

Fellows following the basic science research track will identify a laboratory mentor prior to the end of their first year of fellowship. Trainees will be provided with descriptions of faculty members' research areas at the beginning of their first year and will identify possible mentors. Fellows will then have the opportunity to meet with potential mentors and discuss projects and attend laboratory meetings of potential mentors' research groups. Once a trainee has identified a mentor, they will develop a research project that provides maximal exposure to the range of research techniques and approaches used in the mentor's laboratory. The overall goal of the three years of research training is to give the trainee a first hand experience in identifying a research area, formulating a research plan in the format of a formal grant application, performing the pertinent studies and preparing the results of these studies for presentation and publication.

Clinical research track

A clinical research-training track has been added to this program to recognize the need for training fellows in clinical and translational research. This program incorporates the Human Investigations Program and is designed to provide rigorous clinical research training in addition to an exposure to molecular and genetic basic science research techniques. The Human Investigations Program (HIP) at OHSU is supported by a K30 training grant from the NIH.

Fellows will enroll in either the HIP certificate track or the Master's degree track. The certificate track is a two-year course that includes required course modules plus a choice of elective choices. The Masters Degree track includes completion of the HIP courses as well as a core sequence in either the Masters in Public Health or Biomedical Informatics curriculum. Both the certificate and Master's degree tracks include a mentored research experience that should result in an academic product such as a publishable manuscript or grant proposal.