Program Overview

Advanced Training in Endocrinology

The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Joslin Diabetes Center Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism has a particular interest in developing the careers of physicians who are interested in academic medicine and who, in addition to acquiring excellent clinical skills, are also enthusiastic about teaching and research.

The endocrinology program is staffed by clinicians and researchers from both BIDMC and Joslin Diabetes Center. In addition to a long tradition of clinical excellence and medical education, the program has substantial strength in research, particularly in the areas of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and obesity. This includes bench-based research and clinical research. The program also has a close affiliation with a number of Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals.

General Program Structure

The endocrinology fellowship offers two distinct tracks. During year one, the three fellows are indistinguishable from one another.

  • One fellow will follow the three-year Research Track. This Research Track is only available to US citizens and permanent residents due to funding restrictions.
  • Two fellows will follow the two-year Clinical Track, which is open to all applicants.

The first year for all fellows is devoted to fulfilling the ABIM and ACGME training requirements. This will include covering the inpatient services along with outpatient clinical experiences. Each fellow will have their own weekly Endocrine Continuity Clinic at BIDMC and a Diabetes Continuity Clinic at Joslin Diabetes Center.

Want to learn more about the program directly from our faculty and fellows? Watch out Fellowship Video Tour here.

Application Process

The BIDMC/Joslin Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Fellowship Program accepts applications through the Electronic Residency Application (ERAS) Fellowships system and offers three positions through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) each year. Three positions are available each year (position types vary by year): two clinical track and one research or two research track and one clinical track. Learn more about program requirements and how to apply.

Research Track

The Research Track consists of one clinical year involving Inpatient and Outpatient clinics, followed by diverse second and third years with continuity clinics, a broad array of lectures and conferences, a small Quality Improvement project, and a major research experience in one of the laboratories at BIDMC, Joslin or a related lab in the area. The research opportunities are numerous and varied, as they reflect the research interests of the Endocrine Division faculty.

Research Opportunities at BIDMC:

Research Opportunities at Joslin:

  • Type 2 diabetes pathophysiology
  • Islet biology and mechanisms of beta cell destruction
  • Stress response and aging
  • Diabetes complications
  • Microbiome and type 1 diabetes

Additional Research Training Resources

  • Models of Disease Boot Camp

Clinical Track

The Clinical Track consists of two clinical years with no traditional research project. In lieu of a research project, the fellow will do one to two large Quality Improvement projects, of their choosing. The second year of the track will be customized to the interests of the fellow but will include: Advanced diabetes training, including pump management and CGMS; Advanced thyroid ultrasonography and biopsy; and Additional subspecialty clinics (e.g. lipid/repro/bone). The Clinical Track Fellow’s second year will be divided 50/50 between the BIDMC and the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Outpatient Experience
  • General Endocrinology Continuity Clinic
  • Diabetes Continuity Clinic
  • Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center
  • Thyroid Center
  • Reproductive Endocrinology Clinic
  • Division of Obstetrics
  • Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic
  • PCOS Center
  • Wellpowered Weight Loss and Wellness Program
  • Gender Affirming Services
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pituitary Clinic
  • Lipid Clinic
Inpatient Experience
  • General Endocrinology Consult Service
    • Responsible for providing inpatient endocrine care at BIDMC
  • Diabetes in Pregnancy Service
    • Treat and follow pregnant women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes
  • Diabetes Consult Service
    • Responsible for providing inpatient diabetes care at BIDMC (The fellow on the diabetes consult service follows six patients)
Clinician Educator Track

If you have an interest in teaching others and would like it to be a part of your career, BIDMC offers a unique opportunity through the Department of Medicine Clinical Educator Track for Fellows.

Leadership and Alumni

The BIDMC/Joslin Diabetes Center Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism has prepared fellows for successful careers at medical centers, research institutes, universities and pharmaceutical companies around the world. Program leadership are committed to developing the next generation of leading clinical endocrinologists and physician-scientists. Learn more about fellowship leadership, current fellows and alumni.

Quality Improvement/Patient Safety Experience

How do I practice medicine safely? How do I deliver the best possible care to my patients? How do I make things better around me? These are central questions for every physician and our program firmly believes that our responsibility is not only to prepare our fellows to practice good medicine, but also to teach them how to improve it. Quality Improvement (QI) and safety training is an integral part of the fellowship education. Research Track fellows will do 1 small QI project during their second and third years. The Clinical Track fellow will do 1-2 larger QI projects during the second year. BIDMC is a hospital where the culture values and nurtures high quality care and the desire to do better. It permeates practice for every discipline from the first day of orientation until graduation.

Weekly Conferences and Educational Experiences

  • Attending Teaching Sessions (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday mornings)
  • Joslin Clinical Diabetes Grand Rounds
  • BIDMC Clinical Case Conference/Journal Club/Multidisciplinary (Bone, Neuroendocrine, Thyroid, Adrenal)/Morbidity and Mortality
  • Endocrinology Grand Rounds
  • Fellows Didactic Sessions