The Program

What is the objective of the Fellowship?

We have designed the Fellowship to advance the knowledge of trainees in the diagnosis and management of patients with all types of glomerular diseases. The program is structured to enable trainees to complement (but not substitute) the education provided by their ABIM certified nephrology fellowship training programs.

1. The broad objectives are:
2. Develop proficiency in the diagnosis and management of common glomerular diseases such as lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis, among others.
3. Provide a basic understanding of the presentation, diagnosis, and management of rare glomerular diseases such as Fabry’s disease or Fibrillary GN.
4. Gain a step-by-step understanding of nephropathology about common and rare glomerular diseases.
5. Increase exposure to current and future research activities in this space, with a focus on clinical trials.
6. Foster collaborative local and global networks with colleagues and mentors.

How is the Fellowship structured?

Glomcon fellows work in two groups, Nephrin and Podocin, based on their geographical location and time zone:

Nephrin: Africa, Europe, Ireland, United Kingdom, North America, South America
Podocin: Asia-Pacific region (including but not limited to Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand)

The GlomCon fellows will have a 1-2 hour meeting with faculty every two to four weeks throughout the year. Fellows have to prepare for and lead the session, which may take many forms, such as case-based discussions, journal club, nephropathology series, or ‘behind-the-door’ look at guidelines.

Fellows will summarize the educational session on the GlomCon website and create learning tools with the faculty and program directors.

The program will provide opportunities to align the Fellowship year with the specific interests of the fellows.

The Faculty and Program Directors will track progress and provide formal feedback throughout the year.

What will my time commitment be for the Fellowship?

The more you invest, the more you learn!

Our expectations are:

1. Attend a minimum of 90% of the bimonthly faculty sessions.
2. Lead one or more faculty meetings and topic-based discussions.
3. Attend as many GlomCon sessions as possible. Prepare and moderate one GlomCon conference later in the year.
4. Give a year-end talk at your home institution using content you created as part of your GlomCon fellowship.
5. You can expect to spend ~2-4 hours a week, and you are required to secure the support of your home institution’s training program leadership.

When does Fellowship start, and when does it end?

The Fellowship training starts on September 22nd, 2022, and will end on July 30th, 2023.  

Who should apply?

Individuals who are interested in enhancing their knowledge about the management of glomerular diseases. 

Individuals with enthusiasm and passion for medical education, in particular, a desire to connect with peers across other organizations and explore new learning methods. 

This Fellowship aims to provide a platform to embark on a clinical or research career in the field of glomerular disease. 

Enhanced skill sets and clinical competency in caring for patients with glomerular diseases are the markers of ultimate success.   

What are the requirements to apply?

Nephrology fellows and early career nephrologists are encouraged to apply.

All participants are required to be proficient in English (speaking and writing)

Required documents:

1. Letter of interest.
2. Up to date Resume/CV
3. Optional: A Letter of support from your local Program Director or Chief committing protected time toward fellowship activities and addressed to GlomCon Fellowship Program (exceptions: self-employed private practice professionals, which we will review case by case).
4. Acknowledgment of a fellowship fee upon acceptance of your application and successful enrollment: Fellowship fee for the 10 months of training period is $690 | $490 | $290 – The fellowship fee is adjusted according to World Bank’s Country Income Groups: High-income economies | Middle-income economies | Low-income economies. 25% rebate for group applications through their local training programs (min 2, max 4)

Any application that does not meet the above requirements will not be considered.
Please note that GlomCon does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age. GlomCon is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all trainees and faculty.

Required core curriculum 

Diagnosis and management of “common” glomerular diseases:

Fellows will take a deep dive into studying the presentation and diagnosis of glomerular diseases and associated pathologies such as:

• Lupus nephritis
• IgA nephropathy
• Minimal change disease
• FSGS
• Membranous nephropathy
• Infection associated GN
• Small vessel vasculitis

Fellows will focus on strengthening their understanding of diagnosing and managing these diseases. They will review the nuances of interpreting serological studies, including their strengths and limitations. Further, fellows will critically appraise new studies, and review key concepts in diagnosis and therapy of glomerular diseases. Exercise in nephropathology, as the cornerstone of glomerular disease care, will be the backbone of this virtual Fellowship training. Additional core elements are the review of immunosuppression and non-immunosuppression treatment pathways (including dosing regimens), adverse effects of treatment and conservative management, limitations of current therapies, and future directions. Fellows will receive multiple presentations from core faculty on the topics with dedicated Q&A sessions from the experts. 

Diagnosis and management of rare glomerular diseases:

We expect Fellows to achieve a basic understanding of the presentation, diagnosis, and management of rare glomerular diseases such as:

• Amyloidosis (acquired and inherited forms)
• Fibrillary/Immunotactoid GN
• Immune complex GN, C3GN, and TMA
• Alport’s syndrome
• Anti-GBM disease
• MGRS
• Cryoglobulinemia
• GN in pregnancy
• GN in onconephrology

Nephropathology training:

• Fellows will work closely with the course Faculty as their mentors. A nephropathology series will help fellows understand common pathology findings of each block’s diseases. 

Research:

Fellows who are interested in research and developing an academic career can learn about funding opportunities, review ongoing and upcoming clinical trials, critical concepts in study design, trial participation, and patient recruitment opportunities. Fellows will also have the chance to interact with faculty actively pursuing research in GN. During the fellowship, fellows will have an opportunity to discuss their research ideas with GN experts. Collaboration during and beyond this Fellowship is encouraged and actively supported.