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Kuk-Wha Lee, MD PhD
"Hello there, I'm delighted that you are interested in our unique training program at UCLA. We are a family here and each of the faculty, current fellows, and support staff are dedicated to your development and success." Our fellowship program has a long and distinguished history of clinical, research, and educational excellence. Tailored to the specific talents and interests of each trainee, this program excels in training individuals for successful careers in academic and clinical pediatric endocrinology. Our three-year training program strives to attract superb candidates with a high interest in academic medicine. The program is structured to include clinical and research training (as per the requirements spelled out by the ACGME). The clinical program consists of fellows providing consultation on endocrine problems in outpatient/inpatient settings at two facilities: Mattel Children's Hospital within the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center. Fellows are expected to take an active role in teaching/supervision of housestaff and medical students. The well-structured educational program consists of weekly sessions; which range from clinical case meeting, combined adult/pediatric endocrinology grand rounds, journal club, laboratory meeting, and board review study sessions. In addition, there is a well-developed core curriculum (that includes mini-courses in biostastics and biomedical ethics) in research per the guidelines developed by the American Board of Pediatrics that enhances the education of all fellows. The research training is individualized and mentor-based and provides a scientifically rich environment where fellow trainees are afforded the opportunity of training in well established laboratories/clinical research programs with a wide range of expertise. Most fellows participate in a clinical as well as a basic science research project. Fellows participate in an integrated program of clinical responsibilities and research effort with an emphasis on publication and funding application throughout the fellowship period. In addition, our fellows travel and present at meetings on the national and international level. As per the certification requirements of the American Board of Pediatrics, involvement in scholarly activities must result in the generation of a specific written "work product," which may include: 1. a peer-reviewed publication in which a fellow played a substantial role; 2. an in-depth manuscript describing a completed project; 3. a thesis or dissertation written in connection with the pursuit of an advanced degree; 4. an extramural grant application that has either been accepted or favorably reviewed; 5. A progress report for projects of exceptional complexity, such as a multi-year clinical trial. Our fellows have opportunities to apply T32 as well as K awards and uniformly attend the CTSI's short course that provides the tools necessary for developing a clinical trial. Scientific mentors participating in the fellowship training program have an established track record in their field of investigation. Our graduated fellows are well placed in faculty positions at various institutions across the nation. Every fellow has the opportunity to apply for The Janet and Ray Scherr Fellowship Loan Repayment Endowment in additional to the NIH Loan repayment program. UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the third best hospital in the nation and best in the Western United States. Mattel Children's Hospital is one of the highest-rated children's hospitals in Southern California and is an integral component of the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, which is situated on the Main UCLA School Campus. The UCLA campus is situated in Westwood, which is eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. Westwood is unique in that it is predominantly a college village along with neighborhoods that offer independent housing. The UCLA Santa Monica Hospital is situated 10 minutes from the UCLA main campus and 5 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. There is a UCLA van service that shuttles between the two hospitals. Board certification eligibility upon fellowship completion: Pediatric Endocrinology Length of fellowship: 3 years Number of fellowship positions available per year: 1 Application Requirements * Prerequisites/post-medical school requirements: 3 years of pediatric residency in an ACGME-approved program. Graduates of non-ACGME programs may be considered in exceptional circumstances. * Application deadline: Dec. 1 Interviews: to be scheduled Match date: Spring * All applications must be submitted through ERAS (http://www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm), including CV, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. * An active California Medical License is required before fellowship initiation. * The position is competitive so please submit your applications early. Upon application receipt, we will notify you of interview availability. Kuk-Wha Lee, MD PhD Associate Professor of Pediatrics Director, Fellowship Training Program Division of Endocrinology Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 10833 Le Conte Ave. MDCC 22-315 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1752 Tel: 310-825-6244 Fax: 310-206-5843 Email: kukwhalee@mednet.ucla.edu UCLA Graduate Medical Education Homepage http://www.gme.medsch.ucla.edu/ The goal of the training program in Pediatric Endocrinology at UCLA is to provide fellows with instruction and evaluation in competencies that include: Patient care, medical knowledge, professionalism, system-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement and interpersonal and communication skills. Fellows will learn the fundamentals of clinical diagnosis and management of problems related to pediatric endocrinology. The curriculum in our program reflects our commitment to provide the community of pediatrics with academic pediatric endocrinologists who can render high quality clinical care, perform significant laboratory and/or clinical research, and teach effectively. Our philosophy is to: * Teach clinical medicine stressing physiologic principles for diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. * Integrate basic science teaching into clinical instruction. * Teach the basis for scientific investigation, study design, and the analysis and reporting of study results. * Provide opportunities to participate effectively in curriculum development, delivery of information, provision of feedback to learners, and assessment of educational outcomes. The fellows are expected to participate in assigned clinical rotations, attend and present at didactic sessions designed to provide a breadth of knowledge in clinical pediatric endocrinology, and in the physiological principles and basis of diagnosis and management, receive instruction in how to undertake research and participate in significant research that will translate into reporting of findings at scientific meetings and in peer reviewed journals and the submission of grant applications. The objectives of the program are: * To provide the clinical experiences and educational opportunities necessary to build a solid foundation of medical knowledge, critical thinking abilities, literature review skills, diagnostic acumen, technical skills, and develop sound clinical judgment. * To provide the research training and experience needed for trainees to develop careers as physician scientists. * To train well-rounded, empathetic clinicians who will continue to develop skills in communication with and counseling of families. * To motivate fellows and impart the skills needed for them to become lifelong learners and teachers, and for them to develop leadership skills and work effectively with team members. * To impart to the fellows a sense of responsibility to act as advocates for the health of children within our society. * To expose the fellows to the concept of hypothesis-driven research and encourage them to become active members of the profession's national societies. * To prepare future Pediatric Endocrinologists for ongoing changes in the health care system including managed care, limitations on resource utilization, and the appropriate use of other subspecialists, non-physician ancillary referrals and referral centers. * To prepare the fellows to practice culturally competent medical care for a diverse population in Los Angeles. * To teach professionalism by mentorship, validating the critical roles of personal ethics, responsibility, respect, compassion, communication, and self-awareness. * To provide training in an environment of respect and support, recognizing that fellowship training is a difficult and challenging time in one's personal and professional life. Components of the training include: * Clinical care (direct and consultative, inpatient and outpatient). * A core curriculum in Pediatric Endocrinology, physiology, and related sciences. * A core curriculum in teaching and scholarly activities. * Laboratory or translational research experience, under the supervision of a mentor and scholarship oversight committee. * Fellows are expected to develop competence in the recognition, diagnostic evaluation, and management of a broad spectrum of pediatric endocrine disorders, as outlined by the American Board of Pediatrics requirements for subspecialty certification in Pediatric Endocrinology. * Patient care: Provide family centered patient care that is developmentally and acuity-appropriate, compassionate, and effective for the treatment of health problems concerning the critically ill state and the promotion of health. * Medical knowledge: Understand the scope of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social behavioral knowledge needed by a neonatologist; demonstrate the ability to acquire, critically interpret and apply this knowledge in patient care. * Practice-based Learning and Improvement: Demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for continuous self-assessment, using scientific methods and evidence to investigate, evaluate, and improve one's patient care practice. * Interpersonal and Communication skills: Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in information exchange and partnering with parents of patients, their families and professional associates. * Professionalism: Demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to diversity. * System-Based Practice: Understand how to practice quality health care and advocate for patients within the context of the health care system. * Teaching: Trainees will be expected to learn skills that enable them to participate effectively in curriculum development, delivery of information, provision of feedback to learners, and assessment of educational outcomes. Graduates should be effective in teaching both individuals and groups of learners in clinical settings, classrooms, lectures, and seminars, and also via electronic and print modalities. The fellows will gain this experience as teachers in the inpatient/outpatient setting by teaching residents and medical students. In addition, fellows are presenters at the clinical and basic science conferences which form the foundation of their core curriculum. * Scholarly Activity: Fellows are expected to engage in specific areas of scholarly activity to allow acquisition of skills in the critical analysis of the work of others; to assimilate new knowledge, concepts, and techniques related to the field of one's practice; to formulate clear and testable questions from a body of information/data. All fellows are expected to engage in projects in which they develop hypotheses or in projects of substantive scholarly exploration and analysis that require critical thinking. Pediatric Endocrinology Conference SeriesClinical Case ConferenceweeklyPresentation of clinical history and findings of a case or a cluster of cases, hospital course, including management issues, and in depth literature review of relevant diagnosis or management issues Journal Club Clinical Journal Club2x/month monthlyPresentation and critical review of current literature Presentation and critical review of current literature Laboratory meeting2x/monthPresentation progress in researchCombined Adult/Pediatric Endocrinology Grand RoundsweeklyMix of clinical/basic science research. Clinico-pathological conference included. Board Review Pediatric Endocrinology High Days The Fisher Lecturer The Kaplan Lecturer Weekly YearlyReview of ABP curriculum Recognized Scientist/Endocrinologist Recognized Pediatric Endocrinologist Department of Pediatrics Core Curriculum Conference SeriesTransitional Research Course monthly Didactic lectures or discussions on various topics essential for trainees to make the transition from clinical medicine to academic medicine Career Path Conference monthly Didactic lectures or discussions on career development and growth within a medical academic and research institution Work-in-Progress ConferencemonthlyPresentation of research projects within the department and ideas towards undertaking a project Education/Methods Conference monthly Didactic sessions on developing tools for education of students, residents, and fellows, and evaluation of teaching methods as well as teaching of fundamental laboratory methods Ethics in Research SessionmonthlyDidactic sessions on ethical issues in research including professionalism competencyBiostatistics Conference Ten sessionsDidactic sessions on principles of biostatistics Dr. Lee is the program director for pediatric endocrinology at the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA. She has held this position since 2007. She received her MD/PhD via the Medical Scientist Training Program at Loma Linda University in California. She completed her fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at UCLA in 2003. Her scientific interest is currently 3-pronged: * Understanding the contribution of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein (IGFBP-3) in whole body metabolism. * Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which IGFBP-3 induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer models and translating this to therapy. * Unraveling the biology behind the cytoprotective actions of a binding partner of IGFBP-3 called Humanin and applying this knowledge to diabetes and its complications. My laboratory utilizes molecular and protein biology techniques in cell culture and whole animal models.Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship
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