Rheumatology Fellowship

Our division promotes a culture of learning rheumatology as part of internal medicine. We provide care in a personalized, individual manner to our patients, remembering there is a person attached to the symptoms. We pride ourselves on patient safety, continuous system-based improvement, cost-conscious care and the responsible use of precious resources. We do this within the boundaries of the values of Carilion Clinic: collaboration, courage, commitment, compassion and curiosity. The division promotes and embraces a culture of inclusivity of our diverse patient population, as well as fellows and staff who come from a variety of backgrounds. Our primary emphasis, the education of rheumatology fellows, remains at the division’s core.

The discipline of rheumatology has always maintained an academic culture. The division faculty are active locally within the Carilion system, regionally, statewide and nationally. As such, our fellows have an opportunity to become involved with academic scholarly activity as well as in industry-related trials. We feel these academic endeavors give great depth to the educational program. In addition to robust academic activities, the fellows gain valuable clinical, research, scholarly, teaching and administration experience in rheumatology through the program’s comprehensive curriculum.

Carilion Clinic and the Carilion Clinic - Virginia Tech Carilion Rheumatology Fellowship program strongly support the current drive toward a more inclusive academic medical learning environment. We strive to provide medical education and care to our learners and patients in a manner that is free of bias. We believe that, in this way, we prepare future rheumatologists to be full and well-rounded individuals who care for the well-being of their patients and themselves. To attain these goals, our applicants undergo a humanistic review based on their knowledge, skills, qualities and abilities beyond the immediate medical evaluation of scores and without regard to race/color, religion, sex/gender orientation, age, disability, veteran status or national origin. The making of a good doctor is intimately related to what makes us good people.

We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities that the Carilion Clinic - Virginia Tech Carilion Rheumatology Fellowship program has for your future education. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you in becoming the best physician you can be within an ever-expanding, progressive and nurturing environment.

"We provide care in a personalized, individual manner to our patients, remembering there is a person attached to the symptoms."

I am honored to be serving as Associate Program director for the Rheumatology Fellowship. I received my medical degree in the University of Nigeria and practiced In Trinidad and Tobago where I was involved in training residents. After Internal Medicine residency in New York and Rheumatology Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, I joined the Rheumatology department at Metro Health and Case Western. I then practiced in Sioux Falls and Tyler, Texas before joining the Rheumatology department at Carilion clinic and the Virginia Tech School of Medicine. It was exciting to be part of the founding faculty for the Rheumatology Fellowship program and witness the graduation of the first set of fellows.

The Carilion Clinic - Virginia Tech Carilion Rheumatology Fellowship has diverse and enthusiastic faculty that are dedicated to training rheumatologists who excel in patient care, scholarship, and service to their communities. As the faculty continues to expand, we expect to increase our outreach to underserved and rural populations and to provide our fellows with more experience in diverse communities. The interdisciplinary care of our patients has been enhanced by the collaboration of our fellows with other departments in academic scholarly projects and during electives. With daily didactics, simulation sessions and involvement of the fellows in teaching at the medical school, we ensure that they are not only well prepared clinically and academically but are also ready to be future educators.