DUKE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DUKEHEALTH.ORG
| Fellowship Program |
| Overview | Training Program | Rotations Applicant Information | Current & Past Fellows | Past Fellows Divisional Facilities | Publications | Research Activities |
Applying for Fellowship Training (2010 candidates)
*** WE ARE NOT INTERVIEWING ANY MORE CANDIDATES FOR THE 2010 FELLOWSHIP. ***
- Applications for fellowship training are accepted through the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology.
www.socrei.org/FellowshipGateway.html
- A copy of the 2007 REI Fellowship Directory can be downloaded at
http://www.socrei.org/REIFellowshipPrograms.pdf
Overview
This fellowship program is designed to provide the clinical and investigative skills to pursue an academic career in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. This includes reproductive surgery, endoscopic reconstructive surgery, assisted reproductive technology (~280 IVF cycles/year), andrology, pediatric endocrinology and medical endocrinology. The fellowship is divided into 18 months of clinical experience and 18 months in the laboratory, which includes some combination of research and IVF laboratory experience. A diversity of endocrine and infertility patients is seen. The first year of fellowship is primarily clinical. Fellows are active in monitoring of ART patients, performing transvaginal oocyte retrievals (TVOR), mock embryo transfers and observing andrology/embryology laboratory techniques. They also primarily perform office procedures of intrauterine insemination, hysterosalpingography, saline infusion ultrasound and hysteroscopy. Fellows participate, under supervision, in surgical procedures including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, abdominal myomectomy, robotic-assisted myomectomy and correction of genital abnormalities. During the first year, fellows also see patients in their own clinic one-half day a week with faculty supervision. The second year of fellowship is completely research with no clinical duties. Fellows participate in a combination of basic science research and clinical research. Basic science activities focus on the investigation of novel progesterone receptors. Clinical research activities are varied including investigations of treatments for leiomyomata, chemoprotection of the ovary, optimization of ovulation induction techniques and optimization of gamete fertilization and culture techniques. The third year of fellowship training is a combination of research and clinical activities. Goals include completion of research activities, presentation of research data and manuscript(s) preparation. Further clinical expertise is gained in the above mentioned areas. Two graduate level courses are taken during the 18 months of laboratory time, a course in biostatistics and one in molecular biology. Fellows participate in joint conferences with the divisions of Pediatric and Medical Endocrinology. Other teaching activities include weekly case presentations with the faculty, weekly review of pre-operative patients and a RE topic, weekly departmental morbidity and mortality conference and weekly departmental grand rounds. Journal club is held monthly within the Division and twice a year in conjunction with the fellows and faculty of the
Duke fellows interact primarily with the RE Faculty but also with the fellows and faculty in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition (Department of Medicine) and the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology (Department of Pediatrics).
Thomas M. Price, MD
Dr. Price was appointed the Fellowship Director in 2007. He sees patients with infertility and all types of reproductive endocrinology complaints. He supervises the fellows in daily activities of clinical care including diagnosis and development of treatment plans. He supervises fellows’ office procedural activities including HSG, saline infusion sonography, TVOR, and mock embryo transfers; and he supervises surgical procedures including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, robotic-assisted myomectomy, abdominal myomectomy, and correction of genital abnormalities. Dr. Price is involved in both clinical and basic science research with his major emphasis being on the latter. In general, each fellow works in the basic science lab in addition to other clinical projects. The lab investigates the identification and function of novel progesterone receptors using molecular techniques and transgenic mouse studies. Dr. Price’s clinical research activities vary with time, with current research interest including ovarian chemoprotection. Dr. Price participates in didactic teaching sessions and leads a case review with the fellows weekly.
David K. Walmer, MD, PhD
Dr. Walmer is director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility (REF) and as such supervises the clinical and research activities of the Division. He sees patients with infertility and all types of reproductive endocrinology abnormalities. He supervises the fellows in daily activities of clinical care including diagnosis and development of treatment plans. He supervises fellows’ office procedural activities including HSG, saline infusion sonography, TVOR, and mock embryo transfers; and he supervises surgical procedures including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, abdominal myomectomy, and correction of genital abnormalities. Dr. Walmer supervises clinical research activities of the fellows and is currently involved in several studies including the use of micro-dose hCG for ovulation induction, dispersion of vaginal gels for topical virucides, predictors of IVF outcome, and neonatal phenotypic markers of PCOS. He also participates and leads didactic teaching sessions.
Dr. Copland coordinates the ART program under the supervision of Dr. Walmer as SART Director. She is the primary resource for the fellow’s education of the donor oocyte program, including guidelines for recruitment, FDA mandated testing and donor stimulation protocols. Dr. Copland also has a Master degree in Clinical Research. She plays a key role in educating the fellows regarding design of clinical projects, recruitment strategies, execution and data analysis. Dr. Copland sees patients with infertility and all types of reproductive endocrine disorders. She supervises the fellows in daily activities of clinical care including diagnosis and development of treatment plans. She supervises fellows’ office procedural activities including HSG, saline infusion sonography, TVOR, and mock embryo transfers; and she supervises surgical procedures including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, robotic-assisted myomectomy, abdominal myomectomy, and correction of genital abnormalities. Dr. Copland’s current clinical research interests include techniques of fertility preservation. She coordinates the Division’s participation in a large multi-center trial directed at
Dr. Behera has a strong interest in clinical research. She is Director of the Focused Ultrasound Facility, a new procedure for the non-invasive treatment of uterine leiomyomata. She also participates in other clinical research activities including fertility preservation. She has recently completed the Berlex Faculty Development Award Workshop. Dr. Behera sees patients with infertility and all types of reproductive endocrine disorders. She supervises the fellows in daily activities of clinical care including diagnosis and development of treatment plans. She supervises fellows’ office procedural activities including HSG, saline infusion sonography, TVOR, and mock embryo transfers; and he supervises surgical procedures including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, robotic-assisted myomectomy, abdominal myomectomy, and correction of genital abnormalities. She also participates and leads didactic teaching sessions.
Dr. Hammond primarily sees private patients with varying reproductive endocrine disorders including complicated menopausal symptoms and complicated genital abnormalities. Due to his reputation and seniority, he receives many referrals for surgical management of complicated genital abnormalities including transverse vaginal septums, vaginal agenesis and abnormal external genitalia. He routinely performs these surgeries in conjunction with other REF faculty and fellows for teaching purposes. He is an excellent resource for exposure of the fellows to these rare conditions.
Phyllis Leppert, MD, PhD
Dr. Leppert is Vice-Chair for Research in the Department. She coordinates the activities and personnel of the Ob/Gyn Office of Grant Management. She is also active in basic science research studying the mechanisms responsible for growth of leiomyomata. Dr. Leppert interacts with the fellows during their research experience. She holds a weekly laboratory meeting during which each fellow presents their work for review. Her background as an NIH scientist has been extremely beneficial in the training of our fellows in appropriate hypothesis development, scientific methodology and data interpretation.
