Rheumatology Fellowship
Program Overview
The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, in affiliation with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), trains residents in all aspects of diagnosing and treating children with JIA, SLE and other rheumatic conditions.
Our 3-year program, accredited by the , includes robust research-related and clinical experiences and is available to physicians who have completed a 3-year pediatric residency.
- Curriculum
- Research & Training
- Salary & Benefits
- Location & Living
- Faculty & Participants
Our Fellowship ProgramÌý
You’ll be guided by our faculty of physicians specializing in pediatric rheumatology, as well as our multidisciplinary clinical care team.
Training Overview
Your 1st year focuses on clinical training, with a series of didactic lectures and numerous opportunities to see patients, under supervision, in our outpatient clinic, emergency department, and inpatient and intensive care units. You’ll have exposure to pediatric patients with a wide range of rheumatic conditions, including JIA, SLE, Lyme disease, and many others.
There are three active attending physicians, one professor emeritus, one clinical nurse and two administrative assistants. With mentoring assistance from our professor emeritus, you'll work primarily with our pediatric rheumatologists and other members of our multidisciplinary team — including specialists in infectious diseases, orthopedics, nephrology, hematology/oncology, and other fields. You'll also receive a thorough grounding in research processes, which you'll apply in years 2 and 3.
Research Opportunities
Your 2nd and 3rd years will be primarily research-oriented, with 80% protected research time and 20% clinical time (consisting of care for new patients, as well as those you saw during your first year). Using knowledge you gained during your first year, you’ll have encouragement and support to develop your own studies in basic science or clinical research, along with the use of our on-site laboratories, equipment and resources.
We also have agreements with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and our affiliate, Thomas Jefferson University, to provide research opportunities to our trainees for the second and third years. Several members of our division have active NIH and privately funded research programs, including studies in Blau Syndrome and Biomakers in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
Salary & Benefits
Salary
- PGY 1: $71,923
- PGY 2: $74,799
- PGY 3: $77,792
- PGY 4: $80,904
- PGY 5: $84,139
- PGY 6: $87,505
- PGY 7: $91,005
- PGY 8: $94,646
Benefits
Our comprehensive benefits program allows you to choose a combination of benefits to best meet your — and your family's - needs:
- Health Advocacy and Navigation Services
- Medical
- Additional features in our medical plans include:
- Coverage for assisted fertility (two cycles)
- Maternity and child-rearing support
- Expert second opinion program
- Surgical centers of excellence
- Virtual excercise therapy for back and joint pain
- Type 2 diabetes management program
- 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´-funded Health Reimbursement Accounts for eligible associates
- Additional features in our medical plans include:
- Prescription
- Vision
- Dental
- Voluntary Accident Insurance
- Voluntary Critical Illness
- Voluntary Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Retirement Benefits
- 403(b) Plan
- 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Matching Contribution
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Basic & Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- Paid Parental Leave
- Short-Term Disability (STD)
- Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- Voluntary Long-Term Care (LTC)
- Identity Theft Protection
- MetLife® Legal Plan
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Residents and fellows receive a 160-hour block of PTO during each academic year, July 1-June 30. There is no PTO carryover.
- Paid HolidaysÌý— Full-time and part-time associates receive six holidays per year. There is no waiting period for eligibility.
- Volunteer Time OffÌý— Full-time associates who have completed the 90-day evaluation period receive eight hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) each year to use for community service activities (four hours for part-time associates).
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Work Life Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Financial Education
- Adoption Assistance
- Mortgage Loan Assistance Program
Wellness Benefits Include
- Free fitness center membership at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s Hospital, Florida, and the Home Office
- Access to group fitness classes and personal training (at select locations), at an additional cost
- Reduced cost fitness center membership to more than 18,000 gyms nationwide through Active&Fit Direct program
- Gym/fitness app reimbursement for benefits-eligible associates
- Free health coaching for benefits-eligible associates, spouses, and dependents over age 18
- Wellness challenges
- Reduced cost membership to WeightWatchers for benefits-eligible associates, spouses, and dependents over 18
- Resources for meditation and stress management
- Rewards for participating in healthy activities
Training at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ in Delaware Valley
91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, sits on a scenic, 300-acre estate in Wilmington’s Brandywine Valley. It’s the largest pediatric training site in our system, big enough to offer nearly every specialty, yet close-knit enough that faculty know their learners well. From the start, you’ll notice a culture built on collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity.
Hospital & Training Environment
Most of your training takes place at our children’s hospital in Wilmington, a nationally recognized destination for complex pediatric care. It’s the state’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and home to a Level IV NICU, so you’ll see the full range of high-acuity cases. Families come from across the region, giving you exposure to diverse conditions and hands-on learning in a true referral hub. Take a video tour of the hospital now.Ìý
Along with 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´, you may also spend time at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and other partner hospitals. These rotations bring variety in community pediatrics, rehabilitation care, and patient populations you won’t see every day in Wilmington.Ìý
Living in Wilmington & Delaware Valley
Wilmington is easy to settle into. It’s affordable, manageable in size, and just a short train ride from Philadelphia. Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are also close by. Need fresh air? The Brandywine Valley has trails, rivers, and historic gardens. Want more energy? Philly has food, arts, and sports at a world-class level. Here, you get the best of both worlds.Ìý
Research Opportunities
Research is part of daily life here. Some trainees work in the lab, others join clinical trials, and many focus on quality improvement. Supported by faculty mentors and dedicated resources, trainees may also present at national meetings or publish in peer-reviewed journals.Ìý
Resident & Fellow Life
Training here isn’t only about rotations and research. It’s also about having the space and support to enjoy the journey.
Community & CultureÌý|ÌýColleagues quickly become friends. Alumni talk about the camaraderie, the sense that you’re part of something bigger, and the ease of finding mentors who genuinely care.
Wellness & Support |ÌýWellness is built into the experience. From apps and peer networks to professional counseling, resources are there when you need them. There's also a free 24/7 gym on campus and regular wellness programming.
Everyday Perks |ÌýFree parking. Meals at noon conference. On-site child care center. Call rooms and quiet spaces when you need rest. These make a difference in the rhythm of daily training.
Train With Recognized Leaders
If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children's offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart and access to groundbreaking research.Ìý
Apply Today
Application Requirements
Acreditation ID:Ìý3314121023
Accepting Applications: July 2 through September 1, 2025
Training Begins:ÌýJuly 1, 2026
1.Ìý
2.ÌýCurriculum vitae
3.ÌýPersonal statement
4.ÌýMedical school transcript
5.ÌýUSMLE scores (all 3 levels)
6.ÌýThree references
Interviews:
We begin offering interviews to fellowship candidates in July of the year before the start of the fellowship. The actual interview process will take place between August 1 and October 1 of the preceding year.
Questions About Applying?
April Aguilera
Fellowship Coordinator
(302) 577-0319
april.aguilera@nemours.org
AnneMarie Brescia, MDÌý
Program Director
(302) 651-5970
annemarie.brescia@nemours.org