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University of Kentucky (Bowling Green) Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Fellowship Program

Welcome to The Medical Center at Bowling Green! The University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Fellowship Program is a three-year training program that provides a broad-based learning experience in all aspects of pulmonary disease.

The program is accredited by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME – Program ID # 1492014001) and is approved for nine (9) total training positions.

Program Staff

Kazimuddin, Nisar MD

Nisarfathima Kazimuddin, M.D.

  • Program Director
Singh-Karan

Karan Singh, M.D.

  • Associate Program Director
Dr. I Waheed

Irfan Waheed, M.D.

  • Associate Program Director
makenzie_murrell_cropped

MaKenzie Murrell

  • Fellowship Program Coordinator

program overview

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care fellowship training program located at The Medical Center at Bowling Green is 36 months in duration and provides advanced education allowing fellows to acquire competency in the subspecialty with sufficient expertise to act as an independent consultant.

The Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Fellowship Training Program is designed to provide advanced training to fellows to allow them to obtain competency in the specialty of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine with sufficient expertise to act as specialist consultants. This training is provided by both didactic instruction and direct patient care under the direct supervision of expert pulmonary and critical care faculty. Didactic instruction is provided in all areas of pulmonology and critical care as outlined in the specific topic areas required by the ACGME.

Direct patient care is provided in a facility that allows state of the art care of both inpatients and outpatients and in a community with a broad range of medical conditions. Through these activities, the fellowship training program provides the environment and resources to allow trainees to obtain competence in the six areas of Patient Care and Procedure Skills, Medical Knowledge, Professionalism, Interpersonal Communication, Practice-Based Learning and Systems-Based Practice, as specified by the ACGME.

In addition, the faculty also provides an environment of inquiry and scholarship that involves research and teaching. Critical to the success of the program is a formal structure for frequent feedback and evaluation of performance. At the completion of training, trainees will be prepared to take their board certification exams in Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care, and to practice in either academic or community settings.

Second Year Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Fellows

Munir, Ahmed MD

Ahmed Munir, M.D.

  • Services Institute of Medical Sciences Pakistan

Nance, Brandon DO

Brandon Nance, D.O.

  • University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Sedhai, Yub Raj MD

Yub Raj Sedhai, M.D.

  • Manipal College of Medical Sciences

Sherret, John DO

John Sherret, D.O.

  • Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

First Year Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Fellows

Arzoun, Hadia MD

Hadia Arzoun, M.D.

  • University of Medical Sciences & Technology (UMST) Faculty of Medicine Sudan

Bhat, Priyanka MD

Priyanka Bhat, M.D.

  • Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS) Nepal

Saeed, Subha MD

Subha Saeed, M.D.

  • Aga Khan University Medical College Pakistan

Recent Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Graduates

Casano, Harold Matos MD

Harold Matos Casano, M.D.

Henao Correra, Jose MD

Jose Henao Correa, M.D.

Khan, Tahir MD

Tahir Khan, M.D.

program CURRICULUM

Fellowship Year – 1

  • Pulmonary – 4 months
  • Intensive Care Unit – 3 months
  • Night Float – 2 months
  • Surgical ICU – 1 month
  • Elective – 1 month
  • Research – 1 month

Fellowship Year – 2

  • Pulmonary – 4 months
  • Intensive Care Unit – 3 months
  • Night Float – 2 months
  • Surgical ICU – 1 month
  • Elective – 1 month
  • Research – 1 month

Fellowship Year – 3

  • Pulmonary – 4 months
  • Intensive Care Unit – 3 months
  • Night Float – 2 months
  • Surgical ICU – 1 month
  • Elective – 1 month
  • Research – 1 month

Ambulatory Clinic

Pulmonary Disease fellows are required to spend one half-day a week in the outpatient clinic for the follow-up of patients. All fellows are responsible for providing appropriate follow-up care to their continuity clinic patient panel including but not limited to lab test results, imaging studies, and procedures.

Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Associates (WKHL) will serve as the site for each of our fellows’ weekly half-day continuity clinic experience. The board-certified pulmonary and critical care medicine faculty within this group function as the core faculty for the fellowship program. The program is in compliance with all expectations required for our fellows’ continuity clinic experience located at WKHL. While in clinic, fellows will be under direct supervision, including our program director who will provide continued oversight of the educational experience at WKHL. Each fellow will scheduled at least six patients per continuity clinic session.

Clinical Research

Fellows are also given the opportunity to participate in other scholarly activity opportunities including abstracts, posters, and presentations given at national or regional meetings. All research conducted must be meaningful for the health-system and the community and should be published and/or presented at a medical conference. Interested Pulmonary Disease fellows are allowed to engage in clinical research activity under the direction of a faculty mentor. All research and clinical trial projects offered for resident participation must be vetted through the Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Research Foundation and Educational Trust (Foundation).

The Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research and continuing medical education and now collaborates with Med Center Health to work towards the accomplishment of our research and educational goals. This multi-disciplinary committee will evaluate the trainee’s research project, make recommendations for improvement, and assist the trainee with submission of the proposal to The Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board, as necessary.

It is toward that purpose the Foundation offers an annual Cardiology Symposium located in Bowling Green. The Symposium features internationally known speakers in the field of cardiology. During this event, all cardiovascular fellows, residents and medical students have the opportunity to present scholarly activities.

Lastly, all Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care fellows at The Medical Center at Bowling Green are scheduled to give formal lecture and teaching presentations throughout the academic year. Each lecture must be at least an hour in duration. These lectures, provided on a rotational basis, are attended by faculty, pulmonary fellows, medical students and other ancillary staff. Topics are assigned to each fellow by the Program Director. In addition, each fellow will lead two to three journal club meetings choosing a topic from one of the main pulmonology related journals.

requirements

Medical School

Fellowship candidates must have a certificate of completion from one of the following:

  • Medical school in the United States or Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), or
  • Medical school in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)

Medical Licensure

Applicants must be eligible to obtain a Kentucky Medical License.

Residency Training

Applicants must have successfully completed three years of postgraduate training in an ACGME or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited program in Internal Medicine and be board eligible or board certified. 

USMLE/COMLEX Examinations

Applicants must have passed all Steps of the USMLE or the COMLEX equivalent. 

preferred qualifications

This program selects from eligible applicants on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.

The program’s preferred qualifications include:

  • USMLE scores of 250 and above on each step or COMLEX scores of 550 and above on each step
  • No failures on any step of the USMLE or COMLEX
  • Completion of an accredited Internal Medicine Residency program no more than five years prior to anticipated fellowship program start date

Application and Matching Services

The Pulmonary Disease Fellowship Program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®). All applications are processed through ERAS®. All other applications will not be accepted.

Applications Must Include the Following:

  • The common ERAS® application form;
  • USMLE scores or COMLEX equivalent;
  • ECFMG report and certificate for international medical graduates including US applicants attending medical schools outside the US;
  • Official medical school transcript;
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE);
  • Two letters of professional reference;
  • One letter of professional reference from the residency program director in internal medicine; and
  • Personal statement.

Appointments are made through the Pulmonary Subspecialty Match Program sponsored by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Specialty Matching Services (SMS). All candidates must register through the SMS. 

international medical graduates

Eligible international medical graduates must have a current, valid certificate from the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) at the time of application. Note that completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited Internal Medicine Residency Training Program and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) board-eligibility in Internal Medicine are required for ABIM board-eligibility and certification in Pulmonary Disease.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) Cardiovascular Disease Program accepts applications from internal medical graduates who are holders of a Green Card (permanent resident) and individuals who are prepared to have a J-1 visa sponsored by the ECFMG. This program does not support H-1 visas.

Applications from candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered. 

interview process

Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted via email. Interviews will be scheduled between September 1 and October 31. If you are extended an invitation for an interview, we encourage you to contact our offices as soon as possible. Interviews are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Please note there is a limited number of applicant positions that can be accommodated on any given interview day.

Applicants selected for interview are offered the opportunity to have a scheduled meet and greet with the current fellows for an open discussion regarding the program. On the day of your interview, you will meet with the program director, program staff, core faculty, and — if in person — tour our facilities.