What is a medical Fellowship?

[NewJeffCT]

Hi there.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a fellowship that a doctor would be doing? I know about internships & residency, but was a bit lost when a family friend was at our house this past weekend talking about completing her fellowship in a few months. I know she's a cardiologist, but I didn't want to sound ignorant or stupid by asking her what a fellowship is. (I certainly can sound ignorant or stupid on my own often enough!)

To me, a fellowship is the ring bearer and 8 others that try to journey to Mt. Doom to dispose of the Ring of Power.

[Bridget Burke]

1. It's like grad school--except beyond the M.D.

She's working on her specialty.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Grad school beyond the "Residency"

It's like a "Thyroid" or "Diabetes" Fellowship after an Endocrinology Residency.

[miss_kitty]

2. I think a fellow is someone who exceptionally brilliant

and the fellowship is money granted (by a university or foundation or other agency) for advanced study or research-I had a friend who was a neurosurgery fellow-it's quite a feather in one's cap.

[NewJeffCT]

4. So, that means...

So, that means by the fact that the Fellowship was either at or through Harvard means this woman is pretty smart... (and, not only that, my wife, mother-in-law, my mom and my aunt all think she's very pretty, too!)

[bmbmd]

5. You go to college.

You go to med school. You do a residency-say in adult internal medicine. That makes you an internist. (not an intern). Then you do a fellowship-say in a subspecialty of internal medicine like cardiology. This makes you a cardiologist. You pass national boards part I, II, III, and IV over an eleven year period. Then, you go for more advanced training like electrophysiology if you want. Then, you get beat up on DU for being a part of the medical profession.

[sir_captain]

6. Haha

Very to the point, and sadly true.