Internal Medicine · Fellowship Career
Rheumatology
Autoimmune and inflammatory disease diagnosis and long-term treatment.
Fellowship Length
2 years
After a qualifying residency
Prior Residency
Internal Medicine
3 years residency
Typical Post-MD Training
5 years
Residency + fellowship; alternative pathways may overlap
Attending Compensation
$321,778
Average Total Compensation
Training Pathway
Medical School → Residency → Fellowship
Clinical Work and Procedures
- Inflammatory arthritis assessment
- Immunosuppressive treatment monitoring
- Joint aspiration and injection where trained
- Multisystem autoimmune disease consultation
Attending Compensation
$321,778
Average Total Compensation
Schedules and Practice Settings
Ambulatory rheumatology clinics with hospital consultations; complex chronic care predominates.
How to Prepare
During Medical School
Compare a new lupus workup with a stable rheumatoid arthritis follow-up to see how long-term decisions are made.
Research or Quality Improvement
Consider a biologic medication access or flare prevention quality project.
During Residency
During IM residency, develop a careful joint examination, diagnostic reasoning and continuity follow-up; obtain rheumatology mentorship.
A Question to Ask Fellows
Does long-term autoimmune disease management interest you more than acute hospital medicine?
Sources & Data Notes
Reviewed . Fellowship durations and entry routes summarize commonly accredited training pathways. Specific institutions can have different eligibility, early-entry and combined tracks; check program and board requirements for your cycle.
Fellowship Match selection is separate from the medical school residency Match. No residency competitiveness index, MD versus DO residency outcome, or fellowship acceptance percentage is assigned to these pages. National attending compensation uses a source-matched specialty estimate when available; Doximity and Medscape report total compensation, Marit uses smaller opt-in physician samples, and Salary.com models base salary from employer and third-party data. These measures are not interchangeable. Fellowship stipends depend on PGY level and institution.
For Rheumatology: Doximity 2026, Average Total Compensation for the reported “Rheumatology” population. This is a national estimate, not a location-specific offer.
Schedules, example procedures, preparation tips and clinical roles are educational descriptions; responsibilities depend on training, practice setting and privileges. This is educational career guidance rather than individualized employment or training advice.