The Nephrology Fellowship Program

Richard Marcus, M.D., Program Director

Length of program: 2 years (with an optional third year)
Number of position(s): 5

The Nephrology Fellowship Program is a two-year program primarily designed to prepare fellows for a career in clinical nephrology. Specific areas of training include consultative nephrology, inpatient and outpatient dialysis and related renal replacement therapies, hypertension and transplant nephrology. Applicants must be board-eligible or certified in internal medicine and eligible for medical licensure in Pennsylvania. An optional third year of training is available to individuals interested in gaining more experience in transplantation nephrology and/or research.

Growth in knowledge base is enhanced by a weekly faculty lecture, a weekly clinical conference and focused discussions during inpatient and outpatient rounds. Development of clinical judgment and problem-solving skills is fostered by an environment that allows fellows appropriate independence in patient management with critiques by full-time faculty.

Fellows are expected to become competent in a variety of procedural skills, including renal biopsy of native and transplanted kidneys, and placement of temporary dialysis access catheters. They also become competent in prescribing and supervising acute and chronic hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and CVVHD, and in interpreting diagnostic studies, such as renal ultrasonography, excretory urography, renal angiography, radionuclide imaging of the kidney, renal biopsy and urine/serum chemistries. Fellows have a significant opportunity to master the medical management of transplantation by participating in the care of a large number of kidney and simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant patients.

Skills necessary for critical analysis of the scientific literature are stressed through participation in weekly lectures, clinical conferences, Journal Club and research conferences. Fellows also are expected to participate in independent research projects with a faculty member.

Finally, fellows are responsible for supervising residents and medical students on the clinical nephrology services.


ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL

Overview

Allegheny General Hospital is a member of the West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS). Comprised of two tertiary and four community hospitals, WPAHS includes Allegheny General Hospital and The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, both in Pittsburgh; Alle-Kiski Medical Center in Natrona Heights; West Penn - Forbes Regional Campus Hospital in Canonsburg; The Western Pennsylvania Hospital - Forbes Regional Campus in
Monroeville; and Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus in Bellevue. Offering a comprehensive range of medical and surgical services, the six hospitals serve Pittsburgh and the surrounding five-state area, house more than 2,000 beds and employ more than 13,000 people. Together, the six hospitals admit nearly 79,000 patients each year, log more than 163,000 emergency visits and deliver nearly 6,000 newborns.

Founded in 1885 on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) has earned an international reputation for excellence and innovation in the care of patients, medical education and research. Serving Pittsburgh and the surrounding five-state area, the 675-bed academic health center offers a wide array of medical and surgical services. Each year, nearly 28,000 patients are admitted to Allegheny General, which also logs approximately 44,000
emergency visits and 23,500 surgical procedures. More than 850 physicians and 4,200 employees share the hospital’s commitment to excellence in patient care, medical education and research.

AGH is a Level I Shock Trauma Center, with a Life Flight aeromedical service and is one of the largest tertiary facilities in the region. It offers advanced care in almost every medical and surgical specialty including a new state of the art Cancer Center which not only offers the spectrum of clinical care, but also is home to the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) which coordinates the efforts of greater than 6,000 medical professionals nationwide in the study of breast and bowel cancer.

A long-standing commitment to education and research remains a cornerstone of the hospital’s philosophy, as evidenced by its affiliation with Philadelphia-based Drexel University College of Medicine where the Hospital serves as the clinical practicum site for third and fourth year medical students. Approximately 70 medical students rotate through AGH on a monthly basis. In addition, through the Allegheny Singer Research Institute, ongoing, innovative research
studies in the neurosciences, medical oncology, human genetics, cardiovascular, kidney diseases, pulmonary diseases, orthopaedics and trauma are actively investigated by clinicians and researchers.

Allegheny General sponsors 12 ACGME-accredited specialty programs and 12 ACGME-accredited subspecialty programs that educate 258 residents and fellows. There are no major participating institutions that serve as training sites for specific resident clinical rotations. Twenty-four affiliate participating institutions serve as training sites for specific resident clinical rotations.


NEPHROLOGY SUBSPECIALTY RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Overview

The Nephrology Fellowship Program is a two-year program and was established in 1991. Candidates must be board-eligible or board-certified in internal medicine and eligible for medical licensure in Pennsylvania in order to be considered for training. The primary objective of the nephrology program is to offer an outstanding fellowship education, in a nurturing environment that encourages the growth of our nephrology residents preparing them for a career path in clinical and academic nephrology. The program provides the nephrology residents with
broad clinical experiences and the resources to perform meaningful clinical research. The commitment of the faculty and program director to teaching and research is considered to be a significant strength of the program.

The clinical experiences are diverse and comprehensive as the program attracts patients from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. The curriculum is designed to provide training in the following major areas: consultative nephrology, inpatient and outpatient dialysis and related renal replacement therapies, hypertension, and transplant nephrology. The program is tightly
integrated with the renal transplant program and it provides the fellows with a truly unique and valuable experience in transplantation medicine.

Board Certification

The examination is designed to evaluate the examinee’s knowledge and clinical judgment in the areas in which a consultant in nephrology should possess a high level of competence. It will test knowledge in basic and clinical sciences relevant to the practice of nephrology. Some questions require interpretation of illustrations such as x-rays, sonograms, photomicrographs, and radionuclide studies. Topics covered within the content areas may include:

    1)     Renal physiology
    2)     Intensive care unit nephrology
    3)     Epidemiology, ethics, and nutrition
    4)     General internal medicine as encountered in the practice of nephrology

The content areas that will be covered, and their proportions on the examination,
are listed in the following table:
 

Full Time Faculty

The faculty consists of dedicated full-time, board-certified physicians with strong interests in teaching and clinical research. Teaching rounds with a dedicated faculty member occur each day with the fellows, residents and medical students. Rounds are conducted with a strong emphasis on the evidence based practice of nephrology. In addition to being students, nephrology residents are taught how to be effective teachers to the medical residents and students who rotate on our Renal Consult Service.

Organization of the Fellowship

The program is organized to provide the fellow with meaningful experiences in clinical nephrology, teaching, and research. Four distinct experiences have been created to enable this objective.

Fellows Block Rotation Schedule

Year #	Fellows	Consult	ESRD	Transplant	Ambulatory/Research
F-1	2	4	4	2	2
F-2	2	2	2	4	4

Consult Rotation Experience

During this experience the nephrology subspecialty resident is provided with a diverse inpatient clinical nephrology experience. The nephrology resident becomes proficient in inpatient consultations and follow-up, and the various forms of peritoneal dialysis and continuous dialysis.

End Stage Renal Disease Rotation Experience

During this experience the nephrology subspecialty resident is provided with a the challenges of caring for the complications of inpatients who require ongoing dialysis. The nephrology resident becomes proficient in the multitude of issues affecting patients with end stage renal disease.

Transplant Rotation Experience

During this experience the nephrology subspecialty resident cares for renal transplant patients. The nephrology residents are given the unique experience of caring for patients prior, during and after the renal transplant.

Ambulatory/Research Rotation Experience

During this experience the nephrology subspecialty resident cares for outpatients providing nephrology consultations and follow-up. Additionally the nephrology residents are provided with protected research time during this experience to allow them to successfully complete their research projects.

Longitudinal Experiences

1)     Dialysis Panel Patients

The nephrology subspecialty residents is assigned to follow a subset of dialysis outpatients on a longitudinal basis to provide continuity of care throughout the two year training program. First year nephrology residents follow up to six (6) hemodialysis patients and two (2) peritoneal dialysis patients. Second year nephrology residents follow up to nine (9) hemodialysis patients and two to three (2 to 3) peritoneal dialysis patients. Residents provide first-call coverage to their dialysis panel patients with back-up from the nephrology faculty.

2)     Multidisciplinary ESRD Meetings

Nephrology subspecialty patients attend a multidisciplinary meeting twice per year on each of their dialysis panel patients. During this meeting the attending physician, fellow, nurse manager, nurse coordinator, dietitian, and social worker meet to discuss adequacy of dialysis care and provide recommendations for improvements.

3)     Nephrology Continuity Clinic

During this experience, the nephrology subspecialty resident is responsible for patients in an outpatient clinic setting, providing consultative and follow-up care.

 

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine is committed to offering the highest quality educational programs, including a Categorical Medicine Residency, Primary Care Tract, Preliminary Medicine Year, Combined Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine Residency and five subspecialty fellowships. The fellowships include General Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Interventional Cardiology, Nephrology and Pulmonary Medicine. The teaching faculty and voluntary attending staff provide a strong academic environment for residents and fellows.

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Resources

• Health Sciences Library

• Division Library

• Computers and Internet Access

• Up-to-Date Internet Subscriptions

• Hypertension, Dialysis and Clinical Nephrology Web Subscription

• Division Teaching Microscope

Conferences

Block Conference Schedule

 

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Week 1
12:00 pm	Research Conference		Medical Grand Rounds	Core Curriculum Conference
3:30 pm				Transplant Conference (Multidisciplinary)
4:00 pm		Journal Club
Week 2
12:00 pm	Research Conference		Medical Grand Rounds	Core Curriculum Conference
3:30 pm				Transplant Conference (Multidisciplinary)
4:00 pm		Journal Club
Week 3
12:00 pm	Research Conference		Medical Grand Rounds	Core Curriculum Conference
3:30 pm				Transplant Conference (Multidisciplinary)
4:00 pm		Biopsy Conference
Week 4
12:00 pm	Research Conference		Medical Grand Rounds	Basic Science Conference
3:30 pm				Transplant Conference (Multidisciplinary)
4:00 pm		Morbidity/Mortality Conference

 

Note: See pages 7-8 for an explanation of the conferences and lectures in the block schedule.

Note: Each resident attends an ESRD multidisciplinary conference one time per month.


Research Conference

The faculty conduct a formal weekly research conference with the nephrology residents. The conference is designed to provide the nephrology residents with the necessary guidance to conduct clinical research, including research design and methods. The conference also provides the residents with a venue to learn the appropriate methods for ethical research practices.

Journal Club

The nephrology residents present a formal weekly conference to the faculty, visiting attendings, rotating internal medicine residents and medical students. The conference series is designed to enhance the nephrology resident’s knowledge base and presentation skills. Residents typically select patient care issues that have arisen during their monthly rotations. Academic conference is mandatory for nephrology residents, and all available nephrology faculty members are expected to attend, as well. The residents present articles from the current medical literature.

Biopsy Conference

A renal pathologist presents a formal monthly conference to provide the nephrology residents additional experience in interpreting renal pathology. The conference is designed to permit the residents to directly interpret slides in the presence of the faculty and renal pathologist and discuss pertinent findings. Pathology residents often attend this conference, providing multidisciplinary interactions between Pathology and Nephrology.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference

A nephrology resident presents an interesting case and/or a case resulting in complications or death. The conference provides a venue for monthly discussion of adverse events or difficult cases. Suggestions for improvement in patient management form the basis of discussion at this conference.

Medical Grand Rounds

The Department of Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital presents Medical Grand Rounds each week which the nephrology residents and faculty are required to attend. Lectures are presented by nationally recognized experts and enhance the nephrology residents’ internal medicine knowledge base. Topics include areas of general interest to both internists and subspecialists.


Multidisciplinary Conferences

1)     ESRD Conference

A multidisciplinary conference is conducted twice each year for every dialysis outpatient. Nephrology subspecialty residents are required to attend these meetings for each of their assigned dialysis panel patients. Attendees include: the nephrology faculty attending and nephrology resident caring for the patient, nurse manager, nurse coordinator, renal dietitian, and renal social worker. Each patient’s care plan is discussed in detail and recommendations are made for improvements in quality of care.

2)     Transplant Conference

A multidisciplinary conference is held weekly in the Division of Transplantation Services. Attendees include: the nephrology faculty attending and nephrology resident assigned to the Nephrology Transplant Service, transplant surgeons, a renal social worker, and transplant coordinators. A review of prospective recipients for transplant surgery (kidney, pancreas, or kidney/pancreas) takes place, and input is gathered from the various disciplines involved in the decision-making process. The conference allows the nephrology resident to participate in the multi-disciplinary venue necessary to determine if patients qualify as potential transplant recipients.

3)     Q.A. Conference

A multidisciplinary Quality Assurance (Q.A.) conference is held monthly in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. Attendees include: the Medical Director of the AGH Outpatient Dialysis Unit, the nephrology resident assigned to the Ambulatory Rotation, the nurse manager and nurse coordinator of the dialysis unit, a renal social worker, and renal dietitian. Quality assurance issues pertaining to the dialysis unit and patients are discussed in detail. Participation in the conference provides nephrology resident with an overview of the responsibilities of a dialysis unit medical director.

 

Core Curriculum Conference

The faculty and invited lecturers present a formal lecture to the residents each week. The lecture series is designed to supplement information and add greater depth to the residents' knowledge base. The lecture series is based upon a two-year revolving schedule designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the multitude of issues that confront the nephrologist. Clinical, ethical, and administrative topics dealing with patient care issues related to renal disease are
presented. The lectures are mandatory for all nephrology residents.

Core Curriculum Topics

Consult Rotation

• Infection Control Update: Bloodborne Antigens
• Glomerular Hemodynamics and Structure
• Medical Ethics: End-of-Life Issues
• Urine Concentration and Dilution
• Transport: Sodium and Potassium
• Prostaglandins and Hormones
• Acidification and RTA
• Clinical Evaluation of Kidney: Radiological Evaluation
• Clinical Evaluation of Kidney: Pathology
• ADPCKD
• Medullary Sponge Kidney, Alports Syndrome, Fabry’s Disease
• Pediatric Nephrology\
• Congenital Anomalies, Reflux, and Obstruction
• Nephrolithiasis
• Kidney Neoplasms
• Bladder and Prostate Carcinoma
• Pathophysiology of Acute Tubular Necrosis
• Interstitial Nephritis
• Renal Artery Thrombosis and Embolic Disease
• Complicated UTI and Pyelonephritis
• RPGN and Renal Vasculitis: Anti-GBM and Wegener’s
• Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
• Hypertension: Epidemiology, Natural History, and Evaluation
• Pathogenesis of Primary Hypertension
• Treatment of Hypertension: Goals, Lifestyle Modifications
• Treatment of Hypertension: Drug Therapy
• Secondary Hypertension
• Hypertension with Pregnancy and the Pill
• IgA Nephropathy
• Minimal Change Disease
• Focal Glomerulosclerosis
• Geriatric Nephrology
• Drug Dosing and Toxicity in Elderly Patients
• Membranous GN
• MPGN
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Diabetes
• Amyloid and Multiple Myeloma
• HIV Nephropathy
• TTP, HUS, Hepatorenal Syndrome
• Management of Intoxication and Overdoses
• Diuretics
• SIADH
• Diabetes Insipidus
• Acid Base Disorders
• Anemia
• Calcium, Phosphate, and Magnesium Metabolism
• Nutrition

ESRD Rotation

• Introduction to Hemodialysis
• Introduction to Continuous Hemodialysis
• Introduction to Peritoneal Dialysis
• Risk Management: Liability as it Relates to Dialysis
• Peritoneal Dialysis Physiology
• Peritoneal Dialysis Adequacy
• Peritoneal Dialysis Complications
• Hemodialysis Physiology
• Hemodialysis Adequacy
• Hemodialysis Access
• Financing ESRD Care

Transplant Rotation

• Introduction to Transplantation
• Transplantation: Immunobiology
• Transplantation: Outcomes
• Transplantation: Complications
• Transplantation: Tissue Typing
• Transplantation: Infections
• Evaluation of Potential Transplant Candidates

Research Rotation

• Fundamentals of Statistics
• Statistical Design
• Statistics and Methodology


RESEARCH

First and second year nephrology residents will be introduced to research design, statistics, interpretation of research studies, and critical review of the literature to acquire skills for lifelong learning. They will also acquire the skills and knowledge to conduct ethical clinical research. Fellows are expected to design, implement and complete their research project during the fellowship. Furthermore, it is expected that each fellow will have an abstract of his work
published and perhaps presented at one of the annual national nephrology meetings.

 

APPLICATION TO NEPHROLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Contact Information

    Toni M. Bender
    Nephrology Fellowship Coordinator
    Allegheny General Hospital
    320 East North Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15212
    Phone: (412) 359-4008
    Fax: (412) 359-4136
    E-Mail: tbender@wpahs.org

Requirements for Application to Program

    1)     Curriculum Vitae
    2)     Personal Statement
    3)     Recent Photograph
    4)     ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)
    5)     Green Card (if applicable)
    6)     USMLE: Steps 1 and 2; Step 3 (if available)
    7)     COMLEX (D.O.’s): Levels 1, 2, and 3
    8)     Letters of Recommendation: 3, including letter from Program Director
    9)     Visa Requirements: Program will accept applicants with Green Card status and J-1 visa. Allegheny General Hospital will not sponsor applicants with H1B visa status.

Selection Process

For the application season beginning December 2005 and culminating in positions that begin in July 2007, the Nephrology Fellowship Program at Allegheny General Hospital will participate in ERAS. All applicants to the program will be expected to complete the application process through ERAS.  The goal of the nephrology fellowship selection process is to recruit candidates who are felt to demonstrate, based upon information provided in the application, the skills and abilities necessary to become a nephrologist. All potential applicants must have completed a three-year internal medicine residency in an accredited United States or Canadian residency program and possess excellent skills in the English language. Candidates must also have passed USLME Steps 1, 2, and 3, or its equivalent, prior to beginning fellowship training. Selection is further based upon performance during residency training including evaluations, Board scores (USMLE or its equivalent), letters of recommendation, and educational and training experiences. Candidates will not be considered for
interview unless all of the above-noted requirements have been met.


Candidates selected for interview will be notified via e-mail correspondence in December. Those candidates scheduled for interview will meet with the Program Director and faculty members of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension.  Candidates will also meet current Fellows and receive a tour of the facilities.

At the completion of the interview process, a final ranking session will be scheduled, attended by the Program Director and members of the Division faculty. Once selections have been finalized, the Program Director will personally place telephone calls to offer positions to the selected candidates.  Once a verbal commitment has been obtained, a formal Letter of Intent will be mailed which the candidates will be required to sign and return to the Program Director.

Benefits Provided to Residents/Fellows by Allegheny General Hospital

1) Salary: 2005-2006 Academic Year

PGY-1 $37,918
PGY-2 $38,877
PGY-3 $39,982
PGY-4 $41,441 (First Year Fellow)
PGY-5 $43,028 (Second Year Fellow)
PGY-6 $45,157
PGY-7 $46,904

2) Health Benefits

Allegheny General Hospital provides a benefits program that responds to the needs of house staff members. Members choose from a benefits menu and select options that meet individual needs; dependents may participate where appropriate. Allegheny General Hospital’s contribution to the member’s program varies based on the options selected. The program includes medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, healthcare and
dependent-care reimbursement accounts, and tax-deferred retirement savings.

In addition, group long-term care insurance and personal accident insurance are available on a voluntary basis (fully paid by residents).

3) Other Benefits

Long-Term Disability Insurance
The hospital provides long-term disability coverage for house staff featuring individual policies with a #3,000 maximum monthly benefit. At completion of the residency or fellowship, house staff members have the opportunity of continuing the policy throughout their career, with guaranteed insurability purchase options as their income increases.

Professional and Liability Insurance
The hospital provides coverages of $500,000 for each occurrence and $1,500,000 annual aggregate for services performed within the teaching program at Allegheny General Hospital or institutions where the house staff members are assigned.

Paid Time Off
A total of 15 paid days off is provided annually to members of the house staff. The time off schedule is subject to the Program Director’s approval and may be used for vacation or personal business.

Parking
Parking is provided free of charge for all house staff officers.

National Meetings and Textbooks
House staff officers at the PGY-2 level and above are encouraged to attend on national meeting during their tenure.

During each year of training, reimbursement for up to $250 per year is provided for the purchase of medical textbooks/reference materials and/or related educational aids as approved by the Program Director.

Day Care
Day care is available at an affordable rate at the Allegheny General Hospital Center for Children, located near the hospital. Care is offered for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children of employees and house staff from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center is managed by Corporate Family Solutions Inc., which specializes in operating employer-sponsored child-care programs.

Support Services
Allegheny General Hospital provides many support services on a 24-hour basis. Support services include:

• IV Team
• Phlebotomy
• EKG
• In-House CT and MRI
• Full Laboratory Capabilities

In addition, many services have physician assistants and nurse practitioners that work closely with residents and fellows.

Health Sciences Library
The Health Sciences Library is conveniently located on the first floor of the Snyder Pavilion and serves Allegheny General Hospital physicians, staff and students through a variety of resources and services. Library holdings emphasize clinical medicine, biomedical research and basic sciences, nursing, health administration and medical education.  Information services include expert literature searching and consulting in the availability and use of information resources. Document delivery services including both photocopy and interlibrary loan services are also available. Library staff provides library orientations and educational sessions for individuals and groups.

The Learning Resources Center in the library provides access to productivity software such as word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation packages. Bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, HealthStar, AIDSLINE, CancerLit, and the Evidence Based Medicine collection are presented with an interface designed for health professionals. Additional resources include StatRef, Harrison’s Online and access to the Internet.  These resources are available to any PC on the hospital network including those in clinical areas and offices.

The Health Sciences Library is open and staffed Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Authorized staff may gain access to the library after hours with an access card.

Health Sciences Library Vital Statistics:

• 720 Current Journal Subscriptions
• 8,000 Books
• 2,200 Videotapes
• 59 Staffed Hours Per Week
• 2 Photocopiers
• 3 Videotape Players
• 12 Computers for Client Use
 

Meals/On-Call Facilities/Other
Allegheny General Hospital provides its house staff members with on-call meals and sleeping quarters, two basic uniforms (lab coats) and laundry service, and an annual physical examination. House staff members may also dine in the separate Senior Staff Dining Room.

DIRECTIONS TO ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL

From Pittsburgh / Monroeville Exit
(old Exit 6, new Exit 57) on Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76)

Take I-376 West (toward Pittsburgh and airport) to the North Side / North Shore Exit.
Proceed across the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Bearing right, take the I-279 North ramp.
Take the East Ohio Street Exit (Exit 7C). Stay in the left lane and take the East Ohio
Street Exit ramp.
At the first traffic light, turn left onto I-279 South (East Ohio Street).
Proceed through the East Ohio Street business district to James Street. (James Street
is the second street on the right in the business district.)
Turn right onto James Street. Follow James Street through three stop signs and one
traffic light. Turn left into the parking garage.

From Route 28 North /Allegheny Valley Exit (old Exit 5, new Exit 48) on
Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76)

Follow Route 28 South to East Ohio Street.
Bear right at the sign marked East Ohio Street / I-279. Follow the signs to East Ohio
Street.
Continue straight through three traffic lights into the East Ohio Street business district.
Turn right onto James Street. (James Street is the second street on the right in the
business district.)
Follow James Street through three stop signs and one traffic light.
Turn left into the parking garage.

From I-79 North

Take I-79 South to the I-279 South Exit.
Follow I-279 South to the East Street Exit (Exit 8B).
Proceed through the stop sign.
At the first traffic light, turn right onto North Avenue.
At the next traffic light, turn right onto James Street and left into the parking garage.

From the West and Pittsburgh International Airport; From I-79 South

Follow Route 60 South to I-279 North (no turns, only name change).
Take the I-279 Exit to Pittsburgh.
Follow I-279 North across the Fort Pitt Bridge.
Take the North Side / North Shore Exit and proceed across the Fort Duquesne Bridge.
Bearing right, remain on I-279 North ramp.
Take the East Ohio Street Exit (Exit 7C). Stay in the left lane and take the East Ohio
Street Exit ramp.
At the first traffic light, turn left onto I-279 South (East Ohio Street).
Proceed through the East Ohio Street business district to James Street. (James Street
is the second street on the right in the business district.)
Turn right onto James Street. Follow James Street through three stop signs and one
traffic light.
Turn left into the parking garage.

PARKING

Parking is available in the James Street Parking Garage adjacent to East North Avenue. Please bring the white parking ticket with you to the office. It will be replaced with a pink parking ticket which will allow you to exit from the parking
garage free of charge.


DIRECTIONS TO DIVISION OF NEPHROLOGY AND HYPERTENSION
(Fourth Floor - South Tower - Allegheny General Hospital)

From James Street Parking Garage:

Take the elevators in the James Street Parking Garage to Level 1. Follow the hallway through the set of doors midway down the hall and continue to the intersection in the hallways. Turn left and follow the signs for “Elevator B”.  There will be two banks of elevators, one located on each side of the hall. You can take either one to the Fourth Floor. Once you walk out of the elevator, you will see a set of glass doors. Our reception area is directly through the doors.  Please give your name to the receptionist, and she will notify the program coordinator of your arrival.

From Main Entrance of Hospital (Rotunda):

The hotel shuttle will drop you off at the main entrance or rotunda at Allegheny General Hospital. Once you have gone through the revolving doors and up a short flight of steps, you will walk straight down the hallway. You will be in the
South Tower. Look for signs for “Elevator B”. The elevators are located midway down the hallway. There will be two banks of elevators, one located on each side of the hall. You can take either one to the Fourth Floor. Once you walk out
of the elevator, you will see a set of glass doors. Our reception area is directly through the doors. Please give your name to the receptionist, and she will notify the program coordinator of your arrival.


RECOMMENDED HOTELS

The following hotels offer special rates to Allegheny General Hospital (AGH)

Note:
When making reservations, please state that you are scheduled for a residency interview at AGH, and they will honor the special rates. Many of these hotels also offer shuttle service to AGH. Please inquire when making reservations.


1. The Priory - A City Inn (approximately 5 minute walk from AGH)
614 Pressley Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412-231-3338
Rate: $75 plus tax

2. Hampton Inn - Greentree (approximately 5 miles from AGH)
555 Hampton Inn Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Reservations: 1-800-HAMPTON or 1-800-426-7866
Phone: 412-922-0100
Rate: 79$ flat rate

3. Hawthorn Suites - Greentree (approximately 5 miles from AGH)
(Condominium-Style Hotel)
700 Mansfield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Reservations: 1-800-527-1133
Phone: 412-279-6300
Rate: $79 flat rate

< Back to Residencies