About the Rheumatology Fellowship Program

Welcome to the Rheumatology Fellowship Program!  Our program has a cadre of bright, energetic, rheumatology faculty colleagues who place great emphasis on clinical teaching. The fellows educated here are well on their way to becoming excellent clinical rheumatologists, and many have become clinician educators in Virginia and across the world.

Vision Statement

Our rheumatology fellows aim to become proficient clinician practitioners and clinician educators with teaching skills and background to practice and teach evidence-based health care.

Mission Statement

We provide high-quality, compassionate medical care to a diverse population while fostering intellectual growth and contributions to medical education and scholarship.

Core Values

  • Teamwork and Collegiality
  • Optimal Evidence-Based Clinical Care
  • Intellectual Drive and Scholarship

Welcome from the Program Director

Welcome from the Program Director

Welcome from the Program Director

Our Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond sponsors a clinically strong rheumatology fellowship with excellent faculty support for teaching and clinical care. The Division grew out of the first arthritis clinic in Virginia nearly ninety years ago and now boasts a relatively large, diverse, full-time faculty. Our primary emphasis, the education of rheumatology fellows, is at the Division’s core. We will select two rheumatology fellow applicant to enter in July 2024.

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Curriculum

Conferences

Vacation Time
Each fellow is allowed three weeks of vacation per year.

Night Coverage
Rheumatology fellows do not take in-house call.  Fellows take night call and urgent clinical care questions from home.

Weekend Coverage
When on call over the weekend, fellows will see new consults at VCU and VAMC--with growing responsibility during fellowship. Each consult is precepted by an attending rheumotologist on service.

GME Resident & Fellow Well-Being
Graduate Medical Education training is not easy. With the GME Physician Well-being program, we first and foremost assert our commitment to your well-being, resilience and all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. VCU and VCUHealth are dedicated to ensuring that you have the tools you need to be your best. (Learn more)

All About VCU, VCUHealth, and RVA
First things first. We fondly refer to Richmond as RVA.  People love this city because it’s awesome. And Virginia Commonwealth University is in the middle of it all.  Learn more about VCU, VCUHealth, and RVA!

Huzaefah Syed, MD, MPH

Huzaefah Syed, MD, MPH

Program Director

Huzaefah Syed, MD, MPH

Huzaefah Syed, MD, MPH

Program Director

Internal Medicine

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology

Email: huzaefah.syed@vcuhealth.org

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View Faculty Expertise Profile

Beth Rubinstein, MD

Beth Rubinstein, MD

Interim - Division Chair

Beth Rubinstein, MD

Beth Rubinstein, MD

Interim - Division Chair

Internal Medicine

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology

Email: beth.rubinstein@vcuhealth.org

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View Faculty Expertise Profile

Abhishek Nandan, MD

Abhishek Nandan, MD

VA Site Director/Associate Program Director

Abhishek Nandan, MD

Abhishek Nandan, MD

VA Site Director/Associate Program Director

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology

Email: abhishek.nandan@vcuhealth.org

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VCU Faculty

Non-Core Faculty

VAMC Faculty

  • Evan Dombrosky, MD
  • Sarah Ford, DO
  • Abhi Nandan, MD - Rheumatology Section Chief
  • Lane B. Scheiber, MD

Class of 2025

Dr. Bucur
Philip Bucur, DO 
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College Osteopathic Medicine 
Residency: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University  


Dr. Everest
Soleille Everest, MD
Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine 
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System 


Class of 2024

Neeti Goel, MD
Neeti Goel, MD
Medical School: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine 
Residency: University of Central Florida


Neha Gupta, MD
Neha Gupta, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta Univeristy, Augusta, GA
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA



Alumni

How To Apply

The Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program at VCU is a participant in the NRMP match. All applications will be accepted through ERAS and follow ERAS deadlines.

Interview Dates - 2023

  • September 8, 15, 22, 29
  • October 6, 20

Attention:  In support of our applicants, we will be flexible in providing virtual and on-site fellowship interview opportunities.  We understand that applicants may have restrictions on travel during this time.  Our interview schedule may change as we approach the late summer and fall.  We appreciate your patience and understanding; we will absolutely work to accommodate all applicants as best possible during the COVID pandemic.

Program Director

Huzaefah J. Syed, MD, MPH
Email: huzaefah.syed@vcuhealth.org

VA Site Director

Abhishek Nandan, MD
Email: abhishek.nandan@vcuhealth.org

Fellowship Coordinator

Cesley Watkins
VCU School of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0509
Phone: (804) 628-4497
Fax: (804) 828-4926
Email: imfellowships@vcuhealth.org