Visiting Celiac Disease Fellowship Program

Society for the Study of Celiac Disease – Celiac Disease Foundation

Application Overview and Guidelines

Application Checklist
Your completed application must include all of the following:

• Online Application via Open Water. All documents listed below will be uploaded into the Open Water application system.
• Current CV including education, experience, degree, training, specialty or subspecialty board certifications, all publications, academic and professional honors, membership in professional societies.
• One Recommendation Letter from your Program Director or Mentor explaining why you are a good candidate.
• Applicant Home Institution Form that can be found here.

I. INTRODUCTION
The Study of Celiac Disease is proud to announce the Visiting Celiac Disease Fellowship Program, designed to foster the next generation of leaders in celiac disease research and clinical care.

Through this program, two early-career researchers will each receive a $9,000 fellowship award to spend time at a renowned SSCD Celiac Disease Unit Recognition Program (CDURP) site under the guidance of leading investigators.

The program offers early-career researchers the chance to experience:

• Cutting-edge basic, translational, and clinical research.
• State-of-the-art clinical practices in celiac disease.
• Opportunities for collaboration within the international celiac disease community.
• Participate in observerships, research projects, and clinical activities at a host site.
• Engage in mentoring with senior leaders in the field of celiac disease.
• Build networks that will support long-term academic and professional growth.

Requirement for Completion

• Each fellow will be required to submit their work as a case report for publication following completion of the fellowship.

The fellowship length and schedule will be coordinated between the fellow and their assigned host institution.

II. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:

1. Hold an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree.
2. Be employed by, or in training at, an institution engaged in health care and/or health-related research.
3. Demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing celiac disease research and/or clinical care.

III. FINANCIAL POLICIES

• Each fellow will receive a stipend of $9,000 to offset travel, housing, and research-related expenses.
• No indirect costs are permitted.
• Fellows are responsible for arranging travel and accommodations; guidance may be provided by the host site.

IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
At the conclusion of the fellowship, fellows must submit:

• A case report manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed publication.
• A brief fellowship experience summary (2–3 pages) outlining activities, skills acquired, and future goals.
• A post-program survey (provided by SSCD).

V. APPLICATION SCORING AND NOTIFICATION
Applications will be reviewed by a joint CDF/SSCD Fellowship Review Committee. Scoring will be based on:

• Applicant’s educational and research accomplishments.
• Strength of the recommendation letter.
• Commitment to advancing celiac disease research and/or clinical practice.
• Fit with the goals of the Visiting Fellowship Program.
• Selected applicants will be notified via email. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

VI. HOST SITES
Fellows will be assigned to one of the following SSCD CDURP institutions:

Canada

• Celiac Disease Unit at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
• McMaster Children’s Hospital Pediatric Celiac Disease Centre, Hamilton, ON

United States

• Pediatric Celiac Center at Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge, IL (Pediatric Only)
• Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University – New York, NY (Adult and Pediatric)
• Celiac Disease Center, Connecticut GI/ Hartford HealthCare – Glastonbury, CT (Adult Only)
• Celiac Disease Clinic at UVA Digestive Health – Charlottesville, VA (Adult Only)
• Celiac Research Program at Harvard Medical School (Boston Children’s, BIDMC, MGH for Children) – Boston, MA (Adult and Pediatrics)
• The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center – Chicago, IL (Pediatric Only)
• Vanderbilt Celiac Center Clinic – Nashville, TN (Adult Only)
• Cleveland Clinic – Cleveland, OH (Adult Only)
• Colorado Children’s Hospital – Aurora, CO (Pediatric Only)
• The Pediatric Celiac Disease Center at RWJBarnabas Health – Eatontown, NJ (Pediatric Only)

VII. APPLICATION FORM (Part I)
The application form will request:

• Personal and professional information
• Education and training history
• Research interests and career goals
• Preferred fellowship sites (list top three choices)

VIII. HOME INSTITUTION FORM (Part II)
Must be completed and signed by the applicant’s Program Director or Mentor. Please upload this form into the online application portal.

Link to Application