ACGME Initial Accreditation
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
Fellowship Program
Riverside University Health System · Inland Southern California
Advancing endocrine care for the medically underserved communities we serve.
Welcome to the RUHS Endocrinology Fellowship
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Fellowship at Riverside University Health System Medical Center.
Our mission is to train clinically rigorous, intellectually curious, and compassionate endocrinologists who are prepared to care for complex patients and lead in diverse healthcare environments. Located in the heart of the Inland Empire, RUHS Medical Center serves one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regions in California. This environment provides fellows with exposure to a uniquely diverse patient population and a broad spectrum of endocrine pathology across all stages of disease.
As a safety-net academic medical center, RUHS is deeply committed to equitable, high-quality care. The complexity of cases — ranging from advanced thyroid malignancies and pituitary disorders to brittle diabetes and metabolic bone disease — ensures comprehensive and high-volume clinical training. Fellows are exposed to an exceptional breadth of endocrine pathology that fosters diagnostic precision and therapeutic confidence.
Endocrinology at RUHS operates in close partnership with multiple medical and surgical disciplines, including neurosurgery, otolaryngology (ENT), surgical oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, radiology, and nuclear medicine. Fellows are integral members of multidisciplinary teams and gain firsthand experience in coordinated high-level subspecialty care.
Our program places strong emphasis on clinical excellence while remaining firmly committed to academic development. Protected time is incorporated into the curriculum to support research and scholarly activity. Fellows are encouraged and mentored to present at regional and national meetings and to contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
Our faculty are dedicated educators and mentors who are deeply invested in individualized training, structured feedback, and professional development aligned with each fellow's career goals.
We are proud of the community we serve and the physicians we train. If you are seeking a fellowship that combines rigorous clinical training, meaningful academic opportunity, multidisciplinary collaboration, and service to a diverse population, we invite you to learn more about our program. We look forward to meeting you!
Our Mission
The mission of the RUHS Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship Program is to train and educate fellows to be competent and compassionate practitioners in the core knowledge and skills of this subspecialty. We hope to improve the health of Californians—especially in Inland Southern California—by serving the medically underserved in the region.
Our Goal
To cultivate the next generation of endocrinologists by providing:
- Comprehensive clinical training across the full spectrum of endocrine disorders
- Hands-on experience in inpatient consults, outpatient clinics, diabetes technology, and procedural skills
- Robust scholarly opportunities including clinical research, QI, and mentorship from dedicated faculty
- A commitment to advancing endocrine care and improving the health of the diverse communities we serve
Our curriculum is designed to provide broad exposure across all areas of endocrinology.
InpatientInpatient Endocrinology Consults
- High-volume diabetes care
- Hip Fracture / Osteoporosis Pathway
- Complex Endocrine Pathology: DKA/HHS, thyroid emergencies, pituitary/adrenal disorders, fluid and electrolyte imbalance
OutpatientOutpatient Specialty Clinics
- Diabetes clinic, general endocrinology, thyroid nodules, metabolic bone, lipid disorders, reproductive system and transgender care
Fellows' Continuity Clinic
- Supporting longitudinal patient management
MultidisciplinaryClinical Training with Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Vascular Medicine — macrovascular complications of endocrine disease and risk reduction strategies
- Obstetrics — management of diabetes and endocrine disorders during pregnancy
- Radiology — DEXA, endocrine imaging, and related diagnostic procedures
ProceduralProcedural Skills
- Diabetes Technology Training — CGM, insulin pumps, hybrid closed-loop systems, and advanced diabetes management tools
- Thyroid ultrasound and FNA
- Skeletal dual photon absorptiometry interpretation
- Dynamic endocrine testing
Didactics, Teachings & Lectures
Structured weekly educational program designed to build clinical expertise, critical appraisal skills, and board readiness.
- Weekly didactic sessions, including core endocrine lectures and case-based presentations
- Fellow-led case conference
- Journal club with faculty-led critical appraisal
- Endocrine board review curriculum
- Multidisciplinary conferences with radiology, surgery, and pathology
- Quality improvement workshops
- Simulation sessions (thyroid biopsy, endocrine emergencies)
Evaluation & Feedback
Assessment Methods
- Direct observation
- ACGME milestones-based assessments
- Faculty of Fellow Evaluation (end of rotation)
- Fellow of Faculty Evaluation (end of rotation)
- Semi-annual performance review with Program Director
- Summative Evaluation (promotion / program completion)
- Multisource 360° Evaluations (nursing, peers, patients, self)
- Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and supportive remediation
Committee Reviews
- Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) Meeting
- Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) Meeting
- End-of-Year Program Evaluation (by fellow)
Research & Scholarly Opportunities
Fellows are supported to complete at least one scholarly project, with dedicated research time built into the curriculum and mentorship from Dr. Anthony Firek, Medical Director of the Comparative Effectiveness and Clinical Outcomes Research Center (CECORC).
Diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, adrenal testing, and more
Quality improvement, case reports, and curriculum development
ENDO, AACE, and ADA national meetings
IRB submission, data analysis, and manuscript preparation
Our Fellowship Team
Iqbal Munir, MD, PhD
Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCR · Chair, Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Program Director
Almira Yang, DO
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCR
Assoc. Program Director
Anthony Firek, MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCR · Medical Director, CECORC
Core Faculty
Bahram Mirza, MD
Chief of Service, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Kaiser Permanente Riverside · Clinical Associate Professor, UCR
Core Faculty
Salma Khan, MD, PhD
Associate Research Professor · Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Core Faculty
Erika A. Coleman, BS
Fellowship Program Coordinator · RUHS Endocrinology
Program Coordinator
Eligibility Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited U.S. or international medical school
- Completion of an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency by the fellowship start date
- Board-eligible or board-certified in Internal Medicine at time of appointment
- Eligibility for medical licensure in the State of California
Application Requirements
Submit via ERAS. Required documents:
- Completed ERAS application
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- 3 letters of recommendation
- USMLE or COMLEX examination scores
Fellow Selection Process
- 1 July 2025 — ERAS applications open for the 2026 Fellowship Season (appointments beginning July 2027)
- 2 Fall–Winter 2026 — Interviews conducted
- 3 2027–2028 — One (1) fellow selected for the academic year
- 4 Applicants participating in the NRMP Match are kindly requested to notify the program once match outcome is received
Fellow Life & Well-being
A culture that values manageable call schedules and psychological safety
Access to counseling and a supportive county benefits package including leave options
Proximity to beaches, mountains, and metropolitan centers
Sponsoring Institution
Riverside University Health System – Medical Center
- Established 1893
- County's premier teaching hospital
- Level 1 Trauma Center (Adults)
- County's only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- 439 licensed beds (Moreno Valley & Arlington campuses)
- 44 Hospital-Based Clinics
- 13 Community Health Centers (FQHC)
- Safety-net provider for Riverside County
- 1,000 medical students per year
- 200 nursing students per year