The Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is designed to prepare trainees for a career in academic medicine through clinical practice and research training. The three-year program qualifies trainees for ABIM subspecialty boards in Infectious Diseases. The first year of the program is devoted to clinical training. The subsequent two years are devoted to research. Trainees are encouraged to take advantage of a range of research opportunities in their area of interest. Clinical Training Research Training Conferences Seminars Vacation and Conference Time Evaluation Applications Contact Information CLINICAL TRAINING
The ABIM subspecialty boards in Infectious Diseases requires one-year devoted to in-patient clinical care and two-years of outpatient clinical continuity care. The first year of clinical training commences with a 4-week microbiology course. The remainder of the first year is divided among the following rotations that provide and coordinate clinical research training:
1. The Medical Infectious Diseases Consult Service. This service provides infectious diseases consultation for patients on the general medicine, medicine subspecialty, neurology, dermatology, and psychiatry services and the medical intensive care units with infectious disease complications. The consult team consists of an attending physician, Infectious Diseases Fellow, 0-2 Medical Residents, and 0-2 Medical Students. The service provides ~120 inpatient consults/month.
2. The Surgical Infectious Diseases Consult Service. This service oversees the care of patients on the general surgery and surgical subspecialty services, surgical intensive care units, hematology/oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, and rehabilitation medicine with infectious disease complications. The service provides care for patients with pre- and post-operative complications caused by infection. The consult team consists of an attending physician, Infectious Diseases Fellow, 0-2 Medical Residents, and 0-2 Medical Students. The service provides ~75 inpatient consults/month.
3. The Transplant Infectious Diseases Consult Service. This multidisciplinary service oversees the care of solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplant recipients with infectious disease complications. The consult team consists of an attending physician, Infectious Diseases Fellow, 0-2 Medical Residents, and 0-1 Medical Students. The service provides ~120 inpatient consults/month.
4. The Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic. This outpatient clinic provides clinical continuity care for patients seen on the Medical, Surgical, and Transplant Infectious Diseases Consult Services during their hospitalization and for patients referred by their primary physician for questions about the management of infectious diseases. Consultations are provided for patients with general infectious disease problems, primary care and consultations for patients infected with HIV, and the care of patients with illnesses and infections related to travel to or immigration from the developing world. The clinic has ~6,600 encounters/year.
5. The Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic. This outpatient clinic provides clinical continuity care for patients with sexually transmitted diseases on a walk-in basis. Services include evaluation and treatment of infectious diseases, Hepatitis A and B vaccines, counseling and testing for HIV, and information about safe sex practices. The clinic has ~300 encounters/year.
6. The International Travel Medicine and Immunization Clinic. This outpatient clinic provides travel advice and immunizations. The clinic specializes in the care of the routine traveler, and the long-term, pregnant, high-risk, and immunocompromised travelers. The clinic has ~3,000 outpatient encounters/year.
7. The Clinical Microbiology Rotation. This rotation provides the fellow with didactic and practical experience in the workup of clinical specimens. The fellow spends 4-weeks with a faculty mentor in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.
8. The Clinical Pharmacology Seminar Series. This seminar series provides the fellow with a fundamental understanding of the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, and adverse reactions of antimicrobial agents. The fellow participates in the 4-week afternoon seminar series with a Clinical Pharmacologist.
9. The Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control Rotation. This 12-week elective rotation provides the fellow with the opportunity to work with the Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control team. A core curriculum introduces the fellow to the key aspects of hospital-based infection control and provides opportunities for hands-on infection control experience as well as integration with the Infection Control team.
10. The Global Health Program Rotation. This elective rotation in the second or third fellowship year provides the fellow with the opportunity to spend up to 8-weeks with a faculty mentor in a developing country. It is most appropriate for fellows who have a strong career interest in international health and related infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and malaria.
RESEARCH TRAINING
All fellows participate in a bi-weekly Research Forum where theoretical and practical aspects of research are discussed in an interactive format. The second and third years of the program are devoted to a mentored basic, translational, or clinical research project selected by the Fellow and approved by the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Committee. The goal is to develop the research skills needed for a successful career in academic medicine. During the first year, the Fellow can explore research opportunities in the Departments and Schools of Northwestern University. The objective is to match Fellows to appropriate mentors and projects. The mentor provides research training and advice. Although the Division of Infectious Diseases provides salary support for the three-year Fellowship Training Program, the trainee is expected to submit a research grant to the National Institutes of Health or other funding agency in order to acquire the necessary grant-writing skills.
Research interests for the full-time faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases
♦ Steven Wolinsky, M.D., Samuel J. Sackett Professor and Chief - The evolutionary mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions.
♦ Evan Anderson, M.D., Assistant Professor - Pathogenesis of respiratory tract infections and diarrheal diseases.
♦ Maureen K. Bolon, M.D., Assistant Professor - The epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial utilization.
♦ Carol A. Ciesielski, M.D., Associate Professor - International HIV clinical research.
♦ Pavani Reddy Das, M.D., Assistant Professor – Infectious complications in the post-surgery patient.
♦ Minh Ht Dinh, M.D., Instructor - HIV immunopathogenesis.
♦ John P. Flaherty, M.D., Professor – Clinical infectious diseases.
♦ Shannon Galvin, M.D., Assistant Professor - International HIV clinical research.
♦ Claudia A. L. Hawkins, M.D., Assistant Professor - International HIV clinical research.
♦ Michael Ison, M.D., Assistant Professor – Transplant infectious diseases.
♦ Eun-young Kim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor – HIV transcriptional gene silencing by siRNAs.
♦ Robert L. Murphy, M.D., John P. Phair Professor - International HIV clinical research.
♦ Gary A. Noskin, M.D., Professor - The epidemiology of healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.
♦ Frank J. Palella, M.D., Associate Professor - Clinical trials of prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-related opportunistic infections.
♦ John P. Phair, M.D., Professor, Emeritus - Epidemiology and natural history of HIV and HIV-related opportunistic infections.
♦ Kimberly Scarsi, Pharm.D., Assistant Professor – Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs.
♦ Valentina Stosor, M.D., Assistant Professor - Transplant infectious diseases and HIV clinical research.
♦ Sarah Sutton, M.D., Assistant Professor - Clinical infectious diseases.
♦ Babafemi Taiwo, M.B.B.S., Assistant Professor - International HIV clinical research.
♦ Teresa R. Zembower, M.D., Assistant Professor, Hospital Epidemiologist - The epidemiology of healthcare associated infections.
Research interests for other faculty affiliated with the Division of Infectious Diseases
♦ Guenter Albrecht-Buehler, Ph.D., Robert Laughlin Rea Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology - Cell communication and behavior.
♦ Vladimir I. Gelfand, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology - Assembly and functions of the cytoskeleton; biochemistry of microtubules; mechanisms and regulation of intracellular transport.
♦ Robert D. Goldman, Ph.D., Stephen Walter Ranson Professor and Chair, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology - Structure and function of cytoskeletal systems.
♦ Thomas Hope, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology - Viral posttranscriptional regulatory elements and cell biology of HIV.
♦ Alan Hauser, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology-Immunology - Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system in virulence.
♦ Richard Longnecker, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Microbiology-Immunology - Epstein-Barr virus transformation, latency, and entry.
♦ Stephen Miller, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Microbiology-Immunology - Immunoregulation of T-cell immune responses.
♦ Karla Satchell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology-Immunology - Molecular pathogenesis of Vibrio cholerae; structure/function studies of the Vibrio RTX toxin.
♦ Hank Seifert, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Microbiology-Immunology - Bacterial pathogenesis, DNA recombination mechanisms, epithelial cell adherence.
♦ Terry Barrett, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine - Inflammation-induced changes in intestinal epithelial stem cell behavior and the regulation of T cell recruitment to sites of
intestinal inflammation.
♦ Syamal Datta, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Medicine - Molecular mechanisms of systemic autoimmunity and tolerance therapy.
♦ Dave Engman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pathology - organelle biogenesis in trypanosomes.
♦ William Karpus, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pathology - Chemokine regulation of lymphocyte trafficking in autoimmune diseases.
♦ Robert Lamb, Ph.D., John Evans Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology - Viral glycoproteins, ion channels, and RNA-binding proteins.
♦ Erik J. Sontheimer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology - Ribonucleoproteins and eukaryotic gene expression.
♦ Chad A. Mirkin, Ph.D., George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry - Developing methods for controlling the architecture of molecules and materials on the 1-100 nm length scale.
♦ Mark A. Ratner, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry - Energetics of DNA/protein binding.
♦ Linda Teplin, Ph.D., Owen L. Coon Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Psychology - Longitudinal study of psychiatric disorders and risky behaviors in delinquent youth.
♦ Laurie Zoloth, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Religion and the Center of Medical Ethics - The emerging issues in medical and research genetics.
CONFERENCES
Infectious Disease Case Conference:
Each consult team presents 1 - 3 interesting or puzzling cases; all are invited to present unique or difficult cases from the outpatient clinic. The emphasis is on generating discussion and sharing the most unusual or difficult cases. Case presentations can be made verbally. PowerPoint is recommended for lab data, radiographic images, and histopathology and microbiology images. No handouts are required. No formal presentations (i.e., lectures) are necessary, but if fellows find some interesting study or related information, they are encouraged to share it. Joint NMH/Children’s Memorial Hospital Infectious Disease Case Conference:
Cases are presented as “unknowns” by ID fellows and discussed by attendings. The presenting fellow then gives a brief formal discussion of the issues raised by the case. First year fellows present on average one case per month. Infectious Diseae Journal Club:
Assigned fellows and faculty (three/per session) bring an informative, topical or controversial journal article to discuss. Infectious Disease Research Forum:
Research concepts, ongoing projects and completed research are discussed.
Infectious Disease Fellows Core Lecture Series:
A range of core curriculum topics including HIV/AIDS, antimicrobial resistance, infection control, and clinical, epidemiological, and basic research are presented by the infectious disease faculty. The fellows participate in the selection of the topics for this conference.
Clinic Staff Conference:
Fellows join the supervising attending physician, the clinic nurse manager, HIV advanced practice nurse, clinic nursing staff, clinic social work staff, and clinic pharmacist to review patients receiving outpatient parenteral antibiotics and other complicated active patients followed in the clinic.
Antibiotic Formulary Subcommittee of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee:
Monthly one hour meeting to discuss issues of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in the hospital.
Infection Control Committee Meeting:
Quarterly meeting to review infection control policies and procedures at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
TEACHING SEMINARS Clinical Pharmacology Seminar Series The clinical pharmacology seminar series consists of four combined lecture and discussion sessions. The objectives are for the fellows to obtain instruction in the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, and adverse reactions of antimicrobial agents. Methods to determine absorption and excretion of antimicrobial agents and to determine concentration of antimicrobial agents in the blood and other body fluids will be discussed, along with the appropriate use and management of antimicrobial agents in the hospital and ambulatory setting. The date, time and location can be changed for scheduling conflicts. Clinical Microbiology The clinical microbiology course consists of didactic lectures, bench work, and weekly case studies and discussions with faculty supervisors. The objectives are for the fellows to obtain instruction in basic microbiology and immunology techniques relevant to the practice of clinical infectious diseases.
Date: July and August
Lecture Modules Include:
1. The Immunoinflammatory Response
2. The Enterobacteriaceae
3. The Non-fermentative Oxidative Gram-Negative Bacteria
4. Haemophilus
5. Neisseria and Moraxella catarrhalis
6. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
7. Staphylococcus and Micrococcus
8. Streptococcus and Enterococcus
9. Aerobic Gram-Positive Rods
10. Aerobic Actinomycetes and Anaerobic Actinomyces
11. Mycobacteria
12. Overview of Diagnostic and Clinical Virology
13. Parasitiology
14. Pathogenic Fungi: Classification/Yeast and Molds
15. The Dimorphic Fungi
16. Obligate Anaerobes and Microaerophilic Bacteria
17. Overview of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
18. Selection of Antimicrobial Agents; General Concepts
19. Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Positive Bacteria
20. Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacilli
21. Sepsis VACATION AND CONFERENCE TIME Fellows are entitled to three weeks of paid vacation each year. Fellows can take vacation at any time, but need to notify the fellowship director and ambulatory clinic staff at least two months before the start of planned vacations. There is no accumulation of vacation time from year to year. Each year, fellows may attend one week of conferences in fields relevant to infectious diseases. The costs incurred from strictly educational conferences are the responsibility of the fellow. If the fellow is attending one or more conferences to present original research data, the division will pay the incurred costs, based on the availability of funds. The fellowship program director may authorize more than one week of conference time for extenuating circumstances. Each year every fellow is given the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America. During the second year of fellowship, fellows are given the opportunity to attend a four-day course on hospital infection control given by the Society of Hospital Epidemiology. The division will pay the incurred costs, based on the availability of funds. Fellows must notify the fellowship director before attending any conference. EVALUATION Evaluation of fellows by the attending physicians is at the conclusion of each clinical rotation. Evaluation forms are compiled in each fellow's folder after being reviewed by the program director. In addition, the program director meets with each fellow at least two times a year in October and March. Discussion during these meetings includes the fellow's progress and prior evaluations. A principle objective of these meetings is to discuss how the training program can facilitate the fellow's career goals. The program director and division chief are available for informal discussion of progress and career advice at anytime. At the April meeting of the Committee, the progress of each fellow is summarized by the program director and recommendations are made for promotion to the next postgraduate year. In the event that a fellow's progress is judged to be insufficient, a remediation program will be recommended by the program director. The program will be designed to address the specific areas of deficient knowledge, behavior, attitudes, and/or skills. If, at the time of re-evaluation, the progress is still judged to be insufficient, the fellow will be placed on probation. The fellow will be notified in writing of the probationary status, specific areas judged to be deficient, expectations for improvement, methods for regular re-evaluation of progress, and the anticipated date at which time the fellow's status will be reviewed. The fellow will also be notified in that letter that the fellow has the right to request an appeal of the decision at the departmental level. This request must be made in writing within 14 days of receipt of the probationary letter. If this request is made, the Residency Committee will address the appeal according to the process described in the Reference Manual. The Committee will notify the fellow, in writing, of the result of the appeal within 5 days of completion of the review. If the action is to sustain, the fellow will also be notified in writing that he/she has the right to appeal the decision at the GME level. If the fellow does not achieve satisfactory remediation during the probationary period, the Committee will make the decision for non-renewal of contract. Except in unusual circumstances, this decision will be made and communicated to the fellow in writing at least 4 months prior to the completion of the current postgraduate year. The fellow will also be notified in wiring of his/her right to appeal as described above. APPLICATIONS Application to the Fellowship Program may be made through ERAS 18-months in advance of the anticipated matriculation date. Applicants considered for admission to the Northwestern University Infectious Diseases Training Program have completed training in approved U.S. Residency Program that provides ABIM eligibility in Internal Medicine and a dedication to a career in academic medicine. The completed application should include three letters of reference. Previous research experience is not required. Personal interviews take place between February and March in order to accommodate scheduling demands. Interviews are by invitation only. The applicant meets with the members of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Committee. The Fellowship Program honors the match date for the National Residency Match Program. CONTACT INFORMATION John P. Flaherty, M.D.
Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
645 N. Michigan Avenue
Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: 312.695.5090
Fax: 312.695.5088 Rosemary Clark
Coordinator, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
676 N. Saint Clair St., Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: 312.695.5090
Fax: 312.695.5088
e-mail: rosemaryclark@northwestern.edu |
