Clinical and Research Training in Infectious Diseases
The University
of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, founded in 1891, has a long
tradition of investigation and training in infectious diseases and host
immunity. The program will train physicians in broad clinical
scholarship and clinical or basic investigation in preparation for
careers in infectious diseases. Fellows may elect training in either the
Clinical Investigator or the Basic Investigator tracks. The program will
prepare a physician for the subspecialty boards in Infectious Diseases.
Fellows are generally
admitted to the program after three years of residency in Internal
Medicine. The primary training facility is the University of Texas
Medical Branch at Galveston, with its four schools, five hospitals, and
three research institutes on one campus. The faculty includes members of
the Divisions of Infectious Diseases of the Departments of Internal
Medicine and Pediatrics, as well as relevant members of the Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, the Department of Pathology, the UTMB
Center for Tropical Diseases, the UTMB Center for Biodefense, and the
Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, all of which are components of the
Institute for Human Infections and Immunity. Opportunities exist for
research training in several areas described below as well as areas
listed within the faculty roster. A third year of fellowship devoted
primarily to research is strongly advised. Development of teaching
skills is also emphasized through participation with senior faculty in
medical student and house staff teaching programs.
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Clinical Training
Clinical and research training continues throughout all years of the
training program, although most of the time spent in clinical training
is during the first year. This approach is intended, first, to give
intensive clinical exposure early with the opportunity to add to this
experience in succeeding months of the program; and, second, to afford
an opportunity to explore ideas for a research experience during the
early part of the first year, and to provide time during the latter part
of the first and the majority of the second and subsequent years to
develop one's research program.
Clinical training is accomplished primarily by intensive experience on
the in-patient services of the UTMB hospitals and in the infectious
diseases clinics including General Infectious Diseases Clinic, ID/AIDS
Program Clinic, and the Travel Clinic. Fellows in Infectious Diseases
see a broad variety of infectious diseases problems in both hospitalized
and ambulatory patients.
In
addition, to add to the fellows' understanding of the role of the
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, the first month of the fellowship is
spent in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory learning diagnostic
laboratory procedures. This program is designed to give the Infectious
Diseases fellow a thorough understanding of currently used diagnostic
techniques in bacteriology, virology, mycology, serology, and
parasitology and to provide opportunities to perform such procedures.
The intent is not to train experts in the performance of specific tests
but to enhance the fellow's understanding of the sensitivity,
reproducibility, and limitations of these techniques. Fellows also
receive training in Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control through
the Healthcare Epidemiology Program of the Division.
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Research Training
Emphasis is placed on research experience which begins in the first year
and includes most of the second year. A third year devoted to research
is available and is strongly advised. In the initial portion of the
first year, the fellow gains familiarity with the research activities in
the Division through attendance at research seminars and conferences,
and through meeting with individual senior investigators. By means of
this process, the fellow selects an area and a preceptor with whom
he/she wishes to work, and the fellow and preceptor develop a program of
research for the fellow to pursue. This can involve both "basic"
laboratory and "clinical" investigative projects in related areas, or
concentration in one of the investigative areas. The process proceeds
with the advice and oversight of the Division Director and the Program
Director.
The
major research interests and expertise of the faculty of the Division
are in the areas of basic and clinical virology, viral immunology and
pathogenesis, evaluation of viral vaccines and antiviral agents,
parasitology and parasite pathogenesis, and healthcare epidemiology.
Individual areas of interest and expertise are indicated in the roster
of faculty of the Division. Fellows are not restricted to research
training within the Division, however. There are more than 125 UTMB
faculty investigators addressing infectious diseases and immunity in
different departments and centers mentioned above. Existing UTMB
programs support training in bacteriology, virology, parasitology,
immunology, the host response to infection, vector biology, population
genetics, epidemiology, and structural biology of viruses and viral
nucleic acids and proteins.
Rounds,
Training Conferences and Lecture Series
Attending Rounds - Attending
rounds are made daily by a member of the faculty with the fellows, residents and medical
students.
Conferences
1.
Infectious Diseases Clinical Conference - This is a weekly in-hospital
clinical conference which is run by the fellows and residents in
Internal Medicine.
2.
Morbidity and Mortality Conference - This is a monthly conference in
which clinical and laboratory aspects of infectious diseases are
discussed, with additional participation of Anatomic Pathology and
Radiology faculty.
3.
Journal Club - This is a monthly in-depth review of articles in
infectious diseases.
4.
Research-in-Progress Seminar (RIPS) Series – This is a conference held
twice monthly at which faculty and fellows of the Division, as well as
Faculty from outside the Division, present research progress and plans
for constructive discussion.
Lecture Series
1.
GCRC Comprehensive Clinical Research Methods and Practice Course - This
course is required for all fellows. The curriculum includes clinical
practice and research guidelines, study design, statistics and data
analysis, research methods, and grant preparation and data presentation.
2.
Infectious Diseases Core Lecture Series - The series is comprised of
lectures on specific infectious diseases, infections of organ systems,
and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases.
Faculty from the Division as well as other departments, including the
Pharmacy, provide a broad core didactic consideration of the field.
3.
Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Control Seminars - This is a
15-hour series of presentations sponsored and conducted by the
Healthcare Epidemiology program.
Formal Courses
Fellows are
encouraged to attend UTMB courses relevant to their research, including but not limited to
courses conducted by the Departments of:
1. Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics
2. Microbiology and Immunology
3. Pathology
4. Preventive Medicine and Community Health.
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Facilities
The
Division of Infectious Diseases' research laboratories occupy over
11,000 square feet, including both BSL2 and BSL3 laboratories. The
laboratories are well equipped with both general and specialized
equipment for studies in the areas of clinical and molecular virology
and immunology of infectious diseases, with additional facilities for
support including darkroom, walk-in cold room, common large equipment
rooms, etc. Office space for fellows and secretarial service are
provided. The Infectious Diseases outpatient facilities (ID Clinic,
ID/AIDS Program Clinic, Travel Clinic) occupy an additional 4,000 square
feet of space in the Rebecca Sealy Hospital. Extensive facilities and
equipment of the Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics,
Microbiology and Immunology, and Pathology are also available, as well
as UTMB core laboratories that support ongoing research programs with
state-of-the-art expertise and facilities.
The
University of Texas Medical Branch has one of the most comprehensive
academic research programs in the world for work with viruses and
bacteria that require high and maximum levels of biocontainment. This
program covers a wide range of pathogens from bacteria such as
Bacillus anthracis to biosafety level 4 (BSL4) pathogens like Ebola
and Marburg viruses. UTMB has an extensive training program that ensures
the safety of the scientists and trainees who work with these agents.
UTMB’s infectious disease programs are currently utilizing seven
state-of-the-art BSL3 and BSL4 facilities to translate basic research
ideas into the products that help fight emerging infectious diseases and
to assist the nation’s defense against bioterrorism. These facilities
for in vitro and in vivo (animal model) investigation include extensive
BSL2/ABSL2 laboratory facilities, several BSL3/ABSL3 suites of several
laboratories each, BSL2 and BSL3 insectaries for vector studies, and an
operational BSL4/ABSL4 laboratory, the Robert E. Shope, M.D. Laboratory.
Together, these represent one of the most extensive biocontainment
research complexes anywhere in the world.
In
addition, UTMB is home to the $167 million Galveston National Laboratory
(GNL) which is currently under construction and is on schedule, with a
projected completion date of December 2007 and activation in June 2008.
It is attached to the existing Shope BSL4 laboratory/Keiller Building as
a seven-story research building with 82,411 net sqft, including 12,362
net sqft of BSL4 laboratory space (15.0%), 18,223 net sqft of BSL3
laboratory space (22.1%), 13,368 net sqft BSL-2 laboratory space
(16.2%), and 8,733 net sqft of animal support space (5.0%).
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Faculty, Infectious Diseases Training Program
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Norbert Roberts, M.D.
Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program Director
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Training Program Faculty are listed in the page on Faculty
and Staff.
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Applications
The
Division participates in the Residency Match Program for Infectious
Diseases and applications to our program are submitted through
ERAS.
Applicants may be invited for an interview. Selections of fellows for
Infectious Diseases training (two positions per year) are made in
accordance with procedures established by the Infectious Diseases
Society of America. The Infectious Diseases Training Program at UTMB
accepts both U.S. citizens (and permanent residents) and individuals
with J1 and H visas. There are no pre-set requirements for USMLE scores
or research experience but the fellowship is quite competitive. The
total applicant information is considered, both in regard to invitations
to interview and eventual offers of a position. Appointments are for a
2- or 3-year period. The University of Texas Medical Branch is an Equal
Opportunity Employer, and applications from members of minority groups
are strongly encouraged.
For
additional information about the Training Program, write, call or
email,: Ms. Kim Denton, Fellowship Program Coordinator, or Dr. Norbert
J. Roberts, Jr., Program Director, Division of Infectious Diseases
Fellowship Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University
Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0435; (409) 747-1856, FAX (409) 772-6527;
krdenton@utmb.edu or nroberts@utmb.edu.
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