Internal Medicine

Fellowship Training Overview

An exceptional clinical experience

Infectious Disease Fellows see inpatient consultations at two tertiary care teaching hospitals that have very active surgical, ICU, burn, oncology, geriatrics and solid organ transplant services. Most consult rotations occur during the first year of training.

General Infectious Disease, HIV and travel clinics offer a well rounded outpatient experience. Fellows' continuity clinic is held a half-day each week throughout the duration of training.

Elective rotations in pediatric infectious diseases, bone marrow transplantation, and tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections are available. Rotations at international sites are also offered (Kenya and Peru).

A strong didactic program

Case conferences, journal club, research in progress, and core lecture series in a variety of formats with superb faculty involvement. The monthly global grand rounds is a real time, multicontinental case conference involving sites in Peru, Kenya, and Croatia as well as UTMB.

Faculty excel in teaching and mentoring

Infectious Disease Faculty frequently recognized by prestigious awards such as Best Doctors in America, Texas SuperDoctors, Osler Society Teaching Award and Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society.

Numerous research opportunities

UTMB is among the U.S. leaders in NIH support for infectious disease research; the Microbiology Department ranks among the top in the country on NIH funding. Over 200 investigators are addressing Infectious Diseases and Immunity in different UTMB departments and centers. UTMB is the only University in the country with an active Bio-Safety Level 4 Laboratory (BSL4).

Most research training occurs during the second year. An optional third year devoted to research and advanced degrees is available. Fellows may elect to work in basic or clinical projects and with mentors inside or outside the Division.

Advanced degrees

Our training programs are supported by NIH training grants with options for obtaining masters degrees in public health or clinical investigation, including providing opportunities for international research training.

Excellent benefits

Highest level of employer contribution to 401K retirement package in the country; high quality personal and family health insurance; support for travel, memberships, textbooks.

Conferences

Clinical Case Conference (weekly)
It is run primarily by the fellows. A case of unknown diagnosis or challenging management is presented for engaged discussions.

Morbidity and Mortality (monthly)
Clinical and pathologic aspects of infectious diseases are correlated with participation of pathology faculty and residents.

Journal Club (weekly)
An in-depth review of current articles published in high impact journals. Faculty and fellows present. A critical analysis of the literature is emphasized.

Research-in-Progress (monthly/bimonthly)
Faculty, fellows or graduate students present their ongoing research projects for constructive criticism.

Infectious Diseases Core Lecture Series
This series is comprised of lectures on specific microorganisms, infections of organ systems, and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. Faculty provide a broad core didactic consideration of the field.

Other Didactic Sessions

Global Grand Rounds (monthly)
A unique videoconference where cases are presented from various international sites (Peru, Argentina, Kenya and Croatia) linked to UTMB via telemedicine for shared clinical discussions.

Intensive Course in Tropical Medicine
A 4-week interactive course that qualifies participants for the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Certificate of Knowledge in Tropical Medicine and Travel Health.

Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Control Seminar
This is a 21-hour series of presentations given by the UTMB healthcare epidemiology program led by Dr. Glen Mayhall.

HIV Mini-Fellowship
A learning experience through lectures, case studies, Q&A sessions, and hands on clinical and telemedicine experiences. This course complements other divisional learning activities focused on HIV/AIDS (13.5 AMA credits).

Clinical Research Tools and Techniques Course
It covers research guidelines, study design, statistics and data analysis, research methods, grant preparation and data presentation.

The following courses are also available across the institution. Fellows are encouraged to take advantage of these educational activities.

1. Annual McLaughlin Symposium: Emerging Infectious Diseases: Ethics, Law and Professional Obligation (11 AMA credits including 6 credit hours in ethics and professional responsibility).
2. Center for Tropical Diseases Colloquium on Frontiers of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine
3. Microbiology and Immunology Seminar Series

Fellow Graduates 2008 – 2012	ID Board Certified	Academic Position	Private Practice	State/Country
Sommers, Kimberly	Yes		X	California
Tahir, Faiza	Yes		X	Texas
Ashfaq, Ahmad	Yes		X	Arizona
Thet, Zeyar	Yes	X		New York
Blanton, Lucas	Yes	X		Texas
Cabada, Miguel	Yes	X		Peru
Tichindelean, Carmen	Yes		X	Michigan
Hewlett, Angela	Yes	X		Nebraska
Kahlon, Summerpal	Yes		X	Florida

Applications

Our program participates in the NRMP and all applications are submitted through ERAS. We will be receiving applications for fellows starting July 1, 2014 between July 2013 and September 2013. Interviews of selected applicants will be conducted between August 2013 and October 2013.

The program accepts U.S. citizens, permanent residents and J1/H1 visa holders. There are no preset requirements for USMLE scores or research experience but the fellowship is quite competitive. We appoint 2 fellows per year for a 2 to 3 year period. UTMB is an Equal Opportunity Employer and applications from women and members of minority groups are strongly encouraged.

For additional information please contact:

Juan C. Sarria, M.D., Program Director
Kimberly Denton, Program Coordinator
Infectious Disease Fellowship Program

University of Texas Medical Branch
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0435
Phone 409.747.1856
Fax 409.772.6527