Division of Infectious Diseases

Education

The Division of Infectious Diseases offers programs for medical students, residents, and fellows.

Medical Student Elective

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases elective (PEDS-421C) is strongly recommended as a four-week elective, although shorter electives (two or three weeks) may be considered upon written request to the division chief. The rotation focuses on evaluation of suspected or confirmed infections in children, their diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Topics covered either through clinical or lecture teaching include anti-infective therapies, use of the microbiology laboratory, and immunizations. Teaching occurs in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and the student is encouraged to play an active role in the infectious diseases patient care team. For information, please email pedsid@mc.duke.edu.

Students interested in research related to pediatric infectious diseases are encouraged to contact the division chief or the appropriate faculty member to discuss the availability of a research rotation or project. Whenever possible, the division will try to accommodate such requests but placement in such rotations is not guaranteed. For more information, see Medical Students Opportunities, Fourth Year.

Resident Elective

This is a four-week elective during which residents are encouraged to participate actively in the Pediatric Inpatient service providing consultation and inpatient care to children with known or suspected infectious diseases. Whenever possible, the fellow will see the patients and develop a diagnosis and treatment plan prior to discussion with the rest of the team. The resident will participate in in-patient rounds, see outpatients in the pediatric ID clinic and will attend teaching conferences.

Residents interested in research related to pediatric infectious diseases are encouraged to contact the division chief or the appropriate faculty member to discuss the availability of a research rotation or project. Whenever possible, the division will try to accommodate such requests but placement in such rotations is not guaranteed.

Fellowship Program

Fellowship Program Summary

The Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program consists of clinical training during the first year and research in the second and third years.

Clinical Training

During their clinical (first) year, the pediatric infectious diseases fellows have primary responsibility for managing the inpatient team and consult service. They also directly supervise the pediatric residents and medical students on the Infectious Diseases elective. Rounds are made with a member of the senior faculty on a daily basis. It is during this year that the fellow acquires the majority of the clinical knowledge and experience required to practice effectively and independently. During the first year, the fellow also spends one month in the general microbiology laboratory learning diagnostic methods of bacteriology, serology, mycology, and virology.

During the second and third years of the program, clinical duties are minimal and consist of on-call coverage one weekend per month and coverage during periods of vacation for the junior fellow. During the second and third years, the fellow spends one day per month in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Subspecialty Clinic evaluating the new patients and caring for a small group of infectious disease "continuity" patients.

Research Opportunities for Fellows

The primary focus of the second and third years is research, and the fellows are expected to develop a research program of their choosing in collaboration with faculty. Mentors may come from a diverse number of departments and divisions within the overall university. The faculty have expertise in a wide variety of research areas. The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke has a number of skilled investigators in the diverse areas of Virology, Bacteriology, and Mycology. Our fellows have been welcomed into basic microbiology laboratories to conduct original projects and to learn research skills. The Human Vaccine Institute is active in researching candidate vaccines for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases via traditional and non-traditional methods. The Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) is the largest academic clinical research organization in the world and has a significant pediatric program in place. Opportunities for collaboration abound and include possibilities as varied as areas of biodefense, emerging infections, international health and large scale clinical trials with the DCRI as well as the other divisions within the Department of Pediatrics.

Current Fellows

Dwight Yin, MD
First-year fellow.
Ann Buchanan, MD, MPH, DTM&H
Second-year fellow conducting research on the diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infections in HIV-positive children in Africa.

Luis Rogg, MD, PhD
Second-year fellow conducting research on the calcineurin control of the cell wall in Aspergillus fumigatus.
Maria Guadalupe Lopez Marti, MD
Third-year fellow conducting research on hospital infection control and respiratory viral pathogens in pediatric bone marow transplant recipients.

More Information

Find quick answers to questions about the program in the fellowship summary.
Download the application letter
Email the program at pedsid@mc.duke.edu
Fellowhip director:

William J. Steinbach, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
bill.steinbach@duke.edu

Fellowship contact person:

Terry Hales
GME Program Coordinator
Duke Univ Med Ctr, Box 3499
Durham, NC 27710
919-681-4658
919-668-4859 fax
terry.hales@duke.edu

Fellowship Application Timeline

November 15, 2009	Applicants may begin entering information for 2011 fellowship application.
December 1, 2009	Duke will begin downloading applicant information from ERAS to begin selections for interview candidates.
December 2009 - February 2010	Duke will interview qualified candidates
January - March 2010	Duke will select candidates.