Mission, Aims, Goals and Objectives

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship

Mission

Our mission is to train subspecialists in pediatric infectious diseases who will be competent in addressing the infectious disease healthcare needs of all children, through excellence in patient care, education, clinical research, antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control.

Program Aims

The aims for the pediatric infectious diseases fellowship are listed below:

  • To train fellows with expertise in prevention and management of infectious diseases in a variety of children, ranging from the healthy to the medically complex
    • The "special populations" rotations in collaboration with outside institutions provide a broad range of experiences (e.g. St. Jude Oncology ID)
  • To train academicians and educators in the field who serve as a valuable resource in their community.
    • Fellows deliver presentations to students, peers and members of the health care team
    • Fellows participate in policy-setting committees and work within interprofessional teams
  • To provide fellows with a balanced foundation in an epidemiology and infection prevention and also antimicrobial stewardship and quality improvement
    • Fellows are heavily involved in infection prevention, antibiotic stewardship and quality improvement committees
  • To teach fellows to collaborate across professional boundaries to have a strong impact on public health and policy setting and to be advocates for protection of children from emerging threats of infectious diseases
    • Fellows work on multidisciplinary projects and committees that promote child health and infection prevention
    • Fellows are exposed to work in global health settings that help provide insight on public health and policy beyond their immediate surroundings
  • To graduate fellows who continue to pursue scholarly activity well beyond fellowship training
    • An expanded Scholarly Oversight Committee provides comprehensive mentoring
    • Graduates are engaged in collaborative scholarly projects

Goals and Objectives

The overall goal of the pediatric infectious diseases fellowship program is to develop pediatric infectious diseases sub-specialists that are prepared for a career in academic medicine.

The program complies with the general goals set forth by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or ACGME.

Specific Goals by Year of Training

The following goals are outlined according to the expectations of fellows by the end of each year of training, although some goals carry on for subsequent years.

First Year (PGY-4)

Fellows will be able to:

  • Plan initial work-up and management of pediatric infectious diseases and understand their pathogenesis and natural history
  • Understand microbiological techniques and understand how to use them
  • Understand basic function of the immune system and of immunological basis of disease
  • Understand the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmodynamics of antibiotics and their interaction with other drugs
  • Design a research protocol, write a proposal and apply for funding
    • Develop hypothesis
    • Perform literature review
    • Design study
    • Apply for intramural and/or extramural funding
    • Submit proposal to IRB
  • Understand Food and Drug Administration regulations and IRB policies and procedures for conducting research
  • Teach on rounds and at bedside
  • Prepare and deliver lectures

Second Year (PGY-5)

Fellows will be able and expected to:

  • Manage most complicated infectious diseases and understand their pathogenesis and natural history
  • Understand hospital epidemiology and infection control
  • Understand statistical methods
  • Understand how clinical trials are conducted, (including negotiating with sponsors, laboratory and consultants) and scientifically critique the published articles
  • Implement their research protocol and submit results for presentation at National/International meetings
    • Implement protocol
    • Gather and analyze data
    • Write and submit abstract for National/International meeting
    • Design poster/oral presentation
  • Publish review articles or case reports

Third Year (PGY-6)

Fellows will be able to:

  • Manage complicated infectious diseases in children effectively and independently
  • Take on responsibility for hospital epidemiology and infection control
  • Complete their research protocol
    • Present their results at national/international meetings (if not done during the second year)
    • Prepare and complete the written "work product," which may include:
      • A peer-reviewed publication with the resident as the first author
      • An in-depth manuscript describing a completed project
      • An extramural grant application that has either been accepted or favorably reviewed
      • A progress report for projects of exceptional complexity
  • Be effective in teaching both individuals and groups of learners in clinical settings, classroom, lectures and seminars using electronic and print modalities