Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

Overview                      Curriculum                      Application


Overview

Thank you for your interest in the University of Louisville Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program! We are currently seeking fellows for July 2023.

Our ACGME accredited Fellowship Program began July 1, 1975 and is currently approved for five positions. The educational program utilizes clinical material, faculty, and in-patient and out-patient services at the University of Louisville Hospital and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The program also partners with a Ryan White funded HIV clinic for in-patient and out-patient services. This structure allows for a broad exposure in disease pathology and patient mix.

The program is open to all eligible applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Program Goals

  • To provide acute care experience in the management of hospitalized patients with infectious diseases
  • To provide continuing care experience in the management of HIV/AIDS patients
  • To provide experience with a hospital program for improving the use of antimicrobials in hospitalized patients
  • To provide experience in the management of patients at risk for tuberculosis and patients with tuberculosis
  • To provide experience in the management of sexually transmitted diseases
  • To provide supervised clinical research experience for each trainee
  • To provide experience with the microbiological diagnosis of infectious diseases
  • To provide experience in the management and operation of a hospital infection control, prevention, and epidemiology program
  • To provide experience and education in the process of quality improvement
  • To provide experience with the molecular methods used by the clinical microbiology laboratory

To see a list of our current fellows click here!


Curriculum

The Fellowship program extends over 24 months and meets or exceeds minimal criteria by the American Board of Internal Medicine for fellows successfully completing the Program to be eligible to sit for the Certifying Examination in Infectious Diseases. During these 24 months, the fellow will have a continuous ambulatory care rotation consisting of two one-half days per week. This allows for the fellow to follow a group of patients on a regular. Fellows engage in training within a variety of disciplines, including:

  • International Clinical Research: There is a strong research emphasis and fellows are expected to participate in research activities throughout their training. Involvement in clinical research protocols as well as a state-of-the-art basic research reference laboratory with faculty devoted to basic research is available for training in a wide variety of areas involving studies at the molecular, cellular, and patient levels. The Division has established the International Respiratory Infections and two journals: The Journal of Respiratory Infections and the Journal of Refugee and Global Health. The Division was designated as the first Center of Excellence by Pfizer Vaccines in the world.
  • Education and Research in Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship: At the University of Louisville Hospital, the Division implemented a hospital antimicrobial management program with the goal to improve the use of antibiotics in the hospital setting. The University of Louisville Hospital now has an Infectious Disease Doctor of Pharmacy with the goal to help in the activities program, to create an Infectious Diseases rotation for pharmacy students, and to work with the Division in the area of antibiotic research.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division initiated the first testing in the city of Louisville and provided results for all 10 hospitals in the city. A large database with IRB approval is the source for several manuscripts. The Division is also the site for a vaccine study.

Each fellow has increased responsibility with each year. Second year are considered junior faculty in the I.D. clinics where residents present patient cases to them for review. Second year fellows also arrange the fellow/resident night call schedule, attend at least one major meeting, participate in the Infection Control Committee for at least one hospital, and choose “patients of the week” for the I.D. Patient Management Conference. Basic research time varies depending upon the fellows' interest and career goals. The Infectious Diseases faculty and Program Director provide monthly and semi-annual written evaluations for each fellow, along with structured feedback. These evaluations are kept on file. The Program Director meets weekly with the fellows to discuss strength and weaknesses in areas of concern and to provide feedback as needed. Training is bolstered by bi-weekly meetings for Fellows including Infectious Diseases Journal Club for discussion of the current literature and Infectious Diseases Grand Rounds didactic lectures and publishing an internal manual for bone and joint infections. At the conclusion of their training, fellows will be prepared to begin a successful academic or clinical career in Infectious Diseases.

Training

  • Inpatient care in two hospitals
  • Infection Control and Prevention
  • HIV/AIDS outpatient care at University of Louisville Hospital and VA Medical Center
  • Clinical microbiology at University of Louisville Hospital
  • Pharmacy at University of Louisville Hospital and VA Medical Center
  • Molecular diagnostics at the Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
  • Basic research at the University of Louisville Hospital and the VA Medical Center (optional)
  • Clinical research at the University of Louisville Hospital and the VA Medical Center

Application

All applicants must have completed a three-year Internal Medicine residency in an accredited medical school in the United States. Foreign medical graduates must have passed the NBOME or USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3, as well as completed a three-year Internal Medicine residency in an accredited medical school in the United States. One position each year is determined by the National Residency Match Program, and other positions are available outside the match.

We invite you to apply via the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS).

Contact Information

Karen Ramsey, Fellowship Coordinator
E: karen.ramsey@louisville.edu
O: 502.852.1603
F: 502.852.1961
501 East Broadway, Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40202


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