FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Postgraduate Training Program in Infectious Diseases FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION The University of Illinois offers an Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Program, which amalgamates the extensive clinical and research opportunities at the University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics and the West Side Division of the Chicago Veterans Administration Health Care system. The training program is designed to train fellows for clinical care and research in Infectious Diseases and related disciplines. FACILITIES The University of Illinois College of Medicine is a state supported institution; its hospital and clinics, the affiliated West Side Veterans Administration Hospital, the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and University of Illinois School of Pharmacy are all located on the University Campus on the West Side of Chicago. The basic sciences departments of the College of Medicine, including Microbiology and Immunology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, are all located at the Medical Center campus. Together the two hospitals provide almost 1,000 inpatient beds and provide primary and tertiary care for a diverse patient population from all socioeconomic groups. Infectious Diseases trainees see a wide variety of infections, including infections with unusual pathogens that complicate transplantation and cancer therapy. Trainees also participate in a comprehensive HIV program that has been rated one of the best in the nation. PROGRAM The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Infectious Diseases encompasses two or more years. This program is oriented to provide an opportunity for physicians to develop those clinical, research, and teaching skills necessary for academic careers. The fellowship experience is arranged to meet individual goals. In general, trainees spend the first fellowship year in supervised clinical infectious diseases consultation activities and in the clinical microbiology laboratories. The subsequent year(s) is spent developing research, epidemiologic, and investigative skills. Fellows do not match into a designated clinical or research track, but a large proportion of trainees extend their fellowship for one or more years to gain further research experience. The program is accredited, and successful completion of the program will lead to eligibility for the Infectious Diseases subspecialty board examination given by the American Board of Internal Medicine. THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Postgraduate Training Program in Infectious Diseases CLINICAL TRAINING The clinical training program involves rotations through the Adult Infectious Diseases Inpatient Consultative Services at our two hospitals. There is an additional one month rotation through a Pediatric ID Service and a one month rotation in Clinical Microbiology. Teaching rounds are held Monday through Friday for the consultative services, which provide 50-100 consultations a month. Fellows also receive training in outpatient management of Infectious Diseases, including outpatient consultations for unusual or difficult to manage infections, as well as advice for travelers. Fellows are assigned to one half day per week of a continuity clinic at one of the clinical sites for two years in order to get experience with longitudinal care of patients with chronic disorders, such as HIV infection. Virtually every aspect of modern medical care is represented in this training program. Fellows gain clinical experience in private and public institutions and gain experience in common infectious disease problems, as well as the more specialized problems of infections in bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients. Our AIDS population is also substantial, but HIV infection in no way monopolizes the clinical activities or educational experiences of the trainees. There is a growing program for the diagnosis and care of patients with difficult-to-manage mycobacterial infections referred from across the country. Chicago is certainly not a tropical region, but imported cases of tropical disease are also seen due to the large number of immigrants and travelers for whom these hospitals provide services. Both the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago are active in traveler prophylaxis. In addition to their experience on the clinical consultative services, fellows receive clinical and didactic training in medical microbiology, immunology, and in the science and art of infection control and hospital epidemiology. The adult and pediatric Infectious Diseases groups and clinical microbiologists from the three hospitals meet each week for a joint research and clinical Grand Rounds conference. Additionally, each institution has its own individual weekly conferences to review interesting and/or problem cases. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES A broad range of clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory research opportunities are available. Fellows have the opportunity to develop an individualized research program that will prepare them for their future career plans. Fellows have the opportunity of developing a research program with clinical investigators and basic scientists at one of our institutions, including the University of Illinois Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and the University of Illinois School of Public Health. Each trainee develops a program in conjunction with a faculty research advisor who works with the Fellow throughout the period of training. Research plans are reviewed and approved by the Fellowship Program Committee. The Department of Medicine has had continued success in obtaining THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Postgraduate Training Program in Infectious Diseases increased amounts of extramural research funding, and the section of Infectious Diseases is one of the leading sections for extramural grant support. Fellows are encouraged to take advantage of formal course work in basic science available through the University of Illinois Graduate Studies Programs. Fellows pursuing research in the areas of epidemiology, infection control, and public health are encouraged to take course work in the University of Illinois School of Public Health. Some fellows have been able to complete the course work necessary to receive a Master of Public Health degree during the course of their training. TEACHING Fellows are not only expected to receive instruction, but to be active in the education of medical students, residents, and other health care professionals. In addition to presentations at rounds, journal club, and case conferences, fellows give lectures to students in the medical school and graduate school programs. CHICAGO Chicago has been called the most livable large city in America. Hub of a metropolitan area of more than seven million people, Chicago combines a high standard of public services with the sophistication of a world-class city. With its rich architectural tradition, its cultural institutions, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, and the Art Institute, its panoply of major-league sports, its dazzling variety of shops and restaurants, and the vibrant diversity of its ethnic communities, Chicago can provide choices for all recreational tastes. And, for more active diversion, the city presents thirty miles of public lakefront for swimming and boating, and open park land for outdoor sports. This "city of the big shoulders" provides its inhabitants with a rich mixture of attractions. Together, Chicago and University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Medicine offer an exciting environment for professional and personal growth. THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Postgraduate Training Program in Infectious Diseases SALARIES AND BENEFITS SALARY: PGY 4 PGY 5 OTHER BENEFITS: Four weeks of vacation annually Twelve days of sick leave annually 45 days for maternity leave (vacation + sick leave) $600 educational allowance available in second year Health and Disability insurance for fellows and dependents at no charge Malpractice covered at 100% $40,920 $42,600 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Additional information can be found at the American Medical Association’s Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) http://www.amaassn.org/vapp/freida/pgm/0,2654,1461621131,00.html. Please also view our Faculty and Areas of Research