Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases Training Programs

Clinical Experience | Research Experience | Resources for Infectious Diseases Trainees

Overview

The Infectious Diseases Program at Cincinnati Children’s hospital Medical Center was founded in 1981 and has grown to include inpatient and outpatient consultative services; clinical, basic science, and epidemiological research programs; and clinical and research graduate medical education programs. The Division of Infectious Diseases offers a three-year subspecialty training program to individuals who have completed the PL-3 year of an ACGME-approved general pediatrics program. The goal of the training program is to prepare individuals for careers in academic medicine by fostering the development of clinical expertise in pediatric infectious diseases and the development of expertise in a research area applicable to infectious diseases.

Clinical Experience

Fellows gain experience providing infectious disease consultation to inpatient and outpatient general pediatric services; general, orthopedic, neurosurgical and other subspecialty surgical services; and to nursery and pediatric intensive care units. They also have experience in the management of a variety of patients with congenital and acquired immunodeficient states including oncology patients, bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients. Fellows spend at least one month in hospital infection control and one month in clinical microbiology / virology.

Research Experience

Fellows have approximately 20 months to devote to scholarly pursuits including clinical and / or basic science research. Trainees are introduced to the scope of research interests within the division during their first year. They must choose a faculty mentor during their first year, and an area in which to focus their scholarly efforts.

Fellows are encouraged to select and attend graduate courses relevant to their chosen research area which are offered by the University of Cincinnati:

Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology
Molecular Epidemiology
Public Health
Science
Clinical Research and Quality Improvement

Fellows may pursue advanced degrees. In addition, they are expected to attend conferences and seminars relevant to research in which they are participants. Technical skills are obtained through supervised hands-on laboratory or clinical research experience.

Resources for Infectious Diseases Trainees

The division is presently composed of 18 faculty with clinical and/or basic science appointments in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (8 MD and 8 PhD.; 1 MSN, ; CRNP). It is a diverse group of faculty with interests and funded programs in epidemiology, clinical trials, translational medicine, infection control, global/international child health, surveillance of infectious diseases, basic virology and immunology. In addition, the division includes 6 research associates, 16 clinical research nurses, 3 clinical research coordinators, 1 additional nurse practitioner and numerous technical and office personnel.

The resources available for training in infectious diseases include:

A comprehensive large pediatric medical center with active bone marrow, heart, liver and renal transplant services; level three neonatal intensive care; level 1 trauma service with medical and surgical intensive care units; and a clinical research center.
One of the nation’s busiest emergency departments (93,416 actual fiscal 2007 base only visits).
A pediatric infectious diseases clinic for outpatients which meets one morning and one afternoon weekly.
Access to an outpatient antibiotic therapy clinic (OPAT) run by the Infectious Diseases Division.
An active hospital infection control and epidemiology program which provides clinical support services as well as conducting clinic and community-based research studies sponsored by the NIH, the CDC, and by industry.
Clinical microbiology laboratories with complete bacteriology, mycology and virology facilities for routine studies as well as special procedure capabilities (e.g. culture of fastidious organisms, special stains of direct specimens).
Combined serology laboratories with capacity for routine antibody determinations.
Chemistry laboratory with equipment available for chemical or immunochemical determination of selected drug levels.
Basic research laboratories with an extensive array of state-of-the-art scientific instruments including scintillation and gamma counters, electrophoresis units, DNA thermal cyclers, light and fluorescent microscopy, ELISA washers and readers, and equipment necessary for virus culture and production of monoclonal antibodies; laminar flow hoods and containment facilities exceeding P-2 level requirements; and animal containment laboratories located immediately adjacent to the laboratory facilities.
The Gamble Program for Clinical Research which is responsible for the management of numerous drug and vaccine trials conducted under the auspices of an NIH-funded Vaccine Treatment Evaluation Unit and through industry sponsorship.
The International Adoption Center which provides comprehensive pre- and post-adoption evaluations for families and these children, community and professional evaluations, educational activities and conducts disease specific and immunization research.
Numerous clinical and research conferences including joint meetings with the Division of Infectious Diseases in Internal Medicine, and the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Cincinnati.

Interested pediatric-board-eligible / -certified applicants should contact:

Beverly L. Connelly, MD Fellowship Director	Ann Carstens Fellowship Coordinator
Infectious Diseases Division Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center MLC 5019 3333 Burnet Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039. Phone: 513-636-8492 Fax: 513-636-7598 Email: beverly.connelly@cchmc.org