Infectious Diseases of Immunocompromised Children and Adolescents Fellowship Program

About the program

Infectious Diseases of Immunocompromised Children and Transplant Infectious Diseases have emerged as subspecialties within Pediatric Infectious Diseases, reflecting increased volumes of patients and complexity of care. Pediatric Infectious Diseases specialists require experience in managing infections in children with cancer, hematopoietic and solid organ transplants, primary immunodeficiencies, and HIV infection. They are increasingly involved in the care of other immunocompromised patients, including those with rheumatological and gastrointestinal disorders who are receiving immunomodulators. The Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Division of Infectious Diseases at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital have extremely active clinical programs that provide trainees with an unparalleled education in the care of these special populations, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Fellowships range from one to two years in length and are individualized to meet the needs and goals of each trainee.

Clinical program

Fellows see patients at St. Jude and Le Bonheur. St. Jude is a 78-bed freestanding hospital that primarily serves children with cancer, nonmalignant hematological disorders and HIV. It is the country’s only Pediatric Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of the nation’s largest centers for transplant and cellular therapy (about 100 transplants a year). The HIV Clinical Program, recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and acclaimed for its commitment to education and prevention, treats over 250 patients annually. At St. Jude, fellows rotate on separate Hematology/Oncology, Transplant and HIV services. Le Bonheur is the 255-bed flagship teaching site for University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center pediatric programs and hosts multiple solid organ transplant programs. The opportunity to undertake clinical rotations focused exclusively on immunocompromised patients allows fellows to gain an understanding of how immunodeficiency impacts all other aspects of clinical care, including the prevention, diagnosis and management of infections and antimicrobial stewardship.

Eligibility

Applicants must have:

• Completed a minimum of one year of training in a pediatric infectious diseases fellowship
• Passed USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 (if eligible) at the time they begin training

Curriculum overview

Inpatient rotations are performed at St. Jude and Le Bonheur. In addition, trainees perform outpatient consultations in patients’ primary care clinics (e.g., Oncology, Transplant, Immunology, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology) or in dedicated Infectious Diseases clinics. The outpatient clinic also provides continuity of care for patients with chronic infectious diseases. Formal electives are offered in Antimicrobial Stewardship, Infection Prevention, Global Pediatric Medicine and others as required to meet training goals.

Fellows participate in departmental and divisional meetings and seminars, including:

• Clinical conferences at St. Jude and Le Bonheur
• Research conferences
• Board review
• Journal club
• Systems-based conferences
• National meetings held at St. Jude, such as:
  • The annual St. Jude Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Conference
  • The Pediatric Transplant ID Symposium
  • The Global Infectious Diseases Symposium

A research component is required for fellows who extend their training for more than 12 months.