Pediatric HIV Fellowship Program

About the program

In 1987, St. Jude founder Danny Thomas declared AIDS a catastrophic illness, making HIV a research priority for the institution. The Department of Infectious Diseases has developed a broad, multidisciplinary HIV Clinical Program that has been designated a “Center of Excellence” by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the State of Tennessee. Most patients are enrolled in national HIV research studies supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among other agencies, such as the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials network (IMPAACT) and the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS). Trainees can receive an unparalleled education in both clinical care and research.

The HIV Clinical Program provides care to a diverse population that includes neonates, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. St. Jude is the sole provider of pediatric HIV care and testing of HIV-exposed infants in the region. The patient care team comprises physicians, trainees, advanced practice providers, research and clinical nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychologists, psychiatrists, research administrators, and data managers. The program benefits from the vast array of services available at St. Jude, including other medical subspecialties, speech/physical/occupational therapy, diagnostic imaging, dentistry and social services. A stand-alone laboratory is staffed with research personnel and data managers to support the Clinical Trials Unit and other research activities.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s HIV clinical staff is committed to the cause of HIV education and prevention in the community. A strong community coalition, Connect to Protect, works to develop sustainable policies, programs and practices that impact and influence organizational systems, resource availability and the physical environment for the health and well-being of at-risk youth and young adults. The Coalition’s member organizations specialize in youth issues, LGBTQIA concerns, community and civic matters, safety and wellness, homelessness, empowerment, HIV/AIDS, family planning, sexual health, and national organizing.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Possess an MD or local equivalent
• Have three years of postdoctoral training in pediatrics in either an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–accredited pediatric residency program or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)–accredited pediatric residency program.
• Have passed USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (at time application) and Step 3 (before beginning training)

Foreign medical graduates who have completed a non-accredited pediatric residency program may also be considered if they meet additional qualifications and conditions.