Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Rotations

The large and diverse patient population at the Baylor College of Medicine affiliated hospitals attracts many fellows for training in pediatrics and infectious diseases. The fellows receive a minimum of 12 months of in-patient training in clinical infectious diseases. The first year consists of five to seven months performing inpatient consultation services at Texas Children’s Hospital Main Campus.

During each clinical rotation, the fellow works directly under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in pediatric infectious diseases.

The remaining months of the first year are spent in the microbiology laboratory rotations, pediatric infectious diseases outpatient clinics and  research activities selected by the fellows (described below).

During the second and third years of training, there are two to three months of clinical rotations each year. Fellows are given a graduated level of independence on the clinical service. Upper level fellows also join both the Infection Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship team rounds and participate in operational activities (outlined below). The majority of the second and third years are spent developing skills as a clinical or basic science investigator.

If the fellows choose to participate in one of our specialized tracks (outlined separately), additional clinical or didactic time is modified based on the requirements of the specialized track.

During the second and third years of training, there are two to three months of clinical rotations each year. Fellows are given a graduated level of independence on the clinical service. The majority of the second and third years are spent developing skills as a clinical or basic science investigator.

An elective rotation during fellowship can be arranged; elective rotations are considered on a case by case basis.

Outpatient clinic opportunities: fellows see patients independently and are supervised by attending physicians in the following outpatient clinics:

• Pediatric outpatient general ID Clinic (Main Campus, West Campus (upper level fellows)
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) clinic
• Zika virus clinic
• Tuberculosis clinic
• Retrovirology clinic (Texas Children's Hospital, Harris Health Clinics (Thomas St. Clinic, Transitional HIV Northwest Clinic)
• Transplant ID outpatient clinic
• Tropical Medicine Clinic (Harris Health)

Microbiology Laboratory Block: first year fellows rotate and participate in the real-time work of microbiology technologists in the identification of organisms and communication with the clinical teams. Fellows rotate through the following areas: specimen receiving area, the blood culture bench, urine/stool culture bench, respiratory culture bench, anaerobic culture bench, fungal culture bench, serology bench, and the virology laboratory. Fellows are also assigned microbe “unknowns,” which are identified through gram stain techniques and cultures, biochemical testing, manual and automated susceptibility testing, and morphologic identification. This activity is reviewed and discussed with the microbiology directors. Didactic experiences include: twice weekly clinical application rounds and daily work-rounds with the microbiology directors.

Infection Control/Antimicrobial Stewardship Block: upper level fellows work with clinical leaders in the infection control and antimicrobial stewardship, attend multidisciplinary meetings, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship inpatient rounds, and, if available assist with outbreak investigation and antibiotic utilization chart review.

Advanced Degree/Educational Opportunities: Past graduates have obtained the following additional educational degrees/certificates: Masters of Public Health, Masters of Clinical Science, Masters of Education, Masters of Epidemiology, Certificate/Diploma in Tropical Medicine