Combined Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases

The University of Connecticut School of Medicine has robust educational curricula in place with plentiful research opportunities, with ACGME-approved fellowship training programs in both adult and pediatric infectious diseases. The combined Medicine and Pediatrics Infectious Diseases program (CMPID) meets all clinical and research/scholarly activity requirements and successfully and seamlessly integrates training in adult and pediatric ID. Weekly ID lectures, journal clubs, and case conferences are jointly presented and attended by faculty in both Divisions, and the ID curriculum contains several elements specific to Pediatric ID. Research faculty at UConn Health and Connecticut Children's Medical Center work closely together and have joint appointments. One of the faculty members, Dr. Justin Radolf, is Chair of the ID Fellowship Research Committee, which has oversight of each fellow’s scholarly activity and research productivity. He is the Director of Research in the Department of Medicine at UConn Health and Senior Scientific Advisor to Connecticut Children’s. CMPID fellows will pursue research endeavors in basic or translational science working with our existing group of investigators at both sites, many of whom already are close collaborators.

CMPID fellows will be able to take advantage of jointly offered clinical, educational, and research opportunities to accomplish training goals and become top-notch Infectious Diseases clinicians and educators. Fellows gain additional expertise in antimicrobial stewardship and quality improvement and hone their skills in medical education. We believe that our institutions, closely aligned and involved with UConn Health and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, offer a unique opportunity to build upon existing skillsets and expertise and accomplish overall training goals.

Both program directors have agreed upon the details of the combined fellowship, including call schedules, didactics, continuity clinics, and administrative support. Fellows in the combined program will have the resources and benefits available to fellows in either program, as both function under the umbrella of the Capitol Area Health Consortium, which functions as employer to trainees at both institutions. CMPID fellows are reviewed through each division’s standard evaluation process (Clinical Competency Committee meetings biannually at a minimum) and are expected to meet with both program directors for biannual performance reviews.

In summary, CMPID fellowship training at UConn Health/Connecticut Children’s provides an integrated, robust clinical and educational experience over a 4-year time span. The attached schedule as proposed meets the requirements of both programs as well as the ABP and ABIM and will provide excellent, well-rounded training, and allow fellows to sit for both certifying exams.

Go here to learn more about the Pediatric Infectious Diseases fellowship.

Example Schedule for CMPID Fellow

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
6 IM ID inpatient 6 IM ID inpatient 1 IM ID inpatient 1 IM ID inpatient
2 PID inpatient 2 PID inpatient 6 PID inpatient 3 PID inpatient
2 elective 2 elective 1 immunology
2 research 2 research 5 research 9 research
1 microbiology 1 transplant / immunocompromised host

Throughout the 4 years: 1 half day of IM continuity clinic and 1 half day of PID continuity clinic weekly (exact schedule may vary year to year).

Call: 1 weekend per block while on inpatient consult service (approximately 8 weekends per year).

Vacation: 4 weeks per year to be taken from elective/research time.

Note: “elective” time during Years 1 and 2 includes rotations in Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS) and Infection Prevention (IP).

Example Combined Conference Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Peds ID Journal Club (monthly, time to be determined)

 

 

9-10 a.m. Pediatric ID Case Review

 

2-3 p.m. Microbiology didactics (July year 1)

 

3-3:30 p.m.

ID Board review and preparation

 

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Core Curriculum Lecture Series

 

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Greater Hartford Intercity Grand Rounds (case conference, journal club)

12-1 p.m.

Department of Medicine Morbidity and Mortality Conference (monthly)

9-11:30 a.m.

Adult ID/HIV Continuity clinic

 

11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

HIV case discussions/core content review

9-11:30 a.m.

Academic Leadership Skills course (year 1)

 

11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Microbiology Plate Rounds (while at UConn)

 

12-1 p.m.

Pediatric Emerging Infections