Program Description
Infectious diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the world. Tracking viruses, bacteria or other pathogens that cause illness can be challenging to scientists because they may not always be easily detected.
Today, researchers have found a way to use disease "fingerprints" to identify
many microbes
that cause common infections. It involves analyzing telltale "fingerprints" that a disease leaves behind on cells involved in the body's immune response. Those clues can be used to create a composite sketch of the offending pathogen.
In fact, better diagnostic tools and laboratory techniques, including polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing, have allowed us to isolate and identify many infectious diseases previously unknown. This leads to better detection and treatment offered by infectious disease specialists.
Given the complex interplay of increasing populations including an expanding older generation, increasing medical interventions such medical devices or immunosuppressive regimens, growth in global travel, emerging pathogens, antimicrobial-resistance, and a potential for bioterrorism, a career in infectious diseases is a fascinating and important one.
At Mayo Clinic, our three-year subspecialty Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program offers:
- In-depth training in a broad spectrum of clinical infectious diseases in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
- Research experience in various aspects of infectious diseases.
- Extensive experience in medical microbiology and laboratory techniques.
- Intensive training in the management of infections
in immunocompromised patients including
solid organ transplant recipients, orthopedic patients, intensive care unit patients, HIV-infected patients and travelers.
- Opportunities to teach internal medicine residents, Mayo Medical School students and visiting students from other medical schools through bedside instruction and formal didactic lectures.
You will work closely with a highly experienced and knowledgeable clinical faculty. Your research will be supervised by a successful research faculty mentor. A variety of teaching opportunities are available for you to develop your teaching and lecturing skills to You will work closely with a highly experienced and knowledgeable faculty that all together represents excellence in clinical care, research and education. As a fellow you will extensive clinical experience and have tremendous opportunities to learn how to do research and have opportunities to advance your own teaching skills.
Mayo Clinic has a long-standing tradition of practicing both the art and science of medicine. As one of the country's largest and best-known private group practices of academic medicine, Mayo Clinic was founded on the belief that the needs of the patient come first, and that in the care of the patients, physicians need to work together, teach and learn from others, and conduct research to provide sustained, excellent patient care.
Physicians, scientists, residents, students, nurses and allied health staff members work as a team at Mayo Clinic. Our staff clinicians and scientists are called consultants in recognition of their teaching and mentoring role on the team.
Mayo Clinic's favorable faculty ratio, large patient population and state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and research facilities combine to create a truly integrated educational experience. The “Mayo Clinic way” of graduate medical education ensures you will have the finest teaching and the broadest patient care experience possible during a busy, hands-on fellowship.
Accreditation
Our program is fully accredited and fulfills the requirements for infectious disease training as stated by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Graduate Medical Education.
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is responsible for the Accreditation of post-MD medical training programs within the United States. Accreditation is accomplished through a peer review process and is based upon established standards and guidelines to improve the quality of health in the United States by ensuring the integrity of graduate medical education experience for physicians in training.
The ACGME establishes national standards for graduate medical education by which it approves and continually assesses educational programs under its aegis. It uses the most effective methods available to evaluate the quality of graduate medical education programs. It strives to develop evaluation methods and processes that are valid, fair, open and ethical.
Certification
You will be eligible to take the American Board of Internal Medicine's subspecialty examination in Infectious Diseases upon completion of the fellowship.
Program History
The Infectious Diseases Fellowship began in 1961, and since that time, more than 80 physicians have completed this training. Since its inception, the program has evolved to include several specialty rotations -- including transplant medicine, intensive care, orthopedics, and travel and tropical medicine -- and a robust research component.
It is anticipated that two to three fellows will complete training in this program annually.
Read more about Mayo’s history and the progression of our transplantation program.
Mayo History
Transplant Medicine
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