Clinical Experiences

Fellows complete 11 months of clinical training over the three years Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship. Schedules ensure protected research time.

Inpatient

The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases provides consultation for renal, liver, and bone marrow transplant services as well as an active Hematology/Oncology service. This exposes our fellows to diverse clinical problems and to significantly immunocompromised patients, which is the laboratory focus of this program.

In addition to their service time in pediatrics, fellows rotate for up to one month on the Medicine Infectious Diseases Service of Strong Memorial Hospital during the second or third year of training. This provides additional clinical exposure to the breadth and progression of infections.

Outpatient

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic

Our fellows actively participate in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic, where they treat children who are referred for issues such as infections, fever of unknown origin, recurrent or prolonged fevers, or immune deficiencies. The clinic provides routine ambulatory and post-hospital care of HIV-infected clinic patients during regular clinic follow-up. For inpatients seen on the consult service, outpatient care after discharge is more variable in nature.

The Rochester community has a number of private pediatricians who prefer to follow their patients after hospital discharge in consultation with our faculty. In cases of continued home care for serious bacterial infections, fellows may see the patients in clinic with the attending in pediatric infectious diseases or communicate regularly with the community pediatrician and follow diagnostic and laboratory tests as therapy proceeds. We also have an extensive phone consultation service with regional practitioners.

Monroe County STI Clinic

As attendings, fellows will be responsible for understanding and interpreting CDC guidelines and we provide the training. While fellows attend the Monroe County Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Clinic, they become familiar with the “Monroe County STI Clinic Standing Orders,” medical policies and procedures developed annually to ensure consistent diagnosis and treatment according to CDC guidelines.

During their second or third year of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship, fellows attend clinic one half-day session daily for two weeks. The clinic serves adult and pediatric patients alike. After a period of shadowing, fellows function with a preceptor, and by the end of the rotation, work independently following the Standing Orders.

Optional Clinical Experiences

Fellows who desire additional exposure to infections in the immunocompromised patient have the opportunity to spend one month on the consult service at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the largest children's cancer centers in the world. This rotation affords the fellows a rich and intensive exposure to infections in the significantly immunocompromised host.