Medical Microbiology Fellowship

Aims Statement

The overall aims of our Medical Microbiology fellowship program are:

Provide a comprehensive curriculum consisting of didactics, weeklliy conferences, and rotations through all sections of the clinical microbiology laboratory
Teach the pathology of infectious diseases through review of extensive slide sets and correlation with microbiology lab data
Teach the pathophysiology of infectious diseases to aid with the selection of tests, interpretation of results and laboratory stewardship
Learn the role of the microbiology lab in the healthcare system through clinical consultations with Infectious Diseases and other clinical services and interactions with Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship
Provide opportunities for research, publications and conference participation to encourage a desire for lifelong learning
Learn the regulatory aspects of laboratory medicine through didactic sessions, management meetings, committee participation, records review, QI/QA initiatives, new test development, CAP inspector training and lab inspections

Overview

The Medical Microbiology Fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center is a one year, ACGME accredited program that provides advanced training to prepare pathologists and infectious disease specialists to serve as directors of a clinical microbiology laboratory, consultants for our clinical services, participants on applicable committees and members of the local public health community.

Our graduates possess a thorough understanding of medical microbiology and infectious disease pathology including the selection, validation, and interpretation of conventional and molecular diagnostic tests. Becoming an effective educator, communicator, and consultant are major emphases of the program. Emphasis is also placed on laboratory operations and management. Clinically oriented research is funded and encouraged.

Graduates of the program are eligible for board certification through the American Board of Pathology. The program has staff members of diverse backgrounds and experiences with board certification in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology.

Program Description

The bulk of the fellowship takes place at Parkland Hospital with additional rotations at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Children’s Medical Center Dallas and the Dallas County Health Department. The goals of the fellowship will be achieved as follows:

1. Content expert:

Comprehensive curriculum consisting of didactics (Pathology and Infectious Disease)
Review of extensive slide sets of bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, and a wide array of histopathologic specimens
Daily sign-out with attendings
Daily report review
Culture review
Rotations through all sections of the microbiology lab.

2. Consultant:

Fields calls for consultation from all hospital services
Acts as a steward of lab services through review of the send out test queue
Serves as a consultant by reviewing histopathology to assist with correlation of microbiology lab findings.
Acts as a liaison between the lab and clinical services
Assists technologists in determining the significance of lab test results

3. Productive Committee Member:

Formal rotation with infection prevention
Formal rotation with antimicrobial stewardship
Attendance at monthly meetings.
Opportunities to participate in other committees as needed.

4. Educator/Communicator:

Participation in infectious disease conferences – Attendance and interaction with the infectious disease division, participating in their didactic lecture series, case conferences and Grand Rounds
Plate rounds – A weekly opportunity to share recent cases and important morphologic/microscopic characteristics of important human pathogens.
Education of residents and medical students in the form of formal lectures and informal training while residents and medical students rotate on service.
Continuing education for technologists
Other hospital personnel as needed – Occasional opportunities for presentations to pharmacy, internal medicine or other departments arise throughout the year.

5. Manager:

Attend all management meetings and the management lecture series.
Involvement in laboratory inspections, selection and verification of new tests, quality assurance
Assist with budgeting/purchasing.
Assist with preparations for laboratory inspections

Research

Requirements

Benefits

Faculty