Division of Infectious Diseases Fellowship

Programmatic Goals

 

     Clinical Training Goals (also see Clinical Curriculum):  The purpose of the clinical experience component of the Program is to thoroughly familiarize the subspecialty Resident in the most contemporary approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious diseases, both in concept and practice.

 

     Research Training Goals (also see Research Curriculum):  The purpose of the research experience component of the Program is to instruct the subspecialty Resident in the process of developing rational hypotheses, and designing basic science and/or clinical approaches to test these hypotheses.

 

      Overview

 

     The subspecialty training Program in Adult Infectious Diseases routinely follows a 2-year plan.  The responsibilities of each Fellow advances in Year 2 as compared to Year 1, based on acquisition of skills and experience, and demonstrated proficiency and competency in Year 1, as outlined below:

 

     Year 1:  The Fellow is expected to become proficient in theory and practice of the overall management of infectious diseases prevention and care.  Included in these responsibilities of the Year 1 Fellow will be development of a fund of knowledge of sufficient breadth and depth to allow the assessment, diagnosis, therapy, and follow up management in the care of common infectious diseases.  In addition, the Year 1 Fellow will gain experience in the coordination of care for acute or chronic infectious diseases that require one or more complementary services, such as surgery, oncology, or neurology.  Moreover, Year 1 Fellows gain a deep understanding of the Antibiotic Stewardship system implemented at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.  The Year 1 Fellow work with the supervision of an attending Faculty member.  Progression from Year 1 to Year 2 Fellowship will increase responsibility and autonomy as compared with Year 1, concordant with demonstrated proficiency from Year 1 training.  Satisfactory achievement of these goals and expectations of Year 1 training is required for advancement to Year 2.

 

Examples of demonstrated proficiency and competency in Program Year 1:

 

• Differentiate etiologies of common infectious diseases
• Identify most appropriate laboratory tests for differential diagnosis
• Interpret laboratory results and align with specific therapeutic plan
• Design appropriate antimicrobial regimen and follow up plan

 

     Year 2:  As compared with the Year 1 Resident, the Year 2 Resident will be expected to expand the breadth and depth of experience and skill in the overall management of infectious diseases prevention and care.  Therefore, the Year 2 Resident will assume increasing autonomy , but still function under their supervision, of a supervising Faculty member.  A key goal in the subspecialty residency Year 2 will be for the Resident to accumulate knowledge relating to less common infectious diseases, etiologic agents, diagnostic and management strategies in context of gaining increasing confidence in independent decision-making,, with less reliance on initial input from Attending Faculty.  A central goal of Year 2 of the Program is to foster sufficient ability to practice competently and independently by the end of the Residency Program.  Along with the above curriculum , the Year 2 Resident with participate in the Transplantation Infectious Disease rotation currently taking place at the Westwood campus Ronald Regan Medical Center.  Satisfactory achievement of the above goals and expectations of Year 2 training is required for graduation from the Program.

Examples of demonstrated proficiency and competency in Program Year 2:

 

• Differentiate etiologies of uncommon infectious diseases
• Select and manage laboratory tests for differential diagnosis
•  Interpret of molecular / cellular laboratory results
• Design appropriate antimicrobial / immunotherapy treatment plan

 

     Year 3 (Post-Graduate):  On mutual agreement with Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine Divisions, a Year 2 Fellow may have an opportunity to engage in a Year 3 of training.  This period of training goes well beyond the standard ID Fellowship training program, and is highly custom to the interests and specific goals of the program and Fellow, mutually identified by the Division of Infectious Diseases and/or HIV Medicine.  Standards of excellence and professionalism will be applicable as measured by competency-based learning metrics.