The first year of fellowship is dedicated to acquiring clinical proficiency in both inpatient and outpatient aspects of Pediatric Infectious Disease. Children’s Hospital Colorado is a freestanding, busy, 318 bed tertiary care hospital serving a wide geographic area and broad demographic population. The hospital is part of the Anschutz Medical Campus, which also is home to the University of Colorado Hospital (adult and maternal-fetal), three multi-story research complexes, and UCSOM.
We have 16 board certified Pediatric Infectious Diseases subspecialists, who are all key teaching faculty. Our fellows emerge clinically confident in Pediatric Infectious Diseases care, able to address ID issues in the previously well child to the most medically complicated child. The Pediatric Infectious Diseases service consults on 400-450 inpatients and acute outpatients per year.
Inpatient Training
The first-year fellow covers approximately 6 months of the inpatient service, with the additional months covered by the second and third year fellows. While on the consult service, the fellow sees all in-hospital and acute outpatient consultations under the supervision and mentorship of the Attending Pediatric Infectious Diseases physician. Emphasis is placed on developing an accurate differential diagnosis, learning the methods of evaluating and treating the child, and taking care of the family's needs. The fellow will be exposed to a full range of infectious disease issues in a diverse patient setting. We also have an antimicrobial stewardship program, and two transplant infectious diseases specialists.
Outpatient Training
All fellows also share a rich outpatient experience with half-day Pediatric Infectious Diseases and HIV clinics. The outpatient Pediatric Infectious Diseases clinic has over 1000 visits per year. The UCSOM has an active HIV program for children, youth and women called the Children’s Hospital Immunodeficiency Program (CHIP) that provides care to over 300 HIV infected persons with regular continuity and follow-up.
Supplemental Training
Additionally, during the first year, the fellow will rotate through the microbiology and virology laboratories at the University of Colorado Hospital and will complete a microbiology mini-course at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Elective Experience
Electives during fellowship include rotations in Infection Control, Tuberculosis clinic, Infectious Diseases consultative service at Denver Health Medical Center, Adolescent HIV clinic, Travel Clinic, Immunodeficiency clinic at National Jewish Health, and Adult Infectious Diseases service at University of Colorado Hospital.
Global Health Experience
Our program has an established practice agreement at various sites in Guatemala and Peru where a fellow may rotate for a clinical experience, or perform research. Fellows may also pursue other international experiences in conjunction with the fellowship director.
Night Call
Weekend call for fellows is divided among the fellows and averages every third to fourth weekend. Weeknight call is covered by the inpatient fellow. Fellows are supervised by a designated Infectious Disease attending at all times.