OVERVIEW

The resident training in Immunology is accomplished through formal didactic lectures and a one-month immunology rotation for the junior year residents, providing them an opportunity to learn immunology and be involved in the day-to-day operations of a busy clinical immunology laboratory. The laboratory is situated in Parkland Memorial Hospital. On the first day of the rotation the residents receive a CD with the objectives, plan and all the reading material for the rotation. During the first week of the rotation the residents observe bench work and rotate through all the different benches in the laboratory interacting one-on-one with the technologist performing the tests to understand the method and procedure. Each afternoon the resident is also expected to analyze immunofluorescence patterns on slides from patients with autoimmune or infectious diseases. The residents accompany the director of the clinical laboratory in daily rounds/didactic meetings at 1:00 p.m. The resident is expected to interact with the laboratory technologists, learn the practical issues, apply the theoretical knowledge and interact with clinicians regarding appropriate assays. The residents are required to make weekly (Wednesdays) informal presentations to the laboratory staff regarding abnormal clinical results obtained during that week. The residents are given reading assignments selected from the reading list provided; these topics are then discussed daily with the faculty. The residents also function as consultants to clinical faculty with questions concerning appropriate test selection and utilization of ‘send out’ tests . The residents attend the CP Lectures, CP Rounds, and Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. The residents also make a formal presentation to the laboratory director and laboratory personnel at the end of the rotation. The resident may also be called upon to present at the CP Rounds on an immunology-related topic or participate in a project in the laboratory. At the end of the rotation, a quiz consisting of 50 immunology questions will be administered to determine the level of resident expertise. An exit interview with the faculty will follow with formal evaluation.

FACULTY:

M. Qasim Ansari, M.D.

Ana Gomez, M.D., Ph.D.

Nitin Karandikar, M.D., Ph.D.

DURATION: 1 month

PREREQUISITES:

None.

OBJECTIVES

Patient Care

Medical Knowledge

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Professionalism

CONFERENCES

• Daily sign-out of immunology reports
• Weekly case discussions
• Weekly Clinical Pathology rounds
• Weekly Internal Medicine Grand Rounds
• Weekly administrative meetings with lab manager and pathologist

BASIC READING

• Selected articles in CD format are provided to resident on the first day of the Immunology rotation. A list of other reading material including book chapters is provided in the CD.