Educational Goals

The program is designed to provide extensive, outstanding training in medical microbiology aimed at accomplishing the following three main objectives: 1) to educate a physician who is considered to be an expert specialist in Medical Microbiology as it pertains to the general microbiology laboratory mycology, mycobacteriology and Parasitology laboratories and in the virology laboratory; 2) to train a physician who is a specialist in the management of microbiology laboratory and personnel; and, 3) to develop the physician as a researcher and teacher. The primary vehicle to accomplishing these goals will be an integrated program of laboratory work and consultation to clinicians in the proper selection, utilization and interpretation of laboratory procedures.

Fellow responsibilities fall under the areas listed below:

1. Patient care: Under the direct supervision of the Medical Microbiology Faculty, the Fellow, in a graduated fashion, is responsible for
   1. All medical microbiology related issues at Parkland, Zale Lipshy University Hospital, Children’s Medical Center and The Aston Ambulatory Care Center. The Fellow will be responsible for all requests for bacteriological and virological interpretation, both in-patient and out-patient. Patient will have ample hands-on experience from performing lab techniques to generating the final report.
   2. Patient Rounds on these patients along with residents/medical students and attending faculty.
   3. The fellow works closely with and serves as a formal or informal clinical consultant to the various clinical services in the departments of the University/hospital, most of which have strong residency and/or fellowship programs of their own.
      
2. Academic aspects: Fellow works with the Infectious Diseases fellows and staff and presents interesting laboratory findings at weekly Infectious Diseases meetings.
   1. Fellow presents case discussions at Clinical Pathology Rounds approximately once per quarter. Fellow also serves as a consultant to and teacher of pathology residents and medical students who rotate on the medical microbiology service during the year.
   2. Fellow attends all infection control and epidemiology meetings and is involved in the assessment and monitoring of resistant strains of organisms, or any unusual or unexpected increases in certain infections.
   3. Fellow is encouraged to participate in research projects of a clinical nature leading to the presentation of data at local, regional or national pathology, microbiology or infectious diseases meetings. Ideally the data from research projects will lead to publications in peer reviewed journals.
   4. Possesses the skills and desire to effectively impart this knowledge in a teaching and presentation related environment.