Children's National Hospital/George Washington University Program

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Children's National Hospital, affiliated with the George Washington University, provides a comprehensive training program designed for physicians specializing in pediatric infectious diseases. This fellowship emphasizes clinical training as well as research, preparing fellows for board certification in pediatric infectious diseases. The program is structured into three distinct tracks: Traditional Track, FDA Tracks, and a Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship, each offering unique training experiences.

Fellows in the program receive hands-on clinical experience at the Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Children's Medicine, which is part of Children's National, a 323-bed facility renowned for its specialized pediatric care. Within the program, approximately 30% of the fellowship is dedicated to clinical training and 70% to research, a combination aimed at producing adept practitioners capable of navigating complex clinical scenarios and contributing to the advancement of pediatric infectious disease treatment.

Program Structure

The fellowship offers a structured yet flexible program allowing for intensive clinical training and significant research activities. Clinical experiences are identical across all tracks, with fellows functioning as integral members of the Infectious Diseases team, participating in patient care for various infections. The program expects fellows to engage actively in outpatient clinics, conducting an estimated 30 new and 100 follow-up visits monthly, along with numerous inpatient consults.

Clinical Training

Clinical training encompasses exposure to a diverse patient population, including those with endemic infections such as Lyme disease, tropical diseases like malaria, and infections affecting immunocompromised hosts. The fellows are specifically involved in the HIV Prevention and Treatment Program and are afforded the opportunity to engage in management and care of HIV-exposed and infected children, which is a vital component of pediatric infectious diseases.

Research Opportunities

Research is a significant focus of the fellowship, with most fellows embarking on scholarly activities that may involve extensive projects resulting in publishable work. This includes smaller projects such as retrospective case-control studies, with opportunities for presentation at national meetings. Each fellow chooses a research topic, benefitting from access to resources at the Children’s National Research Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other area institutions.

Tracks Offered

Traditional Track

The Traditional Track emphasizes clinical and translational research alongside basic science endeavors. Fellows in this track collaborate with attendings to identify research opportunities within various fields including epidemiology and global health. Unique clinical training arrangements and institutional support enhance their scholarly pursuits.

FDA Tracks

The FDA Tracks offer innovative fellowships in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, providing experience in drug evaluation and vaccine research. This collaboration combines clinical training with regulatory science, allowing fellows to work on clinical trial designs and engage in rigorous scientific inquiries directly impacting public health.

Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship

This four-year fellowship, in partnership with NIH, blends extensive training in pediatric and adult infectious diseases with a strong research component. The initial years focus on clinical service, with advanced research experiences in later years, enhancing fellows' qualifications across disciplines.

Education and Professional Development

The fellowship promotes continuous education through various conferences and seminars, including microbiology lab rounds, case discussions, and board review sessions. Opportunities for advanced degrees in public health or clinical and translational research are also available, integrated within the fellowship schedule.

Visa Support

The program is open to international applicants holding J1 or H1B visas, although federal regulations stipulate that FDA and NIH-linked applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A completed pediatric residency from a U.S. or Canadian program is required for application.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship is known to be competitive. Applicants typically need to demonstrate strong clinical backgrounds and research interests. There may be specific limitations on the number of failed STEP exams considered during the application process.

Fellowship Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, fellows receive financial support for educational activities, with annual stipends for conferences and professional memberships. Additionally, licensing fees are reimbursed, and the program covers examination costs.