Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program

The Infectious Disease Fellowship Program at the Cleveland Clinic offers an extensive and clinically-oriented training path designed to provide fellows with comprehensive exposure to various facets of infectious diseases. The program emphasizes real-world clinical experience and robust research opportunities, ensuring that fellows graduate equipped to become leaders in the field.

Program Overview

The fellowship spans two years, with an optional third year for specialized training in areas such as transplant medicine and clinical microbiology. The program is accredited by the Residency Review Committee of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and has a 100% board pass rate for its fellows over the last two decades. The program's mission is to train fellows to become clinician-educators and clinician-scholars committed to excellence in both clinical and academic spheres.

Curriculum and Rotations

The curriculum consists of diverse clinical training rotations and didactic experiences aimed at developing practical skills in a variety of infectious disease contexts. The training is structured to ensure comprehensive exposure while allowing fellows to develop their specific interests in the field. The two-year fellowship includes:

• Orientation: 1 week
• General ID: 12 weeks
• Transplant ID: 8 weeks
• Endocarditis: 6 weeks
• Bone and Joint ID: 6 weeks
• Rheumatology: 2 weeks
• Immunology: 1 week
• Hepatitis clinic: 2 weeks
• Tropical Medicine (Elective): 4 weeks
• Research: 26 weeks
• Clinical Microbiology: 4 weeks
• Outpatient Clinic: 10 weeks
• Elective: 15 weeks

Didactic Training

A rich variety of local conferences is an integral part of the educational experience, including:

• Problem-Based Learning sessions twice a week
• Weekly Transplant ID lectures, Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, and Infectious Disease Grand Rounds
• Monthly Granuloma conferences and Microbiology rounds
• Weekly HIV and Research Curriculum conferences

Research Opportunities

Research is a key component of the fellowship, with a strong emphasis on original investigative work. Each fellow is expected to engage in scholarly activities, culminating in the presentation of an abstract at a national meeting and publication of original research papers. The program allocates 26 weeks over the two years for research activities, ensuring that all fellows have ample opportunity to participate in and contribute to meaningful research projects.

Specialized Training Options

The fellowship also offers specialized training opportunities in areas like transplant infectious diseases and microbiology. Fellows can pursue a third year focused on transplant ID training, taking advantage of the Cleveland Clinic's status as one of the largest transplant centers in the U.S.

Application Requirements

For admission into the fellowship, candidates must have completed an internal medicine residency in the U.S. Specific application requirements include:

• Four letters of recommendation, including one from the residency program director
• A comprehensive ERAS application
• A personal statement outlining career goals
• USMLE passing scores (with specific limits on failed attempts accepted)

The fellowship sponsors both H1B and J1 visas for qualified applicants.

Competitiveness

The Infectious Disease Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic is highly competitive, attracting applicants from diverse backgrounds, including international medical graduates (IMGs) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) candidates. The program values a diversity of experiences, aiming to select fellows who demonstrate a strong commitment to patient care and scholarly activity.