Mass General Brigham/Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital Program

The Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital is a leader in the field of infectious diseases, known for its innovative clinical care, extensive research, and comprehensive education and training programs. The program falls under the Mass General Brigham umbrella and emphasizes a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Clinical services offered include expert consultations in bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases, with a focus on complex infections. This includes treating infections of bones, joints, and surgical sites, as well as conditions concerning immunocompromised patients, including those with HIV, malignancies, and organ transplant recipients. The Division operates an inpatient consultation service dedicated to managing general infectious diseases and provides leadership in hospital epidemiology and infection control, ensuring rational antibiotic use through stewardship programs. There are also extensive outpatient consultation services for various infectious disease specialties.

Fellowship Program

Central to the education and training initiatives is the Mass General Brigham Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, known for its robust clinical and research training opportunities. The fellowship, conducted in partnership with Harvard Medical School, accepts 10 fellows annually, with structured training in both clinical and research settings. The first year is primarily focused on clinical training, with subsequent years geared towards developing skills as a clinician-educator or investigator. The program is designed to foster future leaders in the field of infectious diseases and places particular emphasis on recruiting women and minority candidates.

Research Focus

The Division is highly involved in diverse research activities aiming to understand and mitigate the global burden of infectious diseases. Areas of interest include HIV/AIDS, treatment of healthcare-associated infections, tuberculosis, viral oncology, and COVID-19, with over $25 million in direct research awards in 2020. The Division's research efforts are conducted in state-of-the-art facilities and are often collaborative, aiming to translate findings into clinical practice, thus impacting patient care positively.

Clinical Training and Electives

Residents and medical students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning through various rotations and electives. The Infectious Diseases Rotation for residents includes working closely with fellows and attending physicians, managing patient care, and participating in numerous educational conferences. Medical students can partake in electives focused on clinical infectious diseases, where they interact directly with fellows and faculty in providing patient care and participating in case presentations and conferences.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program is highly competitive, attracting candidates from top institutions nationwide. The program is friendly towards both DO and IMG applicants, promoting a diverse applicant pool. It is important for prospective candidates to ensure they meet specific requirements, including graduation year norms and limitations on the number of failed USMLE or COMLEX attempts, which the program considers during evaluation.

Visa Support

The program provides visa sponsorship options for international medical graduates, including the J-1 visa for clinical training and some potential H-1B work visas, depending on individual circumstances. This ensures that qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds can participate in training at this prestigious institution.