Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Phoenix) Program

The Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix, Arizona, is structured as a two-year program providing extensive exposure to a wide array of infectious diseases management. The program is designed for individuals who have completed three years of postgraduate training in an accredited internal medicine residency program and are seeking to deepen their expertise in infectious diseases.

Mayo Clinic is recognized as a leading tertiary care institution in the United States, known for its commitment to exceptional patient care, education, and research. This fellowship offers trainees robust clinical experience with a diverse patient population, including those from Arizona, other regions in the U.S., and internationally 1.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum emphasizes both clinical practice and research. Fellows engage in rotations across various services, which include General Infectious Diseases and Transplant Infectious Diseases. They receive additional experience through external rotations at notable healthcare facilities such as the Maricopa County TB and STI clinics and Phoenix Children's Hospital 2.

Within the two-year structure, fellows participate in continuity clinic experiences at both the Valleywise Community Health Center and the Infectious Diseases Continuity Clinic located on the Mayo Campus. These clinics provide comprehensive care to a variety of patients, including those living with HIV and transplant recipients 3.

Didactic and Conference Training

The fellowship incorporates a strong didactic component through various formats, including seminars, small discussion groups, and case-based teaching. Conferences that fellows can attend include journal clubs, morbidity and mortality sessions, and various monthly academic presentations 4. The program also encourages participation in local, regional, and national meetings, where fellows must present research outcomes at least once during their fellowship tenure.

Research Opportunities

Research plays a significant role in the program, with fellows receiving five months of protected research time to pursue clinical projects. They are expected to identify research mentors early in the fellowship and aim to present findings at national or international conferences and submit manuscripts for publication. The research fields cover a variety of infectious disease topics such as COVID-19, fecal microbiota transplantation, and coccidioidomycosis, among others 5.

Teaching and Evaluation

Fellows are actively involved in teaching internal medicine residents and medical students through bedside instruction and formal lectures. Their performance is evaluated regularly by faculty, ensuring that they meet educational and clinical benchmarks. Moreover, fellows are strongly encouraged to provide feedback on their educational needs to continuously enhance the program's instructional quality 6.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The fellowship admits two fellows per year on a competitive basis. Candidates must possess completed postgraduate training in an ACGME-accredited internal medicine residency program. Additionally, there may be specific considerations such as graduation year and maximum failed STEP exams, though detailed restrictions were not specified 7.

Visa Support

The program offers visa sponsorship for qualified international medical graduates, which typically includes support for J-1 and H-1B visa applications. This facilitates a more inclusive environment for diverse candidates seeking to gain advanced training at Mayo Clinic 8.

Unique Aspects

Notably, this fellowship is the only ACGME-accredited infectious diseases program in the Phoenix area, enhancing its attractiveness to prospective applicants 1. The extensive faculty from the Division of Infectious Diseases are recognized leaders and mentors, providing fellows with opportunities to engage in pioneering research and attend enlightening lectures by visiting professors throughout the year 9.

Alumni Endorsements

Current and former fellows have expressed high regard for the training and educational opportunities offered through this fellowship. Many alumni emphasize the collaborative, supportive culture fostered by both faculty and peers, which significantly contributes to their professional development and preparedness for future careers in infectious diseases 10.