Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine

TRAINING PROGRAM DIRECTOR:  Marisol Figueira, MD

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/CO-DIRECTOR:  Vishakha Sabharwal, MD

COORDINATOR:  Ms. Heather Griffin

CHIEF, INFECTIOUS DISEASES:  Elizabeth D. Barnett, MD

MAJOR FEATURES OF TRAINING PROGRAM: Fellows in this program will investigate infectious diseases that affect our inner city community of 40,000 children and adolescents. We focus on diseases that are frequent in urban populations, including otitis media (epidemiology, diagnosis, genetics, immunology, management); international and refugee health; evaluation of antiviral and antibacterial agents; and sexually transmitted diseases. Fellows develop skills in epidemiology, research protocol design, laboratory methods, teaching, and diagnosis and management of pediatric infectious diseases. The first year of fellowship emphasizes clinical experience and training in diagnostic microbiology/virology. The second and third years focus primarily on research. Additional clinical experiences include adult infectious disease consultation service, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases outpatient clinics and the immunodeficiency service at the Children’s Hospital Boston.

TITLE(S) OF RECENT FELLOWS’ PUBLISHED PAPERS OF RESEARCH PROJECTS:

1. Pare JR, Camelo I, Mayo KC, Leo ZMZM, Dugas J, Nelsom KP, Baker W, Shareef F, Mitchell PM, Schechter-Perkins EM. Point-of-care lung ultrasound is more sensitive than chest radiograph for evaluation of COVID-19. West J Emerg Med. 2020;21(4). Article in Press. doi: 10.51811/westjem.202.5.47743.
2. Camelo IY, Mwananyanda LM, Thea DM, Seidenberg P, Gill CJ, Weinstein JR. A Tale of 2 Pneumos: The Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Exposure or Infection Status on Pediatric Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pneumocystis jiroveci: A Nested Case Control Analysis From the Pneumonia Etiology Research In Child Health Study [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 15]. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;ciaa164. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa164
3. Lapidot R, Yildirim I, Shea KM, Pelton SI. Characteristics of Serotype 3 invasive pneumococcal disease before and after universal childhood immunization with PCV13 in Massachusetts. Pathogens. 2020;9(5):396. Published 2020 May 21. doi:10.3390/pathogens9050396
4. Epstein RL, Penwill N, Clarke D, Hamilton S, Horbowicz K, Dorfman D, Moses J, Cooper E. “Meds-in-Hand” Intervention to Reduce Critical Process Delays in Pediatric HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2020 Apr 29. PMID: 32347312.

AFFILIATED HOSPITALS:

Boston Medical Center
Children’s Hospital

NUMBER OF INPATIENT/OUTPATIENT CONSULTS PER YEAR:

FELLOWS ACCEPTED EACH YEAR: 1

VISAS ACCEPTED: J1, H1B, Other

FUNDING ENSURED FOR ALL 3 YEARS: Yes

IS COMPLETION OF PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING IN THE U.S. OR CANADA A REQUIREMENT:  No

Program provides training (didactic lectures, hands on experience, or antimicrobial stewardship meetings/membership) in:

1. Microbiology lab on site
2. Infection control and hospital epidemiology
3. Antimicrobial stewardship

Opportunities to fulfill the ABP requirements for scholarly activity is available in the following general areas:

1. Antimicrobial agents
2. Antimicrobial stewardship
3. Bacteriology/bacterial infections
4. Clinical trials
5. Epidemiology and statistics
6. Global health
7. HIV
8. Immunizations
9. Infection control/hospital epidemiology
10. Mycology/fungal infections
11. Parasitology/parasitic diseases
12. Quality improvement
13. Virology/viral diseases

Opportunities exist for research outside of the ID Division: Yes

Program offers the opportunity to obtain a Master’s degree in a field such as Public Health, Education, Clinical Sciences, or Epidemiology (assuming appropriate arrangements are made):  Yes