Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Pediatric Infectious Diseases

TRAINING PROGRAM CO-DIRECTOR: Mikhaela Cielo, MD

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/CO-DIRECTOR:  Andrea Kovacs, MD

CHIEF, INFECTIOUS DISEASES:  Andrea Kovacs, MD

MAJOR FEATURES OF TRAINING PROGRAM:  Well-balanced training in clinical care and mentored clinical, laboratory and translational research conducted on-site. Unique opportunity to train at MCA, the only clinic in Los Angeles providing a full spectrum of care to HIV+ pregnant women, children, adolescents and their families. Inpatient Pediatric ID training at LAC+USC includes an extremely diverse patient population presenting with the entire spectrum of pediatric infectious diseases. The Medical Center has Pediatric Emergency Department, Level three NICU, Burn Center, Level one trauma unit. Inpatient Pediatric ID training for 2+ months at CHLA, where infections associated with immunocompromised children, including solid and bone marrow transplant patients, are seen.

Vigorous didactic educational program including Case Conferences, Grand Rounds, Journal Clubs, Research Conferences, and Fellowship Lecture Series and Board Reviews. Robust options and training for mentored clinical research and laboratory investigation, based on individual interests.

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

1. Eight-Year-Old Male With Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis.  Vareechon C, Tarro T, Polanco C, Anand V, Pannaraj PS, Dien Bard J. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Jul 29;6(8): eCollection 2019 Aug. PMID: 31660390
2. Notes from the Field: Fatal Naegleria fowleri Meningoencephalitis After Swimming in Hot Spring Water – California, 2018.  Vugia DJ, Richardson J, Tarro T, Vareechon C, Pannaraj PS, Traub E, Cope JR, Balter S. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019 Sep 13;68(36):793-794. PMID: 31513557
3. Low maternal vitamin D is associated with increased risk of congenital and peri/postnatal transmission of Cytomegalovirus in women with HIV.  Bearden A, Van Winden K, Frederick T, Kono N, Operskalski E, Pandian R, Barton L, Stek A, Kovacs A.  PLoS One. 2020 Feb 13;15(2):e0228900.  PMID: 32053638
4. Low Bioactive Vitamin D Is Associated with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension in a Cohort of Pregnant HIV-Infected Women Sampled Over a 23-Year Period.  Van Winden KR, Bearden A, Kono N, Frederick T, Operskalski E, Stek A, Pandian R, Barton L, Kovacs A.  Am J Perinatol. 2020 Dec;37(14):1446-1454. Epub 2019 Jul 31. PMID: 31365935

GRANT FUNDING RECEIVED FOR FELLOW RESEARCH PROJECTS:
Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute Grant

AFFILIATED HOSPITALS:

Los Angeles County Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

NUMBER OF INPATIENT/OUTPATIENT CONSULTS PER YEAR:  350

FELLOWS ACCEPTED EACH YEAR: 1

VISAS ACCEPTED: J1

FUNDING ENSURED FOR ALL 3 YEARS: Yes

IS COMPLETION OF PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING IN THE U.S. OR CANADA A REQUIREMENT?  Yes

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

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

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

• Antimicrobial agents
• Antimicrobial stewardship
• Bacteriology/bacterial infections
• Bioethics
• Clinical trials
• Epidemiology and statistics
• Global health
• HIV
• Immunizations
• Infection control/hospital epidemiology
• Medical education
• Mycology/fungal infections
• Parasitology/parasitic diseases
• Public health
• Quality improvement
• Transplant medicine
• 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