University of Utah/Primary Children’s Hospital

TRAINING PROGRAM DIRECTOR:  Anne J. Blaschke, MD, PhD

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/CO-DIRECTOR:  Sonia Mehra, MD

COORDINATOR:  Ms. Christie Davis

CHIEF, INFECTIOUS DISEASES:  Andrew Pavia, MD

MAJOR FEATURES OF TRAINING PROGRAM:  The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division at the University of Utah is committed to providing outstanding clinical care, performing innovative research and training future leaders in the field. Faculty in our Division create an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity and discovery that allows faculty, staff, students, and fellows to maximize their potential while benefiting the health of children on a global scale. Primary Children’s Hospital (PCH) is the main site for clinical training and has a busy and varied clinical service. PCH is a 289-bed pediatric hospital that serves both as the community hospital for Salt Lake City and northern Utah and as a referral center for southern Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, and Montana. With no other Children’s Hospital within a 500-mile radius, our consultation service provides a broad exposure to infectious conditions. Fellows in our program develop the skills and experience to practice infectious diseases independently in any setting. Upon completion of fellowship, they compete at the highest level for jobs in academic infectious diseases. Fellows frequently do their research projects under the supervision of Division faculty, but also have opportunities to work with faculty in the wider Medical School and University Community. As funding is guaranteed for all 3 years of fellowship, fellows have the freedom to pursue research in a wide range of areas. In addition, we have recently introduced a Global Health track to our fellowship.

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

1. Veesenmeyer AF, Olson JA, Hersh AL, Stockmann C, Korgenski K, Thorell EA, Pavia AT, Blaschke AJ. (2016). A retrospective study of the impact of rapid diagnostic testing on time to pathogen identification and antibiotic use for children with positive blood cultures. Infect Dis Ther., 5(4): 555-570.
2. Conrady CD, Hanson KE, Mehra S, Carey A, Larochelle M, Shakoor A. The First Case of Trypanosoma cruzi-Associated Retinitis in an Immunocompromised Host Diagnosed With Pan-Organism Polymerase Chain Reaction. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 18; 67(1): 141-3.
3. Brintz BJ, Howard JI, Haaland B, Platts-Mills J, Greene T, Levine AC, Nelson EJ, Pavia AT, Kotloff KL, Leunt DT. Clinical predictors for etiology of acute diarrhea in children in resource-limited settings. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Oct 9; 14(10): e0008677. (2020)
4. Jones TW, Fino N, Olson J, Hersh AL. The Impact of Beta-Lactam Allergy Labels on Hospitalized Children. Infect Cont Hosp Ep. 2020 Sep 17;1-7.
5. Krah N, Jones TW, Lake J, Hersh AL. The impact of antibiotic allergy labels on antibiotic exposure, clinical outcomes and healthcare costs: A systematic review. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 Oct 16;1-19.

GRANT FUNDING RECEIVED FOR FELLOW RESEARCH PROJECTS:

NIH T32 Training Grant (Microbial Pathogenesis)

AFFILIATED HOSPITALS:

Primary Children’s Hospital
University of Utah Hospital

NUMBER OF INPATIENT/OUTPATIENT CONSULTS PER YEAR:  4,067

FELLOWS ACCEPTED EACH YEAR:  1

VISAS ACCEPTED:  J1, H1B

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, antimicrobial stewardship meetings/membership) in:

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:

1. Antimicrobial agents
2. Antimicrobial stewardship
3. Bacteriology/bacterial infections
4. Bioethics
5. Clinical trials
6. Epidemiology and statistics
7. Global health
8. HIV
9. Immunizations
10. Infection control/hospital epidemiology
11. Medical education
12. Mycology/fungal infections
13. Parasitology/parasitic diseases
14. Public health
15. Quality improvemnt
16. Transplant medicine
17. 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