Clinical Education
Our ID fellows enjoy seeing a diversity of ID pathology, as they become experts in the clinical care of patients with infectious complications. UAMS is a tertiary care hospital in Arkansas, so the complexity of patients is higher. We also take care of “bread and butter” ID issues such as Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, hospital acquired infections, and neutropenic fever. It is not unusual to treat at least one disseminated fungal infection each month on service. Exposure to treating immunocompromised patients is enhanced as UAMS has the Myeloma Center which completes approximately 600 autologous stem cell transplants each year, the Cancer Institute which completes allogeneic stem cell transplants, a Nephrology Transplant Center and a Liver Transplant Center. UAMS has an inpatient service dedicated to HIV care, so fellows will take care of patients with opportunistic infections.
Each fellow will complete two years of clinical training, which includes 12 months on general ID services, six months will be spent at the UAMS hospital and six months at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital. Fellows see patients in the medical ICU, surgical ICU and general hospital floor. Fellows have a continuity outpatient clinic, for HIV patients and hospital follow-ups, as well as referrals from the community. There are many other opportunities, including a month of Microbiology, a month of Antimicrobial Stewardship, clinical consultation on Orthopedic Infection service, and clinical consultation on Transplant Infectious Diseases service. Electives include rotations at the Arkansas Department of Health, time dedicated to research, additional inpatient HIV care, and Infection Control.
Conferences
The ID division meets weekly for Journal Club and Case Conference. This is a long-standing joint meeting between the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Pediatric ID division and the UAMS ID division. It is a well-attended robust weekly meeting. A core lecture series is dedicated to the education of ID fellows, and it is held weekly with topics assigned on a two-year rotation.
Research
All fellows are required to complete a Quality Improvement project. Fellows are allowed additional elective time to complete a research project. There are many opportunities for clinical and bench research if a fellow wishes to pursue research and publications for his or her career goals.
Professional Meetings
We send three fellows to ID Week each year and the fourth fellow attends another national meeting of their choice.