Medical Student Rounds and Elective

Teaching of medical students is an integral part of the function of the Section of Infectious Diseases. At any time there are two to four senior medical students contributing to rounds with the Infectious Diseases team. Medical students are expected to evaluate new consultations, present the information to the team, be aware of diagnostic and therapeutic options, and return on a daily basis to assess changes in clinical status. We have a well-developed didactic program for students with twice weekly lectures covering important topics such as antibiotics and common disease states. In addition, medical students are expected to attend and give conferences on relevant topics during their Infectious Diseases rotation as well as to present a critical assessment of one assigned paper per week in our management conference. Although there is no required textbook, all students and residents are given a locally produced guide to antibiotics and critical reasoning, authored by a faculty member.

An elective course in Infectious Diseases is available to junior medical students. This curriculum includes didactic lectures and a variety of clinical experiences that span the range of inpatient to outpatient consults and follow-up visits. Students will also see infections in patients with cancer and with organ transplantation.

Additionally, a four- week elective in transplant Infectious Diseases is an option for senior medical students. This curriculum includes didactic lectures and clinical experiences in inpatient solid organ transplantation, including lung, heart, kidney and liver transplants.

Residency Elective

Residents at Temple spend one or more blocks on the Infectious Diseases elective with the goal of increasing familiarity with antimicrobial therapy, and developing in-depth knowledge in the diagnosis and management of a variety of Infectious Diseases. In particular, focus is placed on appreciation for the conceptual framework of Infectious Diseases and its interaction with other medical and psychosocial situations. We teach the principles regarding the natural history of diseases, their complications and epidemiology and while highlighting new areas in the field of Infectious Diseases. In addition to these focused didactic goals, we envision that residents taking the elective will also learn at least a little bit about microbiology, infection control, medical history and medical economics. Finally, we want to provide numerous opportunities for residents to develop expertise in assessing the medical literature and being comfortable with understanding the basics of clinical research and how to interpret journal articles.

Residents who are planning to pursue a career in Infectious Diseases are also able to spend time on the transplant ID rotation or do a research block with one of the Infectious Diseases faculty members.

Residents also have an opportunity to spend a half day of their ambulatory week doing subspecialty work in the HIV clinic.

The workday starts at 8:30 a.m. in the ID conference room on the 3rd floor of the Medical Office Building. There is a formal didactic session that lasts for 30-60 minutes. Subsequently, new patients are assigned and old patients are reviewed Attending rounds start at 2 p.m. and finish around 5 p.m. There is no expectation of night or weekend call. There is generous time allotted for feedback during and at the end of the elective. We are flexible with time off as needed, for example for fellowship or job interviews.

External Rotators

Are you an internal medicine resident interested in spending time with Temple Infectious Disease? We are happy to offer visiting residents from ACGME-approved residencies an elective in Infectious Disease or Transplant Infectious Diseases. All materials must be submitted and approved at least 90 days prior to start date. Please email Kate Bird to apply! [click-for-email]

Visiting students are welcome to apply via VSLO.