We’re at the tail end of the ID fellowship interview process, and am pleased to report we’ve seen some outstanding applicants.
They know that our field is the most interesting in medicine, and they view our recent “Epidemic of Epidemics” — to coin a phrase from John Bartlett to describe all this activity (Ebola, MERS, Enterovirus D68, etc.) — as not as a deterrent, but instead an important and fascinating challenge.
Face it: if it’s in the news these days, and it’s health related, there’s a good chance it’s an ID topic. Take a look at this, for example:
In that spirit, I thought I would share a recent email exchange with a former colleague:
Hi Paul,
I just started as program director for an internal medicine residency program in Illinois. I have been doing some career counseling with the residents, and have decided to email specialists I have known along the way with the following two questions about their field:
1. What are the characteristics of an excellent candidate for your fellowship?
2. How important is research experience? Bench vs. clinical?
Hope you’re well,
Craig
Here’s my response:
Hi Craig,
We look for the top clinical people, in particular those who relish the “great case” and love taking detailed patient histories (you know, does the patient have any pets, or has he/she been spelunking). They should definitely also enjoy bread-and-butter inpatient ID (which includes plenty of surgical/routine stuff as well as the fascinomas) and HIV and the complexities of transplant patients. It’s great when they express enthusiasm for the minutiae of microbiology (such as has Strep bovis changed its name?) as well as anti-infective agents (another cephalosporin — ceftolozane/tazobactam — is coming soon, am sure you’re thrilled). And they should want to be the local “expert”on all the newsworthy stuff that fills our days.
As for the research, it’s more important that they have a strong idea of what they would like to do. Yes if they have research experience, that’s a bonus, but it’s not required.
And they shouldn’t be going into ID for the $$$, or if they love to do procedures, because if they are, they are not very smart.
Nice hearing from you after all these years!
Paul
Sound about right? And what’s the story with Strep bovis anyway?
Speaking of pets and surgical infections, this one never gets old: