Residents interested in Infectious Diseases should seek out elective, research, and advocacy experiences to increase their exposure to the continuum of care for newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults who have acute and chronic infections. Understanding host factors predisposing to infections and strategies used to prevent and treat infections are key groundwork. Collaborations with patients, families, health professionals, and researchers maximize learning potential.
Contact
Rebecca Brady, MD (rebecca.brady@cchmc.org) Rotation Director
Grant Paulsen, MD (grant.paulsen@cchmc.org) Fellowship Director
Essential Elective
Infectious Diseases Elective
During a half or full block on the Infectious Diseases rotation residents will be working on the General and/or Immunocompromised Infectious Diseases (ID) inpatient consult service, with the option to participate in selected outpatient ID clinics. Residents will collaborate closely with an ID Attending, often alongside ID fellows, advanced practice providers, other residents, and medical students. The focus of the rotation is on consultation and decision-making within the ID service, providing valuable experience in managing complex infectious disease cases. There are no weekends, holidays, or night shifts aside from rounder shifts or Jeopardy as scheduled by the residency program.
Recommended Electives
Allergy & Immunology
A half or full block elective provides exposure to the evaluation and management of pediatric patients with allergic and immunologic conditions, including primary immunodeficiencies.
Hematology / Oncology
A half or full block elective allows residents to engage with immunocompromised patients at high risk for infections, including those undergoing chemotherapy.
Radiology
A half or full block elective offers the opportunity to enhance diagnostic skills by interpreting imaging relevant to infectious diseases, including chest X-rays, MRI, and CT scans of complex infections. Residents will work with pediatric radiologists to develop a deeper understanding of radiologic findings in osteomyelitis, abscesses, and other infectious processes.
Microbiology
A half or full block elective provides hands-on experience in the clinical microbiology lab, learning about bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic diagnostics.
Other Electives
Bone Marrow Transplant
A half or full block elective will allow residents to work with the BMT team to learn about antimicrobial prophylaxis, infection surveillance, and the complexities of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) management.
Rheumatology
A half or full block elective provides insight into autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that predispose patients to infections due to immunosuppressive therapies. Residents will work with rheumatologists to understand infection risk assessment, prophylaxis strategies, and the overlap between infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Dermatology
A half or full block elective offers exposure to infectious and inflammatory skin conditions, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.
Residents as Teachers
A half block elective offered during select times of the year in which residents can receive hands on experience in developing as medical educators.
Recommended procedures
- LP
- Vascular access (central venous catheters and PICC lines)
Optional procedures
None
Other Experiences
- Global Health away rotations
- Cincinnati Children’s International Adoption Clinic and/or Travel Clinic
- Advocacy with the Ohio and National American Academy of Pediatrics chapters
Scholarly Activity
Many applicants pursuing Pediatric Infectious Diseases participate in scholarly projects. The project does not have to be housed in the Division of Infectious Diseases specifically. Below is a list of projects completed by recent residents who pursued careers in ID. The most important aspects of the project are to teach the resident how to think critically, formulate questions, review relevant literature, and design approaches to answer questions. This experience introduces the resident to the expectations of the mentor-mentee relationship.
For residents who are interested in ID, please contact members of the Division. Faculty may have ongoing larger research projects that residents may be able to use in planning their own smaller, focused scholarly activities.
Recent Resident Research Projects
Melissa Day, MD (CCHMC Resident: 07/01/19-06/30/22) (CCHMC Peds ID Fellow: 07/01/22-06/30/25)
Project: Investigation of the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic
Research Mentors: Elizabeth Schlaudecker, MD, MPH.; and Melissa Klein, MD, MEd
Caroline Maguire, MD (CCHMC Resident: 07/01/22-06/30/25)
Project: Epidemiology of Invasive Fungal Disease in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients
Research Mentor: William Otto, MD, MSCE
Plan: CCHMC Chief Resident: 07/01/25-06/30/26
Carol Rowley, MD (CCHMC Resident: 07/01/22-06/30/25)
Project: Systems Analysis of Influenza Vaccine Responses in Chronic Dialysis Patients
Research Mentor: Thomas Hagan, PhD
Plan: CCHMC Peds ID Fellow (07/01/25-06/30/28)
Daniel Whitehurst, MD (CCHMC Resident: 07/01/21-06/30/24) (CCHMC Combined Peds ID and Clinical Informatics Fellow: 07/01/24-06/30/28)
Project: Clinical Impact of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Cancer and Suspected Respiratory Infections
Research Mentors: Hilary Miller-Handley, MD; William Otto, MD, MSCE
Professional Organizations
- AAP Section on Infectious Diseases (https://www.aap.org/en/community/aap-sections/infectius-diseases/)
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (https://pids.org)
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (https://www.idsociety.org)
- The Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (https://shea-online.org)
- HIV Medicine Association (https://www.hivma.org)
- American Society of Microbiology (https://asm.org)
- Immunization Action Coalition (https://www.immunize.org)
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (https://www.astmh.org/)
Journals & Online Resources
- AAP Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases
- Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
- The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
- Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
- Journal of Clinical Microbiology