Infectious Disease Fellowship

Advanced Fellowships
Research Training
ID Bootcamp
Advanced Fellowships

Two Advanced Tracks

For those who have completed a general ID fellowship, we offer a Clinical Investigator & Research Fellowship and an Transplant & Oncologic Infectious Diseases Fellowship.
Research Training

Research, Research Training and Training Grants

Houston Methodist Hospital offers excellent research opportunities in infectious diseases, mentored research training, training grants and scholarships with > $ 20 million in direct costs of NIH funding for the division.
ID Bootcamp

Our Pre-Fellowship 5 Day Bootcamp

Our boot camp provides an in-depth introduction to infectious diseases. The curriculum covers clinically important microbial pathogens, modes of transmission, and strategies for diagnosing and treating infections. It includes sessions on diagnostic and therapeutic reasoning, prognostic reasoning, and setting patient care goals. The program also emphasizes the importance of effective consulting, writing clinical notes, understanding different immunocompromised hosts, and interpreting imaging studies. A series of "Survival Guide" topics offer practical tips for fellows, and case-based interactive exercises reinforce learning. Additional topics include antimicrobial therapy principles, specifics on various antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents, and fundamentals of diagnostic microbiology. The program also addresses managing infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Why train at Houston Methodist Hospital ID fellowship program?

Our Program Faculty
Cesar A. Arias, MD, MSc, PhD
John F. III and Ann H. Bookout Distinguished Chair for Research Excellence, Research Institute
Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Full Member, Research Institute
Co-director, Center for Infectious Diseases Research
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: Antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic and clinical microbiology, microbiome science, enterococcal infections

Personal Interests: Biking, soccer, theatre, opera, outdoor activities, traveling
Adarsh Bhimraj, MD, FIDSA
Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship and Education
Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital
Center for Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Research Institute

ID Interests: Neurologic infectious diseases, COVID-19 Therapeutics, Clinical reasoning & Evidence based medicine, Medical Education

Personal Interests: Running, backpacking, hiking, traveling and "ID Bug Bowling"
Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, PhD, FIDSA
Charles and Anne Duncan Presidential Distinguished Chair, Department of Medicine
Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Full Member, Research Institute
Chair, Department of Medicine
Houston Methodist
Alejandro Granillo, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: general infectious diseases, sepsis, central nervous system infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Personal Interests: spending time with his wife and beautiful daughters, visiting the many parks in Houston and discovering new ice cream places.
Ana V. Salas Vargas, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist

ID Interests: Bone and Joint infections, neuro infections, Non TB mycobacteria, Common Variable immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections, endocarditis, Clostridiodes difficile.

Personal Interests: Indoor cycling on my Peloton, walks with my senior dog (not in Texas Summer time), explore Houston gastronomy, travel.
Ashley L. Drews, MD, FACP
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Associate Professor of Medicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute
Adjunct Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine, Texas A&M University
System Epidemiologist, Houston Methodist
Medical Director, Infection Control, Houston Methodist Hospital
Clinical Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital

ID Interests: Infection prevention, COVID-19, bacteremia, bone and joint infections

Personal Interests: Spending time with family, yoga, travel, baking
Jiejian Lin, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: Infectious involving immunocomproised hosts, vaccination in solid organ transplant.

Personal Interests: birding and photography, finding solace and inspiration in nature's beauty
Kevin A. Grimes, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: The best antibiotic is the one the patient actually takes
Masayuki Nigo, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: Transplant Infectious Diseases, Big data and Biomedical Informatics in ID

Personal Interests: Spending time with family and Japanese community in Houston
Max Adelman, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Assistant Clinical Member, Research Institute
Department of Medicine
Center for Infectious Diseases Research
Houston Methodist Hospital
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: Sepsis, bacteremia, fungemia, C diff, critical illness, immunocompromised patients, ultrasound

Personal Interests: Spending time with family, running, biking, exploring local splash pads with my toddlers
Elizabeth R. Ramos-Salazar, MD
Infectious Diseases
Houston Methodist Academic Medicine Associates

ID Interests: Transplant /immunocompromised ID, sepsis, bloodstream infections, C diff, nosocomial infections

Personal Interests: Activities with families like walking, watching movies, yoga, zumba/dancing, crocheting, baking.
William R. Miller, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Assistant Clinical Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist

ID Interests: Antimicrobial resistance, microbiology, diagnostics, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Personal Interests: Spending time with my family and two dogs, cooking, growing vegetables, running, reading, and travelling
Dierdre B. Axell-House, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Assistant Clinical Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: Antimicrobial resistance, gram positive bacteria, cardiac device infections, clinical trials, onco/transplant infectious diseases

Personal Interests: Spending time with husband, furniture refinishing, home remodeling, drawing/painting, foodie, playing with my cat
headshot of Rodrigo de Paula Baptista, PhD
Rodrigo de Paula Baptista, PhD
Assistant Research Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Assistant Research Member, Research Institute
Department of Medicine
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: ID, molecular microbiology, Genomics, Transcriptomics, parasitology, eukaryotic and procaryotic pathogens, bioinformatics, epidemiology

Personal Interests: Spending time with family, gaming, drumming, DIY home, movies/series
Diana Panesso, PhD
Associate Research Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Associate Research Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID interest: Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus and Enterococcus, Daptomycin resistance in Enterococcus.

Personal interest: Socializing and spending time with loved ones like organizing gatherings and going out with family and friends. Her favorite activity is cooking and experimenting with recipes, hosting dinner parties, or exploring different cuisines to indulge her culinary creativity
Kavindra V. Singh, PhD
Research Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Full Research Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: ID, molecular microbiology, Therapeutics and pre-clinical animal models.

Personal Interests: Movies, Yoga/meditation.
Truc T. Tran, PharmD
Associate Research Professor of Medicine, Academic Institute
Associate Research Member, Research Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College

ID Interests: Daptomycin resistance in enterococci and streptococci, combination therapy for treatment of infection with multidrug-resistant organisms

Personal Interests: Gardening, stationery

Eligibility and Application

Important Dates
  • 8.21.24 (9 am CT) - Match Opens
  • 9.25.24 (12pm ET) - Ranking Opens
  • 10.31.24 (11:59 pm CT) - Program Application Deadline
  • 12.04.24 (12:00pm ET) -Match Day
Interview Season: August through October

Houston Methodist Hospital participates in theNational Resident Matching Program (NRMP) (NRMP Program Code: 1167146F0). All positions are offered through the NRMP.

Applications must be processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Paper applications are not accepted. All applications are carefully reviewed, and selected applicants are notified electronically through ERAS if an interview is requested.

"Pre-Match" positions are not offered.

**Please note: For the upcoming recruitment cycle, all applicants, including those local to the Greater Houston Area, will be interviewed virtually.**


Application Requirements
  • Complete a common ERAS application form
  • At least three (3) other letters of recommendation; preferably, one of the letters should be from the program director of your residency program. All letters of recommendation should be current or within the last 2 years.
  • Official medical school transcript.
  • Personal statement.
  • Passing score on all USMLE steps and/or COMLEX
  • Three years previous internal medicine residency training or in good standing in the third year of residency at the time of the application.
  • Will consider H-1 and J-1 Visas.

Houston Methodist is committed to improving the health of our patients, employees, and communities around us. As a health care provider, it’s our responsibility to promote a healthier environment for our employees.


Responsibility
  • Drug and Tobacco Screening- Job seekers will be tested for nicotine and drug usage during the post-offer physical. If a job seeker tests positive for nicotine use, including nicotine gum and patches, the offer will be rescinded, and individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in a free Houston Methodist-provided tobacco cessation program. Job seekers wishing to reapply after testing positive for nicotine may do so 90 days after the date the initial offer was rescinded. If the job seeker tests positive for drug use, the offer will be rescinded. Job seekers wishing to reapply after the drug screening is positive may do so one year after the date the initial offer was rescinded.
  • Background Check - Prior to employment start date, job seekers must complete a criminal background check.
Our Fellows
Ramya Pakala, MD
General Infectious Disease Fellow

Ramya is interested in the challenges faced by immunocompromised individuals and their vulnerability to severe and persistent infections that add a layer of complexity to the understanding of infectious diseases.

Ramya enjoys creating oil paintings on canvas and traveling in her free time.
Dawn Adams, MD
General Infectious Disease Fellow

Dawn is interested in clinical and global health and recently expressed an interest in immunocompromised.

Dawn likes to travel to tropical places, sing and dance when no one is looking, saltwater fish with her husband, and spend time with her grandchildren.
Alfonso Hernandez Acosta, MD
Transplant and Oncology Infectious Disease Fellow

Alfonso is interested in fungal infections and infections in lung transplant, BMT and CAR-T!. br />
Alfonso enjoys cooking, reading, learning to play guitar and trying new restaurants in his free time. He loves dogs, sushi and Mexican food.

Schedule

Weeks on clinical service over the 2 years of general ID Fellowship:

  • 5 months/ year of required inpatient consult service.
  • Weekly half a day continuity clinic and two 2-week ambulatory blocks of subspecialty clinics in a year.
  • Other months are protected for research or electives.

Weekend call: Average of 1 weekend or less per month while at Houston Methodist Hospital. The call schedule for away rotations will be based on the specific institutional polices.


Most of the courses listed beside are multi-day immersive educational experiences with seminars complimented by hands on scenario or case based workshops. During these courses the fellows will have no clinical duties other than their weekly continuity clinic, so they can focus on the course work.

Didactics and Conferences

In addition to the dedicated courses mentioned in earlier sections, there will be a weekly core curriculum conference, which is a series of seminars that rotate every two years so that each fellow will be exposed to important topics in infectious diseases necessary for the practice of infectious diseases. The series of seminars will be reviewed every year by the Program Evaluation Committee, so the topics are contemporary and capture emerging topics. There will also be other conferences periodically throughout the year.

  • Journal Club (weekly)
  • Clinical Case Conference (weekly)
  • Citywide ID conference (weekly)
  • ID grand rounds (weekly, every other month)
  • Antimicrobial Resistance Conference (monthly)
  • Clinicopathological conference (weekly, every other month)
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Conference (every other month)
  • ID fellow Research in progress conference ( every three months starting in January)
  • Tropical Medicine Case Conference (once a quarter)

Get In Touch

Sr. Program Coordinator

Michelle Sullins
6560 Fannin St., Scurlock Tower Suite 1512
Houston, TX 77030
Tel. 346.238.6475
Email: mmsullins@houstonmethodist.org

Program Director

Adarsh Bhimraj, MD
6560 Fannin St., Scurlock Tower Suite 1512
Houston, Texas 77030
Email: abhimraj@houstonmethodist.org

Upcoming Academic Events

Grand rounds, tumor boards, regularly scheduled series and case presentations are offered in multiple clinical disciplines and Houston Methodist locations.
Center for Neuroregeneration Visiting Lecture series - Amy Kuceyeski
Houston Methodist Hospital

Amy Kuceyeski, PhD

Nov 05 @ 9AM

See Details
Center for Neuroregeneration Visiting Lecture series - Erin Purcell, Ph.D
Houston Methodist Hospital

Erin Purcell, Ph.D

Nov 05 @ 9AM

See Details

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Grand Rounds conducted in 2023
These educational events are held according to varying schedules by departments and divisions within the Houston Methodist Academic Institute

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