Most of these courses 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.
Infectious Diseases Board review
There will be two types of Board Review didactics. A week long course of both recorded and live seminars on ID board relevant topics will be offered at the beginning of the 2nd year. The other board review seminar will be held every few months after that where we will have roundtable discussions of multiple choice questions or other exercises which are relevant to ID boards.
Hospital Epidemiology and Infection control course
The fellows before they beginning the Hospital epidemiology and infection control rotation will take the SHAE primer on health care epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship course. In the course the fellows learn the basics of healthcare epidemiology, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. In the course case-based information is presented in a dynamic and interactive learning environment intended to highlight the role of the healthcare epidemiologist. The rotation that follows this is a structured experience where the fellows apply the principles learned into the practice of infection control and hospital epidemiology.
Antimicrobial Stewardship course
The fellows before they beginning the Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) rotation will take the IDSA CORE antimicrobial stewardship course which is designed to provide ID fellows with a foundation in antimicrobial stewardship, regardless of their ultimate career plans. In addition they have the option of taking the advanced course which is intended to provide ID fellows with the knowledge and skills to become leaders in antimicrobial stewardship. The antimicrobial stewardship rotation that follows this is a structured experience where the fellows apply the principles learned into practice, under the guidance of ASP staff.
POCUS (Point of care ultrasound) course
This is probably one of the first ID fellowship programs to offer a course in POCUS, which is rapidly emerging as an important bedside diagnostic tool. This course will be offered in collaboration with the internal medicine residency program and pulmonary disease critical care fellowship program. The goal of our Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is to teach fellows the basics of POCUS skills relevant to Infectious Diseases. This includes image acquisition, interpretation and the clinical integration. During the 2-year fellowship, every fellow will complete two hands-on scanning sessions covering the basics of ultrasound. In addition fellows will have to complete pre-course work and quizzes.
Clinical and Translational research
Fellows will have the opportunity to experience clinical and translational research from the bench to the bedside. Early in the first year fellows will be paired with a faculty mentor to conceptualize and carry out research projects to advance their career goals. The Office of Academic Affairs at Houston Methodist offers seminars and training opportunities for developing skills in research, grantsmanship, and scientific communication to facilitate building a strong research foundation for interested fellows.
Evidence based medicine course
These courses will teach critical skills need to make evidence based clinical decisions in the context of patient care (Ask a focused clinical question, Acquire evidence, Appraise quality of evidence and Apply it to the specific patient care problem). The fellow or fellows will attend a week long course which will have seminars complimented by problem based exercises After finishing the course the fellows will work with a designated faculty member to present at journal club where they will briefly present a commonly encountered case followed by a discussion of the relevant clinical questions, appropriate literature search, critical appraisal and application to the clinical problem.
Gulf Coast Consortium antimicrobial resistance conference
The annual Texas Medical Center Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship is hosted in partnership with the Gulf Coast Consortia, a multi-institution collaboration between healthcare centers and universities in the Houston, Texas area. Fellows will have the opportunity to attend lectures, present their research, and interact with leaders in antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial stewardship from around the world at this three day event. A series of panel sessions highlights different career options in both research and clinical arenas, and a chance to meet other trainees with an interest in infectious diseases.
