Mission/Vision

The mission and vision of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Naval Medical Center San Diego is to train U.S. military physicians as comprehensive experts in infectious diseases, ready to care for patients at home, at sea, and abroad. As military infectious disease physicians, our fellows will be able to function as bedside consultants, outbreak investigation leaders, and as academic researchers in support of our patients and of the Fleet.

Aims

1. To ensure that graduating Fellows are competent to provide comprehensive Infectious Diseases consultative services and care for all aspects of the elements provided in the ACGME's Infectious Disease Core Curriculum.
2. To meet or exceed the standards set forth by the ACGME for training in the Internal Medicine subspecialty in Infectious Diseases.
3. To ensure that fellows meet the requirements of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) subspecialty board in Infectious Diseases and are eligible to participate in the Board Certification Examination.
4. To prepare fellows to take and pass the ABIM Certification Examination for Infectious Diseases on the first attempt.
5. To teach and maintain the highest principles of ethics, humanism and professionalism in the practice of Infectious Diseases using the framework of the ACGME’s six Milestones.
6. To facilitate the learning of the scientific method, with preparation for life-long learning, independent and critical thinking, and a constant desire for self-improvement.
7. To engender consistent awareness of our dual roles as Naval Officers and Physicians.
8. Our ultimate goal of training - excellence that is uncompromising and unconditional.

• NMCSD Internal Medicine Noon Conference: Weekdays, 12 - 1 p.m.
• NMCSD HIV Multidisciplinary Conference and Journal Club third Thursday, 2-3 p.m.
• Infectious Diseases Grand Rounds - UCSD/VA (Mandatory): Thursdays, 3:30 - 5 p.m.
• NMCSD Core Curriculum Conference Friday, 8 - 10 a.m.
• Microbiology Rounds Friday, 1 - 1:45 p.m.

Can be accommodated in research months by arrangement.

Variable based on rotation.

1 1/2 months - Military Tropical Medicine Course includes four weeks of laboratory experience/didactic lectures by leading experts in the field of infectious diseases, and two weeks clinical/laboratory experience at an overseas Department of Defense laboratory and associated clinics.

Infectious Disease Fellows are required to maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification while in fellowship training.  In addition, fellows will complete:

• Military Tropical Medicine Course includes four weeks of laboratory experience/didactic lectures by leading experts in the field of infectious diseases, and two weeks clinical/laboratory experience at an overseas Department of Defense laboratory and associated clinics.
• National Jewish Tuberculosis course provides fellows with education on tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections, if not completed in the first year. This is completed concurrently during outpatient periods due to its conversion from in-person training to a virtual training platform during the pandemic.
• SHEA Certificate Course in Healthcare Epidemiology, Infection Prevention & Antimicrobial Stewardship. This is completed concurrently during outpatient periods.

None.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) faculty development sessions, lectures on general and military-specific leadership skills.

• Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program in house (Longitudinal studies and clinical trials of HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory disease, and deployment/travel-related infections)
• Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) San Diego

Projects and initiatives via Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and Infection Prevention and Control Committee.

• Naval Medical Leader and Professional Development Courses
• USUHS Faculty Development

• City of Hope National Medical Center
• National Jewish Health Center, Denver, CO
• Scripps Green Hospital
• Scripps Memorial Hospital
• University of California San Diego Medical Center (UCSD)
• Veteran’s Administration Medical Center San Diego (VAMC)

Available to medical students and residents. Primarily focused on inpatient consult service. Rotations are 4-week blocks for continuity.

Please visit our Medical Student Rotation informational page to see a listing of available medical student rotations offered at NMCSD.

Please contact the Infectious Disease Program at dha.san-diego.San-Diego-NMC.list.nmcsd-id@health.mil to request an interview.  

Program graduates take the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Infectious Diseases certification exam. This exam is offered annually in November. To become fully board certified, applicants are eligible to take board certification exam following graduation. To be eligible to take specialty board exams, graduates must complete all pre-requisites required by the ABIM by October 31.  For more information, please visit the ABIM for Infectious Disease.

• Case conference (within NMCSD and through UCSD)
• Internal Medicine Noon Conference
• USUHS clerkship groups

Infectious Disease Fellows are eligible to apply for and become teaching faculty at USUHS.  

• Internal Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Informal – faculty to fellow and peer to peer.

Self-directed flexible scheduling during research/outpatient blocks.