A weekly conference led by faculty, invited speakers from other institutions, or fellows. Fellows will have the opportunity to present, typically beginning with a case followed by a discussion of the relevant medical literature, accompanied by appropriate visual aids (usually computer generated slides and graphics). For selected conferences, divisional faculty members present a Research Conference summarizing their own research activities. Senior fellows are also expected to present a formal Research Conference relating to their own original work toward the end of the second year of training and a preliminary discussion of their research proposal during their first year.

View sample schedule

Discussion of cases seen on the Michigan Medicine and Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) Consultative Service during the previous week. This conference is limited to Infectious Diseases fellows, participating faculty, and microbiology and ID pharmacy staff (usually 10-15 per week in attendance). The fellows or faculty present cases as “unknowns” with discussion of the cases by faculty or, on occasion, fellows.

We have a comprehensive approach to learning more about reading and interpreting medical literature. Fellows have an opportunity to review selected articles in detail, mentored by one of our clinical researchers. These articles are then discussed in a small group setting. In addition, journal clubs involving the entire division are held monthly. Prior to journal club, fellows discuss the articles with a faculty expert in the relevant content area. Fellows then present the articles and focus on how the article fits within the context of previous literature and how the findings might change practice.

The fellows are exposed to a two-year curriculum covering infections in immunocompromised hosts, hospital epidemiology, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, HIV/AIDS, statistics, study design, and basic mechanisms of disease. General topics in infectious disease and parasitology are included as well. In addition, lecturers outside of the Division of Infectious Diseases (e.g. Pharmacy, Library Sciences) are invited. During the first two months of the academic years, first year fellows are provided with a “nuts and bolts” introductory series.

View sample schedule

This conference is used as part of our patient safety curriculum. Fellows identify cases where in some way “the system failed the patient.” These cases are then discussed and, when appropriate, patient safety methodologies are applied to identify the root causes and correct the problem.