Infectious Diseases Inpatient/Outpatient Rotation in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Attending Introduction
Also serves as an HIV Consultant for the Ministry of Health in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and brings over 25 years of expertise in clinical research and the rapid adoption of cutting-edge treatments. As Principal Investigator, they have overseen more than 300 clinical trials, with the research published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous national and international conferences.
Rotation Description
An infectious diseases (ID) clinical rotation offers hands-on experience in diagnosing, managing, and treating a wide range of infectious diseases, including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.
Additionally, your performance during this rotation will lead to obtaining a US LOR, which is essential for your upcoming residency program applications.
Common Conditions Encountered:
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- Bacterial Infections: Learn to diagnose and treat infections like MRSA, Clostridium difficile, and community-acquired or hospital-acquired pneumonia.
- Viral Infections: Manage patients with conditions such as HIV/AIDS, influenza, COVID-19, and hepatitis. You will also learn about antiviral treatments and resistance patterns.
- Fungal Infections: Encounter patients with fungal infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. These include candidiasis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis.
- Parasitic Infections: In some settings, you may see parasitic diseases like malaria, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis, especially if you are working in a clinic that deals with travel medicine.
Procedures and Diagnostic Techniques:
- Diagnostic Tests: You will gain experience in interpreting diagnostic tests, including blood cultures, sensitivity testing, lumbar punctures for meningitis, and imaging studies to detect abscesses or bone infections.
- Laboratory Rounds: Some ID rotations may include time spent in microbiology labs, learning about culture techniques, Gram stains, and PCR tests for diagnosing infections.
- Procedures: While the rotation is more focused on diagnosis and management, you may observe or assist in procedures such as lumbar punctures, central line placement, or incision and drainage of abscesses.
HIV and Immunocompromised Patients:
- HIV Management: You’ll manage patients with HIV/AIDS, learning about antiretroviral therapy (ART), monitoring CD4 counts, viral load, and managing opportunistic infections.
- Immunocompromised Hosts: You will work with transplant patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and others who are at high risk for infections. This includes managing conditions like febrile neutropenia and invasive fungal infections.
An infectious diseases rotation provides a comprehensive look at managing complex infections, working within a multidisciplinary team, and understanding the public health implications of infectious diseases.
Typical Activities/Procedures
Expectations and Responsibilities
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- Patient Care: You will be involved in seeing patients, writing notes, formulating treatment plans, and discussing cases with attendings during rounds.
- Daily Rounds: Participate in multidisciplinary rounds to discuss complex cases.
- Case Presentations: You may be expected to present cases to your peers and attendings, emphasizing diagnostic reasoning and treatment approaches.
- Learning and Feedback: Attend lectures, journal clubs, and receive feedback from supervising physicians.
Letter of Recommendation
LORs are on the official clinic letterhead. You may also ask the attending to include hospital affiliations on your LOR, and you can also mention them on your CV and Personal Statement.
Location & Schedule
*Exact address provided once signed up.
*Schedules change often and we recommend speaking with the office manager to have the most updated daily scheduling.
