Training Overview
Chief of Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center: Tamar Barlam, MD, MSc
Program Director: Gopal Yadavalli, MD
Program Coordinator: Katelyn Sylvester, BA
Chief of Infectious Disease, VA Boston Healthcare System: Kalpana Gupta, MD
The Section of Infectious Diseases at the Boston University School of Medicine includes staff located at Boston Medical Center (BMC, formerly Boston City Hospital and Boston University Hospital) and the VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS).
We offer a rich Clinical Training Experience where fellows can see a wide variety of different infectious diseases in diverse populations.
First Year
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory: Fellows begin training with a two-week rotation learning basic microbiologic techniques; they will rotate to different benches in the microbiology laboratory and have a dedicated microbiology teaching schedule, with an additional didactic curriculum focusing on antimicrobial agents. Another two-week rotation is integrated in their schedules later in the year to further refine their microbiology skills and knowledge.
- Ambulatory Experience: Within their first month, fellows begin longitudinal ambulatory care experience, which consists of a weekly half-day clinic in the Center for Infectious Diseases (CID) at BMC, and/or the HIV Clinic at the VABHS. There is also the opportunity to complete rotations in other clinics, such as the International Health Clinic, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic or TB clinic. Please see Ambulatory Training for more information.
- Inpatient Consults: First year fellows provide significant consulting services for inpatients at participating teaching hospitals, BMC and the VABHS. For more information, please see Clinical Rotations and Facilities. A regular schedule of weekly clinical and research conferences is held at each teaching hospital. You can find more detailed information about BMC-based educational conferences within Conferences.
- Scholarly Queries: Fellows can begin determining their scholarship mentor and project; they will be guided through lectures from faculty and directed to various resources at BU and BMC. Fellows will work closely with the Program Director to find a mentor with scholarship opportunities aligning with their interests, and will be able to deliberate their options throughout the first year.
Second Year
- Scholarly Work: Second year fellows primarily focus on working with their scholarship mentor on a project of interest. In addition to their mentors, each fellow will have a scholarship oversight committee to monitor their progress.
- If interested in clinician education, one to two foundational courses will be funded by the section at either the Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) or at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUPSPH).
- If interested in research, fellows will concentrate on the development and potential publication of their own project, pertaining to one of the four domains available; upon program completion, fellows will be prepared to continue a career as an independent investigator.
- Quality Improvement/Patient Safety (QIPS): In addition to the scholarship project, second year fellows will complete a longitudinal QIPS project and a four-week QIPS experiential block. During their four-week block, fellows will complete various Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) modules, and participate in the review process if any RLs were filed within the section. Moreover, fellows will attend a monthly committee meeting to review data collected, and help identify themes, priorities, and opportunities for change.
- Ambulatory Experience: Fellows continue longitudinal ambulatory care experience as necessary per the Center for Infectious Diseases (CID) at BMC, and/or the HIV Clinic at the VABHS. Second year fellows may also pursue additional ambulatory experiences at various BMC clinics to expand their clinical exposure.
- Inpatient Consults: Unlike the first year, second year fellows will spend only two to three months on the consultation services for inpatients at BMC and the VABHS.
- MGH Rotations: To deepen the understanding of infectious disease management in transplant recipients and donors, second year fellows will complete a total of six weeks rotating at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) between the Transplant Center and hematology/oncology services. Here, they will learn how to provide appropriate pre- and post-transplant vaccination and evaluation.
Fellows on the Infectious Diseases/Addiction Medicine pathway will complete clinical rotations in Addiction Medicine during their second year.
Benefits
Boston Medical Center offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support House Officers throughout their training, including:
- Vacation – Four weeks of paid vacation each academic year.
- Comprehensive Health Insurance – Choose from multiple medical plans, including a fully employer-paid BMC Select plan (eligibility and plan terms apply).
- Dental Insurance – Affordable dental coverage with employer contributions toward monthly premiums.
- Disability Insurance – Employer-funded short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Life & AD&D Insurance – Employer-paid life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance equal to one year’s base salary, with options to purchase additional coverage.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) – Pre-tax accounts available for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.
- Employee Health Services – On-site employee health services to support your well-being.
- Voluntary Benefits – Optional enrollment in vision insurance, dependent life insurance, and legal services plans.
This package provides financial protection, healthcare coverage, and wellness resources to help support House Officers both personally and professionally.