Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Program Overview
The UPMC Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Program combines a rigorous, well-established curriculum with exceptional opportunities in clinical care and research. Our mission is to prepare physicians to become the next generation of leaders in infectious diseases through training that balances clinical excellence, scholarly activity, and individualized career development.
We offer tailored training pathways, including a physician–scientist track, a clinician–educator track, and several subspecialty tracks, so fellows can pursue their unique goals and interests. Throughout their training, fellows care for diverse and complex patient populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings, participate in numerous clinical and research conferences, and receive mentorship from internationally recognized faculty at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Glenn
GME Senior Manager
412-648-6406
glennse@upmc.edu
Physician-Scientist Track
For trainees committed to research careers in infectious diseases—including areas such as antimicrobial resistance and HIV/AIDS—this pathway provides an immersive experience with strong mentorship and access to world-class resources. Fellows are exposed to cutting-edge approaches in laboratory, translational, and clinical research, while working within a collaborative, interdisciplinary mentoring structure designed to foster independence and creativity.
To minimize interruptions and maximize research productivity, we frontload the first 12 months with consolidated clinical training. This structure allows fellows up to two subsequent years of largely protected research time. During this period, fellows develop projects with their mentoring team, build grant-writing skills, and are encouraged to apply for NIH fellowships and career development awards. By the end of training, fellows are prepared to launch independent research programs at Pittsburgh or other leading institutions.
Clinician-Educator Track
The clinician–educator track emphasizes excellence in patient care and teaching. The first year is focused on developing strong clinical competency through inpatient and outpatient training. In the second year, fellows tailor their experience to match their interests, while continuing continuity clinic sessions and participating in the antimicrobial management and stewardship program. Dedicated mentorship and teaching opportunities prepare graduates for careers in academic medicine.
Subspecialty Tracks
Infection Prevention Track
The Infection Prevention Track offers fellows comprehensive, hands-on training in hospital epidemiology and infection prevention. During the second year, fellows are “embedded” in the UPMC Presbyterian Infection Prevention suite, with additional experiences at the Pittsburgh VA and UPMC Mercy. Regular meetings with the Medical Director and/or Associate Medical Director provide focused didactics on key topics such as quality improvement and infection prevention strategies. Fellows participate in infection prevention team meetings, assist with cluster and exposure investigations, and gain expertise in surveillance and reporting of healthcare-acquired infections. Each fellow also completes a scholarly project. Some examples of ongoing work include evaluating the impact of policy changes in contact precautions, shifts in C. difficile testing practices, VRE acquisition and transmission, and adherence to chlorhexidine gluconate skin treatment.
Rotation and track competencies are published in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (2021) and can also be found here.
Innovative Antimicrobial Therapy (IAT) Track
The IAT Track is designed for fellows passionate about antimicrobial resistance research. Working closely with the XDR Pathogen Laboratory and the Antimicrobial Management Program, fellows engage in a full spectrum of research experiences spanning laboratory science, translational studies, and clinical research. This track provides a robust foundation for those pursuing a career dedicated to advancing therapies for multidrug-resistant organisms.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Track
Fellows choosing the Antimicrobial Stewardship Track develop the skills and confidence needed to lead stewardship programs in diverse healthcare settings. Training combines both executive-level and operational experiences, including direct participation in the UPMC Antibiotic Management Program (AMP). Fellows engage in activities such as educating clinical teams on antimicrobial optimization, reviewing and updating treatment guidelines, and analyzing antimicrobial utilization and resistance trends. Required participation in monthly stewardship meetings ensures exposure to real-time decision-making, while scholarly projects or quality improvement initiatives offer opportunities to contribute lasting improvements in patient care.
Transplant Infectious Disease (TID) Track
For fellows seeking advanced training in transplant-related infections, the TID Track offers an intensive second-year experience without the need for a full third year of subspecialty training. Fellows rotate on abdominal and cardiothoracic TID services, the bone marrow transplant service, and the outpatient TID clinic, gaining deep exposure to the full spectrum of transplant-associated infections. At least six months of protected time are devoted to a scholarly project, equipping fellows to emerge as recognized experts in this high-demand field.
HIV Track
The HIV Track provides comprehensive training in the clinical management of adults living with HIV at the Pittsburgh Area Center for Treatment (PACT), an integral part of UPMC’s Center for Care of Infectious Diseases. Fellows rotate through primary and specialty HIV care clinics as well as inpatient services, building expertise in antiretroviral therapy, opportunistic infections, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV prevention strategies such as PrEP and PEP. Additional focus areas include management of comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular, psychiatric, gynecologic, substance use, and more), reflecting the complexity of modern HIV care. Fellows complete a quality improvement project, participate in PACT case conferences and CME-accredited HIV education sessions, and may attend the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clinical Conference.
This track is enriched by extensive institutional and federal support. PACT is funded through HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (Parts B, C, and D), ensuring comprehensive care regardless of ability to pay, and also participates in Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS), which develop innovative models of HIV care for people aging with HIV. Faculty are affiliated with the MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (Part F), and the Division hosts a long-standing NIH-funded Clinical Research Site engaged in cutting-edge work on HIV cure strategies and prevention interventions.
Endovascular Infections (EVI) Track
The EVI Track trains fellows to become leaders in the diagnosis and management of complex endovascular infections, including infective endocarditis and cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections. Fellows rotate on the dedicated EVI consult service, which integrates expertise from Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Addiction Medicine, and Social Work. This multidisciplinary approach equips fellows to manage both medical and surgical aspects of care, lead collaborative case discussions, and advocate for patients with challenging infections, including those related to injection drug use. The track emphasizes not only technical expertise but also patient-centered approaches such as harm reduction and long-term care strategies.