The Infection Prevention program at Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) was developed by David R. Snydman, MD, FACP, FIDSA, the emeritus chief of the Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases. It is now led by Shira Doron, MD, MS, FIDSA, a hospital epidemiologist. The program consists of 2 infectious disease physicians, 3 highly experienced infection preventionists and informatics support.
While becoming board-eligible in ID, you will gain extensive experience in all aspects of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. Fellows who choose this concentration can function independently as a hospital epidemiologist. We have several graduates who are functioning in this capacity across the country and worldwide.
The Infection Prevention Program is structured to meet all the requirements of the Department of Public Health and Medicare requirements. Tufts MC has a strong relationship with the Massachusetts Department of Health, and our faculty members serve on the statewide Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) technical advisory board.
Thanks to these strong ties, Gabriela Andujar Vazquez, MD, was an inaugural recipient of the IDSA LEAP Fellowship. The trainee will gain experience in surveillance, prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections, including investigation of clusters, understanding of reporting requirements, participation in task forces and involvement in prospective observational and interventional studies being performed by the infection control group.
The Infection Prevention Program has been at the forefront of the quality movement at Tufts MC. In a recent Joint Commission survey, a surveyor commented, "This is best Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship Program I have seen in our surveys throughout the U.S." The Infection Prevention program has had several significant successes in recent years, including a near elimination of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections, improved hand hygiene compliance rates, reduction in multi-drug resistant bacterial infections, reduction in surgical site infections, reduction in Clostridioides difficile infections, reduction in catheter-associated UTI and high employee immunization rates. Learn more about the quality and patient safety initiatives at Tufts MC.
Educational experience
You will receive focused education on hospital infections:
- Didactic lectures on hospital infections, including case-based lectures
- Weekly meetings with the infection prevention team
- Participation in CLABSI, CAUTI and VAP bundle task forces
- Monthly infection control committee meetings
- Targeted reading in infection control
- Participation in quarterly infection prevention meetings
- Participation in microbiology rounds
Research
Many opportunities exist in infection control-related research for 2-year fellows and fellows interested in and eligible for our 3-year Physician-Investigator track. Two-year clinician educator fellows will choose a research project in an area of interest. Recent projects have included work on C. difficile, MRSA reductions, contamination of the environment with VRE and transmission.
Teaching opportunities
Fellows in this track will have specific opportunities to develop their expertise as Clinician Educators. Teaching opportunities include leading small group discussions with pre-clinical medical students and lecturing to medical students on clinical rotations and house staff.
View other concentrations: HIV | Transplant | Antimicrobial Stewardship | Wound Care/ HBO