While becoming board-eligible in infectious diseases (ID), you will gain extensive expertise in caring for people living with HIV and its complications. You will also receive additional specialized training in HIV care, such as management of HIV-associated metabolic issues, management of anal dysplasia and care of the HIV-HCV/HBV co-infected patient. Fellows who choose this concentration will be able to provide the highest level of HIV care at the end of their training.
Clinical experience
The ID clinic provides services for approximately 620 patients living with HIV. Patients come from diverse socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the people living with HIV (PLWH) in Boston. We provide a wide range of specialized medical services both in the ID clinic and jointly with other departments, allowing trainees broad clinical exposure.
The clinic has:
- A dedicated on-site social worker to assist clinicians and patients in issues such as insurance, housing, transportation, HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP) documentation, legal services to help patients with immigration concerns, divorce and establishing health care proxies, as needed.
- A dedicated ID pharmacist.
- High-resolution anoscopy clinic.
- HIV-HCV/HBV co-infection clinic at Tufts Medical Center and at the affiliated Lemuel Shattuck Hospital.
- Dedicated experience in managing post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Multidisciplinary support for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.
Additional clinical experiences can include:
- Prison-based clinics
- Telemedicine
Educational experience
You will receive focused education on the management of HIV:
- Didactic lecture series focused on HIV.
- Training in the interpretation of HIV genotypes.
- Participation in the fellow-led HIV Clinical Case Conference, which hosts invited speakers and where complex HIV-related issues are discussed.
- Paid attendance to a national or international HIV conference of your choice (e.g., C,ROI) during your fellowship.
- Oversight of monthly HIV Clinical Conference—organizing discussion of complicated HIV cases with internal and outside speakers.
- Collaboration with dental students/residents at Tufts Dental School, which provides dental care for PLWH.
Research
Many research opportunities are available for both 2-year Clinician-Educator track fellows and the 3-year Physician-Scientist track. These opportunities include both local and international projects. Clinician-Educator track fellows are encouraged to choose a research project in the area of HIV or HIV-related care. Our clinic also provides a wealth of opportunities for QI/QA projects.
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.
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