International Track - Infectious Diseases Fellowship | University of Maryland Medical Center

University of Maryland Infectious Diseases fellows studying overseas

The Global Health Implementation Science Track within our Infectious Diseases fellowship is designed to give fellows an introduction into the world of international health and provide a sound footing to pursue a career in global health work. Fellows will work closely with the Institute of Human Virology’s Center for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB) whose main focus is on improving individual health outcomes to impact population health.

The University of Maryland has an extensive and growing international program that is predominantly based within the Institute of Human Virology Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity (CIHEB) and the Institute for Global Health. Both of these programs are known worldwide for their activities in their respective fields.

ID fellows at the University of Maryland have the opportunity to participate in these programs in a variety of ways. Fellows can obtain clinical experience in global health and the management of HIV and other infectious diseases in resource-limited settings, participate in international education programs, or participate in international research studies.

To set up a visiting rotation with the UMMC Infectious Diseases Program, email Tara Winterling.

Curriculum Components

International clinical rotations

First year:
- A 4-6 week clinical rotation at our major partner teaching hospital (University Teaching Hospital) in Lusaka, Zambia
Second year
- A 4-6 week clinical rotation at the beginning of the year

International project

Second year
- Fellows will work with an international faculty mentor on a research project with a goal to complete the project during the second year

Mentorship

Fellows will be assigned 2 faculty mentors:
- An internationally based, ID-trained faculty
- A Baltimore-based, ID faculty with extensive international experience

Grant writing

Fellows will be expected to participate in the grant-writing process

Where does the University of Maryland have programs globally?

Institute of Human Virology

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Center for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB) currently has programs in many countries:

Botswana
Haiti
Kenya
Nigeria
Rwanda
Tanzania
Zambia

Currently, our main international clinical experience for fellows is in Lusaka, Zambia, although opportunities in any IHV-supported countries are possible. We currently have three full-time faculty in Zambia that work closely with the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) which is the largest academic hospital in the country. UTH has one of the few ID fellowships in sub-Saharan Africa which is heavily supported by IHV CIHEB faculty. Rotating fellows have the opportunity to see ID consults at UTH, collaborate with Zambian physicians, work with faculty in the 3^rd line ART clinic, and learn about managing healthcare programs in resource-limited settings.

Institute of Global Health

The Institute for Global Health has programs based in several countries:

Chile
Malawi
Mali
Myanmar

What type of research projects are available internationally?

Research projects are only limited by the individual fellow's imagination and the availability of an interested faculty mentor and, if needed, funding to accomplish the project. Largely, research projects are based in the countries where we have the strongest infrastructure in place.

Fellows have participated in projects in Nigeria, Zambia, Mali, Malawi, and Kenya among others. However, at the Institute of Human Virology, there is also the opportunity to ask and answer important operational research questions that involve multiple countries through our database based on our PEPFAR program over the past 10+ years.

What types of education programs are available internationally?

Dr. Osuni teaching in Nigeria The Institute of Human Virology has transitioned from an international program largely focused on technical assistance and care and treatment for HIV and other infectious diseases to developing medical education programs. This has been driven by what we learned over the past 10 years on the incredible need for health care providers in resource-limited settings competent in the management of HIV and other infectious diseases as well as in general medicine.

To address this need, the IHV has been successful in developing pre- and post-graduate medical education programs in a number of countries including: Zambia, Haiti, Guyana, Rwanda, and Kenya. Our goal is to teach the future leaders in medicine in the countries where we develop these programs. These programs provide unique opportunities for University of Maryland fellows to teach, obtain clinical experience, and to collaborate on research projects.