The combined RUSH University Medical Center (RUMC) and Cook County Health (CCH) Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program is committed to providing a diverse and outstanding fellowship experience with strong clinical training and a variety of research opportunities. After two years, graduating fellows are well-prepared to excel in any desired area of infectious diseases with ample career opportunities in academic medicine, private practice, and public health. Early on in training, fellows have the opportunity to tailor their fellowship experience to their specific career interests through the Career Development Pathway Program. Examples of clinical pathways include HIV, transplant ID, antibiotic stewardship and epidemiology as well as a unique community ID pathway.
RUMC and CCHHS Collaboration
The strong collaboration between RUMC and CCH allows a unique opportunity for fellows to build clinical acumen in caring for a broad range of patient populations with various disease processes. RUMC has received national recognition in quality leadership and patient safety, and has been designated as an IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence in 2018. CCH is the main safety net public hospital system in Chicago and includes the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, a multidisciplinary medical clinic dedicated to the prevention, care, and research of HIV/AIDS, and Cermak Health Services, which provides services to patients at the Cook County Jail and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Both RUMC and CCH participate in the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) and collectively form the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Chicago Prevention and Intervention Epicenter (C-PIE).
Curricular Diversity, Faculty Expertise, and Optional Third Year Opportunities
There are more than 40 total faculty members in the Division of Infectious Diseases at both RUMC and CCH. Fellows receive exceptional training in 12 different areas of divisional expertise with a variety of clinical curricula and didactics, as well as multiple opportunities in research mentorship and productivity. Fellows also have the option for an additional third year of training devoted to research or targeted clinical experiences. Our fellows have presented at national conferences and have received several awards. They come from diverse backgrounds with various interests and transition to highly successful careers in all sectors of infectious diseases practice. We are extremely proud that our graduates have achieved a 100% pass rate on their Infectious Disease Board Examination for several years running.
Emphasis on Fellow Well-Being, Training, and Success
We believe fellow well-being is directly tied to quality patient care. RUSH's strong and innovative focus on employee well-being is exemplified by the newly constructed Center for Clinical Wellness. Fellows can readily enjoy numerous programmatic benefits and actively explore Chicago’s multicultural vibrancy from the very beginning of training. They are encouraged to take advantage of the services offered at the Center for Clinical Wellness as well as educational allowances and social events to help enrich their overall fellowship experience.