Research
During the first year, major exposure of pediatric infectious disease residents to research occurs in the journal and protocol development conferences. In these venues, subspecialty residents are introduced to science, the design of studies, and the evaluation of data. There also is attention given to statistical analysis of data and lectures are given by members of the Stanford University Medical Center Biostatistics Department. In addition, there is a course offered within the School of Medicine for subspecialty residents that includes introduction to biostatistics, clinical trials, ethical issues in clinical research, manuscript preparation and grant writing. The Pediatric Infectious Disease fellow generally identifies a faculty mentor sometime in the first year of training based on the resident’s research interests. This mentor is almost exclusively a member of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and will supervise the subspecialty resident’s reseach development over the entire training period. The program director assures that the subspecialty resident is receiving sufficient supervision.
Support and guidance in the preparation of manuscripts and presentations is provided by the faculty mentor within the Division who has primary responsibility for the subspecialty resident’s project. This supervision generally consists of weekly laboratory meetings with the entire laboratory support staff, the subspecialty resident and the faculty mentor. In addition, individual meetings with the subspecialty resident are frequently scheduled when manuscripts are in preparation or presentations are pending.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease residents are intimately involved with the education of pediatric residents through daily rounds, case presentations, and didactic sessions. In the outpatient clinic, this education also includes the medical students assigned to this rotation.
