Application and Visa Information

Thank you for your interest in the Infectious Diseaes Fellowship at the University of Minnesota.

We will accept applications through ERAS from December 1, 2008  through February 15, 2009.

Please refer to the ERAS website for application instructions. Our program requires all of the following supporting documents, submitted through ERAS:

• Current curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Medical School transcripts (copies)
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Medical School Dean’s letter (copy)
• A valid ECFMG certificate, if you graduated from a medical school outside the United States or Canada)
• Results of Part I, II, and III of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE)
• A recent photo

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection Criteria for UM Infectious Diseases Fellowship

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have:

• Completion or anticipated completion of an ACGME-accredited (U.S.) Internal Medicine or Med-Peds residency program prior to fellowship
•  U.S. citizenship, permanent resident status, or a J-1 visa. (H-1 visas are discouraged).
• Complete ERAS application, including letters of recommendation (see checklist elsewhere on web site)

Eligible applicants are assessed according to the following criteria and information sources:

• Desire for research-focused academic ID career (involving laboratory, clinical, epidemiological, or public health research), or an academic ID career with a scholarly focus on activities such as education, quality improvement, infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship
• Prior research experience, ideally leading to publications or presentations
• Other evidence of academic interest, productivity, and potential
• Excellent letters of recommendation, including from ID specialists and residency program director
• Excellent academic and clinical performance, including USMLE scores
• Quality of personal statement
• "Fit" with our program (according to professional objectives and geographical/socio-cultural factors)
• Impressions of any local faculty members who know the applicant

Approximately 8-12 applicants are invited to interview each year, for the 2-3 available positions (usually 2 Traditional track and 1 Clinician-Scholar track).

Interviewees are assessed for their:

• Maturity, demeanor, and character
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Insight and level of sophistication regarding career plans
• Depth of commitment to an academic ID career
• Desired mix of clinical, teaching, and research in future career position
• Research background and interest area(s)
• Preference for laboratory, clinical, epidemiological, or public health research
• Likelihood of success in ID (overall, and specifically in academic ID)
• Racial and ethnic background (membership in underrepresented in medicine minority group)

Invitations to interview and rankings for the match are decided by the Fellowship Director, in conjunction with the Fellowship Committee.

Visa information:

• J-1 visas: We accept J-1 visas, but only limited funding support options are available ("Clinician-Scholar" track required).
• H-1 visas: The Medical School at the University of Minnesota discourages residency and fellowship applications from individuals holding H-1 visas because all of our residents and fellows are students, not employees.  Only under unusual circumstances are H-1 visa holders accepted into a training position.

For further information, contact Jo Belvedere, Fellowship Coordinator, at belve003@umn.edu

Updated: 12/11/08