Outline of the Program

Each M.D. trainee who enters the program will select one of the two following tracks:

TRACK 1 - BASIC RESEARCH TRACK

TRACK 2 - EPIDEMIOLOGY*/TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH

* M.P.H. Degree
The M.P.H. degree is also offered to our M.D. trainees in conjunction with the School of Public Health. Attainment of this degree requires 45 credit hours, 17 of which must be taken with the trainee enrolled in the School of Public Health.

Graduate-level Coursework
Approximately 8-10 credit hours of graduate-level coursework will be required for M.D. trainees to increase their fluency and competency, especially in molecular biology. Each trainee will select a cohesive unit of courses that pertains distinctly to his or her own laboratory project. Ph.D. trainees will be permitted but not required to take additional coursework, since it is assumed that these candidates will have fulfilled similar requirements during the attainment of the graduate degree.

Research
Research opportunities include studies of cytomegalovirus (Drs. Schleiss and McGregor), malaria (Dr. John), neonatal immunology and responses to conjugate vaccines (Dr. Schreiber), and studies of streptococci (Drs. Ferrieri and Kaplan).  Streptococcal studies include study of group A, group B, and pneumococcal virulence factors, microbial pathogenesis, and immune response to pneumococcal polysaccharides and cell wall proteins. Detailed information on the divisional faculty research interests is available on the Pediatric Infectious Disease Research page.  Prospective applicants should note that research opportunities are also available with affiliated faculty in the Departments of Microbiology and the School of Public Health.