Inpatient/Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Infectious Disease in Atlanta

Information about this clinical experience:

You will be under the supervision of a board-certified internal medicine and infectious disease physician who is on staff at an Emory-affiliated hospital. The doctor has had extensive experience educating learners from U.S. medical schools, including Emory, Mercer, and PCOM, as well as international medical students and graduates.

As an international medical graduate, this preceptor is very sensitive to the challenges that IMGs face in establishing their careers in the U.S. The preceptor aims to give each learner an immersive experience to help build important clinical skills under her supervision.

As an infectious disease specialist, the doctor has expertise in the diagnosis and management of infections caused by various agents, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Students who rotate through this clinical experience will learn how to evaluate patients with acute and chronic infectious disease, analyze microbiologic data, and select appropriate antimicrobial therapy if needed. To maximize learning during this clinical experience, we encourage you to read the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) Clinical Practice Guidelines. These are systematic reviews written by experts in the field that provide evidence-based recommendations that you can use to expand your knowledge and ensure that patients receive the best possible care. Since infectious disease problems will be commonly encountered during your residency, familiarity with these documents now will help you to build a strong foundation for your work as a resident. You can access these guidelines at the following:

IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines

Of particular importance during this clinical experience is learning about the evaluation and management of more commonly encountered and potentially life-threatening conditions. These include meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, HIV, sexually transmitted illnesses, tuberculosis, and nosocomial infections.

Another important objective of this clinical experience is to gain an understanding of the proper use of antimicrobial agents. The following article is an excellent resource in this regard:

General Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy

During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories.

• Performing exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Writing or entering clinic notes (eClinicalWorks EMR)

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Educating patients.

• Teaching other team members.

• Working with other healthcare professionals, including NPs and PAs

The activities above will mostly take place in the outpatient setting. As a result of hospital policies, inpatient activities will be more observational. Rounds in the hospital will be with the nurse practitioner or attending physician. Since they round separately, please verify the schedule with each in order to maximize your participation.

As the preceptor sometimes encounters interesting cases, students may have the opportunity to participate in a case report. Please note that the availability of such opportunities is at the discretion of the preceptor. Interested students should ask the preceptor about these opportunities early in the rotation.