In-depth infectious diseases training at Tufts Medical Center

Our fellowship offers a rich blend of clinical experience, research opportunity and mentorship in one of the country’s most vibrant medical communities. Fellows train across Tufts Medical Center, Lemuel Shattuck Hospital and Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, gaining exposure to diverse patient populations and a wide range of infectious disease challenges.

You’ll work closely with more than 40 attending physicians who are national leaders in infectious disease care, education and research. This includes experts in HIV, transplant infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention, global health and more.

Clinical training

Our program offers immersive clinical experiences across multiple sites and subspecialties, preparing fellows to manage both common and highly complex infections. Fellows benefit from direct supervision, progressive autonomy and strong interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key clinical experiences include:

• HIV care: We care for more than 600 individuals living with HIV and participate in clinical trials with national and global reach
• Transplant infectious diseases: Fellows support care before and after heart, liver, kidney and stem cell transplants—Tufts MC performs more heart transplants than any other center in New England
• Infection prevention: Led by Shira Doron, MD, MS, this program builds on the legacy of Dr. David Snydman and has significantly reduced hospital-acquired infections
• Antimicrobial stewardship: One of the most advanced programs in the country, with a strong record of reducing resistance and cost
• Global health and travel medicine: Fellows provide pre-travel services and contribute to research across Africa, Asia and Central and South America
• Outpatient antimicrobial therapy (OPAT): Fellows participate in complex care coordination for individuals requiring long-term IV antibiotics
• Wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Our team provides the only hyperbaric oxygen therapy at a Boston academic medical center, in collaboration with wound care and surgical specialists

Research + academic development

All fellows receive a minimum of six months of protected research time, with guidance from experienced faculty. Fellows are encouraged to pursue clinical, translational or quality improvement projects that align with their interests. Many go on to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at major conferences and secure research funding.

Fellows regularly present at national meetings such as IDWeek, SHEA, ASM Microbe and CROI.

We are proud to train future leaders in infectious diseases and are committed to supporting each fellow’s unique path—whether in academic medicine, public health, research or specialty clinical care.

Mission statement

The mission of the Tufts Medical Center Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program is to provide a tailored and rigorous training experience that prepares the next generation of leaders in infectious diseases research and clinical care, while serving a diverse patient population with complex medical needs.

We, along with the broader Tufts Medical Center community, confront health disparities through research, advocacy, education and patient care. We strive to prevent disease and serve as responsible stewards of the tools we use to fight infections. We are committed to fostering a welcoming, professional, collaborative, culturally competent and collegial environment for our colleagues, trainees and the individuals we care for.

Build your research career in infectious diseases at Tufts Medical Center

Research training is a core strength of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center. Our Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases supports a vibrant, collaborative research community with a strong track record of innovation and impact.

We host approximately 25 postdoctoral trainees each year, supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health as well as other federal and private agencies. Our world-renowned researchers lead groundbreaking studies across basic, clinical and translational infectious diseases science. Many of our faculty also serve as senior editors for Clinical Infectious Diseases, one of the top journals in the field.

The program is designed for fellows with an MD who have completed at least one year of clinical ID training, as well as for PhDs and DVMs pursuing postdoctoral research. During the first year, fellows are introduced to the division’s wide-ranging research through regular meetings and poster sessions. This helps each fellow choose a research mentor, develop a mentorship committee and identify a project that aligns with their long-term goals.

Infectious diseases clinical training at Tufts Medical Center

Our infectious diseases fellows gain broad experience through inpatient and outpatient clinical rotations across multiple hospitals. This training covers the full spectrum of geographic medicine and infectious diseases.

Key features of the clinical fellowship include:

• At least 6 months of protected research time and 12 months of clinical training
• 24 months of outpatient continuity clinic experience
• At least one sponsored trip to a major infectious diseases meeting
• Opportunity to choose a specific area of concentration, including:
  • HIV
  • Transplant
  • Antimicrobial stewardship
  • Infection prevention
  • Wound care/ hyperbaric oxygen
  • Clinical educator track
• Training in using electronic medical records to manage and communicate with patients

Clinical rotations at our three program hospitals provide exposure to a rich variety of infectious diseases cases. Board-certified infectious diseases faculty supervise fellows in all inpatient and outpatient settings.

On-call duties for nights and weekends are shared among fellows to cover Tufts Medical Center. There is no in-house overnight call.

Infectious diseases fellowship achievements + awards

Our faculty and fellows have received numerous prestigious awards recognizing excellence in clinical care, research, mentorship, and leadership in infectious diseases. These honors highlight our commitment to advancing the field and supporting the professional growth of our team.

The hospital offers a comprehensive and flexible benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, long and short-term disability coverage and malpractice insurance. 

• All residents receive a yearly $5,000 stipend, in addition to a 3% matching retirement contribution.
• Residents are provided with a three-year subscription to ACP MKSAP.  
• Each resident receives a $1,250 educational stipend over three years, which can be used for study materials, exams, conferences and other educational needs.
• The program provides a one-time $800 reimbursement to support resident conference presentations.
• The program provides white coats, and the hospital provides scrubs with laundry service.
• Lunch is provided for residents Monday through Friday.
• Vacation: All residents receive four weeks of vacation and three personal days per academic year.
• Parental leave: The program offers six weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child, with the option to take an additional six weeks under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 
• Back-up - sick call: Each PGY class has two residents on a dedicated back-up rotation to cover colleagues during illness, emergencies and personal matters.

Team-based simulation:

We offer a robust multi-disciplinary simulation curriculum for our residency program encompassing commonly encountered rapid response scenarios and cardiac arrests (code blues). Through this program, residents have the opportunity to gain code leadership skills, practice closed-loop communication​ and improve confidence and medical knowledge. Interested residents have the opportunity to participate in the simulation committee, which provides leadership and teaching experience by proctoring cases and contributing to the curriculum. Each simulation is followed by a team debrief. Our resources include a simulation lab, a simulation technologist and a high-fidelity manikin.

Some sessions are planned ‘in-situ’ at various locations in the hospital, allowing our residents to practice in a more real-life setting.

This year, we successfully launched an intern simulation curriculum, focused on providing education to interns on commonly encountered clinical scenarios and rapid responses.

Procedures:

Interns complete a central line training course that includes didactics led by critical care and infectious disease faculty followed by hands-on simulation with manikins. In addition, there are several opportunities to perform procedures while on their ICU and ward rotations. Finally, residents have the opportunity to obtain additional procedural experience by rotating on the procedure service elective.

Point of Care Ultrasound Program

Intern POCUS Foundation Course:

All internal medicine interns attend a point of care ultrasound (POCUS) foundation course taught by POCUS-trained critical care faculty with standardized patients in our simulation center. We provide our interns with protected time (no clinical responsibilities) regardless of their rotation to attend all three 2.5 hour sessions.

Session 1: Basics of ultrasound + Vascular ultrasound

Session 2: Cardiac Ultrasound

Session 3: Lung + Abdominal ultrasound + FAST exam

Resident POCUS Longitudinal Curriculum:

Residents have the opportunity to practice POCUS skills learned during their foundation course in their second and third years of residency at our bi-monthly hands-on sessions. These sessions are led by POCUS-trained faculty and include small groups of residents working with patients. This is a great opportunity for our residents to be directly observed and receive feedback.

Residents receive additional POCUS teaching while on their ICU rotations with the opportunity to practice their ultrasound skills on several ward rotations. We have dedicated ultrasound machines for each intensive care unit, as well as one reserved for residents on the wards.

For more information, please reach out to Dr. Natasha Pradhan.