About the Fellowship
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), affiliated with University of Southern California (USC), offers a two-year Medical Microbiology and Public Health Fellowship. The program offers training in all areas of microbiology to ensure the acquisition of skills and knowledge required to successfully direct a clinical or public health microbiology laboratory. The fellowship offers comprehensive training in all fundamental laboratory aspects of diagnostic microbiology, clinical consultation related to laboratory and infectious diseases, infection control and prevention, and laboratory management/administration.
Learn More About the Training Program
Didactic lectures, attendance at infectious disease rounds, and conferences will further develop the fellow’s skill set. Research opportunities specific to clinical and translational studies in all specialty areas are available. Collaborative laboratory and Infectious Disease training will be held at CHLA and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, to ensure extensive exposure to diverse pediatric and adult patient population. In addition, fellows will also receive laboratory training at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The first year is heavily devoted to the fundamental laboratory aspects of diagnostic microbiology, occupying approximately 70% of the Fellow’s time. The Fellow is trained at the bench by clinical laboratory scientists and supervisors in such a manner that they are technically proficient in laboratory procedures offered in each section. Most of this time is spent training on the bench, time will also be spent preparing presentations for laboratory rounds, case follow-up, and consultations with clinicians. The remainder of the 30% is divided among research projects (15%), clinical rounds (5-10%), and formal course and seminar attendance (5-10%), running concurrent with the section rotations.
This schedule will allow the Fellow to complete a year-long accredited training program that will allow them to be eligible for the limited license in Medical Microbiology. The state of California requires individuals holding doctoral degrees to be licensed before they can be employed in a laboratory to perform diagnostic tests, i.e. assume a position directing a laboratory.
The second year is more heavily focused on research, infectious disease and infection control rotations and on-call service.
Funding
Fellows are paid a competitive annual stipend and health benefits are also provided.
How to Apply
CHLA offers one to two positions each year starting July 1. Applicants must have a doctoral degree in microbiology or related discipline, ideally within five years of enrollment in the program. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or hold a valid immigration visa that permits employment for a minimum of two-years. In addition, the State of California requires that all foreign-educated, doctoral-level scientists (M.D.s and/or Ph.D.s) must have all transcripts authenticated by current members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) before they will issue a training license. For a list of current members, please visit the NACES website. We recommend authentication through World Education Services Inc. (WES) which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Microbiology.
Applications will be accepted each year from June 1 to August 31 and applicants will be notified by September 15 whether they have been selected to interview for a position the following year. CHLA does not offer reimbursements for travel to Los Angeles for the interview.
In addition to completing the CPEP application form online, all applicants must provide additional documents.
A complete application package consist of:
- CV: please include full address, including email for future correspondence. Citizenship status should also be indicated. If not a US citizen, please specify visa status
- Personal statement
- Transcripts: the State of California requires that all non-US credentials are authenticated prior to being issued a training license. We recommend authentication through World Education Services Inc. (WES) which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Microbiology.
- Three letters of recommendation
To submit the full application, click here. All required documents other than letters of recommendations must be compiled into one single PDF document prior to upload. The three letters of recommendation can be emailed to ldiaz@chla.usc.edu.