Transplant Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
Over the past few years there has been a movement in developing Transplant Infectious Diseases (TID) focused fellowship programs. University of Minnesota (UMN) has been an academic leader in transplantation and is one of the largest programs in the country allowing for adequate exposure and an exemplary experience for a TID fellowship. Our institution performs a large variety of transplants including lung transplants which is pivotal for TID training. As TID interests grow there are increasing jobs available in the US, both in academia and in the community settings. TID fellows who complete this program will be prepared to enter a variety of clinical settings. Program leadership works closely with trainees to develop a structured program that aims to meet their clinical and research desires.
A Fellow’s Perspective
The training program offers flexible, fellow interest driven training with opportunities for mentorship in all aspects of transplant ID and immunology. As home to one of the oldest solid organ and marrow transplantation programs in the country you will have access to both robust clinical and research expertise as well as outcomes databases. The inpatient and outpatient clinical experience is enhanced by a tradition of graded autonomy carried on from the general ID fellowship and robust ancillary support which will ready you for independent practice with highly complex and challenging cases of all types. Minneapolis's diversity and refugee population will also give you a strong perspective on tropical and global infections in immunocompromised patients
–Incoming TID Fellow, Sashi Niranjan Nair, MBBS
This program will provide additional clinical training in Transplant ID as well as the opportunity to participate in research pertaining to the immunocompromised host. The combination of clinical and research time is approximately 6 months and 6 months. Clinical time includes rotations on the solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) ID service lines and involvement in a weekly outpatient continuity clinic.
- Program leadership works closely with the trainee to individualize clinical and research experiences that are reflective of the trainee’s interests.
- Training occurs in a collaborative and supportive environment with mentorship from the program director and the other transplant ID faculty.
- The UMN SOT program performs heart, lung, liver, kidney, and kidney-pancreas transplants. There is also exposure HSCT and patients with hematologic malignancies.
- Interested fellows can also participate in our ventricular assist device (VAD) clinic.
- There is an option for up to 4 weeks of elective rotations with other transplant service lines (e.g. transplant pulmonology, bone marrow transplant).
An eligible candidate will have completed at least two years of an ACMGE accredited Adult ID fellowship, be board- eligible or certified in infectious diseases and must obtain a Minnesota medical license by the start of training. H1B visas are considered.
We are currently accepting applications for the July 2024-June 2025 academic year. Applicants will need to submit their CV, a one page personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. Application materials /further inquiries are to be emailed to
Lauren M. Fontana, D.O.
Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases
Transplant ID Program Director
fonta125@umn.edu
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Fax: 612-625-4410
Research Summary
- HIV-associated Cryptococcal Meningitis
- Reducing mortality in HIV-associated
- Cryptococcal Meningitis Understand the pathophysiology of neurological impairment cryptococcal meningitis
Research Projects
Targeting Neuropathogenesis of Altered Mental Status to Improve Survival in Cryptococcal Meningitis (Pending - K23)
Clinical Summary
- Infectious Disease
- HIV Medicine
- Opportunistic Infections
Specialties
Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Genetics
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
After completing medical school in Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, Dr. Bhaskaran pursued Internal Medicine residency, Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology fellowships in the United States. During her training she received the Don W. Powell, M.D Award for excellence in Internal Medicine Residency and became the Chief Infectious Disease fellow. She later moved to Canada for Transplant Infectious Diseases training at the University of Toronto where she received a research grant award from Physicians Services Incorporated, Canada. Dr. Bhaskaran's clinical and research interest is in the field of infections in transplant patients and fungal infections. Dr. Bhaskaran enjoys teaching and is committed to educating future generations of physicians.
Teaching Summary
Concepts in Infectious Diseases
Clinical Summary
Infections in the immunocompromised; Fungal Infections; Tropical Infections, Mycobacterial Infections, Central Nervous System Infections; Global health
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Bio
Administrator Info
Phone: 612-625-6911
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: tbold@umn.edu
Mail: Wallin Medical Biosciences Building, MMC 2641, 2101 6th Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414
Summary
Dr. Bold is a physician-scientist, trained in the clinical subspecialty practice of infectious diseases, and laboratory based investigations of microbiology and immunology. His clinical interests regard the care of immune-compromised patients being treated for cancer or undergoing transplantation. His lab in the Center for Immunology is focused on advancing understanding of how the adaptive immune system combats infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterial pathogen responsible for human TB.
Research Summary
Dr. Bold is a physician-scientist, trained in the clinical practice of infectious diseases and laboratory based investigations of microbiology and immunology. His clinical interests regard the care of immune-compromised patients being treated for cancer or undergoing transplantation. His lab in the Center for Immunology is focused on advancing understanding of how the immune system combats infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterial pathogen responsible for human TB, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Clinical Summary
Transplant Infectious Diseases
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Winston Cavert, M.D. did his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and trained in Infectious Diseases and Virology at the University of Washington, Seattle. His research interests include the transcriptional pathogenesis and population biology of HIV and its target cells in tissues (lymphoid tissue, CNS, gut), as well as clinical virology including viral fitness and sequencing. He cares for persons living with HIV and is interested in HIV clinical trials both here and in less-resourced countries. He directs the Minnesota ACTUs research clinic and virology laboratory, and helps direct the CFAR laboratory in the Dept. of Microbiology.
Clinical Summary
Adenoiditis; AIDs; Encephalitis; Flu; Hepatitis A and B; HIV; Lyme Disease; Pneumonia; SARS; Sinusitis
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Chandorkar is an Assistant Professor in the division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He graduated medical school from Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College, Pune, India. He completed his residency and Chief residency in Internal Medicine at Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia followed by an Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He completed additional training in Transplant Infectious Diseases at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. His research interests lie in the field of viral infections in immunocompromised hosts, both solid organ and bone marrow transplants, multi-drug resistant organisms and antimicrobial stewardship. He is passionate about training and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi.
Teaching Summary
Principles and Concepts in General Infectious Diseases; Opportunistic Infections; Resident/Fellow education
Clinical Summary
Solid Organ Transplants; Bone Marrow Transplants; Hematological Malignancies and infectious diseases in them; Antimicrobial stewardship
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Languages
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Becca Johnson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: joh07913@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Dr. Fontana is an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Her clinical and research interests are focused in the immunocompromised host including solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients as well as patients with hematologic malignancies. Dr. Fontana also has interests in leadership development and medical education.
Research Summary
- HIV in solid organ transplant
- Bacterial and Fungal infections in transplant recipients and the immunocompromised host
- Preventive care in prevention of infections in the immunocompromised host
Teaching Summary
-
Transplant ID Fellowship Program Director
-
American Society of Transplant Education Subgroup
Clinical Summary
-
Clinical Excellence Honoree 2023, University of Minnesota Physicians
-
Infectious Diseases Service Line Medical Director
-
Clinical focus in transplant infectious diseases, HIV, and the immunocompromised host
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Professional Memberships
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Laura Torgeson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: torge186@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
After graduating from Damascus University, Faculty of Medicine in 1998, Dr. Obeid completed his Internal Medicine training in 2003 and Infectious Diseases training in 2007 at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Obeid practiced Internal Medicine at William Beaumont Hospital and Infectious Diseases at St. John Hospital and Medical Center where he attended on inpatient consultation rounds and supervised Infectious Diseases fellows, Internal Medicine residents, and medical students. He also was an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Obeid served as the consultant of latent and active TB cases for the Macomb County Health Department in Michigan. His research activities focused on infections in immunocompromised patients, which lead Dr. Obeid to pursue a one year special Fellowship training in the field of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. After his graduation from this special training in 2014 he joined the Infectious Diseases Division at the University of Minnesota as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Obeid's research interests are focused on therapies and outcomes in immunocompromised patients especially solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients.
Research Summary
Clinical research and research related to outcomes in immuno-compromised patients
Clinical Summary
Solid Organ Transplant; Infectious Disease; Nosocomial Infections; Infections in Immunocompromised patients; Bone Marrow Transplant Infectious Diseases; Fever of Unknown Origin
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Laura Torgeson
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: torge186@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
I am a transplant infectious disease physician interested in fungal and NTM infections. My medical journey started at Ross University, followed by Internal Medicine training at Mount Carmel Health system in Columbus, Ohio. The challenging complexity of the patients that I treated drove me to pursue an Infectious Disease Fellowship at University of South Florid. To gain further insight into Transplant and immunocompromised patients I completed another fellowship at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Research Summary
- NTM infections in solid and bone marrow transplant patients
- Fungal infections in bone marrow transplant patients
- Multidrug resistant gram-negative organisms
Clinical Summary
Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases; Antibiotic Stewardship
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Professional Memberships
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: IDIM Division Support
Phone: 612-624-9996
Fax: 612-625-4410
Email: IDIMdivision@umn.edu
Mail: Mayo Memorial Building, MMC 250, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Summary
Jo-Anne Young (née van Burik), M.D., is a Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Program in Adult Transplant Infectious Disease. She joined the faculty in 1999. She received both her B.A. and M.D. from Case Western Reserve University and completed a residency in Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her fellowship in Infectious Disease and several years of junior faculty service were at the University of Washington with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dr. Young's primary area of interest is bringing diagnostic and treatment opportunities to the bedside for transplant patients. She has worked on developing diagnostic testing for complicated fungal infections of the immunocompromised host. Currently, Dr. Young is lead investigator at the University of Minnesota for multiple clinical trials on bacterial, viral, and fungal agents, as well as vaccines, for transplant patients.
Clinical Summary
- Viral infections
- Fungal infections
- Transplant recipients
- Immune compromised persons
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Program Director
Lauren Fontana, DO
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Fellowship Coordinator
Betsy Wehrwein
ID-ED@umn.edu