Transplantation Infectious Diseases
Fellowship Program

There is an increasing demand, locally and nationally, for physician subspecialists with specific training and expertise in the care of immunocompromised hosts, including transplant recipients. To meet this increasing demand, the Division of Infectious Diseases has grown a malignancy hematology/Transplant Infectious Diseases service line at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). Given the divisional support and general interest in this emerging field, we have established a Transplantation Infectious Diseases Fellowship to train the next generation of leaders in transplant ID.

Each year, VUMC performs over 500 solid organ transplants per year, including heart, kidney/pancreas, liver and lung; 200 hematopoietic stem cell transplants; 200 induction chemotherapy treatments; and 80 ventricular assist device implants. 

The goal of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Fellowship is to expose and fully immerse the trainee into the wide range of transplant recipients and immunocompromised hosts that represent a large population within Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital (VUAH). The trainees become the point person for the consulting services, attending selection committee meetings and educating other trainees and advanced practice providers through lectures. Through these interactions they will the develop knowledge and tools necessary for them to participate in clinical research projects.

This one-year fellowship consists of six months on the VUAH Transplant ID consult service, having one-on-one staffing with attending physicians. They will spend one to two half-days per week in a dedicated transplant ID clinic. The remaining six months of the year are spent on a personalized research project. Fellows get three weeks of vacation.

Patients seen at VUAH by the Transplant ID consulting service include solid-organ transplant recipients (heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas), hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients (allogeneic, autologous, and CAR-T), as well as patients receiving therapy for hematologic malignancies. While these patients often require ID consultation for conditions also seen in the general population, a large portion of their care revolves around treatment of fungal infections, viral infections and the interaction between anti-infective drugs and chemotherapy or immunosuppressants.

Fellows will also attend solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant selection committee meetings throughout the year.

Our transplant program is a nationally recognized leader in the field of transplant-related infection management, providing dedicated ID expertise that is integrated into the transplantation surgery team's routine procedures.

The Transplantation ID Fellowship works in conjunction with the General ID Fellowship to instill a commitment to research and scholarly activity in the one year of training. Early in the year, fellows will form a mentorship committee and primary research mentor, and will have regular meetings with these mentors to ensure that they are progressing toward completion of their project.

Fellows are encouraged to participate in all conferences designed for the General ID fellows. Additionally, they will participate in the weekly Transplant ID group conference during which complex patients and group practices are discussed. They will present at Transplant Case Conference four time per year, as well as lead both a Transplant ID-associated Journal Club and Guidelines Review once per year.

The Division of Infectious Diseases welcomes applicants for a 12-month, fully-funded Transplant Infectious Diseases Fellowship.

Transplant ID Fellowship Interview Dates 2023 (All interviews will be Virtual)
(Deadline for Applications August 1st, 2023)

Monday August 21st
Monday August 28th

Prerequisites:
  • Completion of an ACGME-accredited Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
  • The Department of Medicine is unable to sponsor H-1B visas for this fellowship position
Application Materials:
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Cover letter
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation, one must be from the Program Director of Infectious Diseases

Please submit application materials to:

Nora M. Gilgallon-Keele
Transplantation Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Program Manager Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases
1161 21st Avenue South, #MCN A-2206, Nashville, TN 37232
(615) 343-4578
nora.m.gilgallon-keele@vumc.org

Please direct any questions to:

Kevin C. Dee, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases 
Transplantation Infectious Diseases, Program Director,
Transplantation Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
kevin.c.dee@vumc.org

Program Leadership

Kevin C. Dee, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Program Director, Transplantation Infectious Diseases Fellowship