From the Program Director

Begin your application to UNM's Infectious Diseases fellowship through ERAS. For more information contact Dr. N Mariam Salas at masalas@salud.unm.edu

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Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

The mission of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is to develop exceptional infectious diseases physicians capable in clinical, academic and public health environments, while promoting health equity for all New Mexicans through patient advocacy, clinical excellence and compassion.

About Our Program

The infectious diseases fellowship program supports the clinician educator track. Our 24-month curriculum is diverse and flexible for needs and interest of fellows, while meeting ACGME requirements. The curriculum includes:

14 months of inpatient consults
10 months of electives
Up to 5 months of research during the two years

Training in epidemiology, population health and public health is available through the fully accredited Masters in Public Health (MPH) program in the School of Medicine. Fellows are encouraged to take formal courses through this program and may also apply for acceptance in the MPH program.

Each year, participation at national meetings is strongly encouraged and is financially supported by the Infectious Disease Division.

How to Apply

The infectious diseases program accepts two fellows each year and participates annually in the NRMP Match. Fellowship applicants interested in our program are required to provide with their ERAS application a Dean’s letter and three additional letters of recommendation (at least one from an infectious diseases provider). Apply through ERAS today.

Our program only accepts applicants who are U. S. citizens, permanent residents and those with a J1 Visa status. H1-B visas are not accepted. We occasionally accept foreign medical graduate applicants who have not yet completed an ACGME internal medicine residency on a case by case basis. Email Dr. N Mariam Salas for details.

About the Fellowship

Inpatient Service

The infectious disease inpatient consult rotations are divided between UNM Hospital and the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center. Fellows lead rounds on teaching services in both hospitals. Our fellowship focuses on balancing service and education.

The division pays meticulous attention to duty hours, with limitations on the number of new consults and note writing. Meanwhile, fellows will experience diverse and exciting pathology, ranging from complicated post-surgical infections to exotic, imported tropical diseases. Fellows will be on call an average of one in four weekends.

Elective Rotations

These include, but are not limited to:

Allergy and Immunology
Antimicrobial Stewardship
Viral Hepatitis
Hospital Epidemiology
Outpatient Infectious Diseases Clinics (OPAT, TB, STI, HIV, Renal Transplant, etc.)
Outpatient Infectious Diseases Urban Underserved (Infectious Diseases in vulnerable populations - people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated, with substance abuse disorders, etc.)
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Podiatry and Wound Care (VA)
Rural Infectious Diseases (IHS – Gallup)

Fellows attend one half-day outpatient HIV continuity clinic weekly during their fellowship at either UNM Hospital or the VA. During elective rotations, fellows attend an additional half day per week of an infectious disease clinic of their interest (from list above). Fellows will be ready for independent practice in HIV primary care by the end of fellowship.

Educational Conferences

Weekly Educational Conferences include:

Clinical Case Conference
ID Core Curriculum Conference (including journal club and research presentations)
HIV teleECHO Conference
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds

Monthly Conferences include:

Internal Medicine Morbidity and Mortality
Indian Country Hepatitis C teleECHO Conference

Supplemental Curricula include:

Wellness
Educational development
Professionalism
QI/Patient Safety

Current Fellows

PGY 1:

Lianna Atallah

Where did you complete residency?

NYMC Saint Michael’ Medical Center in Newark, NJ

Why do you love infectious diseases?

For me, Infectious Disease is like a mystery that I need to solve. We get to be the detectives of medicine, trying to solve something in order to help our patients. We are able to develop such great rapport because we have to know everything about our patient in order to figure out what is the cause of their illness. For instance, how many specialties get to say they know what their patient had for lunch 3 weeks ago?!

There are so many reasons why I love Infectious Disease, but the most appealing and satisfying aspect of this specialty is that you get to help an individual, a community and even can make a difference globally.

Why did you choose New Mexico?

UNM really stood out for me after getting to know the attendings and the curriculum of the program. The attendings have such diverse interests and are so enthusiastic about teaching. The love for Infectious Disease within the program is evident and truly infectious. Also, the program has such incredible outlets to learn about the community we are serving and teach us ways we can make a difference. Acknowledging health care disparities and wanting to make a change to help the community we are serving are only some of the reasons why I wanted to learn from this institution.

Tamara Al-Maktar

Where did you complete residency?

Al-Kindy Medical College - Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq

Why do you love infectious diseases?

My passion for infectious disease grew while working in a refugee camp in Iraq, since infectious disease is the most common killer there, it was fascinating to see how patients improved after simple antibiotics. Or to see the clinical impact of clarifying hygiene or vaccinations in the spread of diseases and improving the health of this population in general. I find it stimulating to work with a lot of people with wide variety of diseases. It is a very rewarding specialty.

Why did you choose New Mexico?

I chose the UNM program of Infectious Disease as the attending physicians are very enthusiastic about this specialty, especially HIV and STIs in general which is my main interest. I like the diversity of population in New Mexico, also the opportunity to get an MPH during fellowship.

PGY 2:

Harshdeep Babbar

My interest in Infectious disease arises from the time when I was working as resident physician. I am amazed by the vast variety of pathology seen in Infectious disease during my medical career. I like being a detective and trying to use clinical skills, imaging and other testing to find the diagnosis. Most of infectious disease diagnosis once found have a good rate of cure, since patient gets better and mostly disease free after treatment; it provides me immense satisfaction. I also like lifestyle of Infectious disease doctor. Unlike other specialties; Infectious disease has better lifestyle. It has an awesome work and life balance. One can practice any sub- specialty like HIV, Hospitalist ID, transplant ID , Hepatitis C and many other aspects of infectious disease. There is never a boring moment in Infectious disease career.