Infectious disease fellowship

Blown up view of an infectious disease virusSpectrum Health, Michignan State University, College of Human Medicine logo

From the Program Director

Thank you for considering the Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Infectious Disease Fellowship program. We are committed to providing the best academic and clinical training program for our fellows.

Our passion is teaching, and our entire program is designed with the fellow in mind. Our fellows will train at the largest medical center in West Michigan, affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

The overall goal of the two-year program is to prepare you to function as a skilled Infectious Disease physician in a variety of settings and to become the clinical and academic leader of tomorrow.

The Infectious Disease department assists in serving patients with advanced heart failure and LVAD, heart/lung transplant, bone marrow transplant, hematology/oncology, outpatient clinic and community resources, including the Kent County Health Department and Trinity Health Infectious Disease HIV clinic.

We are looking for physicians who are passionate about providing high-quality health care with good communication/interpersonal skills, and driven to pursue a career in infectious disease medicine.

I invite you to explore our website and take a virtual tour of the hospital, as there are a number of unique opportunities here for you.

As an added benefit, Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan and is located just 30 miles from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Its diverse communities offer excellent public, charter and private schools. The city is alive year round with endless opportunities for recreation, arts, sports, museums, concerts and is the home of Art Prize, the world’s largest art competition.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Jorgelina de Sanctis, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Infectious Disease Fellowship Director
Section of Infectious Diseases, Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Overview

The Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Infectious Disease Fellowship is organized to provide a comprehensive training and supervised experience for the fellow to acquire the competency of a specialist in the field of infectious diseases. Fellows will become proficient in clinical care (both inpatient and outpatient), microbiology, medical education, hospital epidemiology/infection control and clinical research under the guidance of highly qualified and accomplished mentors.

The program is designed to give fellows wide exposure to the practice of infectious diseases in a quaternary and referral medical center serving the greater Grand Rapids area and 13 surrounding counties, with combined hospital campuses overseeing over 1,000 beds. Trainees will gain a robust experience in general infectious diseases as well as in clinical care of immunocompromised hosts (HIV, oncology, heme malignancy, solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplant).

Our program is an ACGME accredited fellowship, two years in duration and offers two fellowship training positions each year. Qualified candidates must be board eligible or board certified in Internal Medicine.

Program aims

The infectious disease fellowship program aims for excellence and proficiency in patient care by contributing to clinical research, being actively involved in antimicrobial stewardship and infection control and personalized patient care. We carry our core values and teach our fellows to be compassionate and collaborative within the community. The fellowship program inspires and prepares the fellows to be ambassadors in the society and disseminate our passion for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

Education

The academic year is divided into 13 four-week blocks. Throughout both years of training, the fellows attend one half-day per week of continuity clinic, alternating between general outpatient infectious disease clinic at Spectrum Health and HIV clinic at Trinity Health.

First year fellow sample schedule

4 blocks – ID Academic Service

2 blocks – Research

1 block – Public Health/Ambulatory clinic

1 block – Clinical Microbiology

1 block – Solid Organ Transplant Service

1 block – Bone Marrow Transplant Service

1 block – ID Bone & Joint Service

1 block – EPI/ASP

1 block – Elective

Second year fellow sample schedule

3 blocks – ID Academic Service

1 block – ID Bone & Joint Service

1 block – Pediatric ID Service

1 block – Hepatology Clinic/Global Health

1 block – Junior attending

6 blocks – Elective/Research

Call

Fellows have one weekday of home call each week paired with an ID faculty member and one weekend of call each block.

Group photo of infectious disease physicians
ID Academic Teaching Service
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The academic teaching service takes place at either Butterworth or Blodgett Hospital. The team consists of one ID faculty, one fellow, one or two residents and one student. Fellows perform consultation/follow ups and staff with the attending at rounds. While on the academic service, fellows will encounter general ID cases that represent the bread and butter of infectious diseases with great exposure to more complex clinical scenarios such as cardiovascular infections (endocarditis, implantable device infections), CNS infections, infections in oncological patients, nosocomial infections, MDROs, Lyme Disease, fungal infections including endemic mycoses, among others. While at Blodgett hospital, a wide variety of bone and joint infections will be encountered as well.

Bone and Joint Service
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The Bone and Joint Infection Service is the teaching service held at Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital (part of Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals), with a focus on orthopedic infections.

Solid Organ Transplant Service (SOT)
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The Solid Organ Transplant Infectious Disease rotation takes place at Butterworth hospital and encompasses evaluating solid-organ transplant recipients and pre-transplant candidates, mainly thoracic solid organ transplant recipients (heart, lung), in addition to any other type of organ transplant recipient that could have been hospitalized at our medical center. Our patient population includes patients who received their organs at our center or at different local, national or international centers and are currently seeking local care. The fellow will have the opportunity to attend multispecialty transplant meetings and complete the SOT curriculum. Rotation includes management of infections related to left ventricular assist devices (LVAD).

Bone Marrow Transplant Service (BMT)
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The Bone Marrow Transplant rotation will consist of performing inpatient infectious disease consultations on patients that have undergone recent or past autologous/ allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Fellows will perform pre-HSCT infectious disease evaluations on stem cell transplant candidates. While rotating on the BMT service, fellows will attend the weekly bone marrow transplant multi-disciplinary meetings. Additionally, fellows will see infectious complicated patients with hematologic malignancies (acute & chronic leukemia, lymphomas & multiple myeloma) and CAR T-cell therapy.

Antimicrobial Stewardship
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The antimicrobial stewardship rotation will be in accordance with the IDSA ID Fellowship ASP curriculum found on the IDSA website and reviewing appropriateness of inpatient antimicrobial use at Spectrum Health hospitals, including regional hospitals outside of the main campus in Grand Rapids. Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in monthly meetings of the Antimicrobial Pharmacy and Therapeutics subcommittee.

Clinical Microbiology
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The clinical microbiology rotation will allow the fellow to develop a better understanding of the clinical microbiology laboratory methods and operations, and how to use it effectively to establish etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases, select the most effective antimicrobial therapy, and improve delivery of care within the health system.

Epidemiology (EPI) – Infection Control and Prevention
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The Infection Control and Prevention rotation will provide the infectious disease fellow exposure to the strategies and techniques utilized by the Infection Control and Prevention department. The following topics are covered during this rotation: principles and practices of infection control, principals of patient isolation, outbreak investigation, use of statistics in determining hospital outbreaks, healthcare policy and governmental regulations for reporting and documentation of hospital-acquired infections and understanding financial benefits of presenting hospital-acquired infections.

Hepatology Clinic/Global Health
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During the second year, the fellows rotate in Hepatology clinic and complete the University of Minnesota Travel and Tropical Medicine course for the Infectious Disease Specialist as part of global health.

HIV Outpatient Continuity Clinic
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The fellows spend one half day every other week at the HIV clinic at Trinity Health Infectious Disease Office. The HIV medicine clinic is one of the primary ambulatory experiences for the training program. The HIV/AIDS McAuley Program is a specialty clinic at Trinity Health. It is the largest HIV clinic in West Michigan and second largest HIV clinic in Michigan serving nearly 1,300 patients living with HIV. Care for patients within the clinic is with a multidisciplinary team approach with seven HIV providers (four ID physicians, two PA’s and one NP), clinical pharmacist, nurses, medical case managers and a clinical dietitian.

Throughout this training opportunity fellows will experience various treatment modalities and stages in HIV management from the newly diagnosed patient to the treatment-experienced patient. This clinic allows the fellow to work in a multidisciplinary team and to apply advanced skills in HIV management.

Infectious Disease Outpatient Continuity Clinic
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Fellows spend one half day every other week at the Spectrum Health Infectious Disease Continuity clinic seeing new patients and hospital follow-ups. Spectrum Health is the largest outpatient Infectious Disease office in West Michigan caring for a diverse variety of infections, from acute hospital follow-ups to chronic infectious diseases, endemic fungal infections, NTM infections, bone and joint infections, and endocarditis follow-ups, among others.

Public Health/Ambulatory Clinic
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During the first year of fellowship, fellows rotate at the Kent County Health Department and spend time in the TB and STI clinic as part of the Public health rotation. As part of this rotation, fellows will also attend Allergy/Immunology and Wound care.

Electives
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Fellows can elect to spend additional time on one of the above rotations, any other on-site rotation or request an away rotation.

Didactics

ID Fellowship Didactics schedule
Research Touch Base – Monthly
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This conference is designed to brainstorm research and/or program improvement projects and monitoring the progress of projects.

PD Touch base/Problem Based Learning Conference – Weekly
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Fellows meet with the program director and discuss complicated cases, root cause analysis of readmission, review goals and objectives for upcoming rotations.

Infectious Disease Case Conference – Weekly
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This is a clinical conference during which faculty, fellows, residents and students present and discuss interesting clinical cases.

City Wide ID Conference – Monthly
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This conference involves several teaching hospitals in the greater Grand Rapids area. The host hospital presents a series of unknown cases to guest infectious disease attendings, fellows and residents. Only the hosting hospital is required to prepare and present cases.

Journal Club – Monthly
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Presented by fellows or faculty who are expected to discuss their article critically, and to provide data interpretation and conclusions.

Micro Rounds – Monthly
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The Infectious Disease, Pharmacy and Microbiology team meet and discuss cases presented by fellows.

Fellow Didactics – Weekly
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• 1st Friday: Mandell’s Book Club

• 2nd Friday: HIV Conference

• 3rd Friday: Guidelines Review

• 4th Friday: Board Review

Research

ID Physicians attending a conference

Fellows have protected time to complete scholarly activities during their fellowship and will be provided mentorship by our faculty. Fellows receive support from our scholarly activities support team. The scholarly activity support team offers biostatistics consultation and help with poster preparation.

Here is a link of our recent scholarly activities.

The links below provide more information on research opportunities

Scholarly activity support from Corewell Health

Corewell Health Office of Research

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Van Andel Institute

Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital (part of Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals) was awarded a grant to become one of the few national Regional Ebola and other Special Pathogen Treatment Center and be part of the National Special Pathogens System of Care. The goal is to provide high-quality, patient-and community-centered care for patients suspected of or infected by a special pathogen in the U.S.

Application requirements

All positions for the program are filled through the National Residency Matching Program. Eligibility requirements for our fellowship program:

  • All applicants must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status
  • Applicants must have completed three years of United States postgraduate residency training in an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited internal medicine program before entry into the fellowship program
  • Applicants must have good communication skill

For more information on our program, please contact Pam Hritzkowin, program coordinator.

Group Photo of ID physicians

Salary and benefits

Spectrum Health provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.

Explore West Michigan

View of Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan
Food, entertainment and shopping
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Food: Release your inner foodie exploring one of the top food cities in the US.

Entertainment: From zoos and museums to festivals and art, there is a new experience around every corner.

Shopping: West Michigan has a diverse assortment of shops for everyone.

Outdoors and Sustainability
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Outdoors: With trails, lakes and more, there is so much of West Michigan to explore.

Sustainability: Located along the shore of Lake Michigan, West Michigan has many initiatives to protect our natural resources.

Resources
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Identities matter and so do you! Our residency and fellowship programs offer social activities, wellness programs and a diversity council to foster respect, personal health and community.

Program Director

Jorgelina de Sanctis, MD
Jorgelina de Sanctis, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

Fellowship: Beaumont Hospital

Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University

Jorgelina de Sanctis, MD
Jorgelina de Sanctis, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

Fellowship: Beaumont Hospital

Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University

Associate Program Director

Habiba Hassouna, MD
Habiba Hassouna, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Residency: Kansas University School of Medicine

Habiba Hassouna, MD
Habiba Hassouna, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Residency: Kansas University School of Medicine

Core Faculty

Mudita Bhugra, MD
Mudita Bhugra, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
  • Residency: Southern Illinois University
Zachary Ciochetto, MD
Zachary Ciochetto, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Residency: Henry Ford Macomb
Joshua Donkin, MD
Joshua Donkin, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Spectrum Health/MSU
  • Residency: Spectrum Health/MSU
Christina Fahlsing, MD
Christina Fahlsing, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Wayne State University
  • Residency: The Ohio State University
Mudita Bhugra, MD
Mudita Bhugra, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
  • Residency: Southern Illinois University
Zachary Ciochetto, MD
Zachary Ciochetto, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Residency: Henry Ford Macomb
Joshua Donkin, MD
Joshua Donkin, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Spectrum Health/MSU
  • Residency: Spectrum Health/MSU
Christina Fahlsing, MD
Christina Fahlsing, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Wayne State University
  • Residency: The Ohio State University
Dylan Fulmer, DO
Dylan Fulmer, DO

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: University of Kansas
  • Residency: Metro Health – University of Michigan
Andrew Jameson, MD
Andrew Jameson, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: University of Michigan
  • Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
Russell Lampen, DO
Russell Lampen, DO

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Residency: Metro Health – University of Michigan
Jose Morillas, MD
Jose Morillas, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
  • Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital - University of Miami
Brian Petroelje, MD
Brian Petroelje, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
  • Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Gordana Simeunovic, MD
Gordana Simeunovic, MD

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: St. John Hospital and Medical Center
  • Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center
Liam Sullivan, DO
Liam Sullivan, DO

Infectious Disease Specialist

  • Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
  • Residency: Metro Health – University of Michigan

Class of 2025

Jacob Stremers, DO
Jacob Stremers, DO

Internal Medicine: University of Michigan Health—West

Jacob Stremers, DO
Jacob Stremers, DO

Internal Medicine: University of Michigan Health—West

Class of 2024

Jacob Baker, MD, PhD
Jacob Baker, MD, PhD

Internal Medicine: Spectrum Health / Michigan State University

Rebecca Emery, MD
Rebecca Emery, MD

Internal Medicine: Spectrum Health / Michigan State University

Jacob Baker, MD, PhD
Jacob Baker, MD, PhD

Internal Medicine: Spectrum Health / Michigan State University

Rebecca Emery, MD
Rebecca Emery, MD

Internal Medicine: Spectrum Health / Michigan State University

Fellowship Year 3

Combined Adult & Pediatric Infectious Disease

James Polega, MD
James Polega, MD

Internal Medicine & Pediatrics: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

James Polega, MD
James Polega, MD

Internal Medicine & Pediatrics: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

View a list of our alumni.

Ready to Apply?

We participate in the National Resident Matching Program and use the Electronic Residency Application Service.