Host Defense Fellowship
Host Defense Fellowship
Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s GME-approved, one-year Infectious Disease Host Defense Fellowship provides additional training and expertise in the comprehensive management of infections in immunocompromised children.
Fellowship Overview
The Host Defense Fellowship was developed as part of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division and Host Defense Program. Established in 2015, we are the first pediatric fellowship program in the United States offering specialized training in infection prevention and management in immunocompromised children.
The one-year fellowship provides formal training to physicians who successfully completed a 3-year, ACGME-accredited pediatric infectious diseases fellowship and possess a strong interest in caring for immunocompromised children.
Through the fellowship, trainees are provided a diverse clinical and research experience at both Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University. Upon program completion, fellows will develop expertise in the infectious disease management of immunocompromised children.
What You Need to Know
Curriculum
The fellow will receive targeted training in the evaluation, diagnosis, management and prevention of infectious diseases in high-risk immunocompromised children, including:
- Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) recipients
- Solid Organ Transplantation (SOT) recipients
- Children with malignancies
- Children with primary immunodeficiencies
- Children with autoinflammatory or autoimmune diseases receiving immunosuppressive therapies
Fellows will also gain extensive experience and training in the following areas:
Research
- Research project focused on infections in immunocompromised children
- Submission of clinical, translational or basic science research grant
Educational Didactics
- Participation/ presentations at Transplant Tuesday and Host Defense Program Journal Clubs
- Development of institutional evidence-based protocols and clinical practice guidelines
Transplant Care Conferences
- Participation in multidisciplinary meetings related to the care of the immunocompromised child and program enrichment
Clinical Experience
| Clinical Experience | Duration |
| ID Inpatient Consultations | 12 to 20 Weeks |
| ID Outpatient Consultations & Pre-Transplant Evaluations | 1/2 Day Clinic, Weekly |
| Transplant Infectious Disease (TID) Specific | |
| HCT | 4 Weeks |
| SOT: Heart/Lung/Kidney/Liver | 4 Weeks |
| Adult Transplant ID at OSU | 4 to 8 Weeks |
| Hematology: Sickle Cell and Bone Marrow Failure | 4 Weeks |
| Primary Immunodeficiency & Lymphoproliferative Clinics Laboratory, Pathology, & Transplant Pharmacology |
2 to 4 Weeks |
Clinical experience can be personalized to the HDP fellow's goals.
Research
Publications
- Successful Treatment of Bloodstream Infection Due to Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a Renal Transplant Patient
- Adjuvant haploidentical virus-specific T lymphocytes for treatment of disseminated adenovirus infection in a premature infant
- Pediatric Histoplasmosis in an Area of Endemicity: A Contemporary Analysis
- Central Venous Catheter Management in High-risk Children With Bloodstream Infections
- Disseminated Toxoplasmosis in a Child Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Presentations
- Danino D, Stanek J, Skeens M, Rangarajan H, Ardura MI. “Immunogenicity of early PCV13 vaccination in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients,” 6th Annual St. Jude’s/PIDS 2019 Pediatric Transplant ID Symposium: Bench to Bedside, St. Jude’s Hospital, Memphis, TN March 7, 2019; oral presentation
- Danino D, Stanek J, Skeens M, Rangarajan H, Ardura MI. “Adherence and immunogenicity of early vaccination in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients” IDWeek, October 2-6, 2019, Washington DC; IDWeek Hot Zone oral poster presentation
- Danino D, Stanek J, Rangarajan H, Ardura MI. “Burden of Vaccine-Preventable Infections among Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients.” 2020 TCT: Transplantation & Cellular Therapy (TCT) Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR, February 22, 2020, Orlando, FL; poster presentation
- Danino D, Stanek J, Rangarajan H, Ardura MI. “Hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable infections among allogeneic and autologous pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients,” 38th annual European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), Joint clinical and science track symposium: Infections in Children with Cancer; October 28, 2020, Rotterdam, Netherlands; oral poster presentation
Faculty, Fellow, and Alumni
Eligibility & Application
Eligible applicants must be:
- Board certified in general pediatrics
- Board certified or eligible in pediatric infectious diseases in the U.S. or Canada upon matriculation.
- Able to obtain an Ohio medical licensure
Application Timeline
- Applications Accepted: January – March
- Interviews: Mid-April – Mid-June
- Fellowship Start Date: July 1st
Application
Interested applicants should provide the following information to the program coordinator:
- Host Defense Fellowship Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement
- 3 Letters of Recommendation sent directly to the HDP fellowship program
- USMLE or COMLEX scores
- Transcript
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
- ECFMG status report (include copy of certificate) *if applicable
- Photo
Please send materials to:
Gina M. Pacheco
Education Coordinator
Host Defense Fellowship
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children’s Drive
Columbus OH 43205
Phone: 614-722-4864
Fax: 614-722-4458
Email: Gina.Pacheco@nationwidechildrens.org
Contact
Gina M. Pacheco
Education Coordinator
(614) 722-4864
Gina.Pacheco@NationwideChildrens.org
Monica Ardura, DO, MSCS
Program Director
