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IDSA Foundation

Careers in ID

You could be one decision away from saving millions of lives.

If you chose to study medicine to improve and save lives, you’ve come to the right place.

Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death worldwide. In the U.S. alone, infectious diseases account for 170,000 deaths each year – a number that has nearly doubled since the early 1980s, and which we can expect to rise sharply in the wake of COVID-19. Health concerns related to ID drive approximately 3.4 million emergency room visits and 15.5 million office visits annually.

Today’s medical students are tomorrow’s ID clinicians, researchers, innovators and global health leaders. ID specialists are taking on some of today’s hottest topics in medicine – including antimicrobial resistance, potential bioterrorism and the continual emergence of new and dangerous superbugs.

ID is a dynamic, evolving discipline with a multitude of opportunities for those who enjoy problem solving and medical detective work.

Jump-start your career in ID today!

START (OR JOIN) AN ID STUDENT INTEREST GROUP

for hands-on opportunities outside of the traditional classroom. The program offers grants to support special events, seminars or other activities that will inspire a career in ID. Groups can be student- or faculty-run.

FIND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Our G.E.R.M. program provides grants to medical students to support a longitudinal, mentored clinical learning and/or research project for up to a year on ID-related topics. Designed for students interested in pursuing ID fellowship training or a career in HIV medicine.

CONNECT WITH AN ID MENTOR

for the academic support you need to make your imprint on the ID community. Our IDWeek Mentorship Program gives medical students, residents and fellows unprecedented access to ID and HIV leaders during the annual IDWeek Conference.

Whatever your interests and aspirations, you’ll find something in the field of ID that fuels your passion and reminds you why you decided to study medicine in the first place.

clinical practice

Impact lives directly through inpatient or outpatient encounters, travel medicine, hospital infection control, employee health or infectious diseases challenges in your local community.

Research

Lead single-center studies, observational database networks or industry-funded clinical trials to discover, understand, prevent and treat infectious diseases.

Education

Mentor and train the next generation of ID heroes in an academic medical setting to watch your impact multiply.

Consulting

Join scientific or clinical advisory boards to develop guidelines and advise public health officials on treating and controlling communicable diseases.

Industry

Develop and improve diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and other treatments to reduce infectious disease burdens.

Public Health Administration

Build and lead cutting-edge programs to tackle the latest health threats caused by infectious diseases.

Learn more about id career paths
WHICHEVER PATH YOU CHOOSE, YOU CAN EXPECT A HIGH LEVEL OF JOB SATISFACTION FOR REASONS LIKE THESE (AND OTHERS):
Intellectual/academic curiosity

Microorganisms can produce a variety of problems for the human body. Each case can bring a unique set of problems to solve.

The gratification of curability

Many problematic infections are curable. ID specialists have the opportunity to diagnose, treat and cure persistent infections.

A calling WITH global impact

Like COVID-19, IDs can threaten lives on a global scale. ID specialists are humanity’s best defense against ongoing and emerging threats.

What does it take to become an ID specialist?

Infectious diseases medicine is a subspecialty of internal medicine. Certification requires two years of specialized training following the completion of an internal medicine residency. Most ID specialists who treat patients become board certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases through the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Learn more at The ID Society’s Curriculum Requirements page

4040 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203

TEL: 703.299.0200
FAX: 703.299.0204
EIN: 31-1765388

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  • About
    • Why ID Medicine?
    • Our People
    • Our Individual Donors
    • Your Health Platform
      • Dr. John G. Bartlett Memorial Education Series
      • Infectious Diseases A to Z
    • Newsletter Archives
    • Annual Reports
    • Financials
  • Giving
    • Industry Partners
    • Make a One-Time Gift
    • Give Monthly as an ID Detective
    • Join the Leadership Society
    • Join the Visionary Society
    • Make a Memorial or Tribute Gift
    • Foundation Naming Opportunities
    • Planned Giving
  • Careers in ID
    • ID Career Paths
  • Fellowships, Grants & Programs
    • AMR Education Grants
    • Dr. John G. Bartlett Memorial Education Series
    • G.E.R.M. Program
    • HIVMA Clinical Fellowship Program
    • IDea Incubator
    • ID Student Interest Groups Grant Program
    • Microbial Pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s Disease Grant
    • IDWeek Mentorship Program
    • Women of ID Program
  • Blog
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