Center for Vaccine Development & Global Health (CVD)
All Departments
Fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Disease

University of Maryland School of Medicine
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

Program Overview

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, led by Matthew Laurens, MD, MPH, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) prepares physicians for careers as leaders in clinical pediatric infectious diseases, global child health research, vaccinology, and academic medicine. The program uniquely integrates rigorous, flexible clinical training at the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital with world-class research opportunities through the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD)—an internationally recognized hub for translational and field-based research to improve child health worldwide.

Graduates of the program pursue impactful careers in academic pediatrics, global health research, public health agencies, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, with a strong track record of securing NIH and other extramural funding.

Clinical Training

Clinical training is based at the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital, serving a diverse urban and regional referral population. Fellows function as pediatric infectious diseases consultants across general pediatrics and subspecialty services, working closely with trainees and faculty in a collegial academic environment.

Structure and Flexibility

    • Twelve (12) months of required clinical training, as mandated by the American Board of Pediatrics, are completed over the course of fellowship.
    • Scheduling of clinical months is flexible and trainee-driven, allowing fellows to individualize training to align with research timelines, global health fieldwork, or career goals.
    • Fellows provide consultation services for:
      • Complex pediatric infections
      • Immunocompromised and transplant patients
      • Congenital and perinatal infections
      • Antimicrobial stewardship initiatives

Call Structure

    • Call is taken only during months of active clinical training.
    • During clinical months, fellows cover one out of four weekends.
    • There is no call responsibility during dedicated research months.

Educational Program

The fellowship offers a comprehensive educational curriculum designed to support board preparation and scholarly development.

    • Weekly Pediatric Infectious Diseases Didactic Conference (board-focused core curriculum)
    • Joint Adult–Pediatric Infectious Diseases Case Conference
    • Journal Club and Research in Progress Conferences
    • Microbiology Plate Rounds
    • Hospital Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship Conferences

Fellows are encouraged and supported to attend and present at regional, national, and international scientific meetings.

Advanced Degree Opportunities on Campus

Fellows interested in formal graduate training may pursue select on‑campus master’s degree programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) that align closely with careers in pediatric infectious diseases, global child health, and academic medicine. Enrollment is individualized and typically pursued during dedicated research time.

Programs most commonly aligned with fellowship training include:

    • Master of Public Health (MPH) – with concentrations in Epidemiology and Global Health; well‑suited for fellows pursuing careers in global child health, public health agencies, or clinical research.
    • MS in Global Health – interdisciplinary training focused on health systems, implementation science, and global disease burden; well matched for fellows pursuing careers in international research or global child health leadership.
    • MS in Epidemiology & Human Genetics – strong quantitative training for fellows focused on population‑based research and infectious disease epidemiology.
    • MS in Clinical Research – designed for clinician‑scientists seeking formal training in study design, biostatistics, and translational research.
    • MS in Regulatory Science – particularly relevant for fellows interested in vaccine development, policy, and careers with federal agencies or industry.

Availability, timing, and degree selection are discussed on an individual basis to ensure alignment with fellowship requirements and career goals.

Research and Scholarly Training

Research training is a defining strength of the program. Fellows pursue mentored research tailored to their interests, with a strong emphasis on global child health research, vaccinology, and infectious disease epidemiology.

Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD)

The CVD at UMSOM provides unparalleled opportunities for fellows to engage in:

    • Vaccine development and evaluation
    • Clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries
    • Enteric, respiratory, and systemic infectious disease research
    • Epidemiology, biostatistics, and implementation science

Fellows may conduct research both domestically and internationally, with active collaborations in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America focused on reducing infectious disease morbidity and mortality among children worldwide.

Mentorship Model

    • Each fellow selects a primary research mentor aligned with their interests.
    • A mentorship committee provides guidance, progress review, and career development support.

Fellows are expected to produce peer-reviewed publications and present their work at national and international meetings.

T32 Fellowship Training Program in Vaccinology

Eligible fellows may apply to the NIH-funded T32 Fellowship Training Program in Vaccinology, administered through the CVD.

The T32 program provides:

    • Advanced training in vaccinology and global health research
    • Formal coursework, seminars, and grant-writing instruction
    • Structured mentorship and protected research time

Participation is competitive and integrated thoughtfully with Pediatric Infectious Diseases fellowship requirements.

Where Our Graduates Go

Our graduates lead and influence child health locally and globally.

Alumni of the University of Maryland Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program have advanced to positions in:

Academic medicine as pediatric infectious diseases faculty and division leaders, many of whom conduct vaccine and infectious diseases research through funded programs and global clinical trials

    • Andrea Berry, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • James Campbell, MD, MS, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • Sumanth Cherukumilli, MD, Instructor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • DeAnna Friedman-Klabanoff, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine
    • Elizabeth A. D. Hammershaimb, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • Karen Kotloff, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • Matt Laurens, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, Univerisity of Maryland School of Medicine
    • Melissa Rosenberg, MD, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Michigan State University
    • Debbie-Ann Shirley, MD, MPH, Division Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
    • Milagritos Tapia, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • Mark Travassos, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Leadership roles in healthcare delivery and administration

    • Dennis Cunningham, MD, MHA, Chief Medical Officer, OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, Illinois

Global child health, regulatory science, and public health roles at the CDC, WHO, NIH, FDA, and international research programs

    • Adetunike (Mary) Boyd, MD, Country Director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Uganda Office
    • Lauren Cohee, MD, MS, Reader in Paediatrics and Child Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
    • Julia Hutter, MD, Medical Officer Team Lead, Vaccine Clinical Research Branch, DAIDS, NIAID, NIH
    • Ralph Leblanc, MD, MPH, PhD, Team Leader, Division of Vaccines, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    • Jenny Walldorf, MD, Technical Officer, Malaria and New Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical leadership guiding vaccine and anti-infective development

    • Filip Dubovsky, MD, MPH, Executive Advisor for Vaccine Science and Technology
    • Jaya Goswami, MD, MA, Senior Director, Clinical Development, Infectious Diseases, Moderna
    • Miriam Laufer, MD, MPH, Global Clinical Franchise Leader-Next Generation Influenza Vaccines, Sanofi
    • Monica Mcarthur, MD, PhD, Global Clinical Development Expert-Vaccines, Sanofi Pasteur
    • Stephen Savarino, MD, MPH, Associate Vice President, Translational Sciences and Biomarkers, Sanofi Pasteur
    • Daniel Scott, MD, Vice President, Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer
    • Jakub Simon, MD, MS, Senior Consultant, Clinical Vaccine Development, Orel Consulting

This breadth of outcomes reflects the program’s strong foundation in clinical excellence, global child health research, and mentorship tailored to fellows’ career aspirations.

Application Process

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program participates in:

    • Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
    • National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for Pediatric Infectious Diseases subspecialty training

Applicants should follow standard ERAS and NRMP deadlines for Pediatric Infectious Diseases fellowships.

Eligibility and Visa Sponsorship

    • Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited pediatric residency program.
    • Visa sponsorship is primarily through the J-1 Exchange Visitor Physician Program, in accordance with University of Maryland Medical Center Graduate Medical Education and institutional visa policies.

Contact Information

For program inquiries, please contact:

Carol Kairo, Program Coordinator
Email: ckairo@som.umaryland.edu

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine is committed to training the next generation of leaders dedicated to improving child health locally and globally through excellence in clinical care, research, and education.