How to Maximise Your Portfolio
Speak to Infectious Diseases/Microbiology/Virology registrars early on in your career and arrange to do a taster week if possible to figure out 1) whether this specialty is for you 2) what projects opportunities there are.
Familiarise yourself with the training pathways and try to figure out whether you want to specialise in ID/GIM, ID/Microbiology, ID/Virology, or pure medical microbiology, or medical virology. Then read up on the person specifications and start planning on how you can fit them.
If you don’t have infectious diseases at the hospitals you are working in, speak to microbiology consultants and registrars to see what projects you can get involved in.
Have a good mix of QIPs and publications to talk about at the interview. Regarding QIPs, it is better to have one QIP, which you have completed several cycles for, than to have multiple QIPs but only completed one cycle.
Ideally try to get a rotation in either Infectious Diseases or Microbiology to prepare yourself for the clinical stations of the interview. The BIA email discussion list (BIA eLists) is also a great way to expand your knowledge by reading discussions on topics in microbiology and infectious disease.
Remember for the interview, just because some projects aren’t “infection related” does not mean you can’t talk about how you would apply what you have learnt for infection training.
Making the Most of Your Day Job
To be a good infection specialist (or any specialist) it is important to have a general understanding of other pathologies, and to be able to identify when something is unlikely to be caused by an infection. Therefore, build a good knowledge base during your foundation and core training, and make the most of the educational opportunities in rotations you are currently in. You never know when the knowledge may come in handy.
Don’t forget to look for leadership or teaching opportunities e.g. associate college tutor roles. Try to be well rounded in all the “CAMP” (clinical, academic, managerial, personal) domains.
Making the Most of Infectious Diseases Placements
Ensure you make your intention to pursue a career in the specialty clear to all consultants and registrars you are working with, and ask about any projects you can help with. Make sure you are a good team player: be proactive with helping out your team, seeing patients/referrals with consultants and registrars etc. You are more likely to be trusted with a project if you can be trusted with the ward.
If you are not going to have your rotation in Infectious Disease or Microbiology at the start of the year, get in touch earlier to see if you can start working on something before you get to your rotation so that you have time to complete a project before rotating to another hospital.
When you are working in the specialty, try to reflect on what the positives and the negatives of the specialty are, and why you want to pursue a career in infection. Note down memorable cases or experiences. This may come useful for the interview.
What About Non-Infectious Diseases Placements?
As mentioned above, make the most of all opportunities and experiences to develop as a clinician. Infections are not confined to one bodily system, so having knowledge and experience in other specialties will always be useful.
Whether or not you are going to have a rotation in Infectious Diseases or Microbiology, reach out to ID/Micro consultants early on in the year to identify a project you can work on and complete by the end of the year.
