The Clinical Microbiology M.D. (ACGME) or Ph.D. (CPEP) Postgraduate Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offers an outstanding educational experience. You develop expertise in medical microbiology within the integrated Mayo Clinic system. The system is renowned for quality medical care and health care innovation. Learn more about the program and what fellows can expect by watching this 5-minute program overview video.

This fellowship develops your knowledge and skills in diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease pathology. It also builds expertise in clinical consultation related to microbiology and infectious diseases, and clinical laboratory management.

• Ph.D. program (CPEP). The CPEP program is a two-year program designed for individuals with a doctoral degree who want specific training in clinical microbiology.
• M.D. program (ACGME). The ACGME program is a one-year program for individuals with a medical degree. It requires prior residency training in the U.S. or Canada in pathology or an infectious diseases fellowship.

Unique program opportunities include:

• Comprehensive training and hands-on experience cover all areas of clinical microbiology. Training occurs through rotations in seven specialized clinical microbiology laboratories. You engage in daily interactions with eight board-certified microbiology medical laboratory directors
• A strong clinical component includes on-call responsibilities and interaction with infectious disease clinicians and other clinical services in patient care
• A unique dual practice with both an in-house hospital practice and a large reference laboratory service
• You have the opportunity to experience diverse clinical microbiology laboratory settings through rotations. These rotations occur at Mayo Clinic campuses in Jacksonville, Florida, or Scottsdale, Arizona
• Training opportunities include observing and performing diagnostic testing methods ranging from classic reference assays to contemporary molecular assays. Classic reference assays include bacterial biochemical analysis, viral culture, complement fixation, and immunodiffusion. Contemporary methods include next-generation sequencing technology, digital imaging, and artificial intelligence algorithms
• Exposure to state-of-the-art antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods
• Specific training in infectious disease pathology (diagnosis of microorganisms in histopathology and cytopathology preparations)
• Research opportunities include test development with molecular applications, next-generation sequencing, and digital pathology with artificial intelligence. You have the potential to publish and present at national meetings
• All fellows publish at least one article in a peer-reviewed journal. Nearly all fellows present a poster or speak at a regional or national conference

Accreditation

The CPEP program is accredited by the Committee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). It meets certification requirements for the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM).

The ACGME program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). It meets certification requirements of the American Board of Pathology (in Medical Microbiology).

Certification

When you complete Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Microbiology CPEP Postgraduate Fellowship, including the experience requirement, you become eligible for certification. This is offered by the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM).

When you complete Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Microbiology ACGME Postgraduate Fellowship, you become eligible for certification. These are offered by the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) and the American Board of Pathology (in Medical Microbiology).

Program history

The Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic has been training fellows since 1914. Since that time, more than 150 fellows have completed training.

The CPEP program received accreditation in 1972 and the ACGME program received accreditation in 1992. Fun fact: The Clinical Microbiology CPEP Postgraduate Fellowship at Mayo Clinic was the second in the country to receive accreditation. The first accredited program was at the University of Washington in 1964.

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