UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Clinical Microbiology Fellowship

UNMC's Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology in collaboration with Nebraska Medicine sponsors a Clinical Microbiology Fellowship Program that is accredited by the Committee on Postgraduate Educational Programs of the American Society of Microbiology. This two-year training program provides the trainee hands-on experience in the basic disciplines of clinical microbiology, i.e., bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, molecular microbiology, public health microbiology, and serology, through bench rotations, didactic lectures, and interaction with pathology residents, faculty, and fellows.

Administrative experience through participation in management and committee interaction is also a part of the training. Dr Paul Fey is director of this program, while Dr Peter Iwen is associate director. Fellows are selected for their potential as future directors of diagnostic microbiology laboratories and as leaders in public health. Upon completion of the program, fellows are expected to apply to take the examination as the next step for certification as a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology.

From the Directors

Paul Fey, PhD, Program Director

We thank you for your interest in our Clinical Microbiology Fellowship program. The UNMC program is accredited by the Committee on Postgraduate Education Programs of the American Society of Microbiology as a two-year training to qualify post-doctoral clinical microbiologists to sit for the examination for certification as a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (D[ABMM]).

Peter C. Iwen, PhD, D(ABMM), F(AAM), Associate Program Director

When compared to the other programs, a unique educational environment is offered at UNMC with coordinated training among a variety of entities. These include our affiliated academic hospital, Nebraska Medicine, our state public health laboratory, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory; our UNMC College of Medicine; and our partner reference laboratory CHI Health Laboratory.

Omaha is a great place to live and train and we welcome all interested individuals to submit an application to be considered for this training opportunity.

Curriculum
  • Accredited by the Committee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) of the American Society of Microbiology
  • Administrative experience through participation in management and committee interaction
  • Fellows are selected for their potential as future directors of diagnostic microbiology laboratories and as leaders in public health
  • Upon successful completion of the Clinical Microbiology Fellowship Program, the Fellow will be eligible to sit for the examination as the next step to certification as a diplomate by the American Board of Medical Microbiology (D [ABMM])
  • Opportunity to rotate through each of the various areas of clinical microbiology to include bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, virology, parasitology, and molecular microbiology during the first year of training
  • Fellow will become proficient in the handling and processing of specimens and in the procedures necessary to isolate and identify pathogens during this time
  • Opportunity to interact with the infectious diseases physicians, infection control personnel, and pharmacy personnel and to participate in independent research projects as a means to help strengthen the learning process
  • Various teaching programs offered
Compensation and Benefits

A full-time salary with excellent benefits will be provided. The salary and benefits will be based on that offered to participants in other fellowship programs on the UNMC campus.

  • A UNMC identified lab coat and a set of black scrubs.
  • Access as needed to Immunoquery, ExpertPath and PathPrimer; ASCP-Rise study sets; WHO series; and Biorender.
Facility & Resources

The University of Nebraska Medical Center and affiliated hospital Nebraska Medicine make up the Medical Center campus, located in central Omaha. The medical center has a full-service clinical microbiology laboratory associated with the hospital. Also available on campus are Regional Pathology Services, our outreach laboratory, and the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, which performs public health testing as a contracted service between UNMC and the State of Nebraska.

Although a majority of the training will take place at the sponsoring institution, additional opportunities will also be available in the clinical microbiology laboratory at our affiliate, the Alegent/Creighton University Medical Center. This facility is geographically located within a short distance of the Medical Center campus.

Qualifications
Applicants to the postdoctoral fellowship program must have a doctoral degree – PhD, MD, Sc.D., DO or Dr.PH –  in the clinical microbiology or a related discipline. Ideal candidates will have previous experience working within a diagnostic laboratory setting and a strong desire to pursue future activities as it pertains to public health and microbiology.
Apply

Complete the online application: "Application for CPEP-accredited Postgraduate Training Program."

Complete applications will be accepted from July 1st through Dec. 31 or until the position is filled. An internal review by the Selection Committee will be performed, then finalists will be interview either remotely or on site with program directors and select faculty. The final decision for selection into the program will be made following the interviews. The appointment into the fellowship program will be contingent upon an acceptable background check and verification of credentials.

Current Fellows

2nd Year Fellow

Chunyi Zhou, MD, PhD
Scott Stevenson, PhD

1st Year Fellow

Alumni

2022-2024
Yolande Chan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

2021-2023
Taylor Wahlig, PhD, D(ABMM), Co-Director Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics-Marshfield Health Clinic, Marshfield, WI

2020-2022
Macy Wood, PhD, Associate Director of Microbiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 

2019-2021
Hannah Creager, PhD, D(ABMM), Assistant Director of Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

2017-2018*
Lindsey Nielsen, PhD, D(ABMM), Director, Laboratory and Client Services, Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Grand Island, NE
*Eligible to sit for the ABMM exam under Plan 1 with credit for two years of prior experience along with the one year of CPEP training.   

2018-2020
Arryn Craney, PhD, D(ABMM), Assistant Professor and Associate Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, NY and Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Campus, New York City, NY

2015-2017
Randal C. Fowler, PhD, D(ABMM), Laboratory Leadership Service Fellow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory Division, St. Paul, MN

2014-2016
Caitlin Murphy, PhD, D(ABMM), Assistant Professor, Assistant Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska Medical Center / Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE

2013-2015
Timothy R. Southern, PhD, D(ABMM), Director, South Dakota Public Health Laboratory, Pierre, SD

2012-2014
Sarah N. Buss, PhD, D(ABMM), Laboratory Director, Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, Cheyenne, WY  

2011-2013
Amity L. Roberts, PhD, D(ABMM), Assistant Professor, Director, Clinical Microbiology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia PA

2010-2012
Kendall A. Bryant, PhD, D(ABMM), Laboratory Scientist, Microbiology Laboratory, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, FL

2009-2011
Gerald A. Capraro, PhD, D(ABMM), Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, & Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA

2007-2009
Baha Abdalhamid, MD, PhD, D(ABMM), Medical Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

*First position after fellowship is listed.