Overview
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Infectious Diseases Fellowship offers a Clinical Microbiology rotation that provides fellows with exposure to one of the largest and most comprehensive microbiology services in the Southwest. Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix serves as one of Banner Health's microbiology core laboratories and houses specialized mycology and mycobacteriology (AFB) services, offering experience that is increasingly uncommon at many institutions.
Clinical Microbiology Rotation
Fellows will participate in a dedicated laboratory experience at Sonora Quest Laboratories, one of the nation's largest integrated laboratory systems, where they gain exposure to infectious disease serology, molecular diagnostics, parasitology, specialized microbiology testing, and automated laboratory workflows.
During the rotation, fellows participate in:
- Daily culture review and interpretation
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistance investigations
- Review of complex bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, and mycobacteriology cases
- Evaluation of emerging diagnostic technologies
- Laboratory quality, regulatory, and management activities
- Monthly Microbiology Case Conference presentations
The rotation integrates laboratory diagnostics with patient care while providing experience in diagnostic stewardship, laboratory leadership, and quality management. Fellows work closely with laboratory directors, infectious disease physicians, pharmacists, infection prevention specialists, and public health partners, gaining a comprehensive understanding of clinical microbiology across both academic and regional reference laboratory settings.