Supporting Young ID Researchers through the Annual IDSA/NIAID ID Research Careers Meeting

IDSA and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) held the 7th Annual IDSA/NIAID ID Research Careers Meeting in Bethesda, Md. this month with 31 medical students, 19 residents, and 57 ID fellows in attendance. The aspiring ID researchers explored research and career options and attended over a dozen sessions with topics ranging from finding and developing career mentors to advice on grant writing and publishing. IDSA sponsored travel and lodging costs for the 107 attendees. 

IDSA President Paul Auwaerter, MD, MBA, FIDSA kicked off the meeting Thursday evening with opening remarks, followed by a keynote delivered by NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD, FIDSA.

On Friday morning, visiting faculty shared stories of their personal journeys from medical student to ID physicians working as academic researchers, pharmaceutical developers, clinicians, project managers, and advocates. Attendees also visited the nearby campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to hear from current NIH researchers and toured the NIH Clinical Center with IDSA Research Committee member and NIAID Deputy Director for Clinical Research and Special Projects H. Clifford Lane, MD, FIDSA. Over 60 attendees presented a poster to their peers and faculty at a dinner reception designed to provide an opportunity to practice presenting their science to ID colleagues. 

The meeting concluded with career development panels providing practical advice on how to engage a mentor, find a job, and balance clinical practice, research, and personal obligations. 

IDSA thanks all the speakers and NIH organizers who made this event possible. The Research Careers meeting will return June 6-8, 2019, and the application process will open in early February 2019. Visit www.IDResearchCareers.org to learn more.