Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Fellows will rotate on the inpatient Infectious Disease consult service a total of 52 weeks divided throughout the 3-year training period. A broad range of patients with an immense depth of pathology will be evaluated in the hospital including but not limited to intensive care, surgical/post-surgical, transplant and other immunocompromised hosts. Fellows will also participate in outpatient clinic experiences (approximately 15-20 half-day clinics per year) that includes general infectious disease, HIV, hepatitis C and care for the international traveler. Fellows will participate in weekly microbiology rounds and in weekly conferences that review in-depth the management of patients and guidelines of Pediatric Infectious Disease.

Fellows will have a vast array of research options from basic science to clinical/translational, quality improvement, or collaborating with the MCW Office of Global Health, and may seek out mentors from different departments and divisions at MCW including adult Infectious Disease. Fellows will have up to 23 months of protected time to work towards research goals. Ample opportunities exist to develop skills in grant writing and allow the fellow to be competitive for local and national awards during fellowship training.

Twice weekly conferences in collaboration with the adult infectious diseases fellowship program provides exposure to a broad range of foundational topics from antibiotic coverage or pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, to specific disease states, as well as a fellow’s case conference and research conferences. A separate robust pediatric ID conference occurs weekly in which every patient on the ID consult service is discussed. Additionally, the fellow will have one month dedicated towards becoming familiar with the basic principles and practice of clinical microbiology.

The Joint Fellowship Curriculum (JFC) at the Medical College of Wisconsin is a series of longitudinal educational experiences designed to cover topics required for all pediatric fellows. While specialty-specific education is covered within each section, the JFC endeavors to cover the remainder of topics that are common to all fellowship trainees. Fellows not only gain insight on these topics from campus-wide experts, but also do so in a collaborative learning environment with their same level fellow peers from across the pediatric enterprise. 

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At MCW and within the Department of Pediatrics, we have several programs and resources focused on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Our departmental and institutional focus is confronting negative perceptions and welcoming our community. Below is just a sampling of the efforts across our institutions to embed the principles of diversity and inclusion into our culture.

• DOP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council | Our Diversity Council, led by Dr. Mike Levas, the DOP Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion, and comprised of faculty, staff, administration, and trainees, is focused on connecting with partners across our system and within the community to ensure the DOP is a diverse, equitable and inclusive employer.
• DOP Fellowship and Residency Diversity and Inclusion Committees | In a city filled with its own diversity and rich cultural history, our fellows and residents recognize the importance of addressing diversity, health equity, and inclusion within our programs. As such, the program is proud to recognize the presence and work of its Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• DOP Unconscious Bias Training | The AAMC has partnered with Cook Ross, Inc., a leading consulting firm, to create training focused on the science behind unconscious bias to help academic medical staff and faculty mitigate disparities. Seven members of our team have earned a certification as unconscious bias trainers through Cook Ross. These trainers have translated what they’ve learned into a two-hour training for our faculty and staff. By learning how to identify and confront unconscious bias, it is possible to mitigate the impact and promote respect for all groups.
• Trauma-Informed Workplace Training | This committee has undertaken actions including a department-wide survey and the creation of four online training modules sharing the principles of trauma-informed approach and how to recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in ourselves and others. This group started as part of Fostering Futures, a state-wide initiative aimed at infusing a trauma-informed approach into all the systems and organizations that touch the lives of Wisconsin citizens with the goal of expanding across the state to make Wisconsin the first trauma-informed state in the nation.
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion | Established in March 2016, the MCW Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) partners within MCW and with community partners to foster and drive inclusion excellence as an effective, empowering enabler of MCW mission and strategic goals.
• Spring Festival of Cultures | The annual Spring Festival of Cultures encourages an increased awareness and celebration of the visible and non-visible identities among our MCW community. This three-day event is an opportunity to promote the fostering of diversity, inclusion and unity at MCW.
• President’s Diversity and Inclusion Award | MCW’s President's Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students, residents, trainees, and community members in contributing to diversity and inclusion through exemplary leadership.
• Institute of Health and Equity | The Institute for Health & Equity is focused on researching the root causes of health disparities in our communities, and advancing the best ideas to foster health equity throughout the world. We target populations with abnormally high rates of disease and injury – urban and rural alike – and then we find out why. Partnering with community health collaborators who live and work closest to the most vulnerable populations, we are making an impact on reducing those disparities, one community at a time.
• GMF-MCW Partnership | Through their overall partnership, MCW and GMF will bring complementary expertise on a range of strategies to invest in the health, equity and economic well-being of people across Milwaukee, beginning with the neighborhoods adjacent to the new development. Guided by community priorities and data, the GMF-MCW Partnership will be a catalyst for additional investment and community impact. Together, the partners will:
  • Engage resident and community partnerships
  • Improve social determinants of health
  • Catalyze change that leverages resources and investment

Learn More about MCW's Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Brittany Player, DO

Hometown: West Bend, WI
Medical School: Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge, IL
Research/Scholarly Project: Utility of the BioFire Assay in Modifying Antimicrobial Use in Febrile Neonates
Mentor(s): Peter Havens, MD, Anna Huppler, MD, Michelle Mitchell, MD
Interests or Hobbies: I love spending time with my family and friends, traveling, and being outdoors.
Why did I choose MCW for fellowship? I worked at MCW and Children’s Wisconsin for 8 years as a pediatric hospitalist. I knew the vast array of pathology regularly seen at Children’s would provide me with endless opportunities to learn. I also knew the ID faculty as colleagues and friends, a dedicated group of educators, excellent clinicians, and well-respected experts in their field both locally and nationally. When I made the decision to leave my faculty position and return to fellowship as a non-traditional trainee, the ID team was welcoming and encouraging. They are a dynamic, supportive, and enthusiastic group that wholeheartedly invest in me as a learner. The decision to stay at MCW was easy and I couldn’t be happier.

Our talented team of pediatric infectious disease providers are ready to help train you for a successful career in our field.

Meet Our Faculty

About the Medical College of Wisconsin

With a history dating back to 1893, the Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,400 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In the last ten years, faculty received more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,600 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 4.0 million patients annually.

About Children’s Wisconsin

Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2019, Children’s invested more than $130 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Milwaukee is one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets and a prime location for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s main campus. A one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW students, faculty and employees take pride in calling Milwaukee home.

Learn more about housing and rental options.

More About Milwaukee

Our 3-year fellowship program is ACGME accredited and begins on July 1 each year. We accept one fellow each year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Applicants must have completed a US-accredited residency program. Applications from prospective applicants are accepted from July through October via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will access your application and contact you to make interview arrangements.

Complete applications should include the following:

• ERAS application form
• At least 3 letters of reference including Program Director letter
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation/Dean's Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement
• MD Applicants: USMLE scores - Steps 1, 2, and 3 or
• DO Applicants: COMLEX scores – Levels 1, 2 and 3
• ECFMG certificate for foreign medical school graduates (see visa information below)

Our program currently accepts the following visas:

• Permanent Resident Visa
• Visitor Exchange Visa sponsored by ECFMG (J-1)
• Temporary Professional Workers (H-1B)

For additional visa information please visit MCW’s office of Graduate Medical Education.

Apply on ERAS

Fellows are employed by the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH).

See MCWAH Benefits, Conditions & Terms of Employment for information regarding vacations, leaves, insurance, stipends and professional liability.