Accreditation of Infectious Diseases Fellowships
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is the sole organization that accredits infectious diseases fellowship programs in the United States. 1
Primary Accrediting Body
The ACGME Review Committee for Internal Medicine holds exclusive authority over infectious diseases fellowship accreditation. 1 This accreditation is mandatory for fellows to become board-eligible through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). 1
- ACGME requirements define the structural framework including the mandatory 36-month program duration, minimum clinical training time, and maximum allowable leave periods. 1
- Programs must demonstrate compliance with Common Program Requirements that include patient safety improvement, quality improvement processes, interprofessional team participation, and systems-based practice competencies. 1
- The ACGME announced its commitment to antibiotic stewardship education in 2015, requiring integration of these principles into postgraduate training programs. 1
Role of Professional Societies
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) does not accredit fellowship programs. 1 Instead, IDSA serves complementary educational and advocacy functions:
- IDSA provides professional leadership through guideline development, curriculum influence, and support for fellowship training programs, but holds no accreditation authority. 1
- IDSA focuses on education and advocacy for its members through conferences, practice guidelines, and clinical resources. 1
- The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Subcommittee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) offers specialized fellowships in medical and public health microbiology with specific training requirements, but these are distinct from ACGME-accredited infectious diseases fellowships. 1
Important Distinction
Program directors have flexibility to grant individual accommodations (such as interrupted training or parental leave) without ACGME approval, as the ACGME regulates program structure rather than individual trainee pathways. 1 However, any changes to the overall program structure that would apply to all fellows requires ACGME Review Committee approval. 1