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Medical Laboratory Immunology Fellowship

The Clinical Immunology Laboratory offers a 2-year Medical Laboratory Immunology Fellowship program for qualifying individuals who want to pursue a career in Clinical Diagnostic Immunology.

The program is only one of three in Immunology in the US that is accredited by the American Society of Microbiology, Committee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP). https://asm.org/Fellowships/CPEP-Fellowship-Program-Descriptions#immunology

Successful completion of a CPEP-approved program in medical laboratory immunology provides eligibility for the Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology (DMLI) board examination offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification, DMLI(ASCP)

Interested individuals should visit the American Society of Microbiology website to obtain information on requirements and application process.

Program Overview

The training program provides the fellow a unique opportunity to learn the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to become a successful medical laboratory immunologist from three different perspectives:

  • The training program involves a series of hands-on rotations through the various laboratory sections at
    • Clinical Immunology Laboratory at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
    • Diagnostic Immunology Laboratory at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

The laboratory sections include different specialty areas among which are flow cytometry phenotyping and functional assays using both Beckman Coulter and Beckton Dickinson platforms, infectious diseases serology, autoimmune diseases testing, allergy testing, molecular assays using NGS platform.

  • Fellows will be involved in all aspects of laboratory management and administration, QA/QC and laboratory safety.
  • Fellows will have opportunities to advance their leadership/mentoring skills, work on new test development, conduct original research and participate in professional research in meetings.

The program provides training that adheres to the standards set forth in the CPEP Essentials and Guidelines for Medical Laboratory Immunology: https://asm.org/fellowships/cpep

Program Faculty and Professional Staff

  • Program Director: Svetlana Dambaeva, PhD, D(ABMLI), HCLD(ABB), Director Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Rosalind Franklin University of Med & Sci, North Chicago, IL.
  • Program Associate Director: Amy Thees, PhD, MBA, DMLI(ASCP), MLS(ASCP), Director, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Administration Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Program Faculty:
    • Mahmood Bilal, PhD, DABCC, FADLM, TS(ABB), MLS(ASCP), Associate Director Clinical immunology laboratory, Rosalind Franklin University of Med & Sci, North Chicago, IL
    • Alice Gilman Sachs, PhD, S.I., D(ABMLI), Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rosalind Franklin University of Med & Sci, North Chicago, IL
  • Program Coordinator: Tammy Pasdiora, Senior Administrative Assistant, Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Rosalind Franklin University of Med & Sci, North Chicago, IL
  • Professional Staff:
    • Sandra Campbell, General Supervisor, Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Rosalind Franklin University of Med. & Sci, North Chicago, IL
    • Cynthia Otterson, QA/QC Manager, Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Rosalind Franklin University of Med. & Sci, North Chicago, IL

Application

Potential candidates for the program will have a doctorate degree in immunology or medicine and science. Candidates will apply using online application form (cost $100) on the CPEP section of the ASM website.

The program is not sponsoring visas for international trainees.

One fellow is accepted into the program every other year. A previous experience working in a clinical laboratory setting is desirable along with a strong desire to pursue future activities in medical laboratory immunology.