Chelsea A. Gorsline

The number of transplant infectious disease (TID) training opportunities has grown over the past decade, and training experiences are heterogeneous. Formal TID fellowships are increasingly sought after; however, not all fellowship programs have the means to administer such fellowships, and not all fellows desire additional year(s) of training. TID training tracks embedded within an existing 2‐ or 3‐year general infectious diseases (ID) fellowship training programs offer an opportunity for general ID fellows to gain more TID experience while requiring fewer programmatic resources than a standalone TID fellowship. Here we review experiences from four TID training tracks in the United States, offering insights into clinical and fellowship settings, track requirements and curricula, and facilitators and barriers to managing TID training tracks. These experiences can inform future efforts to develop TID training tracks and harmonize experiences across institutions.

Transplant infectious diseases (TID) is a highly specialized subspecialty situated at the intersection of immunosuppression, emerging pathogens, antimicrobial stewardship, and multidisciplinary transplant care. Early‐career TID physicians must balance high‐acuity clinical responsibilities with expectations for scholarly productivity, programmatic engagement, and leadership development while establishing credibility within transplant programs. This “Experience from the Field” report highlights key domains that shape early‐career success in TID, including mentorship, trainee development, skill acquisition, research strategy, time management within unpredictable clinical environments, maintenance of scientific currency, professional visibility, and long‐term sustainability. Intentional alignment of clinical, academic, and personal priorities is required to move from professional survival toward sustained impact within the evolving landscape of TID. image

Attending conferences is a foundational component of professional growth in transplant infectious diseases (TIDs), yet trainees and early‐career faculty often face an overwhelming array of meeting options and limited guidance on how to maximize the experience. This report outlines practical strategies for selecting the most impactful conferences, preparing effectively, engaging with poster sessions, cultivating meaningful professional connections, and incorporating rest and reflection into conference travel. Unlike previous discussions hosted by the TID Early Career Network (TxIDECN), which typically occurred over social media, this was a live expert panel with audience participation at the 2025 Fred Hutch Symposium on Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host on May 13, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. Here, we summarize that discussion with actionable tools to navigate conferences intentionally and translate these experiences into sustained academic and career development for emerging TID professionals. image

The landscape of transplant infectious diseases (TID) is changing rapidly, with many new and exciting ideas on the horizon. A live #TxIDChat on the social media platform Bluesky by the TID Early Career Network was conducted on hot topics in TID to explore these innovations. Based on these discussions and expert opinion, this article examines the use of artificial intelligence, xenotransplantation, personalized medicine, advanced diagnostics, novel education models, and the use of social media in TID. In addition, the authors highlight the challenges that limit the application of some of these advancements, as well as opportunities for future development in these areas.

As part of an ongoing series of social media discussions, the Transplant Infectious Diseases Early Career Network hosted an open forum for the transplant infectious disease community to discuss the development of research careers for junior faculty. Topics discussed included opportunities for research, identifying potential research questions, institutional support, grant funding, common barriers to research, and trainee involvement. The forum highlighted symbiotic relationships between junior faculty and trainees. The insights from the forum provide a valuable resource for early‐career transplant infectious diseases (TID) researchers.

Social media provides platforms for transplant infectious diseases (TIDs) clinicians to network, exchange ideas, and educate each other and the broader public. A #TxIDChat on the social media platform X was conducted on the perceptions of social media in TID by the account @TxID_Fellows. This article examines the current usage of social media by TID clinicians, and its role in education, patient outreach, and networking. Guidance is also provided for trainees to help navigate a public space at the intersection of professional and social platforms. image

Solid organ transplant and hematopoietic cell transplant patients face an increased risk of infectious diseases, greater exposure to antibiotics, and heightened risk of multidrug‐resistant organisms (MDROs) due to their immunosuppressed state. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) are essential in reducing the incidence of MDRO by conserving antimicrobial use, minimizing treatment durations, and improving the appropriate use of diagnostic testing. However, the role of ASP in transplant infectious diseases (TID) is still evolving, necessitating greater collaboration between ASP and transplant programs. This collaboration will mitigate infection risks, reduce infection‐associated costs, and improve outcomes. This article reviews the key components for implementing ASP in TID, especially for those that are establishing or growing their ASP to include TID, including specific goals, structure and funding, ASP initiatives (including antibiotic allergy delabeling, diagnostic stewardship, and antiviral/antifungal stewardship), metrics, and educational opportunities.

Transplant infectious disease (TID) clinicians are integral to the pre‐transplantation evaluation. Pre‐transplant evaluations allow clinicians to assess risk factors for latent infections and relevant exposures to potential pathogens, address immunizations, and optimize patients’ health and understanding of life after transplant. However, there is not a standardized approach to the pre‐transplant evaluation. This article reviews the details of performing successful pre‐transplant evaluations, including updated recommendations on available vaccines and contemporary opinions on marijuana use. This resource can be used for teaching with trainees or for early career TID clinicians.

The number of transplant infectious disease (TID) fellowship programs has expanded rapidly in the past 5 years, with the creation of many new programs and the expansion of training tracks and dedicated years as the demand for TID physicians grows drastically. This editorial focuses on major factors and complexities that programs should consider in TID fellowship creation, as well as highlighting examples of formative experiences, programmatic structure, and fellow resources that trainees can use to identify their desired career path in TID. image