During the course of training in infectious diseases in both inpatient and outpatient settings, fellows must acquire clinical competence in the management of infections of the female genital tract and fetal/neonatal infections. This will require a general understanding of Infectious Diseases and will require a sound background in the basic sciences of microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and epidemiology. In order to function effectively as consultants to other disciplines, including non-medical, fellows must also acquire the appropriate microbiology diagnostic skills and a highly developed ability to interpret data originating from a clinical microbiology laboratory. Those wishing to pursue a career in academic obstetric and gynecologic infectious diseases must also acquire research and educational expertise.
- The objectives of the clinical training program are achieved by a series of integrated rotations at the participating institutions. St. Paul’s Hospital and VH&HSC share responsibility for Adult Infectious Disease training in the full spectrum of acute, chronic and recurrent infectious diseases, in hospitalized and ambulatory patients. These two sites differ in terms of patient mix and areas of excellence, and each rotation therefore has designated areas of special emphasis, in addition to the overall program goals. At VH&HSC, areas of special emphasis include bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, neurosurgery and neurology, burns, multiple trauma, tuberculosis, and spinal cord injury. At St. Paul’s Hospital, the trainees’ objectives emphasize HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular surgery and cardiology, cystic fibrosis, and infections in injection drug users. Since February 5, 1997, a dedicated HIV/AIDS ward has been opened at St. Paul’s Hospital and will provide a valuable elective opportunity for training. Acute and chronic community-acquired infections, nosocomial and medical device-associated infections, and surgical infections are seen at both sites. The Ob/Gyn trainee will be exposed to all types of Infectious Diseases in men and women, but attempts will be made to optimize on reproductive tract infections and on relating management of general ID to Ob/Gyn specific problems.
- Training in infections related to Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including training in HIV infection, and Hepatitis in women, youth and children, is provided at the BC Women’s Hospital and the Oak Tree Clinic
- Pediatric Infectious Disease training is accomplished at BC Children’s Hospital, including both the inpatient consultation service and outpatient clinics.
- Ambulatory Care experience occurs throughout the two-year training program. During the months on the adult consultation service, each ID resident attends a weekly one-half day clinic. These include the RID and/or Oak Tree ob clinics as well as general ID clinics and the tropical disease clinic at VH&HSC, and the outpatient HIV clinics at St. Paul’s Hospital. Opportunity to follow patients over a period of time is provided by attendance in a single clinic for at least four to eight weeks. A “fellows’ clinic” at which longitudinal care can be provided for the duration of the clinical training, with supervision from the ID faculty is offered to the 2nd year fellow. A block of time of several months based at BC Women’s that may include STD clinics at the BC Centre for Disease Control focus on reproductive infections and to access Obstetric ID clinics and inpatient consults.
- Hospital Infection Control teaching and experience is provided during the dedicated general microbiology block. A self-study infection control module has been developed and is worked through by trainees, with weekly discussion sessions provided by Infection Control staff. In addition, each resident is expected to be involved in the design, conduct and analysis of at least one infection control project. Fellows are also invited to attend monthly Infection Control Unit meetings for 1 year (except while on the inpatient consultation service).
- The Medical Microbiology block has been modified from the general ID training to involved training at the Children’s Hospital laboratory to allow for exposure to more Ob/Gyn and Paediatric focused laboratory. During this block, objectives include “hands-on” experience and acquisition of knowledge in general bacteriology, and virology. A second year rotation in virology as a separate one month block at St. Paul’s is available. In addition, an optional month at the VH&HCS laboratory in the second year provides exposure to mycology and parasitology.
- Research is an area of emphasis in this UBC program with at least 3 months/year dedicated to research. Design and interpretation of research studies, evaluation of investigative and diagnostic methods, data analysis and basic statistical skills are acquired during the mandatory statistics and Clinical Epidemiology course. Critical appraisal skills are further developed at the weekly Journal Club. The fellow will spend all or most of their elective rotations in clinical or basic science research, under supervision of their Committee. It is an expectation that at least one abstract will be submitted for presentation at a major meeting, and that manuscripts will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
- The co-ordinated educational programs include weekly journal clubs, a weekly city-wide ID seminar, biweekly research seminars, monthly interdisciplinary AIDS care rounds, and the academic half-day program.
- A 2 to 3 week block will be set aside in the Summer for optional attendance at the University of Washington STD/AIDS course held in Seattle, which is an opportunity for excellent training as well as exposure to ID fellows from around the world.