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The goals of the Rheumatology Fellowship Program are:
- To help trainees achieve clinical and procedural competence in Rheumatology
- To encourage and develop trainee adaptability and personal initiative so that they are capable of working in a variety of settings
- To help trainees become life-long learners.
These goals are further amplified as follows:
1. We define a clinically competent rheumatologist as one having:
a. A basic core of knowledge of clinical manifestations, clinical presentations, pathophysiology and management of rheumatologic diseases or systemic diseases with rheumatic manifestations. This knowledge base should include anatomy, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, statistics, ethics, and human behavior relative to the practice of rheumatology.
b. The clinical skill of data collection including history-taking, physical examination and the appropriate request of laboratory and imaging studies.
c. The ability to analyze clinical data in the context of a basic fund of medical knowledge.
d. The ability to formulate appropriate differential diagnoses and therapeutic plans.
e. The versatility to perform as a either a consultant or a principal care provider when required.
f. The knowledge to treat the common and uncommon diseases found in the practice of rheumatology. To develop the understanding of the principles, indications, contra-indications, risk, cost and expected outcome of the various treatments. To recognize the need for appropriate consultation and the reasonable expectations from a consultant.
g. The performance and/or interpretation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures common in the practice of rheumatology. This skill should include the understanding of the principles, indications, contraindications, risk, cost and expected outcome of these procedures.
h. The further development of appropriate communication skills with patients, peer and paramedical personnel.
i. The further development of qualities of professionalism and humanistic skills including integrity, compassion, and respect for patients, peers and paramedical personnel.
j. Clinically competent rheumatologists must possess a level of skill and expertise in research. All fellows must be capable of demonstrating competence in the understanding of the design, implementation and interpretation of research studies; specifically including research methodology, critical interpretation of data, critical interpretation of published research, and the responsible use of informed consent.
2. The ability to work in a variety of settings is essential for a clinically complete rheumatologist. The fellows will be able to demonstrate clinical competence in the following settings:
a. As the primary health care provider in the acute inpatient setting, the ambulatory clinic, the emergency department, and the intensive care setting.
b. As the consultant to other internists or non-internists in the acute inpatient setting, the ambulatory clinic, the emergency department, and intensive care setting.
c. As the leader of a multidisciplinary health care team, i.e., rehabilitation facilities, home health care, etc.
3. Life-long learning is an essential component for clinically competent physicians and required for the acquisition, critical analysis, synthesis and reassessment of knowledge, skills and professionalism.
All fellows will be capable of demonstrating their ability to be life-long learners by their:
a. Independent study habits in the acquisition of clinical and research knowledge and skills.
b. Attendance, presentation and participation in the organization of local educational conferences.
c. Attendance and presentation at regional and national professional scientific conferences.
Objectives:
At the completion of the rheumatology fellowship training, the fellow should have mastered the following objectives as they pertain to each of the goals of the curriculum:
1. Clinical competence in a variety of clinical settings:
a. Demonstrate mastery of the clinical evaluation and management of diseases seen in the practice of rheumatology, including the uncommon and complicated diseases.
b. Demonstrate proficiency as a consultant and/or leader of a multi-disciplinary health care team.
c. Possess communication skills that will allow the fellow to perform as the health care team leader with peers and professionals.
d. Demonstrate capability to teach their skills to trainees at junior levels.
e. Qualities of professionalism and humanistic skills will be demonstrated at a level which serves as a model for trainees at a junior level.
f. Capability to design of at least one research protocol and present it at a critical review forum. They should also produce sufficient research work to enable them to submit their work for peer reviewed presentation, scientific meetings, manuscript submissions, or grant applications for research funding.
2. Life-long learning:
a. Fellows will demonstrate proficiency at attending and participating in conferences, and coordinating conferences, conference topics, and conference schedules. These include, but are not limited to, journal club, grand rounds, fellows conference, pediatric rheumatology conference.
b. Fellows will develop skills in systems-based learning and practice-based learning. Systems-based learning includes skills such as: accessing and mobilizing outside resources, using systematic approaches to reducing errors and improving patient care, developing systems improvement, advocating quality care and assessing and coordinating health care. Practice-based learning includes skills such as: self-evaluation, incorporating feedback into improvement activities, effectively using technology to manage information on patient care and self-improvement, assimilating information related to patient’s healthcare problems and applying knowledge of study design and statistics to practice.
c. Fellows will demonstrate mastery of teaching skills in their interaction with trainees in junior levels of training. This may include supervised teaching interactions with trainees such as junior-level fellows, residents, and medical students.