Adult Thrombosis Medicine Area of Focused Competency

Goals of Training

The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a one-year Area of Focused Competency (AFC) in Adult Thrombosis Medicine.

This nationally-accredited clinical fellowship provides trainees with the competencies to practice independently as thrombosis specialists in Canada. Trainees develop competency in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of venous thromboembolism, management of antithrombotic therapy, and laboratory testing pertinent to coagulation and hemostasis under the mentorship of renown experts. They also participate in scholarly work and develop proficiency in medical education.

Clinical Curriculum

The program’s clinical curriculum is designed to ensure trainees receive comprehensive exposure to the diverse aspects of Adult Thrombosis Medicine in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Trainees rotate across the following sites, each offering unique learning opportunities and patient populations:

  1. Paul’s Hospital Thrombosis clinic and inpatient service (7-8 blocks)
  2. Vancouver General Hospital Thrombosis clinic and inpatient service (2-3 blocks)
  3. Surrey Memorial Hospital Thrombosis clinic (1 block)

In addition to these core rotations, up to two elective blocks are allocated for trainees to focus on specific career goals and aspirations. During these blocks, trainees are encouraged to rotate at other AFC Thrombosis training sites in Canada (either the University of Ottawa, McMaster University, or McGill University).

Educational Activities

Early in the academic year, trainees attend structured teaching sessions which provide them with the necessary knowledge to function effectively as thrombosis consultants.

  1. Fundamentals of Thrombosis Lecture Series: Led by teaching faculty, these sessions cover core topics in Adult Thrombosis Medicine, including but not limited to pathophysiology, genetics, and epidemiology of thromboembolic disease, antithrombotic pharmacology, and diagnostic and therapeutic issues in venous thromboembolism.
  1. Hematopathology Laboratory Teaching: Led by Hematopathologists at St. Paul’s Hospital, these half-day didactic and bench side sessions provide trainees with proficiency in interpretation of coagulation and hemostasis assays.

Trainees also lead multiple educational sessions throughout the academic year, including Journal Club and case-based teaching for junior trainees. They also present on challenging and complex topics in Adult Thrombosis Medicine at the monthly BC Thrombosis Network Rounds attended by Thrombosis specialists across the province.

Scholarly Work

Throughout the academic year, trainees undertake a scholarly project in either research, medical education, or a quality improvement initiative, under guidance of a faculty member. One block of protected time is allocated to focus on the project. They are encouraged to present their findings at national and international conferences.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Applicants must be certified in Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine, or be eligible to receive such certification during their AFC training.
  1. Applicants must demonstrate proof of third-party funding from a legal organization or institute. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Director in advance of the application deadline to discuss funding options.
  1. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Prospective applicants from internationally-sponsored institutions are encouraged to contact the Program Director in advance of the application deadline to review their eligibility.

Application Process:

  1. Prospective applicants must submit the following documents to the Program Director before November 15 to be eligible for enrollment in July of the subsequent year:
    1. Letter of Intent outlining the applicant’s interest in the program and career aspirations
    2. Curriculum Vitae
    3. Two letters of support, including one from the applicant’s current specialty Program Director (if applicable)
    4. Performance evaluations from post-graduate clinical rotations
  1. All eligible applicants are invited to interview, through a virtual platform.
  2. Once interviews and file reviews are complete, applicants are ranked based on the following criteria:
    1. Academic record
    2. Academic/scholarly accomplishments
    3. Reference letters
    4. Interview performance
    5. Alignment of the applicant’s learning goals with the program’s curriculum
  1. The top 1-2 candidates are selected to enroll in the program. Successful candidates are notified by December 22 preceding the year of enrolment.

Certification

Upon successful completion of training, the trainee will be granted a Fellowship Certification from UBC, and has the option of acquiring a Diploma in Adult Thrombosis Medicine from the RCPSC.

Useful Links

UBC Area of Focused Competency: https://postgrad.med.ubc.ca/prospective-trainees/area-of-focused-competency-afc/

Competency Training Requirements for the Area of Focused Competence in Adult Thrombosis Medicine: https://www.royalcollege.ca/content/dam/documents/ibd/adult-thrombosis-medicine/thrombosis-medicine-adult-afc-ctr-e.html

Questions

For further questions related to the UBC Adult Thrombosis Medicine AFC, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Alejandro Dau (alejandro.dau@ubc.ca).

 

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