Adult Thrombosis Medicine Area of Focused Competency

Goals of Training

The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a nationally accredited fellowship training program in Adult Thrombosis Medicine.

This one year clinical fellowship provides trainees with the competencies to practice independently as Thrombosis Specialists in Canada. Trainees develop expertise in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of venous thromboembolism, management of antithrombotic therapy, and hematopathology/laboratory testing pertinent to Adult Thrombosis Medicine. They also participate in scholarly work and develop proficiency in medical education.

 

Clinical Curriculum

The clinical curriculum provides comprehensive exposure to the diverse aspects of Adult

Thrombosis Medicine in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Trainees rotate across the following core sites, each providing 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)

Throughout the academic year, trainees also participate in the Longitudinal Salish Sea Thrombosis Clinic 2–3 half‑days per block, allowing them to follow patients over time and develop strong proficiency in outpatient thrombosis care.

In addition, up to two elective blocks are allocated for trainees to focus on specific career goals and aspirations relevant to Adult Thrombosis Medicine. During these blocks, trainees are encouraged to rotate at other accredited AFC Thrombosis training sites in Canada.

 

Academic Curriculum

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

  1. Didactic and Case-Based Teaching (10-13 sessions per year): Led by teaching faculty, these sessions cover core topics in Adult Thrombosis Medicine, including but not limited to epidemiology of thromboembolic disease, pharmacology of antithrombotic agents, and diagnostic/therapeutic issues related to venous thromboembolism.
  2. Hematopathology Teaching (10 half-days per year): Led by Hematopathologists at St. Paul’s Hospital, these didactic and bench-side sessions cover core topics in pathophysiology and genetics of thromboembolic disease and provide trainees with proficiency in interpretation of coagulation and hemostasis assays.

Trainees also lead multiple educational sessions throughout the academic year, including but not limited to Journal Club as well as case-based teaching for junior learners. They also present on complex thrombosis topics 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 clinical research, medical education, or quality improvement, under direct mentorship of a faculty member. Protected time away from clinical work is allocated for completion of the project. Trainees are encouraged to present their findings at national and international conferences and receive funding to support their attendance.

 

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Applicants must hold Royal College certification or equivalent in Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine or be eligible to receive such certification during their AFC training.
  2. Applicants must demonstrate proof of third-party funding from a legal institute to cover their salary. At present, the AFC program cannot fund unsalaried trainees.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Director in advance of the application deadline to review their eligibility and discuss funding options.

 

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

Trainees who successfully complete the program receive an AFC Fellowship Certification from UBC. They may also choose to apply for the RCPSC Diploma in Adult Thrombosis Medicine.

 

Relevant Documents

Documents on the UBC Adult Thrombosis Medicine AFC’s structure, curriculum, assessment tools, and policies are available through this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kbkNKg2x6ny9XgSJWArqgV3ii_xp6XzF?usp=sharing

 

Questions

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

 

External Links

  1. UBC AFC programs: https://postgrad.med.ubc.ca/prospective-trainees/area-of-focused-competency-afc/
  2. 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

 

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