The UBC ID training program is organized by the CanMEDS objectives as outlined by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Each rotation has specific objectives, but the general objectives for the training program are to ensure the resident becomes proficient as:

• Medical Expert/Clinical Decision-Maker
• Communicator
• Collaborator
• Leader
• Health Advocate
• Scholar
• Professional

For details on these objectives, please see “Objectives of Training” at the Royal College website page on Infectious Diseases, at http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/documents/ibd/infectious_diseases_otr_e.pdf  and  http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/documents/ibd/canmeds-2015-otr-addendum-oselt-e

– Subspecialty training in Adult Infectious Diseases at UBC takes place at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH). At VGH, areas of special emphasis include infections related to bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, travel and tropical medicine, neurosurgery and neurology, burns, multiple trauma, tuberculosis, and spinal cord injury.

– At SPH, areas of special emphasis include infections related to HIV/AIDS, infections in people who use drugs, cystic fibrosis, and cardiovascular surgery. A dedicated Urban Health Infection Unit includes patients with HIV/AIDS and also patients with infectious complications of drug use, providing a valuable opportunity for training.

– Acute and chronic community-acquired infections, nosocomial and medical device-associated infections, and surgical infections are seen at both sites.

– Additional areas of specialisation include:

• Infections related to obstetrics and gynecology (including HIV infection in women, youth and children). At the BC Women’s Hospital and the Oak Tree Clinic.
• Pediatric infectious diseases (inpatient consultation service and outpatient clinics). At BC Children’s Hospital.
• Ambulatory care including TB, sexually transmitted infections, outpatient management of viral hepatitis, and clinics for women and families with HIV; ID subspecialty residents have a longitudinal clinic, focusing on all aspects of general ID. At St. Paul’s and VGH, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and the Oak Tree Clinic.
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC): the clinical and laboratory aspects of infection control; complete a project addressing a current IPAC issue; participate in the investigation of an outbreak, attend IPAC Committee meetings and attend daily infection control meetings while on the Pediatric service. At St. Paul’s and VGH, and BC Children’s Hospital.
• Dedicated general microbiology blocks, including general bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, virology, parasitology, and molecular diagnostics. At St. Paul’s and VGH. Microbiology training is delivered via the Path 722 course which is a three-month course running in the fall of the junior year, with didactic lectures and hands-on laboratory exposure.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship program. At St. Paul’s and VGH.
• A block of public health in a municipal or regional agency with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. At Fraser Health.
• Transplant infectious diseases at Vancouver General Hospital.

– Electives in clinical infectious diseases are available at community hospitals including Surrey Memorial Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, Richmond and Burnaby Hospitals, Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital, Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital and University Hospital of Northern British Columbia. Electives in viral hepatitis, wound care, tropical medicine, global health and OPAT are available.

– Research is an area of emphasis in the UBC program:

• train in Clinical Epidemiology and learn the design and interpretation of research studies, evaluation of investigative and diagnostic methods, data analysis and basic statistical skills
• develop critical appraisal skills at weekly Journal Club
• spend elective rotations in clinical or basic science research under Committee supervision
• submit for presentation at least one abstract at a major meeting, and submit a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

– Infectious Diseases Academic Half-Day:

• attend every Thursday afternoon with adult ID, pediatric ID, and medical microbiology residents. Subspecialty residents are excused from clinical duties at this time
• a two-year program of weekly topics designed to ensure coverage of the basic and clinical sciences relevant to the specialty
• Academic half day content is presented by both faculty and trainees
• write practice examinations every six months, prep for the Royal College ID examination.

– Infectious Diseases Journal Club: meeting weekly, subspecialty residents, residents and students critically review journal articles, with faculty in attendance.

– Infectious Diseases Inter-City Rounds: meeting weekly, with a quality improvement/morbidity and mortality review by all the services quarterly.

– Plenaries at Infectious Diseases Rounds: once each month faculty, visiting professors, and subspecialty residents present on research topics and topics of interest. Interactive discussions are encouraged.

– Tropical Medicine Rounds: weekly meetings with lectures, cases and interactive sessions on the clinical approach to the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tropical diseases.

– Interdisciplinary AIDS Care Rounds: bi-weekly.