In order to take this examination, candidates must have prior certification in either Medicine or Paediatrics. The objectives of the University of Toronto program are in accord with those of the Royal College. However, if they wish to, candidates may pursue an academic career with a focus on bench research, clinical research or clinical epidemiology. During the course of the training in Infectious Diseases, candidates acquire clinical competence in the management of infections together with a sound background in the basic sciences of microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and epidemiology. There is ample experience in both in-patient and ambulatory settings.
Trainees learn to serve as consultants to other services.
Trainees also develop research and educational expertise, and are expected to acquire focused research training in addition to the core program outlined below. Additional experience is available through 2-6 month rotations in Infectious Diseases at other hospitals listed above. There is a two-month rotation on the Tropical Diseases Unit where the residents participate in a busy outpatient clinic, do inpatient consultations and learn diagnostic parasitology in the adjacent clinical laboratory. Within 3 months of starting the program, the trainees must align themselves with one faculty member who will be their research mentor. Major research foci include bench research with molecular techniques as well as hospital and infectious diseases epidemiology.