IWK Health Center/Dalhousie University

TRAINING PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Joanne Langley, MD, MSc, FRCPC
RESEARCH INTEREST: Hospital infection control; respiratory infections; vaccine-preventable diseases

TRAINING PROGRAM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
RESEARCH INTEREST:

CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Scott Halperin, MD
RESEARCH INTERESTS: B. pertussis infection; diagnosis and immunity to infection; vaccine trials

ASSOCIATE: Bob Bortolussi, MD, FRCPC
RESEARCH INTEREST: Neonatal host defense mechanisms and L monocytogenes infection

ASSOCIATE: Andrew Issekutz, MD
RESEARCH INTEREST: Cytokines and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in inflammation

ASSOCIATE: Thomas Issekutz, MD, Phd
RESEARCH INTEREST: Cytokines and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in inflammation, arthritis and asthma; transplantation immunology

ASSOCIATE: Tong-Jun Lin, PhD
RESEARCH INTEREST: Primary immune deficiency; stem cell immunobiology; tolerance induction

ASSOCIATE: Timothy Mailman, MD
RESEARCH INTEREST: Molecular diagnostic techniques; nosocomial infections

ASSOCIATE: Andrew Stadnyk, PhD
RESEARCH INTEREST: Immune mechanisms in parasitic disease of the intestine

ASSOCIATE: Noni MacDonald
RESEARCH INTEREST: Health policy; vaccine safety; translation vaccine research into vaccine programs

MAJOR FEATURES OF TRAINING PROGRAM: Our two or three year program is geared to prepare trainees for a research-oriented academic career in pediatric infectious disease. Training opportunities are offered in epidemiology, clinical research and laboratory research. Laboratory-based research deals with host response to various pathogens: B. pertussis, L. monocytogenes, E. coli, T. spiralis, parainfluenza viruses, RSV, and to endotoxin. In addition, the mechanisms of inflammation, leukocyte migration, the role of cytokines and adhesion molecules are being assessed in animal models of autoimmune diseases and asthma. Clinical research includes multicentre vaccine trials, studies of pertussis treatment and prevention organized from our centre, and hospital infection control projects. For research-based trainees, clinical rotation will be restricted to four months annually. We are accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a pediatric infectious fellowship training program.

AFFILIATED HOSPITALS:

NUMBER OF PEDIATRIC BEDS:

FELLOWS ACCEPTED EACH YEAR:

TRAINING FOR MD; DO; MD, PhD:

FUNDING IS ENSURED FOR ALL 3 YEARS:

VISAS ACCEPTED: J1, H1B, Other

IS COMPLETION OF PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING IN THE U.S. OR CANADA A REQUIREMENT? YES/NO

THE PROGRAM OFFERS THE FOLLOWING TRAINING:

Program provides training in diagnostic microbiology using laboratories on site:

Microbiology laboratory:  YES/NO
Clinical virus isolation laboratory: YES/NO
Molecular diagnostics: YES/NO
Other – Please specify:

Program provides training in infection control and hospital epidemiology as:

Didactic lectures:  YES/NO
Hands on experience: YES/NO
Infection Control Meetings/Membership: YES/NO

Opportunity to fulfill the ABP requirements for scholarly activity is available in the following general areas:

Bacteriology/bacterial infections: YES/NO
Epidemiology and statistics: YES/NO
Infection control/hospital epidemiology: YES/NO
Immunizations/Public health: YES/NO
Mycology/fungal infections: YES/NO
Parasitology/parasitic diseases: YES/NO
Virology/viral diseases: YES/NO
Antimicrobial agents: YES/NO
Other – Please specify:

Research opportunities in the section’s program could be describes as:

Basic (bench): YES/NO
Molecular: YES/NO
Translational: YES/NO
Epidemiologic: YES/NO
Clinical: YES/NO
International/Public Health: YES/NO
Health Services: YES/NO
HIV, Basic: YES/NO
HIV, Clinical: YES/NO
ACTG Site: YES/NO
Other – Please specify:

Documented liaison exists offering opportunities for research experience n the laboratory of investigator(s) who is (are) not faculty of the section: YES/NO

Program offers the opportunity to obtain a Master’s degree in a field such as Public Health, Education, Clinical Sciences, or Epidemiology (assuming appropriate arrangements are made): YES/NO

Other – Please specify:

Graduate school courses are available to trainee (assuming appropriate arrangements are made): YES/NO

Program provides substantial clinical experiences for trainees in special areas/hosts:

HIV: YES/NO
Bone marrow transplantation: YES/NO
Solid organ/transplantation: YES/NO
Travelers/adoptees: YES/NO
Adults: YES/NO
Congenital immune deficiencies: YES/NO
Other – Please specify:

Program includes ABP-required core curricula in scholarly activities in didactic lecture course for fellows (includes epidemiology, statistics, research design, and academic careers): YES/NO

Program has an NIH-sponsored training grant: YES/NO

The Infectious Diseases Service is the primary care provider for HIV-infected children and adolescents: YES/NO

Average number of new outpatient consultations per month:

Average number of established outpatient follow-up visits per month:

Average number of new inpatient consultations per month:

Number of trainees completing program in the last 5 years: (2002-2007)