Asthma & Airway Disease

The Asthma and Airway Diseases Fellowship at the University of Toronto is a 1-year clinical-research fellowship offered by Division of Respirology, focused at Mount Sinai Hospital with additional clinic time across the academic affiliated hospitals, including Toronto Western Hospital Asthma and Airway Center, Women’s College Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital. The fellowship will be offered to one individual per year who has finished 2 years of Respirology training, ideally in a program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Goals and Objectives of the Training

The goal of the fellowship is to provide a trainee with supplementary training, education and research opportunities to advance knowledge in assessment and management of patients with asthma and severe airways disease. Clinical, QI or translational research is an expected component of the Fellowship.

Trainees can choose to enroll in a master’s program through the IHPME, IMS or master’s programs at another institution while taking part in this fellowship.  However, a concurrent master’s degree is not mandatory. 

Please note that the IHPME application is due in mid-November, so if trainees are interested in applying, their application to IHPME will need to be concurrent with their application for the Asthma and Airway Diseases fellowship. 

MEDICAL EXPERT

Asthma:

Learn about the pathophysiology of different forms of asthma and how different treatments might affect various pathways that have been implicated in asthma. Learn about methods, both established and in development, for diagnosing and guiding the treatment of asthma, including exhaled NO and sputum cytometry. Learn about the treatment of asthma with a focus on severe and difficult to treat asthma, as well as “asthma plus” syndromes.  Learn about the use of new treatment modalities, including biologic drug therapy, measures of treatment compliance, and bronchial thermoplasty. Learn about the diagnosis and management of occupational asthma.

COPD:

Learn about the pathophysiology of COPD and how different treatments work on various aspects of the pathophysiology. Learn about the role of ambulatory pulmonary rehabilitation in the treatment of COPD with an emphasis on appropriate exercise programs and measuring outcomes. Develop an approach to the comprehensive management of severe chronic disease including the role of multi-disciplinary teams in managing care.

Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis:

Learn about the pathophysiology of the various etiologies of non-CF bronchiectasis. Develop an approach to investigating non-CF bronchiectasis and diagnosing a specific etiology. Develop an approach to the chronic treatment and management of non-CF bronchiectasis, as well as acute exacerbations. Understand the role of surgery and transplantation in non-CF bronchiectasis.

COLLABORATOR

Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop or maintain an approach to the comprehensive care of patients with asthma or severe airway diseases. Contribute effectively to other interdisciplinary team activities, in particular for purposes of patient education and self-management in the chronic respiratory diseases. Work effectively with the research team. 

COMMUNICATOR

Learn how to effectively communicate diagnostic impressions and care plan suggestions to patients and referring physicians. Learn how to develop or critically evaluate existing written or electronic materials for provision to patients as educational tools. Learn how to effectively present a research study and results to colleagues in academic rounds and/or academic conferences. Learn how to counsel patients about the natural history of airway diseases and discuss the risks and benefits therapies.

HEALTH CARE ADVOCATE

To understand the importance of environmental exposures in the development of airways diseases and advocate on behalf of patients to minimize exposures in their work and home environments. To help advocate for your patients to facilitate access to biologic therapies. To identify barriers to optimal care of patients and explore potential ways to address those barriers. 

LEADER

Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of allocation of finite health care resources. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of approximate costs and benefits of investigations and treatment strategies (i.e. biologic therapies).

SCHOLAR

To incorporate evidence-based medicine into investigations and therapeutic plans. To develop prospective research protocols and projects with incorporation of an understanding of research methodology and trial design. To learn techniques to allow high quality retrospective database analysis. To develop techniques for educating other trainees on Asthma and Airways Disease topics in large and small group sessions.

PROFESSIONAL

To demonstrate professionalism during interactions with patients and multiple members of the health care team. To exhibit professional behaviour by ensuring punctuality and attendance at all scheduled clinics and to provide adequate notice if you are unable to attend a clinic for personal reasons or illness to ensure that your absence does not negatively influence patient care.

The Training Structure

The Asthma and Airway Diseases fellowship is primarily a clinical fellowship.  Trainee time will be divided as 70-80% clinical activities and 20-30% scholarly/research activities, although this is flexible if there is a candidate who is interested in pursuing concurrent graduate studies. Trainees will attend a variety of clinics with different medical experts, leveraging experience and resources available across the academic sites at the University of Toronto.  During clinical activities, trainees will provide direct patient care under the supervision of the attending physicians in the clinic.  Other, subspecialty clinics are optional (i.e. non-CF bronchiectasis) and may be attended once or twice per month.  There is no inpatient component to the Fellowship and there are no “on-call” responsibilities.  Non-clinical time (approximately 1-1.5 days per week) will be spent pursuing research activities.

The Application Process

The fellowship is administered through the University of Toronto’s Division of Respirology.  Applications should include a brief letter outlining the applicant’s goals during their fellowship, a Curriculum Vitae and 3 letters of reference.  Applications should be mailed or e-mailed to:

Dr. Alina Blazer
Asthma and Airway Disease Fellowship Supervisor
Mount Sinai Hospital
600 University Avenue, Room 475
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5G 1X5

Alina.Blazer@uhn.ca

Decisions regarding acceptance into the Fellowship will be made jointly by the members of the Asthma and Airway Diseases program. Members include:

Application period is August 15 - October 15 to be considered for the following academic year. Interviews will be held in November, and the recipient of the fellowship position will be announced in December for a position starting on July 1st of the following year.

Once a person has been accepted into the Asthma and Airway Diseases Fellowship Program, a formal appointment will be initiated by the Supervisor with the Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, Administration office, and the Post Graduate Medical Education Office (PGME)

Eligibility 

This one-year fellowship accepts a maximum of one individual each year.  It is offered to individuals who are eligible to take the written and oral examinations in Respirology at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  Preference for acceptance to the fellowship will be given to individuals who have demonstrated academic potential and commitment to an academic career.