THORACIC MEDICINE

Definition of Speciality

Thoracic medicine is a subspecialty of internal medicine encompassing diseases of the respiratory system which includes the upper airway, the lung, the chest wall and the ventilatory control system. Thoracic medicine is a cohesive blend of: clinical knowledge of respiratory diseases; the respiratory sciences of normal and disordered respiratory function; and experience with specialised diagnostic techniques, tests and procedures employed in clinical assessment.

General Principles of Training

1. Career training in thoracic respiratory medicine consists of a structured three-year program. Advanced training commences with approval of a submitted program. At least two years training in clinical thoracic medicine is necessary. The third year of training may be spent in research or in an approved complementary year in a related discipline. Complementary training will normally not be undertaken until at least one year of core thoracic medicine training has been completed.
   
2. Trainees are encouraged to become conversant with all diagnostic procedures available, with the current literature, and with research activities in the respiratory field, but are not expected to become expert in all branches of thoracic medicine and in all techniques.
   
3. It is desirable that training is undertaken at more than one institution and it is envisaged that this will be necessary for many trainees, to enable them to acquire a sufficient breadth of experience.
   
4. Advanced trainees transferring to the SAC may be advised to undertake some post FRACP supervised training in thoracic medicine to complete their three year training program.
   
5. Normally, at least one year of advanced training should be undertaken in Australia or New Zealand.

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