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Vocational Training
Endocrinology
Supervising
Committee
Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) in Endocrinology.
Definition of Specialty
Endocrinology is the science of circulating and locally acting hormones, the glandular
system which produces them and their roles in health and disease. The specialty
of clinical endocrinology encompasses the diagnosis and management of disorders
of the endocrine system. Paediatric endocrinologists provide treatment, diagnostic
and laboratory analysis and conduct basic and applied research in a wide range
of humoral and metabolic conditions of infants, children and adolescents.
General Principles
- Advanced training in paediatric endocrinology will be for at least 3
years following satisfactory completion of basic paediatric training and the FRACP
Examination in Paediatrics. No part of the training prior to the examination will
be credited towards advanced training.
- The goal of the training programme
is to produce specialist paediatric endocrinologists skilled in diagnosis and
management of endocrine diseases with adequate understanding of the physiology
of hormonal regulation in children, adolescents and young adults.
- Clinical
experience must involve patients in all categories of paediatric endocrine disease,
both acute and chronic. This includes the management of patients with diabetes
mellitus and neonatal endocrinology.
- It is highly desirable but not mandatory
that the 3 years of advanced training not be spent in the one unit, preferably
including a large international unit.
- All subspecialty paediatric trainees
must complete the community and child health requirements for paediatric training.
Note
that the guidelines differ between Australia and New Zealand.
Components of Training
Core Training- Of the 3 years advanced training at least 12 months
full time or the equivalent part time (not necessarily consecutively) shall be
spent in clinical training, where the candidate is responsible for inpatient and
outpatient care of paediatric endocrine patients. In order to fulfil this requirement
in the majority of units it will be necessary to continue a clinical endocrine
component such as attending outpatient clinics throughout the remainder of the
advanced training. This requirement applies to all candidates regardless of their
future career intention.
- At least 12 of the 24 remaining months must be
spent in basic or clinical research. Trainees are encouraged to enrol in a MD
or PhD of which 12 months of full time research will be accredited.
- The
trainee must be exposed to the use of laboratory techniques in paediatric endocrinology,
with particular emphasis being placed on recognition of the limitations and pitfalls
of interpretation of laboratory results. Formal rotations through such laboratories
should be included. Candidates should be provided with the background which will
enable them to utilise current diagnostic procedures of paediatric endocrinology
including radiology and nuclear medicine.
- Some outpatient experience in
an adult endocrine unit (e.g. a weekly clinic for 6 months) is desirable but not
essential.
Assessment
- Assessment of a candidate's progress will primarily be by formal reports
from their supervisor. The candidate will have a face-to-face interview with a
paediatric representative of the SAC in at least 2 of 3 years of training. If
this is impractical because, for instance, the trainee is overseas, the interview
may be done by telephone hookup.
- The candidate shall provide evidence
of meaningful accomplishment in research by one of the following:
- first
author of at least one research paper accepted for publication in a peer reviewed
journal, acceptable to the SAC
- a thesis accepted as fulfilment of the
requirements of a PhD or MD or Research Masters in a field relevant to paediatric
endocrinology
- first author of at least 2 scientific abstracts presented
at a local or international scientific meeting.
Adult Trainees
wishing to transfer into Paediatric Endocrinology see Variations
in Training in the General Basic Training section.
A period of
basic training and assessment in general paediatrics including neonatology (one
to 2 years) would be required in addition to advanced training requirements in
paediatric endocrinology.
Special
Societies
- Australian Paediatric Endocrinology Group (APEG);
- The Endocrine Society of Australia; and
- Australian Diabetes Society.
For further information,
please contact:
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APEG
Secretariat
PO Box 180
Morisset, NSW 2264
Telephone: 61 2 4973 6573
Fax: 61 2 4973 6609
E-mail:apeg@willorganise.com.au
Website: www.racp.edu.au/apeg
New Zealand trainees may also like to contact:
Jane Perry
Administrative Officer (Paediatric Advanced Training)
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
P O Box 10 601
Wellington
Phone: (04) 460 8124
Fax: (04) 472 6718
E-mail: jane.perry@racp.org.nz
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Endocrine Society of Australia
Secretariat
145 Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Tel: 61 2 9256 5405
Fax: 61 2 9251 8174
E-mail: esa@racp.edu.au
Website: www.endocrinesociety.org.au
Australian Diabetes Society
Secretariat
145 Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Tel: 61 2 9256 5462
Fax: 61 2 9251 8174
E-mail: sneylon@racp.edu.au
Website: www.racp.edu.au/ads
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