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Vocational Training
Endocrinology (from 2008)
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 is a 3 year program comprising
core and non core training. It follows 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 program 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 advanced trainees undertake training in more
than one unit, preferably including a large international unit, to
enable them to gain sufficient breadth of exposure and experience.
- All subspecialty paediatric trainees must complete additional mandatory
training requirements. Please note that the mandatory training guidelines
differ between Australia and New Zealand. (In Australia, all paediatric
trainees must complete 6 months of Developmental and Psychosocial training.
This must be applied for prospectively if completed during advanced
training.)
Components of Training
Advanced training in paediatric endocrinology includes at least 24 months of
core clinical training and up to 12 months of non core training.
Post FRACP training in paediatric endocrinology is a two year program of core
training. Training programs will be assessed using the same criteria as for advanced
training programs. Post FRACP trainees must submit a prospective application
for approval of advanced training to the SAC prior to the commencement of each
period of training; Supervisors' Reports must also be submitted to the SAC in
line with College deadlines for each year of training.
Core Training- Of the 3 years of advanced training, at least 2 years
full time (or the equivalent part time) shall be spent in core 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 advanced training. This requirement
applies to all candidates regardless of their future career intention.
- A core year should include the equivalent of 12 months of full time training
with at least 50% of the trainee’s time devoted to the care of paediatric
endocrine patients. This should consist of a minimum of 4 sessions of 3 hours
duration per week, which need to include outpatient clinics, clinical meetings
(eg X-ray meetings, case discussions), ward rounds and on call responsibilities.
A core year may be accrued pro-rata over more than one year provided that
at least two sessions per week are devoted to direct patient care during
the period of core training.
- 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.
- Experience with first on call responsibilities is mandatory, including
after hours on call responsibilities where possible.
- Some outpatient experience in
an adult endocrine unit (e.g. a weekly clinic for 6 months) is desirable but not
essential.
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