Infectious Diseases

Subspecialty Residency Program

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Subspecialty Residency Program offers candidates an exposure to a tertiary/quaternary care pediatric institution that has all pediatric subspecialties represented. There is an active bone marrow transplant program, a renal transplant program and a heart transplant program. There is a 15 bed Pediatric ICU, a 52-bed Neonatal ICU and a very active Hematology/Oncology program, in addition to the busiest pediatric emergency room in Canada. The MCH is a regional referral center for a population of 1.7 million and in addition services all of the northern regions of the province of Quebec, and their indigenous population (Inuit and Cree). The population of Montreal is quite diverse, with a substantial immigrant and refugee population, and as such the tropical medicine component of the Infectious Diseases service is also quite active, and we are fortunate to be supported on site by the J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases at McGill University.  All of these attributes allows the trainee to have the broadest exposure to pediatric infectious diseases during their training.

The program is primarily based at the Montreal Children's Hospital, which is part of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), but there is opportunity to do electives rotations at other Royal College certified sites in Pediatric Infectious Diseases.  One of the highlights of the program is its integration with adult infectious diseases and medical microbiology training programs, sharing a structured education program which includes weekly joint academic half-day and journal clubs.  Given this close working relationship with the adult programs, it allows for a greater critical number of trainees and allows for more diversified educational opportunities.  

For the microbiology training aspects of the program, we are fortunate to have a dedicated full-time Assistant Chief Technologist in the lab to supervise this aspect of the training. 

At present, the Division of Infectious Diseases includes six infectious diseases specialists, three of whom are also certified in medical microbiology, another who is also certified in pediatric allergy and immunology, another who specializes in HIV, another who has a Masters of Science in Epidemiogy. This allows for a multi-disciplinary approach to our patients and their issues.

Program length:

  • 2 year training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases subspecialty residency program
  • 3 year training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology subspecialty residency program

Average number of trainees per year: 2-3

Training Requirements

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Subspecialty Residency Program follows the training requirements set by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPSC). 

1. Two years (26 blocks) of approved residency in pediatric Infectious Diseases, a maximum of one year (13 blocks) of which may be undertaken at the fourth year residency level during training for certification in Pediatrics. This period must include:

1.1. Twelve (12) blocks or equivalent in the entire spectrum of acute, chronic and recurrent infectious diseases in hospitalized and ambulatory patients, including both consultative practice and longitudinal follow-upA minimum of eight (8) blocks on the inpatient consultation service

1.1.1. Two (2) clinical blocks in the role of junior attending, on the inpatient consultation service, to be scheduled after sufficient training has been completed

1.1.1.1. Two (2) blocks in adult Infectious Diseases

1.2. One (1) half-day per week of longitudinal ambulatory care experience, or its equivalent, throughout the two (2) years of training. This experience must include a general Infectious Diseases clinic for a minimum of 6 months but may include any of the following provided the patient population includes a significant proportion of pediatric patients (each for a minimum of 3 months to be considered a longitudinal experience):

1.2.1. Allergy and/or immunology clinic (may include vaccine clinic)

1.2.2. Congenital infection clinic

1.2.3. Cystic fibrosis clinic

1.2.4. Human immunodeficiency virus clinic

1.2.5. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) clinic

1.2.6. Sexually-transmitted infection clinic

1.2.7. Skin and soft tissue infection or wound clinic

1.2.8. Transplant (solid organ and/or stem cell) and/or immunocompromised host infectious diseases clinic

1.2.9. Tropical and/or travel medicine clinic

1.2.10. Tuberculosis and/or mycobacterial infection clinic

1.3. Three (3) blocks or equivalent of medical microbiology

1.4. Three (3) blocks or equivalent of infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship

1.5. One (1) block of training relevant to public health and preventive medicine, which may include placement in any one of the following:

1.5.1. Municipal, regional, provincial, or federal government agency

1.5.2. International inter-governmental organization

1.5.3. Non-profit or private sector health or social services organization

1.5.4. Community-oriented clinical practice with an emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, and primary health care

1.5.5. Other public health experience approved by program director

1.6. A minimum of two (2) and a maximum of seven (7) blocks of additional approved residency in one or more of:

1.6.1. Further residency training in the areas under sections 1.1 – 1.5

1.6.2. Maximum of four (4) blocks of selectives relevant to the resident’s career path

1.6.2.1. Allergy and/or immunology clinic (may include vaccine clinic)

1.6.2.2. Community-based infectious diseases

1.6.2.3. Dermatology

1.6.2.4. Global health

1.6.2.5. Rheumatology clinic

1.6.2.6. Transplantation medicine

1.6.2.7. Tropical and travel medicine

1.6.3. Maximum of five (5) blocks in an approved period of research, quality improvement, educational scholarship, or creative professional activity at a hospital or university centre in Canada or abroad, relevant to the objectives of Infectious Diseases training

Electives

Residents
Allergy and Immunology
Tropical Medicine
Subspecialty Microbiology

Medical Students
Pediatric Infectious Diseases offers electives for medical students who have already completed their core pediatric clerkship rotation, as well as elective opportunities for pediatric residents from other North American universities. These elective opportunities are offered for 4 weeks, but 2 week electives are possible.

For student electives, please contact lucia.donofrio [at] muhc.mcgill.ca (Lucy D’Onofrio).

Training Sites

Montreal Children’s Hospital
Jewish General Hospital
Royal Victoria Hospital
Opportunites for rotations at CHU Sainte-Justine or other Royal College certified programs

Educational Opportunities

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Subspecialty Residency Program offers an excellent integration with Medical Microbiology program, additional educational training in infection control and antimicrobial stewardship, as well as many research opportunities with McGill University researchers in infection and immunity.

The program also offers opportunities to work in the McGill University's J.D. MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases. This is a world-renowned centre of expertise, research, and training in clinical tropical medicine, including neglected tropical diseases, and is the largest of its kind in North America.  The centre includes the Tropical Disease Clinic, the Pre-travel Clinic, the Clinical Parasitology Section of the Department of Microbiology, and the National Reference Centre for Parasitology. It brings together 11 physicians, 2 PhD scientists, 2 Travel-Health Nurses, and highly specialized technologists.

Contact Us

Division Director

Dr. Earl Rubin

Postgraduate Medical Education

Residency Program Director
Dr. Jesse Papenburg

Administrative Staff

Program Coordinator
residency.medmicro [at] mcgill.ca
514-340-8222 ext. 28196

MUHC Administrative Assistant
lucia.donofrio [at] muhc.mcgill.ca (Lucia D'Onofrio)
514-412-4485

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