Medical Toxicology Fellowship
Overview
Our two-year fellowship in Medical Toxicology is available to physicians who have completed residency training in occupational medicine, pediatrics, or emergency medicine, and are board certified or board eligible in their respective specialties. Because fellow and attending toxicologists act as primary physicians for poisoned patients, competence in critical care is required.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has recently approved Medical Toxicology as an official subspecialty of the above primary specialties. The first ABMS approved board examination in Medical Toxicology was administered in November 1994, and will now be offered every other year.
Curriculum and Goals
- To develop expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of acutely and chronically poisoned patients. This encompasses intentional and accidental poisoning from pharmaceutical agents, plants and venomous animals, household products and from industrial exposures.
- To become familiar with industrial hygiene procedures for environmental monitoring, OSHA regulations, NIOSH criteria documents, NIOSH proposed standards, documentation used by ACGIH for determining TLVs, and general industrial toxicology.
- To become familiar with the medical effects of hazardous materials, and to become competent in managing the medical complications seen after hazardous material incidents.
- To actively engage in research that produces relevant information which can be used in the treatment of poisoned patients.
- To actively disseminate information gathered in research by publishing results in medical journals and by making presentations at national and local medical meetings.
- To participate in the training of medical personnel ranging from paramedics to physicians in training.
- To become knowledgeable in basic pharmacology, drug interactions and pharmacokinetics, and to provide these services to physicians in the clinical setting.
- To spend time in the toxicology laboratory and become familiar with analytical methodologies.
- To promote expertise in the operation of a regional poison center and in the public services provided by such a center.
- To become competent in the prevention of poisonings in the home and work place through public education programs and through direct involvement with industry.
- To become knowledgeable in the practice of hyperbaric medicine as it pertains to toxicology.
- To prepare physicians for certification by The American College of Medical Toxicology, and the certifying primary boards of Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, and Preventive Medicine.
GME
The documents linked below are SAMPLE documents pertaining to our Terms and Conditions of employment for trainees in a UCSD Graduate Medical Education training program. Please also visit ogme.ucsd.edu for more information regarding UCSD policies and procedures.
Program Leadership
- Richard Clark, M.D., Director, Medical Toxicology Division
- Alicia Minns, M.D., Fellowship Director
- Binh Ly, M.D.
- Aaron Schneir, M.D.
- Chris Tomaszewski, M.D.
- Allyson Kreshak, M.D.
- Shaun Carstairs, M.D.
Medical Toxicology Attending Staff:
- Lee Cantrell, Pharm.D.
Related Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fellowship recruitment timeline?
Recruitment for the following academic year opens in May and applications will be accepted through mid October. Interviews will be scheduled with candidates starting in July and will run through the end of October. Applicants are chosen through the National Resident Marching Program. Match Day falls on the third Wednesday of November each year.
What is the Duration of the Fellowship?
The ACGME requires a 2 year fellowship.
How many fellows will be accepted?
We expect to be able to offer slots for 2 candidates per year of the fellowship.
What are the requirements for eligibility?
Fellows must be board-eligible in any emergency medicine. Although the primary training site is UC San Diego Health, rotations are also offered at Rady Children’s Hospital, Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, and El Centro Regional Medical Center.
Does the fellowship program accept international applicants?
International medical graduates are eligible to apply to the Medical Toxicology Fellowship if they are US Board eligible in emergency medicine. For more information about the application process for international medical graduates, click here.