The Division of Rheumatology at Queen's University offers a two-year residency program in Adult Rheumatology fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Residents are prepared for independent practice through training in the specialized assessment and care of patients with Rheumatological, Autoimmune, and Musculoskeletal Health Disorders.
The Division of Rheumatology and the Rheumatic Diseases Unit are fully approved for training in Rheumatology by the Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons. This is a two-year training program, ordinarily following completion of three years of training in Internal Medicine in an approved Program. Applicants are taken on a competitive basis and funded through the Ontario Ministry of Health. A very limited number of Fellowships for Clinical training are also available through the Arthritis Society. The Training Program offers a wide spectrum of Clinical training as well as a number of Research opportunities, described above.
The Rheumatology Residency Program is two years in duration with 13 blocks per year. It offers a wide spectrum of clinical training in addition to varied research opportunities. The program is flexible and meets the needs of individual trainees, while at the same time fulfilling Royal College requirements. The curriculum includes the following:
- Ambulatory Clinics in Rheumatology including a longitudinal Resident’s Clinic
- In-patient Consultation Service
- Electives in Research, Orthopedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pediatric Rheumatology, Community Rheumatology
- Weekly academic program designed for Rheumatology trainees with input from the trainees themselves
- Weekly rounds for Rheumatology open to all students and faculty in the Department of Medicine
- Curriculum that includes basic science, critical appraisal and review of the CanMEDS roles
- Pediatric Rheumatology rotation at the University of Toronto
Sample Timetable
Our graduates, competent to function as consultant rheumatologists, are excellent, astute clinical rheumatologists with wide clinical experience. We are pleased to offer a program that is both flexible and supportive for the individual career paths of our residents.
Admission to the Rheumatology program at Queen's University is through the Medicine Subspecialty Match, coordinated by the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS).
This residency program is for 2 year(s)
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
The Curriculum for Postgraduate Trainees in Rheumatology will include the following:
- Ambulatory Clinics in Rheumatology including a longitudinal Residents Clinic with the opportunity to quickly develop skills needed for independent practice
- In-patient Consultation Service with the Rheumatology subspecialty resident involved in all consults and collaboration with other services
- Electives in Research, Orthopedics, Dermatology, MSK Radiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (including EMG), Pediatric Rheumatology, Community Rheumatology, The Arthritis Society
- Weekly academic program designed for Rheumatology trainees in accordance with objectives of training as designated by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Weekly rounds for Rheumatology open to all students and faculty in the Department of Medicine
- Curriculum that includes basic science, critical appraisal and review of the CanMEDS roles
- Regular feedback, evaluation and support for professional development
- Practice examinations, including written and oral formats
- Pediatric Rheumatology rotation at the University of Ottawa or Toronto
The Academic Curriculum for Rheumatology is delivered through Academic Half-Days, Rheumatology Conferences, and a Journal Club.
Academic Half-Day
These occur weekly and are used to present topics in Rheumatology. The Half-Days cover the non-Medical Expert curriculum and include short presentations by residents.
Rheumatology Conferences
Held each Thursday, the Conferences provide a venue for guest speakers, rotating residents, and students to present topics in Rheumatology.
Journal Club
The Journal Club meets monthly and presents evidence-based Rheumatology and literature relevant to clinical practice. It emphasizes the principles of critical appraisal and evidence-based medicine.
Division members are active in a number of Research areas. There is a well established program in Repair of Cartilage and Bone and advanced post-graduate training (MSc and PhD) is offered in Connective Tissue Biochemistry, through the Department of Biochemisty. There is active Epidemiology Research in a variety of areas related to Rheumatic Diseases and post- graduate training (MSc) is offered through the Department of Epidemiology. There are also strong links with Clinical Mechanics and also with Pathology and Rehabilitation. A Centre of Excellence in Bones and Joints, involving a number of cognitively related areas is currently under development. There is a strong component of Epidemiological Research in Osteoporosis, through the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CAMOS). In addition, MDs interested in a career in Research, have opportunities to register in the Clinical Investigation Program (CIP). Post-doctoral training for PhDs is also available, in the areas indicated above, but funding is on a competitive basis through limited internal sources and applications to the Arthritis Society and the Medical Research Council.
Although not a mandatory requirement of the Rheumatology Training Program, resident research participation is strongly encouraged. The intensity and extent of the research experience is tailored in accordance with the resident's interests, previous research experience, and career aspirations. Examples of recent ongoing and/or completed resident research projects include:
- The extent of the osteoporosis care gap in the Kingston region.
- Synvisc in osteoarthritis of the hip: A pilot study.
- A comparison of hypochondriasis and somatization in patients with fibromyalgia compared with rheumatoid arthritis.
- An internet survey of Ontario Rheumatologists with respect to procedures used in joint aspiration/injection.
- Systematic review of pharmacological therapies for hand osteoarthritis.
- Systematic review of the ability of glucosamine to alter glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity.
- An internet survey of Ontario Rheumatologists with respect to their views on fibromyalgia.
Kingston General Hospital (KGH), southeastern Ontario’s leading centre for complex-acute and specialty care and home to the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, is the primary teaching site. KGH serves almost 500,000 people through its Kingston facility and 24 regional affiliate and satellite sites. KGH was ranked in 2011 as one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals by Research Infosource.
Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) is the ambulatory care teaching and research hospital for Kingston and Southeastern Ontario. As an ambulatory (or outpatient) care facility, it provides medical care or treatment that does not require an overnight stay and that includes services such as specialized clinic visits, day surgeries, and diagnostic procedures using advanced technology, equipment, or procedures
Providence Care provides specialized mental health care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, specialized geriatric services, complex continuing care, palliative care, and long-term care. Care is provided through inpatient, outpatient and community services.
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