Welcome

This research-intensive advanced allergy fellowship intends to train interested individuals with the skills and competence to assess and manage complex and multimorbid food and drug allergic disorders, beyond their individual common presentations, and robustly employ advanced allergen provocation for the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases – focused on food and drug allergy – and manage acute allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. The program aims to not only build clinical and research expertise but also build equity, diversity and inclusiveness in access to tertiary-level care in underserved communities and their access to high-quality research.

The fellow will attend 3-4 half day clinics per week focused on allergen challenge and complex allergic disorders, with opportunity to access community clinics on a case-by-case basis, and referrals from other allergists, primary care, or emergency medicine. They will work with nurses, residents, medical students, research coordinators, data managers, research students. The Fellow will collaborate in care with other specialties including dermatology, respirology, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, otolaryngology, and emergency medicine. A focus will be on promoting equity, diversity, and inclusiveness, including Indigenous cultural safety.

The Fellow will gain competence in the conduct of robust clinical research including interface with routine clinical care, laboratory research, observational study designs and clinical trials. The Fellow will assist with the Fellowship Director’s ongoing research and, as part of their Fellowship, at least initiate one major research study. Fellows will have the opportunity to be involved in clinical research at both a site level and as a coordinating centre for international clinical studies.

The fellow can co-enroll in Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) Health Research Methodology program. Clinical teaching will involve a mixture of problem-based learning around clinical cases in clinic and routine meetings. There will be also opportunity to take part in shaping best practice standards through focused clinical questions as part of allergy clinical practice guideline development.

Certification Outcome

The successful completion of the fellowship will grant a Fellowship McMaster Certification.

Entry Requirements

The fellowship program is intended for recent graduates of a core training program in clinical immunology & allergy (FRCPC or equivalent), or, in those with a firm long-term commitment to practice in an underserved or rural area, family medicine (CCFP or equivalent), internal medicine (FRCPC or equivalent) or pediatrics (FRCPC or equivalent).

Application Deadline

November 1st annually.

Goals of Training

The Food and Drug Allergy Fellowship objectives include:

1. Training in the outpatient evidence-based evaluation and management of patients with a complex allergic diseases (including multimorbid food and drug allergy, e.g. with atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema) (one-two half-days a week).
2. Training in the use and interpretation of measurement of advanced food allergen provocation (IgE-mediated and non-IgE mediated), drug allergy (including drug desensitization), and assessment of atopic dermatitis and urticaria in the management of systemic, skin, and airway allergic diseases.
3. Training in the use of biologics for allergic conditions including application of evidence-based medicine, best practice standards, and optimal consideration of multimorbidity.
4. Introduction to clinically-applicable translational immunology as it applies to the understanding and management of complex allergic diseases, particularly food allergy.
5. Training in health research methodology to develop and conduct clinical trials or observational studies addressing allergic diseases. The Fellow will be primarily responsible for one to two research projects. They will gain competency in the appraisal and execution of research in the field. A focus will be on promoting equity, diversity, and inclusiveness, including Indigenous cultural safety.

Length of Training

The Food and Drug Allergy fellowship is a 1-year program.

Funding

Applicants are responsible for securing funding.