Medicine
Academic Programs
The Department of Medicine is located at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS and the Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, NB
Clinical rotations including ambulatory care in the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre are undertaken at all sites including the Victoria General, Nova Scotia Cancer Centre, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre, Halifax Infirmary and Abbie J. Lane Memorial.
Academic Courses
First-Year Medicine
The Department of Medicine participates in the following components of the Med1 curriculum (e.g. writing cases, giving lectures and tutoring):
- Foundations I
- Host Defense
- Metabolism and Homeostasis
- Human Development
Running across Med 1 and Med 2 are the Professional Competencies, Research in Medicine and Skilled Clinician Units.
The divisions involved with this teaching are:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- General Internal Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Hematology
- Infectious Disease
- Medical Oncology
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Palliative Medicine
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Respirology
- Rheumatology
Electives
Students choose electives from the divisions listed above (except for Endocrinology).
Second-Year Medicine
- The Department of Medicine participates in the following components of the Med 2 curriculum:
- Integration
- Metabolism and Homeostasis
- MSK
- Neuroscience
- Electives: The Department offers students a half day elective opportunity.
Third and Fourth-Year Medicine
Core Medicine Clerkship
There are two Clerkship tracks that students may follow for Med 3:
- The core Internal Medicine Clerkship consists of 12 sequential weeks of full time internal medicine clinical care experience during the third year. This is broken down into two four-week and two two-week rotations. Each Clinical Clerk does one four week rotation on a medical teaching unit at the Halifax Infirmary Site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre or at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre in Truro. A second general medical type experience, consisting of four weeks in acute inpatient medicine, will be selected from a short menu of general medical teaching services at the Victoria General and Halifax Infirmary Sites of the QEII Health Sciences Centre (Cardiology, Infectious Diseases, Intensive Care, Nephrology, Neurology, Palliative Medicine). All students also complete a two-week rotation in Aeriatric Medicine and a two week medical sub-specialty elective at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
- The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) is for a limited number of Med 3 students. The core clerkship units are organized into an integrated, community-based program with the emphasis on patient-centered care.
During these rotations the Clinical Clerk functions as a junior member of house staff with responsibilities for inpatients and, particularly during the sub-specialty selective rotation, outpatient care. Students improve their history-taking and physical examination skills under the supervision of more senior members of the clinical care team. They also learn to investigate and manage common medical problems. This involves a mature commitment to continuous patient care including on-call responsibilities, staying within the health care facility for a 24-hour continuous time block.
A series of two- or three-hour Wednesday seminars provides an educational program to the Clinical Clerks on topics that are less commonly seen on clinical rotations. The Clinical Clerks are provided with a list of common medical topics around which they should base their reading for internal medicine.
At the end of each rotation each student is evaluated using a standardized in-training evaluation report (ITER). This is filled out by the student’s preceptor with input from more senior house staff as well as other health care professionals. At the end of the 12-week block a written multiple choice examination takes place. At the end of each year there is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Clerkship Electives in Internal Medicine
During the fourth year of medical school, the students are provided with a block of time for elective experiences. During this time, a Clinical Clerk may choose to do an elective within the Department of Medicine. These electives may be similar to the sub-specialty rotations in third year, or a more individualized program may be arranged with a preceptor within the Department of Medicine. Electives can range from two to four weeks.
During the 18 week elective period, students must complete a minimum of two weeks in an interprofessional elective, and a minimum of two weeks in a non-tertiary or community setting.
Evaluations consist of completion of an in-training evaluation report by the preceptor.
At the end of Med 4, three weeks is scheduled for the Critical Review and Mastery Unit. This will prepare students for their Medical Council of Canada exam and first year of residency.
Residency Training
The Department provides a fully approved Internal Medicine training program and fully approved specialty training in Cardiology, Critical Care, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Neurology, Palliative Medicine, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation, Respirology, and Rheumatology. These programs are based at the various sites of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. As of July 2007, Core Internal Medicine training is also offered at the Saint John Regional Hospital as a satellite training site.
- Internal Medicine: The core program in internal medicine is a three-year program in which the resident gains experience in general internal medicine, critical care and most of the sub-specialties of internal medicine. The general internal medicine experience includes two large Medical Teaching Units with pyramidal tiers of housestaff. There are significant ambulatory care rotations from the second year onwards. Community experience is offered in the first year. The third year of training includes more consultation experiences. Successful completion of the core program in internal medicine is a prerequisite to sub-specialty programs.
- Cardiology: This program is based at the Halifax Infirmary with rotations to the Izaak Walton Killam - Grace Health Centre.
- Critical Care: This program is based at the Victoria General Site and the Halifax Infirmary Site.
- Dermatology: This program is based at the Victoria General Site with rotations at the Halifax Infirmary Site and the Izaak Walton Killam - Grace Health Centre.
- Endocrinology: This program is based at the Victoria General Site.
- Gastroenterology: This program is based at the Victoria General Site and the Halifax Infirmary Site with elective rotations in Pathology and Radiology or to the Izaak Walton Killam - Grace Health Sciences Centre.
- General Internal Medicine: This includes a fourth year of training which is specifically tailored to career needs.
- Geriatric Medicine: This program is based in the Veteran’s Memorial Building.
- Hematology: This program is based at the Victoria General Site with rotations to the Izaak Walton Killam - Grace Health Sciences Centre and the Hematology Laboratories.
- Infectious Diseases: This program is based at the Victoria General Site, with rotations at the Halifax Infirmary.
- Medical Oncology: This program is based at the Victoria General site and Nova Scotia Cancer Centre.
- Infectious Diseases/Microbiology: This is a combined program based at the Victoria General Site.
- Neurology: This program is based at the Halifax Infirmary Site.
- Palliative Medicine: This Program is based at the Victoria General Site.
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: This program is based at the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre, with rotations available in appropriate medical and surgical disciplines.
- Respirology: This program is based at the Halifax Infirmary site.
- Rheumatology: This program is based in the Victoria General Site.
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