Fellows are exposed to numerous conferences and other educational sessions:
Conference |
Frequency |
| Toxicology Case Review | Daily (9:30AM) |
| Toxicology Rounds | Daily (12:30PM ) |
| Fellows' Conference | Every other Tuesday |
| Occupational Toxicology | Every other Tuesday |
| Toxicology Journal Club | Weekly (Thurs., 8:30AM) |
| Consultants' Conference | Monthly (First Thurs., 2:00PM) |
| Emergency Medicine Morning Rounds | M,T,Th,F (8:15AM) |
| Emergency Medicine Educational Conference | Wed (8:00AM – 12:00PM) |
Toxicology Case Review
Fellows present the active cases to other fellows and the faculty. An interactive discussion of patient care decisions optimizes patient care and permits fellow education using a nonjudgmental and informal format.
Toxicology Rounds
Although the focus of this conference is on education of the visiting physicians, the depth and comprehensiveness of this conference ensures that fellows are continually challenged. The periodically repetitive format reinforces concepts and details and permits observation of teaching techniques. With advancement within the program, fellows eventually lead this conference.
Fellows' Conference
This conference is based on readings distributed in advance, concerning a topic important to the greater understanding of medical toxicology. This may include a basic science topic, toxin-specific discussion, statistics, research design, etc. Textbook material and original literature are utilized and appropriate specialists may be invited.
Occupational Toxicology
This conference requires the fellow to prepare a discussion of a focused topic, either an occupational exposure or an occupation itself. The use of textbook material and original literature is expected.
Toxicology Journal Club
Fellow-selected articles from the recent literature are discussed in an interactive format with the rotating residents and faculty.
Consultants' Conference
Medical toxicologists from the middle-Atlantic states discuss cases managed by the participating poison centers during the preceding month. The fellows present cases from the NYCPCC.
Emergency Medicine Conferences
Fellows provide didactic education to the NYU/Bellevue emergency medicine residents through case discussion and lecture formats.
Rotating Resident Supervision
The NYCPCC receives visiting residents in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Anesthesia, and Critical Care from throughout the United States and Canada . Also a number of medical and pharmacy students rotate through the Poison Center. The fellow is primarily responsible for resident supervision as well as integration into Poison Center activities.
Research and Academic Responsibilities
Case reports: From the 70,000 annual poison center cases, or Bellevue cases, fellows are expected to prepare at least one case report or case series for publication.
Book chapters and review articles: Fellows are typically given the opportunity to write at least one review article or text chapter during their fellowship.
Original research: The fellows are expected to have a primary role in the conception, execution, and authorship of at least one original research project. On-call responsibilities in the second year are lessened to allow time for this. Clinical, bench, analytical and animal research facilities are available.
Training sites
Bellevue Hospital Center: A residency in Emergency Medicine began in July of 1990, and currently has 15 residents per year. Fellows will play an integral role in resident training, and practice clinical emergency medicine at Bellevue and the University hospital.
In July of 1991 Bellevue Hospital Center received a grant from the New York City Health and Hospital's Corporation for the creation of an occupational health clinic. The first patients were enrolled in September of 1991. Currently the clinic functions at near capacity. Close participation exists between the occupational health staff and the New York City Poison Control Center medical staff. Fellows have the opportunity to evaluate and to care for patients with a variety of occupational exposures.
The New York City Poison Control Center: The New York City Poison Control Center (NYCPCC) was established in 1955 by the New York City Department of Health. As one of the first poison control centers in the country, it was instrumental in establishing methods whereby poisoning information could be offered as a service to health professional and the public. The NYCPCC primarily serves the New York City metropolitan area. In 1955, the center received 2,908 calls; in 1973, 37,000 calls; in 1979, 57,285; and the volume currently exceeds 70,000 calls/year. Approximately 65-70% of the calls are from the public, the remainder from health care providers. Approximately one third of the calls were from outside the New York City area.
The New York City Poison Control Center has recently (1999) completed an expansion and complete renovation of 3600 sq. ft. including the installation of state-of-the-art computer and phone systems. The PCC is housed in the Public Health Laboratories building ( 455 First Avenue ) which also maintains several of the clinical laboratories for the City Of New York . The basing of the fellowship program within the PCC provides extensive opportunity for the subspecialty resident to develop an understanding of the structure and function of a poison control center. The NYCPCC is directly across the street from Bellevue Hospital, and within a few blocks of the New York University Medical Center, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The PCC maintains a laboratory capable of performing basic research techniques in addition to a facility for small animal research. The laboratory is housed in and animal care is provided by the New York City Department of Health Public Health Laboratory. This is located in the same building as the PCC. In addition, there are other extensive and accessible laboratory capabilities within the Department of Health and at Bellevue Hospital .
The New York City Poison Control Center , and the Fellows, participate in the mass casualty preparedness planning for New York City under the auspices of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Appointment
Fellows are employed at an appropriate PGY level in the Emergency Medicine Residency, and an academic title of Clinical Instructor in the Department of Emergency Medicine will also be awarded to eligible fellows.
Requirements
The Medical Toxicology fellowship is open to physicians who are board eligible or certified in emergency medicine, pediatrics, or preventive medicine. Training in other appropriate specialties, such as internal medicine, may be acceptable.
Application procedure
The initial application process begins with a letter and accompanying personal statement outlining your interests and discussing any experience in medical toxicology. A current CV and at least three letters of recommendation are required. Subsequently a formal application and interview process will occur. In addition, candidates will have to meet the requirements to obtain a license to practice medicine in New York State.
All application materials and correspondence should be sent to:
Lewis S. Nelson, M.D.
Director, Fellowship in Medical Toxicology
New York City Poison Control Center
455 First Avenue, Room 123
New York , N.Y. 10016
Phone 212-447-8150