Program Overview

Introduction to the Medical Toxicology Fellowship

The Medical Toxicology Fellowship at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is a two-year training program designed to provide comprehensive training in medical toxicology. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and is available to physicians who have completed residency training in emergency medicine.

Program Overview

The Medical Toxicology Fellowship program provides training in a variety of clinical settings, including the San Francisco Division of the California Poison Control System (CPCS-SF), Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH), UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC). The program is designed to train physicians in all aspects of medical toxicology, and to prepare them for leadership roles in research, education, patient care, industry, and poison control center management.

Program Curriculum

The program curriculum is divided into two years:

• Year I: The medical toxicology fellow spends 9 months running the Clinical Toxicology Consulting Service at the California Poison Control System – SF Division, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH), UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights (UCSF Parnassus), and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital (UCSF Mission Bay) under the supervision of medical toxicology attending physicians. Dedicated evaluation of occupational medicine consults also takes place at the UCSF Occupational and Environmental Medicine clinic and SFVAMC occupational medicine clinic. The fellow develops core knowledge content and confidence in assessing and treating poisoning in a variety of clinical settings. The fellow supervises a team of medical students, pharmacy students, and resident physicians, and attends weekly didactics (grand rounds, journal clubs, fellow lecture series). Time is also provided for one month of research and one month of elective.
• Year II: The medical toxicology fellow focuses on a research project, while continuing to attend weekly and bi-weekly required conferences, and coursework in clinical study design. Time is provided for electives in laboratory toxicology, forensic toxicology, occupational medicine, pediatric environmental health (PEHSU), childhood lead poisoning and prevention, or other areas of interest.

Didactics

Fellows participate in a number of regularly scheduled educational conferences, including:

• Daily Attending Rounds: Daily attending rounds are conducted by the faculty of the medical toxicology fellowship program, in conjunction with the fellows, rotating residents, and medical and pharmacy students.
• Toxicology Grand Rounds: Fellows present interesting cases from the prior week for further discussion with all medical toxicology faculty members and a diverse group comprised of colleagues from different specialties with involvement or interest in medical toxicology.
• Statewide Teleconference: Statewide Teleconference is a unique experience that allows for discussion and collaboration with the Fresno, Sacramento, and San Diego Divisions of the California Poison Control System.
• Journal Club: Articles are selected from the current and classic scientific literature. Fellows are assigned one article for presentation.
• Fellows Lecture Series: Medical toxicology faculty, poison center staff, invited lecturers, and both junior and senior fellows give ongoing lectures. Topics are selected based on the required core content of medical toxicology.

Program Electives

During the second year of training, the following 1-month electives are available:

• Childhood Lead Poisoning and Prevention (CLPPB): Fellows participate in lectures and meetings related to the functions of the CLPPB and may assist with the investigation of lead poisoning.
• Forensic Toxicology: Fellows participate in meetings and lectures related to the functions of the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office.
• Laboratory Medicine: Fellows participate in lectures and meetings related to the function of the Toxicology Laboratory at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: During this rotation, fellows participate in the assessment of occupational exposures unique to the setting of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
• Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU): Fellows participate in lectures and meetings related to functions of the PEHSU and will assist with telephone response and case investigations.

Fellowship Applicants

To apply for the Medical Toxicology Fellowship program, please submit the following application material:

• A personal statement explaining your interest in Medical Toxicology
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your program director and another from your institution's Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director if you have one at your institution)
• Prospective applicants must also register for the match through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

Eligibility Requirements

• Graduate of an ACGME approved U.S. Emergency Medicine residency program
• Board eligible or board certified in Emergency Medicine
• Must hold a California Medical License and DEA license before starting the fellowship program
• Visas: Our department can sponsor J-1 visas but sponsor H-1B visas for ACGME fellows

Conclusion

The Medical Toxicology Fellowship program at UCSF provides comprehensive training in medical toxicology, preparing physicians for leadership roles in research, education, patient care, industry, and poison control center management. The program is fully accredited by the ACGME and is available to physicians who have completed residency training in emergency medicine.