Clinical Training

Since 1968, the UCSD Pulmonary Division has offered subspeciality training in pulmonary medicine to physicians with a minimum of three years of formal postgraduate education. In the late 1980's, the program was expanded to incorporate additional training in critical care medicine. The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine offers three year fellowships which provide clinical and research training opportunities. All trainees are provided with ACGME-accredited clinical training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Fellows whose career aspirations extend to basic research are provided the opportunity to engage in such training in a wide range of disciplines. The clinical investigator pathway is also available for fellows interested in clinical research. This pathway incorporates methodologic training in epidemiology, biostatistics, and clinical research leading to a Master's in Public Health degree in preparation for an academic career based on clinical investigation. Fellows who choose this pathway will have the opportunity to participate in clinical studies in collaboration with a faculty preceptor. Preceptors may be drawn from the Pulmonary and Critical Care staff or from other disciplines such as cardiology, immunology, radiology, pathology, epidemiology, anatomy, or physiology. During the first year, fellows are introduced to the physiologic assessment of pulmonary disease which is stressed through both clinical experience and formal seminars. The fellowship begins with an intensive course in clinical lung physiology and biology. Among the formal teaching sessions of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine are the weekly medical/surgical case conferences, weekly grand round conferences, daily intensive care rounds, research seminars, the fellow lecture series, and weekly pulmonary function case presentation. A monthly research conference and journal club are also provided.

Clinical training is emphasized during the first year at our three training facilities - UCSD Medical Center - Hillcrest, UCSD Medical Center - Thornton Hospital, and the Veterans' Administration Medical Center. All three training sites provide the fellows with exposure to a wide variety of clinical conditions as well as challenging critical care cases. Full time rotations in the pulmonary function laboratory, the adult consultation service, the pulmonary vascular service, the critical care units, and the special procedures unit are provided. Fellows have an opportunity to put their knowledge into practical application during their weekly clinical rotations at both the VAMC and the UCSD Medical Center - Hillcrest Chest Clinics. Research training is emphasized during the second year of fellowship. Depending on the individual trainee's interest and preference, this experience will involve either basic or clinical research initiatives. For those fellows enrolled in the clinical investigator pathway, a portion of the year is spent in formal training leading to a Master's of Public Health degree.

Trainees who choose to pursue a wholly clinical pathway are expected to engage in creative activities which might include collaborative clinical research, clinical pathway design, or the development of educational programs. Fellows who choose clinical training will continue to have clinical rotations during a large portion of their second year with the ability to partner with mentors in a number of areas including Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary Vascular Disease, Interventional Pulmonology, Lung Transplantation, Cystic Fibrosis, and Critical Care Medicine.

During the third year of training, fellows complete the clinical aspect of their training as well as continuing their research initiatives. Depending on their particular area of interest, fellows will also have an opportunity to participate in other subspeciality areas such as Sleep, Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary Vascular Disease, and Lung Transplantation among others.