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Paediatric dermatology fellowship

The Paediatric Dermatology Fellowship offered at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) follows a formal curriculum.  The program is not accredited but offers a comprehensive learning experience in partnership with the University of Toronto.

The fellowship is offered to both Canadian and international trainees who meet one of the following criteria:

1. Individuals who have completed a full Paediatric residency, are FRPCP (or equivalent) qualified or eligible and are preparing for a career in Paediatrics with a special interest in Paediatric Dermatology. This fellowship has a two-year requirement.  Applicants in this stream enter under the General Clinical Fellowship Program in the Division of Paediatric Medicine at SickKids.

2. Certified dermatologists who are seeking a career in dermatology with a special interest in paediatric dermatology.  While a two-year fellowship is recommended, applicants have the option of taking the fellowship for 12 months only.  Applicants in this stream enter through the Dermatology program as administered by the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

3. Individuals who have completed a full Dermatology residency, are FRPCP (or equivalent) qualified or eligible and are preparing for a career in Paediatric Dermatology. Applicants in this stream enter through the Dermatology program as administered by the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Application information is noted below.

General

The paediatric dermatology fellowship offers a comprehensive clinical experience by involving trainees in six to seven weekly general paediatric dermatology clinics, four monthly specialty clinics as well as weekly rounds (teaching, ward, fellows and city-wide dermatology rounds). The spectrum of cases ranges from common paediatric dermatology conditions (for example, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc) to rare and complex genodermatoses, vascular anomalies).  The in-hospital call commitment is one day per week for dermatology on-call, but occasionally we ask the fellows to assist with more.  Fellows are also on back-up clinic duty if more coverage is needed

In addition, fellows (whether dermatologists or paediatricians) are expected to undertake scholarly work as part of their training.  This can take the form of a major research project or several smaller endeavors.  When regular or specialty dermatology clinic sessions are not scheduled, fellows use the time (usually 2 to 3 half days) for academic work.  In order to facilitate academic endeavours, a “float” system has been implemented whereby fellows will be rotated through a “float” month every three months depending on the number of fellows.  During the float month, fellows primarily work on academic scholarly activities, research projects, and attend a community paediatric dermatology clinic 1 to 2 times per week

In addition to the call commitment outlined above, Paediatricians undertaking the fellowship also have call requirements (in addition to calls in Paediatric Dermatology) within the Division of Paediatric Medicine as part of their funding structure (see under “Funding” below).   To learn more about the fellowships offered to Paediatricians by the Division of Paediatric Medicine at SickKids, please visit the following link:

Fellowships in Paediatric Medicine

Paediatricians with additional queries should contact the Paediatric Medicine Fellowship Coordinator at paedmed.fellowship@sickkids.ca

Research fellowship in Dermatology

Dermatologists or Paediatricians who wish to apply to this fellowship option should first consult with the Paediatric Dermatology Fellowship Director – Dr. Miriam Weinstein (miriam.weinstein@sickkids.ca) before submitting an application.

Application Process

As we try to follow an academic year calendar, applications are usually submitted to start July 1st of the following year.  If you plan on a different start date, please let your contact person know as soon as possible. For the 2014-15 academic year, our application deadline will be March 15, 2013.

See table below for application deadlines.

Dermatologists

If you are a Dermatologist or dermatology resident, please forward your application package to Jasmine Hylton, Dermatology Fellowship Coordinator/Assistant to Dr. Miriam Weinstein, Fellowship Director, Section of Dermatology (see table below for contact information and deadlines).  

Paediatricians

If you are a Paediatrician or paediatric resident applying to do your fellowship in Dermatology, please forward your application package, which includes an application form, to Paediatric Medicine Fellowship Coordinator, Division of Paediatric Medicine, paedmed.fellowship@sickkids.ca (see table below for contact information and deadlines).  

Documents Required:

To apply, please submit by mail, fax or email:

1. Application form
2. Passport sized photograph
3. Updated copy of your CV
4. Copies of your professional degrees showing that you are a medical doctor and certified Dermatologist or Paediatrician.  If your education was in a language other than English, an English translation of these documents is also required.
5. Three (3) recent letters of reference (within the year of your application) from supervising doctors during your training.  References should be sent directly from referees to the appropriate contact person.
6. A personal letter outlining why you are interested in a Paediatric Dermatology Fellowship at SickKids.  This letter should include the following points:
           a. description of your goals and/or skills to be obtained during the fellowship
           b. personal qualities that you possess that will be an asset to our program
           c. statement of plans following the fellowship and how your new skills and knowledge will be applied.
   
   For your benefit, please print and attach the following checklist to your application to ensure you are submitting all the required documents.
   
   Please note that once you have been accepted, we require that you complete an application package and return to us.  This package is then forwarded to the University of Toronto for processing by both the University and the Canadian government for the international applicants.  This process takes up to 6 months after you have returned all required documents to us.

Note: "Clinical fellows need to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to take up training at the University of Toronto. The Postgraduate Dean, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto does not support acceptance of the MCCEE as the alternative to specialist recognition."

Funding Sources

Currently the source of funding depends on your specialty training.

A. Dermatologists

Funding for qualified dermatologists comes from the SickKids Foundation and funding availability varies from year to year. Currently, due to limited funding availability, we are accepting applications from self-funded and state-funded applicants only.

B. Paediatricians

Funding to Paediatricians is usually from two main sources: Department of Paediatrics and/or non-Ministry of Health sources. We encourage you to submit your applications by the required deadline as outlined in the table below so that your application (if successful) can be submitted for both funding sources.

Please note:
Self funded fellows, whether paediatricians or dermatologists, are those candidates funded from personal assets as well as external agencies such as hospitals, pharmaceutical companies or other third party sponsoring agencies. State funded applicants are those funded by their home countries.  

The Postgraduate Medical Education Office, University of Toronto recommends that in order to adequately meet cost of living expenses, self-funded applicants should be able to finance their training in the amount of $51,065 per annum. Please note that having funding does not guarantee acceptance. State / self-funded fellows are ranked with all other applicants and if their score is among the top three (3) they will be considered for a position.

Applicants who are citizens of Bahrain, Barbados, Grenada, Kuwait, Libya (CBIE), Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates must have their sponsors submit their entire application package which includes confirmation of sponsorship to the Coordinator for Visa Trainees at the University of Toronto (see table below).  
 
Further information regarding application process for these persons can be obtained at Clinical and Research Fellowship Department of Medicine.

III. Deadlines and Contact Information

For the 2014-15 academic year, deadlines are as follows:

Pediatricians: March 15, 2013                                                   Dermatologists: March 15, 2013