Photo: Dr. Chris Holstege (bottom right) with toxicology fellows and other students on a toxic plant/mushroom hunt.

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The medical toxicology fellowship curriculum is designed to take advantage of opportunities at the University of Virginia and to meet the needs of the individual. Our faculty are enthusiastic about teaching and dedicated to life-long learning. These were Thomas Jefferson's passions.

Highlights of the Fellowship Program:

• Choose a track
• Broad clinical experience
• Teaching opportunities
• Innovative Technology
• Faculty dedication to teaching
• Research opportunities
• Disaster Response Training
• Meet our Fellows

Accreditation:
The fellowship is accredited by the American College of Graduate Medical Education.

Track system
Fellows may choose a specific track to match their professional interest and goals (basic science research, wilderness medicine, public health, or government toxicology).

A broad clinical experience
In association with the Blue Ridge Poison Center, fellows provide care for all types of poison exposures: pharmaceuticals, drugs of abuse, acute chemical exposures, snake/arachnid envenomations, mushroom/plant poisonings, and occupational toxicology poisonings. The poison center's large coverage area (3 million persons and 48 hospitals) spreads from the northern-most county to Southside Virginia to the rural, mountainous western part of the state ( see map). Environmental toxicology experiences are provided by our close relationship with the University of Virginia and the Blue Ridge Safety Network.

Teaching Opportunities
The fellowship is considered as much a teaching fellowship as a clinical toxicology fellowship. Each week the fellow is expected to teach rotating residents and medical students at the bedside and in small group sessions. Ample opportunities are available to give formal grand rounds lectures. These activities are observed by the faculty and feedback is provided routinely so that skills can be refined. The faculty serve as mentors to guide the many writing opportunities and research results that will be submitted for publication. Presentation skills, writing skills, and teaching techniques are presented as part of a faculty development curriculum. Fellows are encouraged to attend teaching/faculty development workshops offered at the University and to use the Teaching Resource Center to refine teaching skills.

Innovative Technology
The fellowship curriculum includes learning to use innovative technologies for teaching. Web-Enabled Lectures, On-Line Examinations, Telemedicine Video Conferencing, shared Web-Based Educators' Archives and Human Patient Simulation are available to expand medical toxicology educational programming and complement more traditional teaching methods.

To enhance the clinical experience and demonstrate poisoning emergencies, we use human patient simulation to engage students in active learning in a risk free environment.

The Telemedicine Program at the University of Virginia provides interactive clinical support, medical and patient education using high speed broadband communications to the underserved areas of the Commonwealth of Virginia . Currently there are over 50 active sites within the UVa Telemedicine network. We broadcast educational lectures using telemedicine video conferencing to healthcare staff at hospitals in remote, rural, medically underserved locations.

Photo: Medical Toxicology rotaters learning with the Human Patient Simulator

Faculty dedication to teaching
The enthusiastic faculty create an environment conducive to learning, curiosity and having fun. The faculty's hopes are to create as much excitement in their students as they have about the specialty. The resident rotation is popular with multiple departments (EM, IM, Peds, Psych) because of the learning environment and enthusiastic teaching they receive.

Research opportunities
Fellows choosing a career in academics are encouraged to spend more time developing skills that will allow them to perform independent research. The University of Virginia has a wealth of resources to assist with research projects. Mentorship from successful researchers at one of the nation's leading research Universities. Collaborative research projects are encouraged by the fellowship and the philosophy of the University.

Community Disaster Response training
Because of our geographic location, the Blue Ridge Poison Center and the Medical Toxicologists are invited to participate in many planning groups related to terrorism and HAZMAT response. We take an active role in community emergency planning and HAZMAT preparedness. The fellow is expected to participate in Local Emergency Planning Committee activities, Regional Task Forces, Weapons of Mass Destruction Task Force and assist with the hospital ED decontamination team training.

For more information contact:

Christopher P. Holstege, MD
Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director
Division of Medical Toxicology
Department of Emergency Medicine
Box 800699
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0699

Phone: 434-924-5185
FAX: 434-971-8657
Email: ch2xf@virginia.edu