ASCIA ADVANCED TRAINING MEETINGS

Since 2007 ASCIA has hosted the following annual meetings for advanced trainees: 

• 2007 APPID Summer School - Port Douglas, QLD

• 2008 ASCIA Allergy Advanced Training meeting - Blue Mountains, NSW

• 2009 ASCIA Autoimmunity Advanced Training meeting - Manly, NSW

• 2010 APPID Summer School - Hobart, TAS

• 2011 ASCIA Allergy Advanced Training Meeting - Sydney, NSW

In 2012 ASCIA will host the ASCIA Autoimmunity Advanced training meeting and in 2013 the Asia Pacific Primary Immune Deficiency (APPID) Summer School will be held.
 
Participation in these meetings is restricted to advanced trainees and there is no registration fee for ASCIA Associate (Trainee) members.   Numbers for these meetings are limited to a maximum of: 

• 20 delegates for the APPID Summer Schools

• 30 delegates for the ASCIA Advanced Training meetings 

There are currently approximately 40 advanced trainees in clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand. 

ASCIA Advanced Training meetings are held on the Friday evening and Saturday immediately following the ICPMR Immunopathology Update at Westmead NSW, which is attended by many of the advanced trainees.  APPID Summer Schools usually run for 4-5 days. 

All delegates at the ASCIA Advanced Training meetings and APPID Summer Schools are encouraged to register for the ASCIA Annual Scientific Meetings, which run for 3-5 days in September each year, to further their knowledge in all areas of clinical immunology and allergy.

Prior to 2007 it had been almost a decade since the last ASCIA Advanced Training Meeting had been held.  We are therefore grateful to Dr Joanne Smart and Dr Karl Bleasel for instigating the APPID Summer Schools and to Professor Dominic Mallon for instigating the most recent ASCIA Advanced Training meetings.  

Since 2007 ASCIA has managed to attract an impressive range of speakers for these meetings and we thank all the speakers for their time and considerable expertise that they contribute to the meetings. 

ASCIA looks forward to continuing the tradition of a 3 year rotation of APPID Summer Schools and ASCIA Annual Advanced Training Meetings.  It is our intention that ASCIA Associate (Trainee) members participate in at least one of each of these meetings during advanced training, or soon after completion of advanced training.  

A CAREER IN CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY & ALLERGY

What does a career in Clinical Immunology and Allergy offer?

Training in Clinical Immunology and Allergy provides specialist skills that will enable an adult or paediatric physician to provide care for patients with a range of interesting and challenging clinical diseases of the immune system. These conditions include:

• Allergic diseases (including anaphylaxis and asthma)
• Autoimmune diseases (including connective tissue diseases and vasculitis)
• Immunodeficiency diseases (inherited and acquired including HIV/AIDS medicine)

It may also include training in laboratory medicine (immunopathology), research (basic science and/or clinical) and other specialised areas of immunology, such as transplantation medicine. A clinical immunologist may thus work in a hospital setting, private practice, diagnostic immunology laboratory and/or a research institute. There is currently a shortage of community based clinical immunologists and allergists in Australia and New Zealand, particularly as the only pathway to specialist allergy practice is via this training program.

Over the last 25 years, research in basic immunology has been at the forefront of biomedical science. There are significant opportunities for the results of these achievements to be translated into the clinical arena, via new therapies and diagnostic tools.

Clinical Immunologists have the skills that make them ideally placed to advice and participate in these processes.

A career in Clinical Immunology and Allergy thus offers the ability to pursue wide-ranging interests in clinical medicine, diagnostic pathology and/or research!   

What training is required to become a Clinical Immunologist and Allergist? 

There are two training pathways in Clinical Immunology and Allergy which can be undertaken by adult or paediatric physician trainees after successful completion of basic training and the FRACP clinical examination.

1. FRACP training in Clinical Immunology and Allergy

This is a three-year training program in Clinical Immunology & Allergy leading to fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). Completion of this program will enable an adult physician or paediatrician to practice as a clinical immunologist and allergist in a community private practice and/or hospital setting.

2. Combined FRACP and FRCPA in Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Immunopathology

This is a four-year training program which includes laboratory training in diagnostic Immunopathology leading to fellowship of both the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRACP FRCPA). This requires fulfillment of the RCPA requirements. On completion, the adult physician or paediatrician will be able to practice as a clinical immunologist, allergist and immunopathologist in a community private practice, hospital setting and/or diagnostic pathology laboratory (public or private). 

Both training pathways can also include the option of pursuing a higher degree (PhD, MPH, etc) during or following advanced training.

Further Information

Dr Tiffany Hughes
Co-ordinator of Advanced Training in Immunology & Allergy 
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Dr Charlotte Slade 
Advanced Trainee Representative on Immunology/Allergy JSAC
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This information is provided by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). 

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand.

The mission of ASCIA is to advance the science and practice of clinical immunology and allergy, by promoting education and the highest standard of ethical medical practice.
 

PO Box 450 Balgowlah NSW 2093
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Further information on ASCIA is available on this website.