The Antimicrobial Fellowship Program at the University Health Network (UHN) is designed to cultivate comprehensive medical experts proficient in antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases. UHN, Canada's premier hospital network, serves diverse patient populations across multiple specialties, including General Medicine, Critical Care, Cardiology, Respirology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Immunocompromised Host Units (lymphoma, leukemia, autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, solid organ transplantation), as well as Chronic Ventilatory Units and Rehabilitation Hospitals.
Fellows acquire extensive knowledge in microbiology, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, diagnostic methodologies, and clinical management of a wide range of infections, including community-acquired, surgical-site, nosocomial, and infections in immunocompromised hosts. Training emphasizes antimicrobial pharmacology, stewardship methodologies, clinical epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, infection prevention, public health, quality improvement, and patient safety. Effective communication skills are prioritized, enabling fellows to clearly articulate complex microbiological findings, antimicrobial strategies, and stewardship principles to multidisciplinary teams, patients, and health care leaders.
Structured around the CanMEDS framework, the program emphasizes collaboration, leadership, advocacy, scholarship, and professionalism. Fellows collaborate closely with microbiologists, clinicians, pharmacists, public health agencies, and infection control experts, reinforcing a multidisciplinary approach. They demonstrate leadership by implementing stewardship initiatives and engaging in quality improvement and research activities, including audits and scholarly publications. Commitment to professionalism, ethical standards, and continuous learning is integral. Fellows benefit from direct supervision through an apprenticeship model, dedicating one to two years to targeted clinical rotations, structured educational activities, and quality improvement projects, with the objective of developing future leaders in antimicrobial stewardship.
Structure of the Fellowship
Eligibility
- Secured funding from the sponsoring institution
- Licensure or eligibility for licensure to independently practice in Ontario, Canada, as an Infectious Diseases Physician, Medical Microbiologist, General Internist, or Family Physician
- Duration: 1 year (extendable to 2 years for research-focused candidates)
- Learning Model: Apprenticeship under direct supervision by antimicrobial stewardship physicians and pharmacists
- Primary Supervisor: Physician from the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP)
Responsibilities
- Assume primary responsibility for antimicrobial stewardship within a designated clinical setting (e.g., ICU, surgical services, medical units) during each rotation
- Conduct baseline assessments of antimicrobial prescribing practices
- Develop, implement, and evaluate quality improvement initiatives informed by behavioural change and implementation science methodologies
- Prepare and submit research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Participate in audit-and-feedback activities in secondary clinical settings
- Enroll in and complete a formal quality improvement course during the fellowship
- Attend regular weekly meetings with the primary supervisor to discuss theoretical and practical aspects of antimicrobial stewardship, quality improvement project progress, and educational competencies
- Participate in weekly clinics under supervision
- Attend scheduled team meetings (research meetings, journal clubs), relevant ASP meetings, and, optionally, participate in academic meetings hosted by the Division of Infectious Diseases
Application Process
Interested candidates should email their cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation to Dr. Shahid Husain at Shahid.husain@uhn.ca.
