EDUCATION AT THE FIRESTONE INSTITUTE FOR RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Clinical, research and educational activities are closely integrated and largely collaborative within FIRH with the intent of creating a synergy between patient care, basic and translational research and training of health care professionals.

The proximity of research teams to clinical services has, on the one hand, allowed highly relevant and well-powered clinical studies, and on the other, has ensured rapid incorporation of new knowledge into the care of patients. This integration strongly influences the education of physicians and allied health care professionals.

Continuing Professional Education

In 2009 / 2010, FIRH hosted three significant international education events. The “Inhalation Challenge for Airway Disease Symposium” involved over 45 physicians from the United States of America and from Canada who participated in an interactive session. The summary of this meeting appeared recently in a peer-reviewed publication. The “Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health Symposium on Asthma Management” program saw 25 physician specialists from Mexico participate in a two-day workshop. The “Current and Emerging Therapies in Respiratory Diseases: Difficult Challenges, Fresh Approaches” program provided a two-day accredited CME event for over 150 physicians from Spain.

FIRH is also the home for the Respirology Residency Training Program of the Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University.

The following is a list of the incoming and outgoing residents for 2011 / 2012.

Outgoing Residents, Fellows and Clinical Scholars

• Dr. Naomi Spitale completed her training in March 2011 and has accepted a 3rd year position as Clinical Scholar in Sleep Medicine at the University of Ottawa commencing September 2011.
• Dr. Juliana Li completed her training as of June 30, 2011 and has secured a 3rd year position as Clinical Scholar in Sleep Medicine at McMaster University supervised by Dr. Peter Powles, Dr. Raymond Gottschalk and Dr. Nicole Drost.
• Dr. Salima Amlani completed her training as of June 30, 2011 and will be doing locums in community Respirology and Sleep Medicine in Ontario.
  
• Dr. Ali AlMusawi will complete his training July 31, 2011 and has accepted a 3rd year Clinical Fellowship in the COPD/Rehabilitation program supervised by Dr. David Todd and Dr. Stewart Pugsley at McMaster University.

Residents and Fellows Remaining in Program

• Dr. Jodi Goodwin, PGY5 will be on maternity leave from August 1 – January 31, 2012. She will return in February 2012 to complete her residency training. Her Mentor is Dr. Lori Whitehead.
• Dr. Saima Husain, PGY5 has entered her 2nd year of residency training commencing July 1, 2011. Saima has accepted the role of Chief Resident. She will be working in clinic with Dr. Martin Kolb, Mentor.
• Dr. Jacob Gelberg, PGY5 entered his 2nd year of residency training commencing July 1, 2011. He will be working in clinic with Dr. Marcel Tunks, Mentor.
• Dr. Anushya Chelvanathan, PGY5 entered her 2nd year of residency training commencing July 1, 2011. Anushya will be working in clinic with Dr. Andrew McIvor, Mentor.
• Dr. Farhan AlEnezi, Clinical Fellow will remain with the Respirology Training Program until October 31, 2011 when he will complete the Respirology portion of his training before returning to complete the second half of his dual training experience within the Critical Care Program at McMaster. Farhan will be working with various physicians in our outpatient subspecialty clinics. His Mentor is Dr. Lori Whitehead.

Incoming Residents and Fellows

• Dr. Nooreen Popat, PGY4 commenced her training July 1, 2011. Nooreen is an Internal Medicine graduate of McMaster University. She will be working in clinic with Dr. Gerard Cox, Mentor.
• Dr. George Yuan, PGY4 commenced his training July 1, 2011. George is an Internal Medicine graduate of the University of Alberta. He will be working in clinic with Dr. Lori Whitehead, Mentor.
• Dr. Ali AlMusawi, mentioned earlier, will commence his Clinical Fellowship August 1st with Dr. Todd and Dr. Pugsley
  Dr. Angira Dasgupta will soon commence her Clinical Fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Parameswaran Nair. Angira will be doing research and clinical work during her one year fellowship.
• Dr. Nizar Naji will soon commence his Research/Clinical Fellowship in September 2011 working under the supervision of Dr. Paul O'Byrne.

New Clinical Scholars

• Dr. Juliana Li will remain at McMaster University as a Clinical Scholar, Sleep Medicine, July 1, 2011. Juliana is a graduate of the Adult Respirology Program, McMaster University. She is currently working with Dr. Raymond Gottschalk and his sleep medicine team but will return to the Firestone in September 2011 where she will do Sleep Medicine and Respirology clinics. Mentors include Dr. Peter Powles, Dr. Raymond Gottschalk and Dr. Nicole Drost.
• Dr. Ganesh Subramanian joined McMaster University as a Clinical Scholar, Sleep Medicine, on July 1, 2011. Ganesh is a graduate of the Adult Respirology Program, University of Alberta. Ganesh is currently doing Sleep Medicine clinics at the Firestone and will be working with Dr. Gottschalk in September 2011. Mentors include Dr. Peter Powles, Dr. Raymond Gottschalk and Dr. Nicole Drost.

 

Firestone is pleased to welcome research and/or clinical fellows to join us. The process is governed by McMaster University and your fellowship will need to be approved through that process. To learn about McMaster Univeristy requires please click the link.

Firestone does not support unfunded fellowships as it is contrary to university policy. Therefore, you will either be asked to bring an external source of funding with you, or, will need to find an FIRH researcher who is able to bring you into his/her lab or clinic. To learn about our specific faculty members please click the link. To learn about the research interests within Firestone, please click the link.

If you are interested in finding out how to join us as a research or clinical fellow and would like to talk to someone, please contact:

Research Fellowship: Michael Quinn @ 905.522.1155 x33140

Clinical Fellowship: Diane Lawson @ 905.522.1155 x 34929

If you are interested in finding out how to apply as a clinical / research fellow you will need to also talk to:

Dr. Lori Whitehead,Education Director, Respiratory Division, McMaster Unversity

Dr. Martin Kolb, Research Director, Firestone Institute

Training and mentorship has been a hallmark of FIRH success.  Current research faculty who completed some of their research training at FIRH include:  C. Allen, G. Cox, M.Inman, L. Janssen, M. Kolb, R. Labiris, A. McIvor, P. O’Byrne, P. Nair, R. Sehmi, and D.Todd.

In addition to current faculty who have trained at FIRH, The Institute provided training and mentorship to a number of prominent Canadian and international researchers and clinicians.

Canadian scientists include:

• L-P Boulet (Laval University),
• A Cartier (Université de Montréal),
• DW Cockcroft (University of Saskatchewan),
• JM Fitzgerald (University of British Columbia),
• M Turner (University of British Columbia),
• M Kelly and R Leigh (University of Calgary),
• C Lemiere (Université de Montréal) and
• S Tarlo (University of Toronto).

International scientists include:

• E Adelroth (University of Umea),
• J Belda (University of Valencia),
• P Frith (University of Adelaid),
• P Gibson (University of Newcastle),
• R Hancox (University of Otago),
• H Kirstjens (University of Groningen),
• J Lotvall (Göteborg University),
• I Pavord (University of Leicester),
• I Pin (Université d'Evry)
• E Pizzichini (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis),
• M Pizzichini (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis),
• R Ruffin (University of Adelaide),
• H Sierstedt (Odensse University),
• P Sterk (University of Amsterdam),
• NC Thomson (University of Glasgow), and
• J Upham (University of Western Australia).

If you are interested in a clinical or research fellowship at FIRH please contact us and we would be pleased to talk with you

The following were students of FIRH Faculty in 2010 / 2011

Mr. Bill Counter	PhD Student
Mr. Christopher Dalle Ave	Master Student
Ms. Lindsay DoHarris	Graduate Student
Mr. Aaron Froese	Master Student
Mr. Brent Humber	Master Student
Mr. Brian Jobse	PhD Student
Ms. Kristi Lindsay	Master Student
Mr. Shyam Maharaj	PhD Student
Mr. Daniel Moldaver	Master Student
Ms. Navneet Punia	Master Student
Ms. Nirooya Sivapalan	Master Student
Mr. James Wei	Master Student
Ms. Afia Aziz-ur-Rehman	PhD Student
Ms. Amanda Giesler	Master Student
Mr. Jeremy Hernandez	MD / PhD
Mr. Jewel Imani	Master Student

Students who are interested in learning more about opportunities at FIRH are encouraged to contact us.

St. Joseph's Healthcare hosts two weekly rounds. Firestone holds its clinical rounds followed by the Divisional Research Round

Clinical Rounds are usually offered every Tuesday morning at 9:00am in either the Miller or Cambell Auditoriums. Division of Respirology rounds are follow Clinical Rounds at 10:00am.

If you are interested in attending please click the link to the Division of Respirology and/or click this link to McMaster University's Rounds Notification system..

 

McMaster University	Faculty of Health Science	Department of Medicine
Division of Respirology	Research at St. Joseph's	St. Joseph's Healthcare

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