ERS Annual Congress 2011, Amsterdam Dr Christopher Zammit Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

5 years of Medical School, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

•  2 pre-clinical years Anatomy and Physiology • 3 clinical years at Mater Dei hospital Structured training with experienced clinicians / academics

Numerous sub-specialities centred in the same location Good exposure to numerous medical / surgical cases Recently constructed Single General State Hospital in Malta Recognized teaching centre Full range of laboratory / imaging centre Adequate library IT facilities

First 2 years as Foundation years

• •  6 months of general medicine 6 months of general surgery Choice of medical / surgical specialities depending on preference, as well as on academic placement •   UK-based foundation program with structured training Introduced recently On-line portfolio and regular appraisals, DOPs, Mini-CEX • Acquisition of warrant and licence to practise • Name placed in the EU list of the Medical Council of Malta

2 years full-time Medical BST:

• Following the Foundation years • • General professional basic training Prior to period of higher specialist trainee (HST) • Application by interview basis / CV presentation

4-month rotations in medical specialities

 Ward rounds and medical out-patients  Diverse bed-side procedures as recommended by UEMS European union of medical specialists   On-call duties outside normal working hours Unselected acute medical admissions  Emergency ward cover

4-hours per week protected time

 Weekly teaching “ Grand Rounds ”   Weekly teaching academic lectures E-learning management system with online lectures   Speciality journal clubs Radiology multi-disciplinary team meetings ( MDT s) • • Local and foreign conferences /courses Involved in audits, studies, publications and local protocol guidelines

• Completion of MRCP post-graduate examination as evidence of completion of training.

Weekly tutorials “Mock examination” • • • BLS / ALS certification Clinical and academic log-book Satisfactory consultant appraisals

4 years as Respiratory HST

   Application by interview basis / CV presentation Not an automatic progression Competitive   Requires certificate of completion BST ( CCBST ) Full registration with the EU medical council of Malta

4 years as Respiratory HST

: Respiratory and General Medicine  General and respiratory ward rounds / out-patients    1 year rotations between respiratory consultants Yearly appraisals by consultant / clinical supervisor Introduction of a separate mentor , changed every 2 years  Minimum requirement of on-call duties performed

Sub-speciality clinics • Asthma clinic • Sleep clinic • Rapid-access lung cancer clinic • TB clinic Opportunities for inter-speciality consultations  Cardiothoracic surgery, oncology / radiotherapy

  Weekly Flexible Bronchoscopy sessions Thoracocentesis / Intercostal chest drain insertion  Introducing Thoracic ultrasound  Spirometry   Ventilatory support / NIV 4 month ICU rotations Exposure to critical care respiratory medicine

Minimum of 4 hours per week protected time    Twice monthly respiratory journal clubs Weekly Medical Grand Rounds Monthly tutorials by respiratory consultants   Monthly respiratory meetings Monthly radiology MDT meetings Encouraged to teach Medical students, Foundation year, BST doctors

• Expected to publish and present • Minimum of 2 audits and 1 publication per trainee • Encouraged to attend local / international educational courses / conferences • Opportunities to travel abroad for research / work experience • Prospects for M Phil, Ph D, MSc

Funding / Financial Aid

• • •

Study leave CME funding Post-graduate funding

• • support for educational courses presentation of posters abroad

Certificate of completion Specialist Trainee (CCST)  Satisfactory yearly appraisals  Full academic / clinical log-book  Theoretical / Exit examination ( MRCP college exam / HERMES ) at the end of the specialization 

Specialist Accreditation Committee (SAC)

Regulatory board for specialist training program