Visiting Resident Medical Toxicology Rotation
Residents from any medical specialty may apply for a visiting resident medical toxicology rotation at the New York City Poison Control Center in Lower Manhattan (455 First Avenue). The rotation is a two-to-four week didactic elective in medical toxicology. It is open to residents from anywhere in the U.S. and most of the world.
The rotation will help residents become familiar with the structure and function of a regional Poison Control. Residents will also learn about various poisoning prevention techniques (including those for household, occupational and iatrogenic poisoning) and how to identify and manage an undifferentiated poisoned patient.
By the end of the rotation, residents will have an in-depth understanding of several common poisons and the role of a toxicology laboratory.
Duties and Learning Objectives
Residents will be responsible for daily punctual attendance. Activities and requirements include:
- Daily Poison Center data collection (i.e., callbacks).
- Attending teaching sessions, faculty- and fellow-led rounds, lectures and conferences.
- Hosting and leading one article presentation for the weekly Toxicology Journal Club.
- Preparing a comprehensive presentation on a toxicology-related subject, in consultation with a fellow or faculty member.
- Identify and discuss the initial identification and management of a poisoned patient.
- Describe the rationale and role for the administration of oxygen, naloxone, dextrose, thiamine and other antidotes, and understand the risks associated with their administration.
- Evaluate and apply the appropriate methods of gastrointestinal decontamination to a poisoned patient. Specifically, understand the risks, benefits, indications and contraindications of cathartics, whole bowel irrigation, orogastric lavage and activated charcoal.
- Define toxic syndromes (toxidromes) for patients with opioid, sympathomimetic, anticholinergic, and cholinergic agent poisoning.
- Create a differential diagnosis for drugs causing abnormal vital signs. Specifically:
- Tachycardia and bradycardia
- Tachypnea, bradypnea, and hyperpnea
- Hypertension and hypotension
- Hypothermia and hyperthermia
- Create a differential diagnosis of drugs that cause cardiac dysrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction.
- Create a differential diagnosis of drugs that cause agitation, coma, seizures, delirium, psychosis and ocular abnormalities.
- Understand the evaluation of anion-gap and non-anion-gap metabolic acidoses, with specific reference to poisoned patients.
- Learn to identify toxins by their odors and other physical characteristics.
- Learn about less common toxins and the appropriate use of unique antidotal therapy, if available.
- Learn the indications for extracorporeal drug removal via hemodialysis or hemoperfusion.
- Understand the diagnosis, management and complications of withdrawal from ethanol, opioids, sedative-hypnotics, barbiturates and cocaine.
- Develop a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology, evaluation, management and disposition of poisoned patients.
Applications
The program is open to graduate-level medical students (defined as having completed the equivalent of an academic year of graduate courses or more) and first-year fellows from an accredited hospital. Rotation sessions begin every Monday. There will be no incoming rotators for weeks with a Monday holiday.
For full consideration, all prospective applicants must email nycpcctoxrotation@health.nyc.gov with the following details:
- Full name
- Preferred contact email
- Affiliation
- Specialty
- Year of training
- Program coordinator’s full name
- Program coordinator’s email
- Program coordinator/affiliation’s full address (address line, city, state, ZIP, country)
- First choice dates of rotation: start (mm/dd/yyyy) to end (mm/dd/yyyy)
- Second choice dates of rotation: start (mm/dd/yyyy) to end (mm/dd/yyyy)
- Attach: Photograph (scan of a government- or school-issued ID is preferred)
- Attach (as PDF): Letter from your home institution, on the official letterhead, specifying that you are in good standing and will have your salary and malpractice coverage provided
Applications that do not include all of the above will not be considered.
This is a highly sought-after educational experience, so space is limited. All applications must be received at least one month in advance of the first choice rotation week.
Note: Space is limited and choosing a section does not mean you will be registered for that start date. The earlier you apply, the more likely we will be able to accommodate you. We will be in touch with you shortly after receiving your email to determine your eligibility.
For more information about the rotation, email nycpcctoxrotation@health.nyc.gov.