NEUROLOGY TRAINING IN CANADA FOR FOREIGN

NATIONALS

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

A Keith W Brownell

Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of Calgary and Alberta Health Services

DISCLOSURES

The opinions expressed in this presentation are based on my own experience and the experiences collected from other educational leaders (primarily Canadian) over the past more than 30 years I have been involved with leadership activities in post-graduate education.

There is virtually nothing in the published literature on this topic.

OUTLINE

• Definition of terms• Accredited and fellowship programs• Current Canadian contribution• Why offer this type of training• Opportunities and challenges• Conclusions• Challenge for the AAN

DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Foreign national

• Fellowship training

ACCREDITED NEUROLOGY EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) accredited

• University based• 5 years duration • Certification examinations conducted by

the RCPSC

ACCREDITED NEUROLOGY EDUCATION/TRAINING

PROGRAMS

• Adult Neurology 16 (126 in USA)• Pediatric Neurology 10 ( 69 in USA)• Subspecialties 0 ( ? # in USA)

NEUROLOGY FELLOWSHIP EDUCATION/TRAINING

CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION 2009 – 2010

DATA SOURCES

CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION 2009 – 2010

ACCREDITED PROGRAMS

• Numbers 20 [19 (A), 1 (P)] • Stages of training RI (3), RII (6), RIII (4)

RIV (2), RV (5)

CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION 2009 – 2010

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

• Numbers 52• Program types 15

COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN (27)

• Bahrain• Brazil• China• Columbia• Costa Rica• Egypt• England• Iceland• India• Jamaica• Japan• Kuwait• Libya• Malaysia

• Mexico• Netherlands• New Zealand• Nigeria• Oman• Romania• Russia• Saudi Arabia• Spain• Sweden• Tunisia• United Arab Emirates• Ukraine

COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

• Saudi Arabia 19• India 8• 4 countries @2 8• 21 countries @1 21• Not documented 16

• TOTAL 72

FELLOWSHIP TYPES

• Behavioral neurology• EEG (pediatrics)• Epilepsy• General neurology• Movement disorders (& DBS)• MS• Neuro critical care

• Neurology/neurophys• Neuromuscular• Neuro-oncology• Neuro-ophthalmology• NICU• Pediatric neurology• Sleep• Stroke

MORAL BASIS OF OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL

OPPORTUNITIES TO FOREIGN NATIONALS

• CMA Code of Ethics• Justice• Altruism• International responsibilities

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPONSORING PROGRAMS

1. ___________________________2. ___________________________3. ___________________________4. ___________________________5. ___________________________6. ___________________________7. ___________________________8. ___________________________

CHALLENGES FOR SPONSORING PROGRAMS

1. Recruitment

2. Educational program

3. Social

RECRUITMENT

1. Assessment of credentials

2. Assessment of language skills

3. Trainee expectations

4. Interview

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

1. Program objectives & expectations

2. Medical ethics

3. Professionalism

4. Communication

5. End of life issues & critical care

6. Evaluation

7. Integration

8. Orientation

SOCIAL

1. Isolation2. Family support3. Language fatigue4. Social network5. Spiritual & religion concerns6. Legal issues7. Ombudperson8. Impact of a termination

CONCLUDING REMARKS

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2. _______________________________

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZED NEUROLOGY

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COMMENTS/QUESTIONS