Clinical Training
Our fellows train in the care of Allergy & Immunology patients at Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH), the main teaching hospital of Yale University School of Medicine, and its affiliated outpatient clinical sites. These venues, the leading medical centers in southern New England, provide state-of-art clinical care and education. Clinical training spans two years during time fellows participate in the diagnosis and management of adult and pediatric patients with a wide variety of allergic diseases or immunodeficiencies. Fellows work closely with faculty who supervise the practical aspects of patient care and provide didactic teaching in the clinical setting.
During their first year in the program, fellows are assigned to 5-6 Allergy & Immunology clinics weekly. They also serve on the inpatient consultation service interspersed with management of urgent outpatient calls. Weekend coverage is equally divided among all fellows in the program.
During the second year, fellows continue clinical training with 1-3 Allergy & Immunology clinics, and may perform optional rotations in dermatology, pulmonary, otolaryngology, and rheumatology.
During the third year (if applicable), fellows continue to enhance their clinical skills with a half-day clinic weekly.
The goal of the Allergy & Clinical Immunology program at Yale-New Haven Medical Center is to produce physicians who are prepared to pursue a multi-dimensional career in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Graduates of the A&I program will acquire the knowledge and skills to:
- Provide outstanding and state of the art Allergy and Immunology clinical care to adult and pediatric patients and remain abreast of the ethical issues relevant to clinical practice.
- Have the skills to remain at the forefront of the Allergy and Clinical Immunology field through life-long learning to build on their knowledge, skills and professionalism.
- Have the capacity to participate in clinical or basic science research and the capacity to work in a variety of settings especially in academic allergy and clinical immunology.
While training in Allergy & Immunology, fellows will be instructed on how to expertly and appropriately demonstrate the following Allergy and Immunology specific clinical competencies:
- Conduct a comprehensive and detailed medical interview with children and adults who present with suspected allergic and/or immunologic disorders (present, past, family, social, and environmental history)
- Perform a physical examination appropriate to allergic and immunologic disorders
- Select, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests or studies related to allergic and immunologic disorders
- Assess the risks and benefits of therapies for allergic and immunologic disorders (e.g., drug therapy, allergen immunotherapy, immunomodulatory therapy)
- Order the selection and dilutions of allergy extracts for patients receiving allergy shot therapy
- Counsel and educate patients about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of allergic and immunologic disorders
- Coordinate the care of patients, including the use of consultation and educate other physicians and health care providers
- Apply basic and clinical science to the clinical care of patients
Through their clinics and in patient consults, A & I fellows will have direct patient contact with children and adults with the following diagnoses: Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Atopic dermatitis, Contact dermatitis, Drug allergy, Food allergy, Immunodeficiency, Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Stinging insect hypersensitivity, Urticaria and Angioedema.
At the end of their fellowship, A & I fellows are expected to demonstrate proficiency with the following procedures: Immediate hypersensitivity skin testing, Graded oral food challenges, Drug desensitization and challenge, Allergen immunotherapy, Patch testing for contact dermatitis, Immunoglobulin treatment, Interpretation of Pulmonary function tests.