Clinical Immunology

Why choose Clinical Immunology as a career?

The prominence of clinical immunology as a patient-focused specialty continues to be driven by the breathtaking pace of advances in basic and applied immunology.Not only has this shed light on previously nebulous immunopathogenetic mechanisms, it has also translated into tangible developments in diagnostic tests and immune-mediated therapies.At a time of revolutionary advances in therapeutic immunology, there is no better time to consider a career in clinical immunology.

The UEMS Division of Immunology has enthusiastically promoted the development of immunology as a medical specialty combining training as a doctor fully versed in clinical and laboratory aspects of immune-mediated disease. In pursuit of this goal, a number of initiatives have been successfully completed.In order to address the heterogeneity in immunology training across Europe, an unified curriculum (Position statement:training programme in immunology of the European Board of UEMS Medical Biopathology.Immunology Letters 2005;96:305-310) and assessment methods for delivery of the curriculum have been published (Position statement:Assessment strategy for implementation of the immunology curriculum of the European Board of UEMS Medical Biopathology.Immunology Letters 2009;125:59-64). Both of these documents have been welcomed, particularly by the new member countries of the EU.It has been gratifying to note that the UEMS curriculum has been adopted as the model for immunology training in Bulgaria. In addition to the aforementioned , the curriculum has also been widely disseminated through educational workshops at the European Congress of Immunology (2007,2009).

For aspirant doctors considering the direction of their future careers, clinical immunology is a particularly attractive career choice providing a heady mix of fascinating basic science with clear clinical relevance, novel laboratory tests and the ability to make a real difference to patients using cutting-edge immune-mediated therapies.The pervasive nature of immunological mechanisms across medicine places an immunologist in the enviable position of influencing practice in many medical specialties.

As immunological advances transform the practice of haematology, gastroenterology, rheumatology and neurology to mention just a few specialties, it is important that future doctors have a sound immunological education irrespective of their final specialty choice. In developing an Immunology curriculum, it is the hope of the UEMS Division of Immunology that this curriculum will be of use to both dedicated immunology trainees as well as to trainees in related specialtiesConvener:

 

Convener
Dr.Siraj MISBAH
JOHN RADCLIFF HOSPITAL OXFORD
IMMUNOLOGY, ACADEMIC STREET
LEVEL 4
UK - OXFORD -OX3 9DU
Telephone: +44 1865 -743164/225983
Telefax: +44 1865 742180/225990

Members of the Division
Iskra ALtankova
Chrysoula Nikolaou
Gilbert Faurre
Gerhard Zlabinger