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Division of Infectious Diseases?
?Teaching and Learning
?Undergraduate offering ??
The Division of Infectious Diseases is involved in teaching undergraduate medical students throughout their 6 years of training. We are involved in laying down the theoretical foundations during the formative years and guiding clinical exposure in the latter years of internal medicine training in close cooperation with the Division of General Internal Medicine. Students gain exposure to various aspects of infectious diseases, and particularly the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations and diagnostic testing strategies. They learn to perform an in-depth infectious diseases history as well as techniques of clinical reasoning and resource management within a resource constrained environment.
Students are sensitised towards the problem of antimicrobial resistance and learn practical approaches to antimicrobial stewardship. They are also introduced to the concept of One Health and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration when addressing infectious diseases challenges.
Undergraduate students rotate through the Infectious Diseases clinic and attend outreach clinical rounds to satellite hospitals where they experience a wide array of South African infectious diseases.
We also support the Unit of Infection Prevention and Control in promoting IPC awareness in the clinical environment. ??
Postgraduate training includes structured rotational programmes for medical registrars specialising in internal medicine and for Infectious Diseases fellows sub-specialising in Adult Infectious Diseases. We emphasise direct bedside clinical training and individualised reflective learning. Training within the Division of Infectious Diseases is strongly supported across the multidisciplinary infectious diseases environment including the laboratory services, clinical pharmacology, infection prevention and control, cardiology, orthopaedics, renal transplantation and haematological platforms.
Structured learning activities for Infectious Diseases fellows include the Special Pathogen course presented by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a 6-month rotation through the Divisions of Medical Microbiology and Virology and when available, fellow training in transplant infectious diseases and infection prevention and control. This programme creates the ideal platform for our candidates to complete their training at the highest standard and the Division boasts a 100% successful completion of the South African College of Medicine Certificate of Infectious Diseases examination. All infectious diseases fellows complete the MPhil Infectious Diseases before they can register as Infectious Diseases specialists in South Africa.
Research opportunities to further academic progress through master’s and doctoral studies are also supported by the Division.
The Division emphasizes collaboration and mentorship, fostering a supportive environment for both clinical practice and research. This structured approach to education, research, and clinical service underscores the Division's commitment to advancing the field of infectious diseases and improving patient outcomes.
Post Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases (PGDipID)
We offer a unique post graduate diploma aimed at doctors seeking to enhance their knowledge and clinical skills in the diagnosis, management and prevention of infectious diseases, specifically within the African context. It is a part-time 2-year course presented on a hybrid platform (on-line and contact) in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders). The course offers tutors who guides participants towards developing skills in infectious diseases related clinical reasoning specifically within resource constrained environments. For more on the PGDipID:
https://hybridlearning.sun.ac.za/pgdipid/? ?
