Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
The Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatric Infectious Diseases is a part-time programme with teaching delivered primarily online, along with a couple of residential components.
The course draws on world-class research and teaching in paediatric infectious diseases and offers a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of the principles that underpin paediatric infection, the ways in which those principles have developed, and to translate this understanding into good clinical and research practice.
The course will appeal to doctors who have experience in paediatrics, including trainees in paediatrics who have an interest in specialist knowledge in the field of paediatric infectious diseases, for example those training for the RCPCH paediatric infectious diseases special interest (SPIN) module. It is also suitable for GPs with an interest in paediatric infectious diseases.
The Certificate offers a one-year alternative to the Postgraduate Diploma. However, students who successfully complete the Certificate and wish to continue their studies may apply for the second year of the Diploma.
Who is this course for?
The Programme will provide in-depth knowledge and is aimed at general paediatricians or other paediatric specialists (i.e., ED, PICU) who have a special interest in infectious diseases.
Trainees in paediatrics who have a specialist qualification equivalent to the Membership Examination of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH)
Specialist trainees in paediatric infectious diseases or relevant medical subspecialties
Clinical research fellows
Applicants should have an appropriate medical qualification equivalent to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery), demonstrable work experience, and motivation and ability to complete the Programme.
Course Aims
The Programme will provide students with:
Knowledge and critical understanding of the well-established principles of paediatric infectious diseases, and of the way in which those principles have developed
An ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in the real world of paediatrics
Knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in paediatric infectious diseases and ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems
An understanding of the limits of your knowledge, and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge
At the end of the Programme students will know and understand how to:
Use your broad knowledge of paediatric infectious disease in your practice and have learned where to find the necessary resources when you have reached your limit of knowledge
Understand how to find evidence-based information to facilitate rational decision making in diagnosis and management of children with infection
Effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis about paediatric infection, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences
Undertake further training, develop existing skills, and acquire new competences that will enable you to assume significant responsibility within organisations
Qualities and transferable skills necessary for your future career in paediatrics and infectious diseases
The course in detail
Worldwide, two thirds of the deaths in children under five years of age are caused by infectious diseases, and the prevention and treatment of infections in children is the number one priority for global health.
Reflecting this imperative, we recognise that investment in research and intervention programmes related to leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality, including acute respiratory infections, measles, infectious diarrhoea, malaria, HIV, and TB is vitally important. We believe that professionally orientated education in paediatric infectious diseases is essential in the training of clinicians and clinical academics who will provide the future leadership in this key area for global health.
The Postgraduate Certificate also places the practice of paediatric infectious diseases in the broader context of applied sciences, such as pathogenesis, population biology and epidemiology. The Programme focuses on clinical (applied) aspects, underpinned by basic science to provide both breadth and depth.
Syllabus
Infectious Syndromes
Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Infection Control and Prevention
Important Viral Infections
The course directs students through the syllabus required in Europe for clinical training in the subspecialty. The Programme is appropriate for both those in the UK and Overseas.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatrics Infectious Diseases course is supported by the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) and the Infection and Immunity in Children Conference (IIC) Oxford.
Application Details
Please visit the Postgraduate Certificate in Paediatric Infectious Diseases page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website for details of course fees and costs.
Staff
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Sir Andrew Pollard
Ashall Professor of Infection & Immunity
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Dominic Kelly
BRC Consultant in Paediatrics and Vaccinology.
dominic.kelly@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk
+44 (0)1865 857420
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The tutors on this course are all leading academics in the field.
Key Facts
Level: Postgraduate
Duration: 1 year part-time
Applications for 2024 entry will open January 2024.
To be notified when applications open, please register your interest.
If you have any questions about this course please email pid@contend.ox.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1865 286946.
Course Structure
The Paediatric Infectious Diseases Programme is normally completed within one year and follows this schedule (dates may change):
from September - A one-year online modular course in Paediatric Infectious Diseases which covers the full syllabus outlined above with online tutor support and student discussion forums
June/July – A residential course in Oxford with Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC).
Students will also be strongly encouraged to engage in the following:
September* – PENTA course for PentaTr@ining: ‘HIV and Other Congenital Infections’ consolidating 3-day residential workshop held in Rome.
from April to July* - Online course: PentaTr@ining: ‘HIV and Other Congenital Infections’ with PENTA consisting of 6 in-depth and interactive module
Monthly ESPID Online Case Rounds
Online Self-Assessment Questions (SAQ'S), offered as part of examination preparation
*The PENTA course runs every other year.
Assessment methods
The Paediatric Infectious Assessment is via formative and summative elements.
Mandatory Formative elements:
attend one Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) residential course, held in Oxford
Optional Formative elements:
attend the bi-annual PentaTr@ining: ‘HIV & Other Congenital Infections’ course in Paediatric medicine, held online;
attend the bi-annual PentaTr@ining: ‘HIV & Other Congenital Infections’ consolidating 3-day residential course in Rome
participate in the monthly ESPID Online Case Rounds; and
participate in the online quizzes, Self-Assessment Questions (SAQ’s) as part of examination preparation.
Mandatory Summative elements:
Year 1:
Two 4,000-word written assignments based on the modules taught in Michaelmas and Hilary term;
An examination consisting of single-best-answer questions taken from the modules covered in the first year
You will have the opportunity to deliver a 5-minute oral presentation to tutors, assessors and fellow peers during Year 1, which is strongly encouraged.
Each of the summative assessments contribute equally to the final mark achieved for the PGCertificate.
Recommended Reading
The core textbooks for the Programme are:
Long, SS. et al. (eds) (2022) Principles and practice of pediatric infectious diseases. Sixth Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. (Available via course website).
American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Infectious Diseases (2021) Red book: 2021-2024 report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 32nd edition. Edited by D.W. Kimberlin et al. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. (Available via course website).
Rezaei, N., Aghamohammadi, A. and Notarangelo, L. (eds) (2017) Primary immunodeficiency diseases: definition, diagnosis, and management. Second edition. Berlin: Springer. (Available via course website).
Sharland, M. (ed.) (2016) Manual of childhood infections. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Available via course website).
IT Requirements
This course uses the Department’s online assignment submission system. In order to prepare and submit your course assignments you will need access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification. Students of this course may use the student computing facilities provided in Departmental buildings.
How To Apply
Applications for this course should be made via the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website. Here you can find further information about the course including the entry requirements and fees, and a guide on how to apply.
All applications must have been fully completed before the application deadline in order to be considered. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a telephone interview.
If you would like to discuss the course please contact:
Tel: +44 (0)1865 286946 - Email: pid@conted.ox.ac.uk