Chemical Pathology & Metabolic Medicine
The Specialty
Chemical Pathology is a fundamental diagnostic and prognostic keystone of modern medicine. All disease processes reflect changes in biochemical reactions and the analysis of cells or body fluids in a hospital setting is a critical part of 21st century medicine. The role of the chemical pathologist is wide and consultants may bring a combination of scientific, clinical and managerial skills to their job. On the basis of a good understanding of the scientific principles of clinical biochemistry there is a major emphasis on the management of single or multi-laboratory units
Chemical Pathologists are not just based in the laboratory. Increasingly, you will be engaged in direct clinical care of specialist services including nutrition, diabetes and cardiovascular risk Chemical Pathology, and there is much overlap with endocrinology. The increasing clinical role of consultants in the speciality is recognised by the option of CCT in Chemical Pathology with Metabolic Medicine, available at ST3 entry point. There is also a more traditional Chemical Pathology curriculum available at ST1 entry point.
Research opportunities may be better than in other specialties. On-call duties are variable but should not be onerous unless in-patients are being cared for. This may make flexible training in the speciality particularly attractive. The growth of molecular approaches to diagnosis offers great opportunities for an individual interested in developing this part of the speciality.
Personal qualities include:
- Strong aptitude for, and interest in, the scientific basis of medicine and in laboratory work
- Leadership potential and the ability to take part in multi-professional working
- Recognising the need for constant re-education to allow a critical understanding of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
- Clinical credibility is essential
The Programme
Our Chemical Training Programme has a reputation for delivering a high quality, broad based training with exposure to sub-speciality training governed by trainees’ interests and requirements. There is a robust process of educational supervision which drives the training scheme and is based on the “Gold Guide” and sound educational principles. We are supported by a Training Programme Director. We have a cohort of Educational Supervisors throughout the region. You will be allocated a named supervisor who will guide you all the way through your training
At present there are four separate bases for infection training in the Yorkshire & the Humber Region: Leeds, Hull, York and Sheffield, and further hospital placements take place in Huddersfield and Harrogate. The hospitals cover all areas of chemical pathology expertise with high quality and dedicated staff.
For the Chemical Pathology (Metabolic Medicine) programme. Trainees are appointed by national selection process at ST3 level, to complete five years of training to award of CCT. For the Chemical Pathology programme trainees are appointed by local recruitment at ST1 level, and complete a four year programme. Trainees are allocated to a base hospital either in Leeds, Hull, York and Sheffield, according to their preference, made at the point of application. They will retain this principal base for the duration of training, though may choose to swap by agreement with their TPD. You can expect to rotate out from your base to other regional hospitals, and all trainees are encouraged to benefit from the wide diversity of placements within our region.
Progress in training is monitored using assessment practices laid out in the curriculum and reviewed by the Speciality Training Committee at the Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) process.
We have a recommended list of external and local courses which are made available. As a smaller specialty we encourage engagement with trainees outside of the region, and can offer a flexible range of opportunities depending on the individual training need. Additionally there are meetings held by the Yorkshire Laboratory Medicine Discussion Group (YLMDG) and the Association of Clinical Biochemistry (ACB). The ACB also supports trainees with courses and training days specifically mapped to those areas of the curriculum that may be difficult for trainees to meet in routine clinical practice. Trainees have the opportunity to go on a management course attend at least once during their training, which is useful both preparation for consultant jobs, and for interview skills. The School also runs an in-house clinical leadership skills day, biannually for senior trainees.
Please find information on the sites delivering this Programme below: