Overview
Medical Toxicology is recognized as a subspecialty by the Accrediting Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and is co-sponsored by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), American Board of Preventive Medicine and American Board of Pediatrics. It is a 24-month fellowship open to physicians who have completed a residency. Physicians whose primary residency is not in one of the sponsoring specialties are also eligible, but would require application for the board exam through the ABEM.
The Medical Toxicology Fellowship was established in 1983 and was one of the first to be accredited by the ACGME in 2000. While the fellowship is sponsored by the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, the department offices are physically located at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. Patients are seen at both Banner and Phoenix Children's Hospital. The fellowship is also affiliated with the Maricopa Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency and the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center.
The program has an emphasis on the bedside care of toxicology patients, admitting or consulting on 1,100 cases annually, most of whom are in an intensive care unit setting. Consequently, prospective applicants should feel comfortable managing both pediatric and adult ICU patients. Patients in the PICU are co-managed with the pediatric critical care team.
The fellowship's service area includes Phoenix, the sixth-largest city in the United States, as well as much of rural Arizona, including several Native American reservations. As a result, fellows become comfortable managing a wide breadth of toxicology, including accidental ingestions, intentional overdoses, substance abuse and withdrawal, as well as a variety of envenomations (rattlesnake, scorpion and Africanized honey bees). There is also a large didactic component and many opportunities to develop teaching and lecturing skills.
Fellowship positions are completely funded, with *two to three fellowship positions — depending on the year — beginning July 1.
Over the previous three Medical Toxicology board exam administrations — which are only offered every other year — the fellowship had a 100 percent pass rate. After graduation, fellows have continued on to establish successful careers as clinicians, educators and researchers. Several have started Medical Toxicology programs and fellowships at other institutions.
*Year to year, the available fellowship positions alternate between two and three spots. For example, in 2023-2024 there are two spots available. The following year, there will be three.