Program Description

Occupational & Environmental Medicine Fellowship Program
The Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine fellowship program offers an integrated 2-year academic and practicum program with an optional third year for additional research experience.

Objectives

• Provide comprehensive clinical and research experience in Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Prepare candidates for academic, research, and clinical practice in this rapidly expanding field
• Qualify candidates for board eligibility in Preventive Medicine/ Occupational Medicine

Practicum Training

Fellows begin training in the clinical aspects of Occupational and Environmental Medicine during the first year. This includes patient care responsibilities in the out-patient clinics as well as shared coverage of the consultation service and management of protocol patients in the Adult Clinical Research Center.

Fellows and the staff industrial hygienist visit and evaluate sites from which proven or suspect cases of occupational or environmental disease emerge. Fellows assume primary responsibility for conducting these hazard evaluations.

Fellows are expected to complete block rotations with corporate occupational health and safety departments. Current rotations include ALCOA, Arch Chemical, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, West Haven VA Medical Center and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Fellows also have the option of participating in elective rotations at governmental organizations (e.g., Federal OSHA, NIOSH, Connecticut State Health Department) or other private industries.

Didactic Training

All trainees are expected to master the basic principles of epidemiology, biostatistics, toxicology and industrial hygiene. If they do not already hold a comparable degree, fellows are expected to complete the requirements for the Masters of Public Health degree (MPH) at the Yale School of Public Health.

Research Training

All fellows are required to undertake an independent research leading to a poster for presentation at a professional meeting and or an article for publication.

Additional Activities

There are weekly research conferences featuring local and visiting investigators, post clinic conferences and radiographic conferences and monthly journal club, organized by the fellows.

Requirements

All applicants are expected to have completed an ACGME accredited residency in an appropriate clinical specialty, typically Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, but those completing residencies in other clinical specialties will be considered.

Graduates of International Medical Schools must have completed an ACGME accredited residency program experience in U.S. teaching hospitals to qualify for review. Applicants must also be eligible for J-1 Visa sponsorship. The Department does not sponsor H-1 Visas for residency training. 

Applicants who do not hold the masters of public health degree or its equivalent are responsible for meeting all requirements for admission to the Masters in Public Health Program at the Yale School of Public Health.

Eligibility for Occupational / Preventive Medicine

The Yale program is a fully accredited residency in Occupational and Environmental Medicine leading to board eligibility with the American Board of Preventive Medicine after the practicum and didactic experiences are satisfactorily completed. 

Funding and Stipends

Funds have been available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health under a long-term training grant. Fellows will be paid at a salary level commensurate with years of post-graduate training. Yale fellows have enjoyed exceptional success in applications for the Occupational Physicians Scholarship Fund; all applicants are strongly urged to apply. Starting levels for PGY-4 are approximately $48,420. Benefits include basic health and disability insurance.