Close Menu

Clinical Fellowship in Neonatology

Clinical Fellowship in Neonatology

Neonatology is a subspecialty of paediatrics that involves the care of the newborn infant — especially ill and premature newborn infant. Neonatologists generally diagnose and treat newborns with conditions such as: breathing disorders, infections and birth defects; coordinate care and medically manage newborns born prematurely, critically ill or in need of surgery. Neonatologists are involved in the stabilization of neonates in life threatening conditions.
Neonatologist also ensure that care is provided to the newborn at elective cesarean sections or deliveries that involves medical problems in the mother or baby that may compromise the infant’s health and require medical intervention in the delivery room. Antenatal and perinatal counselling to mothers with high risk pregnancies is also important aspect of neonatology.
Multidisciplinary care with Obstetricians, Surgery and other subspeciality such as Psychology are a necessary part of newborn care.

Programme Summary

The training programme is competency based and is one in which course content will focus on discipline based knowledge, skills training, attitudes and behavior in a clinical setting essentially learning from supervised practice.
Learning will take place in areas of the specialty through formal lectures, participation in outpatient clinics and provision of ongoing clinical care including ward rounds, procedural teaching and multidisciplinary team meetings.
Other learning opportunities will be provided by teaching undergraduates and residents, journal clubs and independent self-directed learning.

Goals and Objectives

The objective is to prepare physicians who have completed residency training in Paediatrics to be competent in Neonatal Medicine. The programme will provide well-balanced Neonatal/Perinatal training which will result in a combination of:

  • excellence in patient care skills
  • strong medical knowledge
  • good interpersonal and communications skills
  • Professionalism
  • Strong skills in practice based learning and systems based practice.

Entrance Requirements

  • Persons who have already received the DM in Paediatrics or its equivalent
  • Persons who are registered with the Medical Council of Jamaica.
  • Applicants must be employed in a training/sponsored post at an accredited hospital in Jamaica. Employment can be obtained from the Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) through the different Regions and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). Applicants must applt simultaneously to UWI and to the MOH&W or the UHWI.
  • NB: Caribbean/Caricom applicants also have the option of seeking sponsorship from their Government. If this option is chosen, an application must also be made to the UHWI for an honorary post, after discussion with the Department.

Date of Entry

The date of entry is 1st of July or 1st of January. The candidate must obtain a post at the UHWI. Application to enter the programme may be made before securing such a post. Provisional acceptance for entry may be received from the Office of the Graduate Studies and Research, on the recommendation of the Child and Adolescent Specialty Board through the Faculty Committee for Graduate Studies, but commencement is on the basis of obtaining of an accredited post.

Duration of the Programme

Duration- 2 years. 

The training site is the University Hospital of the West Indies. There is the option of doing one year of the programme in a hospital with a level 3 or 4 neonatology unit once accepted.

 Award

Clinical Fellowship in Neonatology

Top of Page