Program Overview
The Allergy & Immunology (A & I) division at Hamad Medical Corporation runs a well-structured three-year fellowship program since 2014 with an intake of 1-2 fellows per year. The Combined (pediatric and adult) Allergy & Immunology Fellowship Program received ACGME-International accreditation in 2018. The program offers excellent training, with a well-structured didactic educational program, significant exposure to a diverse variety of cases, and rotations in various specialties.
The A & I service receives 2500 new referrals per year on average. A wide range of disorders are seen, including but not limited to allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, drug allergy, different types of urticaria, atopic dermatitis, hereditary angioedema, anaphylaxis, food dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis, primary and secondary immunodeficiency disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis etc. The Allergy/ Immunology lab operates various procedures like skin prick test, skin patch tests, food/drug challenge and desensitization, iv immunoglobulin administration, biologic administration etc. through which the fellows gain experience in the same under the supervision of experienced faculty.
The fellows are given full responsibilities for patient care and are closely supervised by senior faculty members; they also have an established protected time for scheduled educational sessions. The fellows receive one to one teaching during the clinic / consultation encounters. Fellows attend & participate in the allergy and immunology, internal medicine, chest, & other didactic activities.
The Allergy & Immunology division has a well-established research facility. The service is actively involved in research including basic, clinical &translational research. Fellows are encouraged and have the opportunity to participate in research projects, publish their findings, and present at national and international conferences.
The overall goal of the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship program is to train internal medicine, and pediatric graduated residents to ensure the development of the knowledge and skills necessary to allow them to independently provide the best care for patients with all allergic and immunologic disorders and excel in their careers as an Allergy & Immunology physician
Goals and Objectives
- Comprehensive training and education in all aspects of the field of Allergy & Immunology.
- To achieve the necessary skills and clinical competencies for the diagnosis and treatment of various allergy & immunology disorders
- Foster the ability to develop appropriate management plans for the different allergy & immunology conditions
- Develop progressive levels of responsibility during the outpatient clinic visits and inpatient consultations
- To enhance interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and develop a systems-based practice
- Foster teaching skills by involving in the education of residents, medical students rotating in the division
- Develop research skills and critical appraisal of medical literature.
- The graduate of this program is expected to be able to practice competently and independently as a physician and leader specialized in the field of allergy and immunology and empowered to deal appropriately and professionally with a different range of allergy and immunology conditions.
Clinical Training and Key Rotations
The program is using 13 blocks system per year. In each one of the three academic years, a block for annual leave is provided. The other 12 blocks are distributed for the fellows' education, research, and clinical exposure purposes. Two paths exist for Allergy and Immunology fellowship training programs: Internal Medicine pathway: Hamad General Hospital (HGH) is the primary site and provides care for adult patients. So, the adult Allergy and Immunology (A &I) service provides training on adult patients. Fellows graduated from the Internal Medicine Residency Program will spend 25 blocks in HGH (adult care), and 8 blocks cross training in the Sidra Medical and Research Center (pediatric care). The remaining 3 blocks are divided for other participating sites and different clinical rotations. Pediatric pathway: Sidra Medical and Research Center is the center providing care for children in Qatar. Thus, the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology service provides training on pediatric patients. Fellows graduated from Pediatric Residency Program will spend 25 blocks in the Sidra Medical and Research Center (pediatric care), and 8 blocks across training in the HGH (adult care). The remaining 3 blocks are divided for other participating sites and different clinical rotations.
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Key Rotations:
Internal Medicine track |
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First year:
- 10 blocks Adult A & I
- 1 block Pediatric A & I
- 1 block Bench type research lab (iTRI)
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Second year:
- 4 blocks Adult A & I
- 3 block Pediatric A & I
- 1 block Pulmonary
- 0.5 block PFT
- 0.5 block dermatology
- 0.5 block ENT
- 0.5 block Immunology lab
- 0.5 block
- Rheumatology(elective)
- 0.5 block Infectious disease(elective)
- 0.5 block
- Hematology(elective)
- 1 block research
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Third year:
- 2 blocks Adult A & I
- 4 blocks Pediatric A & I
- 6 blocks Research
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Key Rotations:
Pediatric track |
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First year:
- 10 blocks Pediatric A & I
- 1 block Bench type research lab (iTRI)
- 1 block Adult A & I
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Second year:
- 4 block Pediatric A & I
- 3 blocks Adult A & I
- 1 block Pulmonary
- 0.5 block PFT
- 0.5 block dermatology
- 0.5 block ENT
- 0.5 block Immunology lab
- 0.5 block
- Rheumatology(elective)
- 0.5 block Infectious disease(elective)
- 0.5 block
- Hematology(elective)
- 1 block research
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Third year:
- 2 blocks Pediatric A & I
- 4 blocks Adult A & I
- 6 blocks Research
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Contact Information
Program Director:
Dr. Mariam A Al Nesf
Associate Program Director(s):
Dr. Ramzy Mohammed Ali
Dr. Mehdi Adeli
Program Coordinator:
Mrs. Meenu Bhatt
Program Email:
MBhat@hamad.qa
Research highlights/programs
The Allergy & Immunology division has a well-established research facility. The service is actively involved in research including basic, clinical &translational research. Multiple grants from Medical research Council (MRC)- HMC and Qatar National Research Foundation (QNRF) for various projects were received. The ongoing research projects include studies to identify pollen patterns and their impact on health, studies looking to identify various biomarkers in asthma & other allergic disorders, primary immunodeficiency. We are in the process of establishing a pollen calendar which would be a first in the region. The faculty & fellows have published papers in various peer reviewed journals.
Facilities and Resources
The service operates independently in its own premises, with a group of dedicated personnel. The service operates 24 clinics per week, including General Allergy clinics and more specialized clinics like a Severe Asthma clinic, a Severe Urticaria clinic, a Chronic Rhinitis with nasal polyps clinic in collaboration with ENT department, a clinical pharmacy clinic helping patients deal with their medications, and 2 immunodeficiency clinics. The facility includes a highly qualified allergy laboratory to perform the necessary tests to diagnose allergies and for other treatment procedures, Research room & Infusion service. We provide modern treatments that are in line with international standards/ recommendations in the treatment of allergy and immunology conditions. We also provide intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulin administration services for primary immunodeficiency patients.
