Enhanced Skills Program: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program
The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Enhanced Skills Program is a 6-month program designed to develop appropriate skills and competencies needed to care for the IDD population across the lifespan, collaborating with caregivers, other health professionals and support systems, focusing on unique aspects for this complex population. The goal of the program will be to prepare residents to be future leaders, mentors, and advocates in the primary care of adults with IDD within their community.
The main site for the program will be Surrey Place but learners will be based out of multiple hospital and community sites.
Program Director: Dr. Dara Abells, MD, CCFP, MScCH
Length of Program: 6 Months (Full-Time)
Program and Application Eligibility
Applicant must be currently enrolled as a PGY2 in a Canadian Family Medicine Residency at the time of application.
Curriculum Competencies
The IDD Enhanced Skills program adheres to the CanMEDS-FM goals and objectives to achieve the following competencies:
- Medical Expert
- Communicator
- Collaborator
- Leader
- Scholar
- Health Advocate
- Professional
For complete details, please read the goals and objectives.
Sample Rotation
PGY3s will be expected to do a half day longitudinal Family Medicine IDD consultation clinic throughout the 6-month program.
Other mandatory rotations include:
- Developmental Paediatrics at HBKR/Surrey Place (minimum of 6 weeks)
- IDD psychiatry (dual diagnosis) (minimum of 1 month)
The specific elective rotations will be determined by the interests of the applicant that are related to the care of adults with IDD, but may include as examples:
- Developmental Paediatrics
- IDD psychiatry
- School assessment clinics
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Physiatry
- Saliva/motility/swallowing clinics
- Syndrome specific clinics (e.g. Sick Kids Down Syndrome clinic, TGH 22qdeletion syndrome clinic, FASD clinic)
- Pediatric complex care team (Sick Kids)
- Research (2-week block and longitudinal)
Residents will also have the option of doing a longitudinal general Family Medicine half day back per week.
Unique Program Requirements
Learners will have teaching and scholarly activity opportunities as part of this program. They will also have opportunities to work closely with relevant allied health providers (e.g. behaviour therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers).
Please refer to the Enhanced Skills Admissions page for more details on the application requirements.