Sleep Disorder Medicine AFC Diploma

Teaching Faculty: 

Dr. Alia Kashgari (Program Director)

Dr. William Reisman

Dr. Heather Racz

Dr. Mithu Sen

Dr. Jennifer Barr (psychiatry and CBT)

Dr. Aaron St-Lauren (paediatrics sleep medicine)

Dr. Brian Rotenberge (Otolaryngiology-Head and Neck Surgery)

Sleep Disorder Medicine Program at Glance: 

This is an accredited AFC Diploma by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. While the program is competency based, it is expected to complete all requirements within the one year of training. The training includes outpatient and inpatient consultations as well as sleep laboratory experience, including setting up and interpreting sleep studies. There is also exposure to pediatric sleep cases and sleep lab experience, ENT, Dental and CBT-I.  

The program runs an academic curriculum for the trainees on bi-weekly basis in addition to the monthly sleep rounds. Trainees also attend and participate in the Adult Respirology training program and academic curriculum when applicable.    

All graduates must undergo the assessment process for their AFC diploma as per the Royal College requirements. 

Trainee Assessment:  

Trainee assessment is based on 360 evaluations, verbal and written feedback from the teaching faculty, presentation evaluations and portfolio completion. The data are presented at the AFC Program Committee meeting and discussion is made to decide if the trainee is progressing as planned. Recommendation and feedback is given to the trainee during the portfolio meeting with the program director. The program director will submit the trainee portfolio to the Royal College credential unit once the portfolio is completed.

 

Application process:

 Before you submit your application please make sure that you are in an acceptable entry discipline that includes adult Neurology, Psychiatry or adult Respirology. The program must Royal College accredited or equivalent.

Applications should be submitted directly to the program administrator Aisha Siddiqi asidd222@uwo.ca  before August 1st of the next academic year admission.

Canadian Applicants must submit the following documents to the Program Director/Program Administrator:

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Personal statement
  3. Three reference letters - 1 letter must be from their current/most recent Program Director
  4. Medical Degree certificate
  5. Royal College certification or equivalent in their core discipline that is listed above.
  6. Proof citizenship

 All files will be reviewed by the AFC Program Committee and candidates will be offered an interview based on academic achievements, and reference letters and performance during the interview (see below).

Interviews will be conducted between August and September and successful candidates will be offered a position within 14 days from the interview time. 

Internationally Sponsored Residents:

Applications are sent directly to Kate O'Donnell at the Postgraduate Medical Education office.  kate.odonnell@schulich.uwo.ca 

Direct applications will not be accepted. 

Vetting Process:

  1. Applicants must complete all training requirement in the entry discipline.
  2. Entry disciplines includes, Developmental Pediatrics, Neurology (adult or pediatrics), Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Psychiatry, or Respirology (adult or pediatric). 
  3. The training must be in a Royal College accredited program or a training that is equivalent to the Royal College training
  4. All trainees must be certified in their primary specialty in order to be eligible to submit a Royal College competency portfolio in Sleep Disorder Medicine (SDM) and get the Diploma certification.
  5. The Candidate statement/ reference letters are at least graded at 3 or above with good command in English
  6. International applicants who are coming from universities with an agreement with Western University are directed to PGME Kate O’Donnell for the vetting process. 
  7. Once vetted, their files will be forwarded to PD
  8. International applicants who are not sponsored must complete certain requirements prior to considering their files. 
  9. Applicants who make to the interviews are scored from 1 (poor), 5 (excellent) based on their personal statement, Academic achievement, reference letters, overall performance during the interview.