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Training and Careers

Goals and Objectives:

The Challenge - A Shortage of Expertise

Canada is experiencing nation-wide shortages and major distribution disparities of certified allergists and immunologists, clinician-scientists, and allergy-related health professionals and educators (Workforce Survey, January 2003, CSACI & AASO). Allergic disease-afflicted patient waiting lists are growing unacceptably long, and communities are under-serviced by specialists and patient educators. 

Without immediate action to increase clinical and research trainees, expertise in this field will continue to decline. An increase in Canadian capacity to undertake advanced multi-disciplinary teaching, research, product development and patient education in allergy and immunology is also needed.

Only eight of the 16 medical schools in Canada have accredited Allergy and Clinical Immunology Training programs. While internationally renowned teaching and research expertise currently resides in isolated pockets in Canadian academic health science centres, the teaching of Allergy/Clinical Immunology remains an underdeveloped component of medical school curricula. Canada urgently requires the creation of the next generation of research, development and clinical leaders and innovators to deal with the multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral challenges posed by allergic and related immune diseases.

The AllerGen Response

Allergy and Clinical Immunology Training Programs Accredited Institutions
  • University of Manitoba
  • University of Western Ontario
  • McMaster University
  • University of Toronto
  • McGill University
  • Université de Montréal
  • University of British Columbia
  • Dalhousie University

As part of its mandate, AllerGen is responding to the urgent need
for development of Canadian research, clinical care, patient education and technology transfer expertise in this field. AllerGen
is committed to:

  • doubling the number of clinical and research trainees produced in Canada each year;
  • increasing the Canadian capacity to train clinical and research specialists in allergic/immune disease by 25% per year by 2012;
  • leveraging AllerGen investments in HQP with existing CIHR and other private, public and non-profit partners;
  • exposing AllerGen trainees to unique multidisciplinary research teams and guide them in addressing complex technical, social and ethical issues;
  • integrating AllerGen trainees into the national and international network of academic, clinical, private sector, public policy and patient advocacy leaders in the field of allergic disease by funding student involvement in network-wide research programs, meetings and conferences;
  • involving clinical allergy and immunology fellows in the AllerGen Students and New Professionals Network to facilitate interaction between clinicians and researchers; and
  • increase capacity of new investigators and especially clinician-scientists in the field.

Revised August 18, 2011