Visiting Resident Medical Toxicology Rotation

• Identify and discuss the initial identification and management of a poisoned patient.
• Describe the rationale and role for the administration of oxygen, naloxone, dextrose, thiamine and other antidotes, and understand the risks associated with their administration.
• Evaluate and apply the appropriate methods of gastrointestinal decontamination to a poisoned patient. Specifically, understand the risks, benefits, indications and contraindications of cathartics, whole bowel irrigation, orogastric lavage and activated charcoal.
• Define toxic syndromes (toxidromes) for patients with opioid, sympathomimetic, anticholinergic, and cholinergic agent poisoning.
• Create a differential diagnosis for drugs causing abnormal vital signs. Specifically:
  • Tachycardia and bradycardia
  • Tachypnea, bradypnea, and hyperpnea
  • Hypertension and hypotension
  • Hypothermia and hyperthermia
• Create a differential diagnosis of drugs that cause cardiac dysrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction.
• Create a differential diagnosis of drugs that cause agitation, coma, seizures, delirium, psychosis and ocular abnormalities.
• Understand the evaluation of anion-gap and non-anion-gap metabolic acidoses, with specific reference to poisoned patients.
• Learn to identify toxins by their odors and other physical characteristics.
• Learn about less common toxins and the appropriate use of unique antidotal therapy, if available.
• Learn the indications for extracorporeal drug removal via hemodialysis or hemoperfusion.
• Understand the diagnosis, management and complications of withdrawal from ethanol, opioids, sedative-hypnotics, barbiturates and cocaine.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology, evaluation, management and disposition of poisoned patients.

The Toxicology rotation includes observation and participation in the daily activities of the NYC Poison Control Center as well as daily rounds with fellows and core faculty.

Monday

• 8:50 a.m.: Orientation (first week only)
• 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Poison Center Clinical Callbacks (callback process will be described later)
• 11 a.m. to noon: Fellow Office Hours
• Lunch Break
• 1 p.m.: Afternoon Rounds with NYU/NYC PCC Toxicology Core Faculty

Tuesday

• 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Poison Center Clinical Callbacks
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Fellow Office Hours
• Lunch Break
• 1 p.m.: Afternoon Rounds with Core Faculty

Wednesday

This schedule applies only to rotators not attending home program Wednesday Conference.

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Independent study time (attendance at PCC is optional)
• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Poison Center Clinical Callbacks
• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Afternoon Rounds with NYU/NYC PCC Toxicology Fellow/Core Faculty

Thursday

• 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Journal Club
• 11 a.m. to noon: Reading/Project Work
• Lunch Break
• 1 p.m.: Afternoon Rounds with Core Faculty

Friday

• 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Poison Center Clinical Callbacks
• 11 a.m. to noon: Fellow Office Hours/Attending Conference with Core Faculty
• Lunch Break
• 1 p.m.: Afternoon Rounds with Core Faculty

If there is a change in the schedule, we will email you and let you know during Callbacks/Office Hours.

Additional Schedule Notes

On the first Tuesday of every month, fellow office hours will be replaced by a conference on the mission of the NYC PCC (led by Associate Director of the NYC PCC Maria Mercurio-Zappala and Director of Education, Lauren Schwartz). Fellows will still be available for consultation to assist with callbacks.

On the first Thursday of the month, journal club is canceled, and that morning is dedicated to reading and project work. Fellows are available for consultation to assist with projects. On that day, Afternoon Rounds will be replaced with Toxicology Grand Rounds (1 p.m. to 2 p.m.) and NYC Poison Control Consultant’s Conference (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.). You will receive an email to sign up for Consultants’ Conference one to two weeks before this meeting. You must register for the Consultants’ Conference to receive the meeting information.

To apply, you must submit an application through our online form.

This is a highly sought-after educational experience, so space is limited. All applications must be received at least one month in advance of the first choice rotation week.

Note: Space is limited and choosing a section does not mean you will be registered for that start date. The earlier you apply, the more likely we will be able to accommodate you. We will be in touch with you shortly after receiving your application to determine your eligibility.