The training programme director – Dr Geetha Janakiraman 

Specialty Programme Co-ordinator – Ella Costello

HR Officer, Lead Employer Trust – Christian Collins 0191 275 4783

Why choose Rheumatology?

Rheumatology is an ever-changing dynamic speciality providing holistic care for patients with chronic disabling illness. The wide spectrum of rheumatic disease, combined with its complex myriad of multi-system manifestations, makes no two days or two patients the same. Recent revolutionary advances in the therapies available for treating rheumatic disease have brought life-changing reductions in morbidity, making this a truly exciting time to start a rheumatology career. Furthermore, the speciality remains firmly grounded in clinical history and examination skills, allowing for immensely rewarding partnerships with our patients to be formed over years of continuous review.

Academic and Research Opportunities

Rheumatology is a multidisciplinary speciality involving allied health professionals and specialist input from various medical and surgical specialities to provide high quality care for our patients. Our trainees are encouraged to undertake research, for which opportunities are plenty.

Several rheumatologists in our region are world leaders in rheumatic disease research, and also drive delivery of research across the region.

Our trainees have an excellent track-record in securing Fellowships from major national funding bodies including the Welcome Trust, Medical Research Council, NIHR and Arthritis Research UK. Clinical research is highly valued by NHS Trusts across the region, and we are supportive of trainees opting to undertake a period out of training for research.

As a trainee what can I expect from my training programme?

The rheumatology trainees will work in 3-5 different centres from the region’s five training units; Newcastle, Northumbria, Gateshead, Sunderland, Middlesbrough. All trainees will gain experience of both District general hospitals as well as specialist centres.

As is the case nationally, Rheumatology training sits within the Group 1 specialities introduced by JRCPTB’s shape of training review and incorporates rheumatology and Internal Medicine (IM). As many Rheumatology conditions are multi system disorders good generalist skills are important in delivering holistic care for our patients.

Flavour of some of the specialist experience you are firming up for…..

The North Eastern region is a centre of excellence for connective tissue diseases, metabolic bone diseases, paediatric, adolescent and young adult rheumatology, musculoskeletal ultrasound and MSK research.

Some of the top attractions to train in the North East region and develop expertise as a Rheumatologist includes:

Specialist clinics:

• MSK Ultrasound clinics and Regional Ultrasound group meetings
• Specialist Spondyloarthritis service
• Early arthritis service in most hospitals
• Combined clinics with orthopaedics
• Pregnancy clinic with Obstetrics
• Dedicated young adult transitional clinics
• Specialist Metabolic bone disease clinics
• Dedicated GCA slots with opportunity for temporal and axillary artery ultrasound in some units
• Refractory rheumatoid arthritis clinics
• Combined pulmonary HTN clinics with cardiology
• Specialist Sjogrens clinics

Regional MDTs:

• Regional CTD vasculitis MDT
• Regional Interstitial Lung Disease MDT once a month
• Regional Histopathology meetings

Research, Teaching and Academics:

• Ample opportunities for teaching, research and academic careers 
• State of the art, award winning Clinical Research Facility
• Specialist Connective tissue training through CTD fellowship

Management opportunities:

• Regional trainee representative in specialty training committee role 
• British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) trainee representative to represent in various national committees

........and many more!

The Registrar regional Training days have are updated and mapped closely to the speciality curriculum to deliver top quality training to the budding Rheumatologist along with 6 interesting Regional Rheumatology meetings. There is regular 2 monthly Internal Medicine teaching in the region.