Rheumatology
Introduction
General Information
Welcome to the University of Sydney, Department of Rheumatology, Westmead Hospital website. The department has both in- and out-patient facilities and research laboratories for the treatment and study of rheumatic conditions. More recently rheumatology units at Blacktown, Auburn Hospitals and Nepean have integrated with Westmead Hospital to form a Sydney West Area Health Rheumatology Service.
Our aims are:
(i) To teach clinical aspects of medical rheumatology to undergraduates, residents and vocational trainees. The unit has an advanced trainee programme that incorporates both a clinical, paediatric and research component.
(ii) Provide a centre of excellence for rheumatological research. Research offered ranges from short projects (summer students, elective/option terms) to long term MD/PhD projects. This is an active research unit with a number of different research projects. The two broad areas of study are in the field of genetics and molecular biology of rheumatic disease.
(iii) Provide excellent medical care for patients with rheumatic/musculoskeletal problems.
(iv) Provide a tertiary clinical referral centre for the study and management of rarer and more complicated connective tissue disorders.
History of the Department
A new academic position was established in 1997 following a donation from the Arthritis Foundation of Australia to supplement existing University funds and create a Senior Lecturer position to support the existing clinical services. The driving force for the new position was the absence of an academic Rheumatology unit in the Sydney Western region serving a population of 700,000 and the increased University demand for teaching on introduction of the new graduate medical program in 1997. Since then many medical graduates and students have gained valuable knowledge and experience in clinical and research areas in the department.
