Practical training
The practical component of the Diploma in Fetal Medicine is a full-time, 2-year structured training program designed to cover the diagnosis and management of the whole spectrum of fetal disorders and pregnancy complications.
Candidates will be expected to acquire a high standard of competence in the clinical management of high-risk pregnancies; ultrasound diagnosis and management of fetal anatomical and functional abnormalities; Doppler assessment of the uteroplacental and fetal circulations; amniocentesis, chorion villus sampling and cordocentesis.
Candidates will also be expected to undertake a major clinical or laboratory-based research project and publish a thesis and/or scientific papers.
The International Educational Committee will consider applications for accreditation from departments of fetal–maternal medicine with active research programs and a clinical workload that is sufficiently broad for the trainee to be exposed to most fetal conditions and techniques for fetal diagnosis and therapy. Such centers must be either within hospitals or affiliated to institutions with an obstetric service (which deals with at least 2000 deliveries per year, including a significant proportion of high-risk perinatal patients) as well as neonatal intensive care, neonatal surgery, perinatal pathology and genetic services. All subspecialist centers currently recognized by the Royal Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Britain and Australia are also recognized by the International Educational Committee for the Diploma.
Exemption from part of the practical training program may be granted to candidates who have gained relevant skills through previous training.