University of Toronto - Urology - Toronto
2022 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Last approved on January 17, 2022
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
University Health Network
149 College Street
Toronto, ON , Ontario, M5T 1P5
Program Contacts
Important Information
Please be aware that most, if not all, hospitals and Universities in Ontario have mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in place that require, in the absence of a valid medical or human rights exemption, proof of vaccination. Acceptable vaccination must be in accordance with Health Canada. You will be required to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to the appropriate institution if matched. Failure to comply and provide the appropriate documentation may result in the termination of the contract. These guidelines could change at any time in accordance with future direction from the Ministry of Health or the Universities based on information from Public Health.
Please note the following new information:
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Applying competency-based practices to residency education
To contribute to the success of Canadian physicians and the delivery of high-quality patient care, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has embarked upon an initiative to introduce competency-based medical education (CBME) in Canadian postgraduate specialty training and in professional practice in Canada. This initiative, called Competence by Design (CBD), aims to enhance patient care by aligning medical education and lifelong learning with evolving patient needs and empowering learners to more fully engage in their education process.
CBD will use time as a framework rather than the basis for progression. It is not anticipated that the duration of training will change for the majority of trainees. Residency programs will be broken down into stages, and each stage will have a series of milestones based on required competencies. These milestones will create more targeted learning outcomes and involve more frequent, formative assessments within the clinical workplace to ensure residents are developing and receiving feedback on the skills they need.
All programs implementing CBD will continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation processes as traditional programs. All CBD programs (and traditional programs) will continue to lead to Royal College approved certification. Certification for trainees in both CBD and traditional programs will include the completion of a Royal College examination; however, residents in CBD programs will also be assessed against program milestones throughout their training. Within a CBD program, all milestones (documented within an electronic portfolio) and the Royal College examination must be successfully completed to achieve certification.
For more information, please contact cbd@royalcollege.ca.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Supporting Documentation
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
Legal Status
Proof of valid current citizenship or permanent resident status must be provided by submitting one of the following verifications to CaRMS by the File Review Opening deadline. Failure to provide valid proof will result in your application being removed. No other forms of verification are acceptable:
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Birth Certificate/Act of Birth issued by an authority in Canada accompanied by photo ID (must be Canadian government-issued photo ID).
- Documents must be notarized/certified photocopies. Notarized/certified copies must not be older than two years from the application submission deadline; otherwise, a new notarized/certified copy is required.
- Confirmation of permanent residence must be accompanied by a photo ID (must be a Canadian government-issued photo ID).
CaRMS is partnering with third-party organizations to automate the verification of citizenship/legal status required by postgraduate offices for entry into residency. Third-party verification simplifies the process for applicants and programs. All applicants who do not receive third-party citizenship verification will be required to upload and assign an acceptable proof of citizenship document. Please see additional information here.
If possible one or more letters from a faculty member in Urology is helpful but not required.
Your personal letter should outline your academic and career goals in Urology. Highlight your leadership activities and any other information relevant to your application.
Maximum word count: 1000 (no minimum)
Review Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on January 31, 2022
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on January 31, 2022
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 31, 2022
Interviews
Dates:
- March 5, 2022
- March 6, 2022
Tentative date for the Urology Fair (virtual edition) March 5th and 6th, 2022.
All interviews will be done virtually, and will last approximately 30mins.
Selection Criteria
Program goals
Our program seeks to accept strongly motivated, hard-working and highly qualified candidates interested in pursuing a career in urologic surgery. Accordingly, we are looking for a cohort of residents that will be self-directed learners with a proven track record of academic excellence. Candidates should also be excellent communicators and collaborators, as well as displaying strong team-first behaviour. Prior research experience is not required but strongly recommended. We strongly encourage candidates who aspire to a career in academic urology because of the depth of resources available at the University of Toronto and through our Division of Urology.
Selection process goals
The Division has 3-4 CMG training positions per year and will accept up to 1 qualified IMG applicant each year.
Applicants will be assessed through the CaRMS application process (https://www.carms.ca/). Candidates who fail to meet the above outlined criteria will not be considered further. Those applicants meeting the above criteria by providing evidence of the above qualities and attributes will be granted an interview at the national Canadian Urology Fair, through CaRMS.
All applicants granted an interview are reviewed by the Division of Urology Selection Committee through a merit-based process. Candidates will be ranked based on the scores of their application (40%), interview (40%), and general fit with the program (20%). The selection committee reserves the right to adjust final rankings by consensus to address issues of program priority and diversity.
Selection Committee Members:
Dr. Neil Fleshner (Division Chair)
Dr. Jason Lee (Program Director & University Health Network representative)
Dr. Yonah Krakowsky (Assistant Program Director & Mount Sinai Hospital representative)
Dr. Ron Kodama (Sunnybrook Hospital representative)
Dr. Darius Bagli (Hospital for Sick Children representative)
Dr. Monica Farcas (St. Michael's Hospital representative)
Dr. Taylor Remondini (resident rep)
File review process
Review team composition : Chair, Program Director, Asst Program Director, Faculty member from each main teaching hospital site, one resident member
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 26 - 50 %
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Interest & achievement in academic projects, leadership roles, urology-related interest groups |
| Electives | We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted candidates’ opportunities to arrange and complete electives and would like to reassure you that a lack of elective activity this year will not negatively impact your application to our program. |
| Examinations | |
| Extra-curricular | Well rounded individual-interests outside of urology, leadership activities, function well in a team |
| Leadership skills | Demonstrated abilities to lead individuals, teams in medical and non-medical settings |
| MSPRs | Competency |
| Personal letters | Demonstrated passion, dedication to urology with reflection on future career ideas/interests |
| Reference documents | Evidence of knowledge, skills, professionalism, abilities to function within team setting |
| Research/Publications | Demonstrated proficiency and interest in research (Not just urology, publications not essential) |
| Transcripts | Competency or excellence |
Elective criteria
Interview process
Interview format :
We do not re-schedule interviews for applicants after we have completed the scheduling process.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | Ability to collaborate with colleagues/peers, allied health professionals, mentors/faculty |
| Collegiality | Ability to function well in team setting |
| Communication skills | Ability to clearly communicate ideas, goals, needs, thoughts |
| Health advocacy | Ability to advocate for public health measures, improve social determinants of health, equitable access to healthcare |
| Interest in the discipline | Ability to clearly outline goals, motivations, career aspirations |
| Interest in the program | Ability to clearly outline knowledge of program offerings |
| Leadership skills | Prior experiences, problem-solving in team setting |
| Professionalism | Punctual, composed, mature, confident |
| Scholarly activities | Review of CV, future interests |
| Other interview component(s) |
Information gathered outside of CaRMS application
Specifically, we may consider:Ranking process
The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :Program Curriculum
This residency program is for 5 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
The University of Toronto Urology Residency training program is a comprehensive, immersive training program with clinical and research exposure to all sub-specialty areas within the field of urology. Trainees have the opportunity to work along side internationally recognized faculty members within each sub-specialty area.
The training program spans approximately five clinical years and trainees interested in an academic career have opportunities to step out of the clinical stream to enroll in the University of Toronto Department of Surgery Surgical Scientist Training Program (SSTP).
The program is currently transitioning towards a fully competency-based medical education curriculum, in line with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons "Competency By Design (CBD)" mandate. Trainees will also be enrolled in the Surgical Foundations program during the first clinical year of training, as mandated by the Royal College. Clinical rotations during the training program include exposure to all sub-specialty areas with urology, as well as off-service rotations in general surgery, trauma/ICU, renal transplantation as well as elective opportunities.
Sub-specialty Program in the Division of Urology:
-renal transplantation
-urooncology
-urinary stone disease and endourology
-male infertility
-pediatric urology
-neuro-urology
-GU trauma
-men's health and andrology
-sexual health
- reconstructive urology
Seminars
There is a mandatory academic ½ day each Friday morning. The basis of this program is Campbell's Urology and it is designed to teach and review all aspects of urology including basic science, GU pathology and radiology as well as the CanMeds roles. There is a multitude of other academic activities including inter-hospital rounds, special seminars, resident research rounds, Journal Clubs and guest lectures. Also, the surgical skills lab is used at all levels of training to teach basic surgical and endoscopic skills and advanced endourology and laparoscopy. A mandatory Principles of Surgery lecture series through the Department of Surgery takes place during the first year of training to prepare the resident for the Royal College POS exam. Each teaching hospital has weekly rounds. Visiting professors provide further academic stimulation at least four times per year. Many of the faculty are prominent in their own fields and have regular visitors as well. Fellows from other universities spend 1-2 years in various programs within the division and visiting sabbatical staff are often present.
PGCorEd
Since July 2008 all University of Toronto Residents entering PGY1 will be required to complete the web-based PGCorEd* core competency modules as part of their residency program certification. These modules provide the foundation for non-clinical roles for the CFPC Programs. Completion of these modules will be required before the end of the PGY2 year. Failure to complete all modules will delay processing of Final In-Training Evaluation Reports (FITERs) and may constitute professional misconduct.
Training Sites
Teaching Hospitals
The University Health Network (The Toronto General and Western Divisions, Princess Margaret Hospital.)
Hospital for Sick Children
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Odette Regional Cancer Centre
St. Michael's Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital
Community sites eg Trillium Health (Credit Valley Hospital)
Programs
Renal Transplantation, Multi disciplinary Uro-oncology Program, comprehensive program for urinary stone management including Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy, Andrology, Pediatric urology, Infertility, Neuro-urology, sexual health, Female Urology and Reconstructive Surgery.
Additional Information
- Permanent Residents: Successful applicants who hold Permanent Resident status in Canada will be required to disclose their Country of Citizenship to the postgraduate medical education office in order to comply with current reporting requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities
- Matched applicants: CaRMS will provide their electronic data file to the matched university’s postgraduate education office. The postgraduate office will share the information as needed, but not limited to, the Ontario Physician Human Resource Data Centre, Canadian Post-MD Education Registry, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario, teaching hospitals and other training sites, Touchstone Institute and the Ontario Ministry of Health.
- Changes: The Ontario Faculties of Medicine and Ontario Ministry of Health reserve the right to make changes to the information published on the CaRMS website pertaining to Ontario postgraduate training without prior notice.
- Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements may result in the applicant file not being reviewed and removed.
Summary of changes
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