Program Contacts

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Important Information

NEW for 2022 - Competency by Design (CBD) 

Prospective residents for this iteration beginning PGY1 in July 1st 2022 will be the first cohort of CBD residents at University of Calgary for Diagnostic Radiology.

If you'd like to learn more about CBD; check out the royal college website: Competency By Design

 

NEW for 2022 - Casper Test

 All applicants are required to complete the Casper Test to assist with our selection process for the 2022 Application Cycle. 

 

University of Calgary PGME Information:

https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/pgme/future-trainees/canadian-medical-school-graduates/residency

 

Electives & Observership Information:

https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/pgme/future-trainees/canadian-medical-school-graduates/visiting-electives-and-observerships

Casper Test - Required

 All applicants are required to complete the Casper Test (Altus Suite) to assist with our selection process for the 2022 Application Cycle. 

 Casper is an online test that assesses non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics. To complete Casper visit TakeAltus.com to create an account. In implementing Casper, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.  

 The Casper test comprises 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for Casper, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at TakeAltus.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the 12-section practice test, which will not only immerse you in the test environment but will also ensure you meet the technical requirements to access and complete the test. 

 The test dates for postgraduate programs are in December 2021 and January 2022 and carry a cost to you of $100 (CAD). After your results are processed you will be notified by CaRMS to log in so that CaRMS will assign your Casper score to the programs you've applied to who request the test score. You will not receive your own score.

Casper test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it. This is because your score is reported as a z-score within the group of all other applicants of the same year.

Casper Test - admissions assessments of non-cognitive skills 

All applicants applying to the Diagnostic Radiology residency program at University of Calgary are required to complete the Casper Test (Altus Suite), to assist with our selection process for the 2022 Application Cycle. 

How to Complete Casper 

In order to take the Casper Test, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities. You will require the following for both account creation and completing Casper:  

• Government-issued photo ID
• Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
• Working webcam
• Working microphone
• Reliable high-speed internet connection

Please go to www.TakeAltus.com to sign up for Altus Suite for Canadian Postgraduate Medical Education (CSP-20201 – Canadian Postgraduate Medical Education) after selecting Canada as the country which the school you are applying to resides in.

1. Register using your CaRMS ID and a piece of government-issued photo ID.  
2. Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule. 
3. Important: To account for identity verification and payment processing timeline, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended. 
4. Ensure you have selected CaRMS for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up to date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times  on TakeAltus.com. 
5. Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the TakeAltus.com website. 

Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for the Casper Test you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations can be found here. 

More About Casper 

The Casper test comprises 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for Casper, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at TakeAltus.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the 12-section practice test, which will not only immerse you in the test environment but will also ensure you meet the technical requirements to access and complete the test. 

Casper test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it. 

For a more detailed look at the Casper test, please see this video. 

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

Casper Exam required:

New for 2022!!

Casper Test - admissions assessments of non-cognitive skills 

All applicants applying to the Diagnostic Radiology residency program at Queen's University are required to complete the Casper Test (Altus Suite), to assist with our selection process for the 2022 Application Cycle. 

How to Complete Casper 

In order to take the Casper Test, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities. You will require the following for both account creation and completing Casper:  

• Government-issued photo ID
• Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
• Working webcam
• Working microphone
• Reliable high-speed internet connection

Please go to www.TakeAltus.com to sign up for Altus Suite for Canadian Postgraduate Medical Education (CSP-20201 – Canadian Postgraduate Medical Education) after selecting Canada as the country which the school you are applying to resides in.

1. Register using your CaRMS ID and a piece of government-issued photo ID.  
2. Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule. 
3. Important: To account for identity verification and payment processing timeline, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended. 
4. Ensure you have selected CaRMS for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up to date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times  on TakeAltus.com. 
5. Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the TakeAltus.com website. 

Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for the Casper Test you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations can be found here. 

More About Casper 

The Casper test comprises 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for Casper, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at TakeAltus.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the 12-section practice test, which will not only immerse you in the test environment but will also ensure you meet the technical requirements to access and complete the test. 

Casper test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it. 

 For a more detailed look at the Casper test, please see this video. 

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Supporting Documentation

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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

Each of the 6 members of the CaRMS application team reviews all of the applications and ranks the applications according to a numerical score. All components in the CaRMS application (Education, Electives and Observerships, Work Experience, Scholarly Activities and Research Experience, Achievements and Interests, CV, Personal Letter and Reference Letters) are reviewed and incorporated into the final score.

The CaRMS Selection Committee then meets to narrow down the number of candidates to interview (usually 36 candidates). 

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Interviews

Dates:

• March 9, 2022
• March 10, 2022
• March 11, 2022
• March 12, 2022

Selection Criteria

A successful applicant is expected to have an above average academic record and demonstrate an interest in the field of radiology through a combination of work experience, electives/observerships and research. Successful candidates require strong communication and interpersonal skills so they can excel in a collegial team environment among their fellow residents and staff as well as represent the program well interacting with referring clinicians and allied health providers. Applications should demonstrate a commitment to wellness, lifelong learning, and excellence through a well rounded combination of personal, work and academic experiences.  

Program goals

  The goal of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at the University of Calgary is to prepare the next generation of physicians to become highly skilled clinical radiologists while also teaching the skills required to excel in research, education, and innovation in the field of diagnostic imaging.  To advance health and knowledge locally and globally through the development and application of innovative and impactful precision medical imaging. The Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at the University of Calgary strives for excellence as learners and patient care providers, while fostering an environment of collegiality and respect.

Selection process goals

A successful applicant is expected to have an above average academic record and demonstrate an interest in the field of radiology through a combination of work experience, electives/observerships and research. Successful candidates require strong communication and interpersonal skills so they can excel in a collegial team environment among their fellow residents and staff as well as represent the program well interacting with referring clinicians and allied health providers. Applications should demonstrate a commitment to wellness, lifelong learning, and excellence through a well rounded combination of personal, work and academic experiences.  

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:
Social interaction during program related events
Communication with program administration
Social media
Unsolicited reference letters
Unsolicited email references
Unsolicited verbal information on a candidate's prior performance
Unsolicited feedback from colleagues and co-workers

Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

SPECIFIC FEATURES

Training provided at the University of Calgary Residency Program in Diagnostic Radiology is at a high level. The preceptors in the Department of Radiology are dedicated instructors and are experts in their respective subspecialties.  The catchment is both large and comprehensive and the imaging equipment is state-of-the-art. The overall educational experience is excellent for the training of qualified radiologists.

We are the only diagnostic radiology program in Canada to offer a Senior Resident Radiology Clinic in which a senior resident has the opportunity to gain confidence and independence in a community radiology clinic.  This clinic will be an important component as we transition to competency based medical education.

The Visiting Professor program occurs 4-6 times per year to teach over two days and brings in world-renowned experts in radiology and authors of the classic and innovating textbooks fundamental to radiology.  The Visiting Professor program allows our residents to access the best radiology teachers and educators in the world and it connects the residents with experts from major teaching centres, which has opened doors to highly competitive fellowships.

There are opportunities for training outside of Calgary, including a Pathology/Radiology (AIRP) course in Maryland, a pre-call preparation course in Ottawa and elective training in rural Alberta.  

Research is a required and supported component of the program with many qualified and prolific researchers in the department who serve as mentors and resources.  There is an annual Department of Radiology Research Day where residents are invited to present their research.  

EQUIPMENT

We have some of the most advanced imaging equipment available including 3 clinical and 2 cardiac 3T MRI scanners, US, CEUS, CT, PET, CT SPECT and fluoroscopy.  Digital image processing (PACS) is performed daily on dedicated workstations throughout the department.  Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic body, vascular and neurointerventional imaging suites rounds out the complete spectrum of imaging infrastructure in Calgary.

RESOURCES 

Teaching and educational resources include a dedicated resident library with three workstations (PC and Mac) for research and manuscript preparation.    Digital subscriptions to all major DI journals and comprehensive online resources, such as STATdx, are maintained.  Many electronic textbooks and online resources are available through the University of Calgary library.  For case conferences, teaching rounds and multidisciplinary rounds there is a dedicated DI lecture theatre outfitted with professional grade presentation equipment optimized for presentation of high resolution complex diagnostic radiology images and case presentations.

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO PRESENTED BY THE RESIDENTS 

HIT THIS LINK -> VIDEO LINK

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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.

We adhere to the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA) agreement

https://para-ab.ca/residentphysicianagreement/

Medical Education Office (MEO) of Alberta Health Services 

https://insite.albertahealthservices.ca/ma/Page3314.aspx

Transition to Discipline (TTD)

The PGY-1 year consists of 11 blocks and is designed to provide a broad background in clinical medicine. This training will facilitate not only the candidate's preparation for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, but will also serve to develop the extensive core knowledge required in the role as a consultant Radiologist. 

Rotation	Duration
General Internal Medicine	4 weeks
General Internal Medicine Subspecialty	4 weeks
Respirology	4 weeks
General Surgery	4 weeks
Surgical Subspecialty - most commonly Urology	4 weeks
Emergency Medicine	4 weeks
Neurology	4 weeks
Radiation Oncology Medical Oncology	2 weeks 2 weeks
Pediatric Emergency	4 weeks
Elective - most commonly Anatomic Pathology	4 weeks
Diagnostic Radiology	4 weeks

 **New for this cohort has been removal the Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Orthopedics blocks which was a required rotation. These 2 blocks have been repurposed and added to the Foundation's stage (discussed below).

Foundations of Discipline (FD)

The foundations stage will last 8 blocks after successful completion of the TTD stage. This stage encompasses the core rotations required prior to beginning independent overnight radiology on-call services (typically in December of their PGY2 year). 

Residents will rotate through core rotations (a total of 8) including Neuro and body CT, thoracics, ultrasound, GI/GU Fluoroscopy, MSK and ER and the educational focus of these rotations will be on-call scenarios/cases.

Successful completion of the PGY2/Foundations OSCE is also expected before beginning independent on-call services.

Core of Discipline (Core 1 and Core 2)

The core stage constitutes the majority of residency training. Residents in this stage will be building upon their fundamental knowledge obtained in the foundations stage with rotations through all areas of subspecialty medical imaging with fellowship trained radiologists.

Core rotations include abdominopelvic CT/MRI, neuro CT/MRI, thoracics, cardiac, breast imaging, ultrasound, GI/GU fluoroscopy, CT GU (at a 2nd community hospital site), MSK (in both the tertiary and community hospital setting), maternal-fetal-medicine/obstetrical imaging and nuclear medicine.

Additional rotations through pediatric radiology (4 blocks), interventional radiology (3 blocks) will also occur in this stage.

During this stage the resident will also have ample elective blocks in order to discover a field of interest in order to pursue additional fellowship training post-residency.

The core 1 stage will span approximately 23 blocks and will focus on lower volumes and less complex cases; in the core 2 stage the emphasis will be on higher volumes and greater case complexity.

In core 2, residents will also have 1 block allocated to attend the AIRP (American Institute for Radiological Pathology) course. This is a course attended by essentially all radiology residents in Canada and the USA and is an excellent opportunity for advancing knowledge as well as networking with potential colleagues.

Successful completion of the Core 1 and Core 2 stages permits the resident to challenge the royal college examination to receive board certification (FRCPC); which is expected to be in the early PGY5 year and prior to beginning the Transition to Practice stage.

Transition to Practice (TTP)

The Royal college examination is expected to be moved from the end of PGY5 to likely the early PGY5. In the last 6 blocks of PGY5 where the TTP resident has successfully received Canadian board certification rotations will then be tailored to residents who are now ready to perform at the level of a junior consultant. They will be expected to perform all CanMEDS competencies throughout these high-level rotations.

This stage includes 2 blocks in our "Senior's Clinic"; this is an outpatient lower volume community clinic where TTP residents will have the opportunity to run an outpatient general radiology clinic interpreting ultrasound (general and obstetrical), general radiography and mammography with faculty available for consultation should questions arise.

Two elective blocks have been allocated to the TTP resident's in fields of their choice. This allows trainees to tune-up any subspecialty knowledge prior to departing for fellowships or for additional training in specialized fields such as cardiac imaging, or interventional radiology if more advanced skillsets are required for employment opportunities secured right out of residency.

Two blocks of a "community hospital" rotation is also under development and expected to be ready for 2025/2026. This rotation will allow TTP residents to function at the level of a junior consultant for a lower volume, lower acuity hospital interpreting radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI as well as perform minor procedures. TTP residents will also benefit from having subspecialty faculty readily available for consultation when appropriate.

RESEARCH

All Foundation stage residents are involved in one quality assurance (QA) project. A second research project leading to either a presentation at a recognized national or international meeting or a publication in a refereed journal is also mandatory during the residency. Four weeks are provided to conduct research to be used during the Foundation through to the Transition to Practice stages.  Funding is provided to residents to present papers at conferences.

Residents also participate in Journal Club, scheduled throughout the year.

SEMINARS

Introductory lecture series for TTD residents is given just prior to the FD stage.

There are daily noon-hour rounds, usually case-based, but also lectures.

Academic half-day occurs weekly, 12 months per year. The half-day includes lectures by faculty radiologists, visiting professors and pediatric case rounds.

Monthly obstetrical ultrasound rounds by perinatologists are a regular component of the seminar schedule.

Morning rounds are also provided by faculty and fellows before the start of the workday.

A well-established in-house and visiting professor program enhances teaching.  Intensive teaching is provided over a 1 to 1-1/2 day period by local experts or visiting luminaries in the field of Diagnostic Radiology from across Canada and the USA.  These dedicated Diagnostic Imaging teaching sessions occur 4-6 times per year.

Clinical rounds are also attended by faculty and residents.  The type of rounds varies depending on the clinical specialty, but are usually case-based.  The discussion and interaction with the clinical colleagues enhances the radiology residents' understanding of the disease processes.

POST RESIDENCY

Fellowships: Residents have been successful in obtaining fellowships in well-recognized centres across North America.

Employment: Residents have consistently obtained positions in desired centres in Canada and the USA.  In recent years, all residents have pursued fellowship training prior to starting their radiology practice.

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Training Sites

Foothills Medical Centre (FMC):  This is the primary location for resident training in Diagnostic Radiology.  It is a tertiary acute care and academic facility home to the trauma centre, neurosurgery, cancer care and the Calgary Stroke Program for southern Alberta.  Calgary zone hospitals are well equipped with some of the most advanced imaging equipment available today. Located at the FMC are intraoperative and cardiac 3T MRI scanners, CT, PET, CEUS, US, Mammo, SPECT and DXA.

Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH):  An academic acute care children's hospital and tertiary pediatric referral site for southern Alberta with inpatient, outpatient and emergency services.  Radiology residents spend 4 blocks training at the ACH in pediatric radiology.

Rockyview General Hospital (RGH):  Hospital in southwest Calgary, offering comprehensive community services for inpatients and outpatients.  Radiology residents spend their PGY-1 year at RGH and they may also spend time in CT/GU later in residency.

Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC):  Hospital in northeast Calgary, offering comprehensive community services for inpatients and outpatients.  Radiology residents may spend time at PLC in MSK radiology.

Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (RRDTC):  An outpatient facility in southwest Calgary with CT and MRI staffed by faculty radiologists and also used for resident training.  Radiology residents spend 3 blocks at RRDTC in comprehensive MSK radiology.

South Health Campus (SHC):   Outpatient, inpatient and emergency services are offered with CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine staffed by faculty radiologists.

Community Clinics:  Radiology residents attend three community clinics within walking distance to FMC where they are supervised and taught by U of C faculty radiologists and perinatologists.

One clinic is the Calgary Maternal Fetal Medicine Centre where residents have 1:1 teaching by faculty perinatologists.  Radiology residents spend two full blocks at the MFM Centre honing their ultrasound scanning while seeing the full breadth of low risk to high risk obstetrical ultrasound cases from southern Alberta.

The second clinic is a community radiology clinic where each resident spends two blocks learning community screening and diagnostic mammography from faculty radiologists.

The third clinic is a dedicated Senior Residents' Clinic focused on community ultrasound and radiography and is the only one of it's kind in Canada. The senior resident functions independently similar to a junior radiologist.

Elective training in both rural and urban centres in Alberta, other provinces, and the United States is encouraged. All residents are also encouraged to attend a Pathology/Radiology course.  Funding will be provided to attend.

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Additional Information

Quick Facts

Interprovincial and international electives are possible. Each request for training outside the province is reviewed individually and approved by the Residency Program Committee (RPC).

Ratio of residents to faculty is 1:1

Rural rotations are not mandatory but encouraged. Funding may be available through the office of Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives.

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 introduced 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.

The Royal College anticipates that all specialty and subspecialty programs in Canada will adopt CBD by 2023. National implementation of CBD commenced in July 2017. Diagnostic Radiology goes live 2022.

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.

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FAQ

Please see other sections