Applicants are responsible for reviewing the University of Saskatchewan Policies for the R1 Match to determine if they meet all requirements and eligibility criteria. Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements or documents may result in an applicant’s file not being reviewed or ranked.
CASPer Test
All applicants must complete the Casper test. More information is available under Supporting Documentation-CASPer Exam.
Licensing
Matched applicants must be eligible for an educational register license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) for a July 1st start date and must maintain eligibility for an educational register license throughout their entire training program. Matched applicants who are graduating in the spring will need to provide a copy of their medical degree/diploma to the PGME office and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) prior to the start of residency training. Any delays in providing all required documentation to CPSS may result in the following:
Applicants completing medical education at the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) are required to submit proof of English language proficiency before the rank order deadline to demonstrate they meet CPSS requirements. More information is available under Supporting Documentation-Language Proficiency.
NOTE: Applicants who are considering a delay to their convocation date must be aware that a medical degree cannot be issued to a student until they have convocated. CPSS bylaws require that new residents must have received their medical degree prior to the commencement of residency training. Choosing to delay convocation will affect a matched applicant’s ability to commence their residency training program in Saskatchewan on July 1. Please refer to the U of S CaRMS Deferral Policy for additional information.
Credentialing
In order to commence and continue in Postgraduate Medical Education training programs, matched applicants must be eligible for and maintain privileges within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) as determined by their credentialing process. The SHA requires successful applicants to submit a current criminal record check as part of their pre-resident application for appointment. Applicants with criminal records will be considered on a case by case basis by the College of Medicine in consultation with the SHA.
Resident Boot Camp
All matched applicants must attend a mandatory three-day Resident Boot Camp scheduled for late June. The purpose of the Boot Camp is to provide additional support to trainees as they transition to residency by introducing and consolidating baseline skills and knowledge needed to flourish during their residency years. The program will include interactive case-based and hands-on practice sessions. There will also be a social event to provide trainees with the opportunity to interact and network among themselves. Stipends will be provided to trainees.
Attendance is required and absences are only permitted in exceptional circumstances, with prior approval of PGME.
Basic Life Support Course/PALS
Matched applicants are required to provide proof of BLS certification (current as of July 1, 2023) to the PGME office prior to starting their training program. If BLS has not been completed, please let the program administrator know and this may be combined with your PALS training in early July 2023.
Program application language: English
Personal Letter/Statement: specific details regarding the questions to address and the length of the letter can be found in the Personal Letter section of the Additional Documents. We encourage you to review this closely and address the questions to the best of your capability.
All applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents at the time of application and must submit a notarized/certified photocopy of one of the accepted citizenship documents.
Proof of citizenship must be current at the time of application and expired documents will not be accepted.
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.
Language assessment document accepted: IELTS Academic
Language assessment document accepted:
Language assessment document accepted: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General
Applicants will be required to provide proof of proficiency in the English language to meet licensing requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSS) of Saskatchewan.
CMGs/USMGs who completed their medical education at an English medical school in Canada or the US are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency.
Canadian applicants with medical education from the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan and must complete one of the language exams listed above.
Applicants who are required to complete a language exam must submit a valid test score to CaRMS by the program rank order deadline. Applicants who do not provide acceptable proof of language proficiency by the program rank order deadline will not be ranked.
Please direct any questions about language requirements or eligibility to della.toews@usask.ca. Applicants should not contact CPSS directly about their eligibility for licensure.
Three letters of reference are required and must be written by faculty members or consultants. References should be from a clinician who has directly observed the candidate. References from residents will not be accepted. References are due in the CaRMS office by the reference letter deadline.
Your medical school transcript can be submitted through one of the methods below:
For current year Canadian medical graduates (CMGs), there is no action required from you. Your medical school will automatically submit your MSPR to CaRMS on your behalf for you to assign.
If your MSPR is in a language other than the program language of English or French, you are required to have the document translated.
A personal letter must be submitted along with your application. Your personal letter should be no more than 750 words (approximately 1.5 pages, single spaced).
In your personal letter, please be sure to specifically address the following questions:
1. Why have you chosen to apply to Pediatrics?
2. What makes you interested to train in our residency program and live in the province of Saskatchewan, specifically Regina and/or Saskatoon?
3. What strengths would you bring to our program including any niche interests or skills that you have?
NOTE: if you are applying to both the Regina and Saskatoon program sites, you may use the same personal letter.
CASPer examYour CASPer assessment result is sent directly to CaRMS from Altus approximately one week prior to the application deadline. Please ensure that you give Altus permission to share your results with CaRMS.
The CASPer assessment is only valid for one admissions cycle. If you have taken the assessment in a previous year, you are expected to re-take it. To register for the CASPer assessment visit takealtus.com/casper.
Please use this opportunity to highlight your professional and personal achievements.
Applications submitted after file review has opened on January 10, 2023
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on January 10, 2023
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 10, 2023
All applicant files submitted before the deadline will be reviewed by our selection committee. Each file is evaluated on a number of merits, including, but not limited to: academic potential, interest in scholarly activities, leadership in extracurricular activities, strength of reference letters, interest in our center's pediatric training program, and the candidates personal statement. Our program values a broad range of electives, both within and outside of Pediatrics. For electives in Pediatrics, the program may contact any elective supervisor listed on your CaRMS application for further information. After review of documents, selected applicants will be offered a virtual interview.
Not all applicants meeting the minimal requirements will be offered an interview. The final ranking process is determined primarily by a combination of file review and interview scores.
The file review and interview processes are conducted in an equitable manner with the goal to identify the candidates that best demonstrate the core values of our program.
Interviews will be offered to candidates who meet the program’s criteria for entrance. Only candidates who are interviewed will be considered for ranking. We are very accommodating and will do our best to have an interview time that suits your preference.
Virtual interviews will be conducted by a panel, including faculty and resident members. There will be opportunities to talk with local Pediatric residents and learn more about our program through virtual "town halls" which will be held in November and December.
Interviews will be conducted in an equitable and culturally-sensitive manner with the intent to identify the applicants who best fit the core values of our program.
Strong academic standing, interest in child health, and extracurricular activities are desirable attributes.
Our program values an applicant with a diverse range of clinical, scholarly, leadership, and life experiences.
As a mid-sized program, our trainees have the opportunity to become deeply involved with clinical care from an early stage of their training - therefore, applicants who are enthusiastic, eager to learn, and self-directed will thrive in our program.
We seek applicants who have demonstrated a strong academic standing and have shown a clear interest in child and adolescent health.
Demonstrating performance in scholarly work and the assumption of leadership roles in your medical school career are further sought strengths.
Residency life can be demanding; therefore, we seek applicants who show a well-rounded approach to life with an interest in personal extracurricular pursuits.
Further, we seek applicants with an awareness of and respect for cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion. With a large Indigenous population in Saskatchewan, strong candidates demonstrate an appreciation of and a respect for the unique health care needs of Indigenous peoples.
The primary goal is to train emerging General Pediatricians with excellent clinical skills and a comprehensive knowledge in General Pediatrics, who will utilize their training judiciously and ethically in caring for Pediatric patients. For those who may seek further specialization, our program will help foster your goal of attaining a pediatric fellowship position of your interest.
At the end of training, residents will have successfully met the requirements as outlined in the Royal College objectives and will have gained competency to practice as a General Pediatric consultant. Furthermore, through mentorship and modeling, residents will have a strong awareness of professionalism, equity and cultural diversity.
The Pediatric training program at the University of Saskatchewan is committed to a fair, equitable and transparent application process. Successful applicants are those who we feel are best suited for our Paediatric Training Program.
The Selection Committee will rank applicants based on the following criteria:
-Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a commitment to teamwork and professionalism
-Clear interest in our Pediatric training program
-Medical school grades/class standing/awards
-Demonstration of leadership skills/functioning in a leader role as well as evidence of work as an advocate
-Demonstrated interest in Pediatrics as reflected in electives, selectives, etc.
-Personal Letter demonstrating (1) an interest in Pediatrics, (2) interest in training and living in the province of Saskatchewan, and (3) strengths, interests, and/or skills that you would bring to our program.
-Reference letters
-Demonstrated ability to be organized as evidenced by a complete application that is in accordance with our stated expectations.
Review team composition : The review team is composed of the Pediatric Residency Program Committee members and other Pediatric faculty who have experience in reviewing CaRMS applications and utilize our CaRMS file review form to ensure all relevant aspects of your file are reviewed thoroughly and in a standardized manner.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200
Based on the last 4 years, we received an average of around 75 Canadian applicants.
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 51 - 75 %
We will offer interviews to 50-67% of applicants
File component | Criteria |
---|---|
CV | Evaluate content and organization |
Electives | Completed one or more electives in Pediatrics |
Examinations | Relevant examinations have been successfully passed (if unsuccessful, then a explanation and follow-up completed for remediation should be discussed). All applicants must complete a CASPer exam to be eligible for consideration. |
Extra-curricular | Well balanced across domains and team work |
Leadership skills | Demonstrate initiative and leadership skills |
MSPRs | Evaluate overall performance |
Personal letters | A personal letter must be submitted along with your application. Your personal letter should be no more than 750 words (approximately 1.5 pages, single spaced). In your personal letter, please be sure to specifically address the following questions: 1. Why have you chosen to apply to Pediatrics? 2. What makes you interested to train in our residency program and live in the province of Saskatchewan, specifically Regina and/or Saskatoon? 3. What strengths would you bring to our program including any niche interests or skills that you have? NOTE: if you are applying to both the Regina and Saskatoon program sites, you may use the same personal letter. |
Reference documents | Evaluate content and evidence of your commitment to/interest in pediatrics |
Research/Publications | Interest in participating in research; demonstration of successful completion of research projects (presentations & publications) is an asset. |
Transcripts | Evaluate content and identify any areas of academic difficulty. |
Due to COVID-19, it is expected and anticipated that elective experiences are greatly affected and appropriate consideration will be taken when reviewing applications. We wish to assure applicants this will not impact the eligibility of their application during the review and selection process.
Interview format :
We may accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants due to weather, technology failure, or unforeseen circumstances.
Interview components | Criteria |
---|---|
Collaboration skills | Demonstrated through interview questions |
Collegiality | Demonstrated through interview process and selected review of your application |
Communication skills | Demonstrated through application and interview process |
Health advocacy | Demonstrated commitment to the health and wellness of various populations in your application |
Interest in the discipline | Demonstrated through application and interview process |
Interest in the program | Demonstrated through application and interview process |
Leadership skills | Demonstrated through interview questions and evidence within your application |
Professionalism | Demonstrated through interview questions |
Scholarly activities | We do not evaluate this interview component |
QUICK FACTS
- Our program is a distributed one, with all residents receiving some portions of their training in other sites. Residents based in Regina will expect to spend some time in each year of the program in Saskatoon, notably for training in PICU and core subspecialty rotations. Access to varied outpatient settings, including local First Nations Reserves, is a valued component of our program. With 2 residents per year of training (8 in total), and no local RCPSC fellowship programs, residents in our program have ample direct contact with pediatric faculty and clinical exposures.
- Our current Regina faculty includes 20 general Pediatricians and Neonatologists. Other supports include a Pediatric Developmental specialist, Pediatric Allergist/Immunologist, two Pediatric Surgeons, as well as comprehensive pediatric care programs at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre and the Wascana Hospital (pediatric rehabilitation services). We also have a well-developed Child Abuse Team affiliated with the Regina Children’s Justice Centre.
- Our Pediatric Outpatient facility provides consultative care with specialty clinics including Child Development, Surgery, Asthma and Allergy, Nephrology and Cystic Fibrosis. Other clinics, such as Pediatric Cardiology, Neurology and Hematology are managed by visiting subspecialists from Saskatoon.
- As with all pediatric programs, we employ the CBD (Competence by Design) curriculum as of July 2021.
- Training experiences (rotations) are typically 2- or 4-week blocks with the majority taking place in Regina. Other rotation experiences will be scheduled in Saskatoon (3 blocks as a PGY1, 5-6 blocks as a PGY2 and PGY3, and 3-5 blocks as a PGY4). Opportunity exists for 3 electives at other accredited Pediatric institutions and for self-designed selectives that meet resident educational needs and Royal College requirements.
- Residents are well-supported by their program directors, administrative staff, and a progressive resident contract through the Resident Doctors of Saskatchewan (RDoS). There are 4 weeks of vacation time allotted per year at the beginning of the academic year. Typically 2 weeks of vacation are scheduled for each resident and slotted into the rotation schedule, with the other 2 weeks selected by the resident during the academic year.
- Resident scholarly projects (research) are well supported through a network of research experts (Division Head of Pediatric Research; Department Research Coordinator, and Resident Research Facilitator). The University of Saskatchewan also provides excellent research supports, and all residents are provided funding to present their research.
- The Pediatric Program maintains a robust academic curriculum (highlighted below) including protected academic half-day, simulation (high fidelity simulation in our simulation lab as well as targeted clinical procedural rounds), Code Navy events, wellness rounds, journal club, a variety of resident-led and faculty-supported rounds (case rounds, topic rounds, and interpretation rounds), physical exam rounds, critical appraisal curriculum, Departmental Grand Rounds, practice examinations (STACERs, OSCEs, MCQs and SAQs), a longitudinal Indigenous Child and Youth Health course, a Teaching Course (TIPS), M&M Rounds, and much more.
- Resident wellness is an important part of training and is supported through several resident-led and faculty-led initiatives, including staff/resident events, biannual resident retreats, and other College and community-wide opportunities. Many of our faculty are training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and provide resident debriefing as required. Fatigue Risk Management (FRM) and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are prioritized across our program, overseen by faculty-resident committees, and hold a dedicated spot during Resident Program Committee meetings.
- The Regina General Hospital’s Medical Library offers an extensive collection of medical journals and a friendly staff to help with online searches. Access to the University of Saskatchewan’s online electronic journal archive is also provided.
- Another on-site resource is our well-appointed Simulation Centre, used for practicing procedures and medical scenarios such as pediatric emergencies and codes.
This residency program is for 4 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
Our Pediatric Residency Program, akin to all other pediatric programs, transitioned to CBD as of July 2021. Elentra (https://elentra.org/) is the chosen electronic platform for the University of Saskatchewan Competence by Design (CBD) programming. Residents must finish all 4 stages of pediatrics before moving to subspecialty training; for most residents this will take 4 years.
CBD Stages
The CBD stages are currently planned as follows (1 full block = 4 weeks)
TTD (Transition to Discipline): 3 blocks expected
Foundations: 13 blocks expected
Core: 26 blocks expected
Transition to Practice (TTP): 10 blocks expected
Academic Curriculum
Academic Half Day (AHD) - with Saskatoon
Other Academic Half Day Experiences
Critical Care Rounds
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Half Day and Case Based Teaching or Simulation
Code Navy Events
M&M Rounds
Indigenous Child and Youth Health Course
TIPS
First Year Resident Orientation
PALS and NRP
Scholarly Project (Research)
Resident Wellness
Leadership
Residents will have the chance to be involved in several committees and roles during their residency training including, but not limited to:
Teaching Opportunities
Residents have the opportunity to be involved in a myriad of structured and unstructured teaching opportunities during their 4-year training period. Teaching as resident-medical student pair, resident-resident pair, and resident-faculty pair exists throughout the 4 years of the program. Formalized teaching training - the TIPS program and education-based academic half-day lectures and workshops - allow for residents to further hone their teaching skill sets. Additional opportunities to engage in teaching or accrue education training can be arranged based on resident interest.
Other Program Notes
The Pediatric Residency Program, Regina Stream, is based at the Regina General Hospital with distributed learning at other sites.
The Regina General Hospital houses a 26-bed pediatric inpatient unit, including a 4-bed High Acuity Area, as well as a 24-bed NICU (both intensive and intermediate care), a 12-bed newborn nursery/step-down neonatal unit, a 36-bed Mother-Baby unit (for routine post-partum care) and a Pediatric Outpatient Unit.
Wascana Rehabilitation Hospital is the site of Wascana Children's Program, which provides ongoing support for children with physical disabilities.
Community Pediatric clinics are held in various private Pediatrician's offices throughout the City of Regina.
Social Pediatrics sessions take our residents to First Nations Reserves in Southern Saskatchewan. In addition, experiences may involve other community organizations that provide pediatric-based care.
The Jim Pattison's Children's Hospital in Saskatoon, newly opened in September 2019, is the location of many experiences during pediatric residency, including PICU, Pediatric ER, and most pediatric subspecialty rotations.
Extensive support is available for out-of-town rotations. The exact nature of this support varies with location and program. The communities involved, individual programs, the College of Medicine, and the Ministry of Health work collaboratively to ensure residents are not financially disadvantaged by the need to train at various sites within the province. For residents assigned to short term, mandatory rotations in Saskatoon, fully furnished private apartments are provided (laundry facilities, wi-fi, cable TV). Family friendly and pet friendly housing is available.
All incoming R1 residents are required to complete BLS prior to starting.
PLEASE NOTE:
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) will be provided upon entry.
- NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) will be provided upon entry.
Question: What is the relationship between the Saskatoon and Regina sites?
Answer: Our program director oversees the Pediatric Residency sites in both Saskatoon and Regina. In Regina, there is also is a site director (Dr. Shauna Flavelle) and program administrative assistant (Tracey Murray).
Regina trainees spend time between Saskatoon and Regina. This includes: 3 blocks in the 1st year (Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Respirology, and Hematology/Oncology), 5-6 blocks in 2nd year (PICU x 2, selectives x 3-4), 5-6 in the 3rd year (Pediatric Emergency Medicine, PICU, and selectives x 3-4) and 3-5 blocks in the 4th year (PICU or Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 2-4 selectives).
The overall curriculum (academic half day, OSCEs, practice examinations, courses and certifications, and other core curriculum) are consistent between both sites. Furthermore, opportunities pertaining to research, wellness, and leadership are similar across both sites.
The overall resident and faculty relationship between the Saskatoon and Regina sites is highly integrated and supportive.
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