Program Contacts

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Important Information

All candidates must meet the Ontario Criteria of Eligibility found here. 

COVID-19 vaccination

Please be aware that most, if not all, hospitals 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 an attestation that you meet this requirement as part of the CaRMS application process and any actual documentation will be collected by the appropriate institution if matched. 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.

MCCQE (Medical Council of Canada qualifying examination) Part 1 results:

Trainees will be required to disclose their MCCQE Part 1 examination results if taken, upon entry into any of the University of Ottawa's training programs. Please note that the MCCQE Part 1 is not a requirement to begin residency. The purpose of this disclosure is to allow for resources to be provided to the few residents who would benefit from extra support early in their residency in an effort to maximize their success.

Please ensure your medical school grades, personal letter, letters of reference with contact information, elective details, research, publication and teaching experience are all complete and included on time for the first stage of the review process.

Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements may result in an applicant’s file not being reviewed or removed from the Rank Order List.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

At the University of Ottawa, we believe the best residents are those who have been able to explore the breadth of the medical profession through suitable electives while enrolled in medical school. We do not preferentially rank applicants who have only pursued electives in one discipline or sub-discipline.

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

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

Candidate review is a two stage process. The first stage involves review of applications by members of the Residency Selection Committee. Following this, candidates are chosen and offered the opportunity to be interviewed. Candidates will be informed whether or not they have been selected for an offer of an interview. Stage two is the interview following which the Committee's candidate rank order list will be submitted to CaRMS. The deliberations and decisions of the Residency Selection Committee are not up for discussion and are final. We do not maintain a waitlist.

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Interviews

Dates:

• February 16, 2023

Selection Criteria

Academic performance; academic and personal commitment to program; awards plus extraordinary educational qualifications; references (either letters or verbal); Casper score; past research activities and/or publications; previous teaching experience; extra-curricular activities; evidence of successful team work.

 

Program goals

The Ottawa Dermatology program aims to train competent, safe and compassionate consultant medical dermatologists with excellent morphology and clinical skills. The program also incorporates surgical and cosmetic training and provides broad-based and balanced exposure to all aspects of dermatology. Our graduates will possess the skills necessary to excel in their careers, whether it be in hospital, academia, research, education or community practice. The ability to work well with peers, staff and patients is most important as residents move through the program and into the staff dermatologist role. The provision of safe and high-quality dermatologic care to patients of all ages in ensured by iterative exposure to, and feedback for, activities that develop competencies in the seven CanMEDS roles: medical expert, communicator, collaborator, leader, health advocate, scholar and professional.

Selection process goals

Successful applicants to the Ottawa Dermatology residency program will be hardworking, likeable, collegial, open to feedback and visual learners. They will be able to assume the dermatology clinical and on-call roles as well as be self-motivated to read and learn on evenings and weekends. Applicants should have demonstrated an interest in the specialty of dermatology and shown academic merit with medical school accomplishments, extracurricular undertakings, and research endeavours. The ability to get along well with peers, staff and patients is an essential skill.

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

Strong clinical focus; close working relationship with faculty; dynamic faculty comprising both experienced practitioners and new graduates; diverse patient group; exposure to general dermatology and subspecialties; tightly knit resident group; camaraderie; inclusive philosophy regarding community dermatologists; opportunity for clinical research; superb dermatopathology training; noted contact dermatitis instruction; expert dermoscopy and pigmented lesion teaching; excellent track record in providing well-rounded consultant dermatologists to the community and the academic health centres.

Ottawa is an engaging, friendly, cosmopolitan and beautful city to live in and explore, offering a wide range of outdoor activities year-round, numerous cultural events and a vibrant social scene.  Ottawa has tremendous growth potential.  The LRT (Light Rail Transit) will improve access and Phase 1 will be completed in 2019.

Dr. Mark Kirchhof is the Division Head of Dermatology and is continuing the fine legacy of his predecessor, Dr. Jim Walker.  Dr. Kirchhof has been very well received by both residents and staff, and he has exciting plans for program development and growth of the Division. 

The Charlie Logue Dermatology Centre of Excellence has opened on the 4th floor of the Parkdale Clinic at the Civic Campus and is proving popular with residents, staff and faculty.  All services are now functional at the Dermatology Centre including general dermatology, subspecialty clinics, Mohs surgery and phototherapy.  Administrative offices, the resident room and the dermatology meeting room are included in the Centre.

 

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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.

Dermatology is a five-year-program consisting of two years of foundational training in medicine and surgery, followed by three years of full-time dermatology.

Residents undertake rotations at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) which has three campuses, Civic, General and Riverside. Further exposure is through rotations at The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), within dermatologists' community offices, Dynacare Laboratories and Laserderm.  Mohs surgery and Phototherapy occur at the Civic Campus.

The majority of exposure is through outpatient clinics, though residents are involved in the combined care of many inpatients, and undertake many ward and ER consultations both at TOH and at CHEO.  Most clinics are located at the Civic Campus.  There is a close working relationship between the faculty and residents fostering a spirit of camaraderie through pride in the functioning of the program and in the provision of quality dermatologic care to the community.

The academic half-day is attended by PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents, when feasible, but is obligatory for PGY-3 to -5 residents. It consists of live or virtual dermatology rounds during which interesting patients are presented and subsequently discussed.  Residents are questioned by several faculty members and learn to present oral case discussions.  Half-day continues with an academic program that incorporates basic science, morphology, therapeutics, genodermatoses, procedural and cosmetic dermatology, intrinsic CanMEDS teaching and journal and Bolognia textbook review. The faculty are active participants and provide constructive criticism as well as didactic lectures. When possible, local, national and international experts on selected topics present tutorials as well. 

There are both mandatory and optional academic symposia for PGY1-5 arranged by the PGME office at the University of Ottawa, dealing primarily with intrinsic CanMEDS roles, such as communication, collaboration, leader, advocacy, scholar and professionalism.  Dermatology-specific intrinsic CanMEDS teaching occurs at half day and during other education sessions such as the Clinical & Scientific Meeting and Dermatology Rounds.

A combined staff and resident journal club is held monthly except July and August. Furthermore, residents are involved in teaching and lecturing to non-dermatology residents and medical students. Residents play a key role in medical student tutoring in the clinics as well as assisting with undergraduate lectures and morphology sessions.

Attendance and participation at national and international meetings is strongly encouraged.  Meetings such as the Canadian Dermatology Association Annual Conference, the American Contact Dermatitis Society and American Academy of Dermatology Winter Meetings, as well as The Atlantic Dermatological Conference are considered essential learning components of the program.

The Division runs popular thematic biannual Clinical and Scientific Meetings, featuring lectures by experts, and live patient rounds. Many dermatologists from Ontario and Quebec attend these meetings, which are mandatory for our residents. Residents prepare cases for these meetings. 

Dermatopathology training is provided by Dr. Quentin Nakonechny, from Dynacare.  Additional dermatopathology teaching will be done by TOH pathologists (Drs. Petkiewicz, and Teo).  Ongoing discussions on clinicopathologic correlation are a prominent feature of dermatology rounds and the Clinical and Scientific Meetings. Monthly pathology rounds and quizzes are also presented for senoir residents.  Dr. Nakonechny is heavily invested in resident education and wellness.  Dermatopathology blocks occur in PGY 2-5.

Research is strongly encouraged. Residents must prepare a paper for presentation and/or publication to be eligible for the Royal College Fellowship examination. Completion of a patient safety and quality project is also encouraged. The opportunity for further research is available for those who express an interest, are progressing well in their clinical studies, and are prepared to make the commitment.

A highlight of the program is the opportunity for 1-2 senior residents to accompany the dermatologist, Dr. Jacqueline Shukle, to Iqaluit for a week in January and May each year.  These senior clinics offer residents a wonderful opportunity to experience the practice of dermatology in the remote Canadian north.  The entire visit is sponsored by the Nunavut government.  This valuable activity is however only confirmed by Dr. Shukle on a year to year basis.

Electives are available for PGY-2 (1 block), PGY-3 (1 block), PGY-4 (2 blocks) and PGY-5 (3 blocks), and can be arranged both in-house and at out-of-town programs or venues. These electives have to be in accordance with RCPSC guidelines. The decision regarding an elective, however, rests with the Program Director and is dependent on the nature of the elective as well as the resident's performance within the program.  Electives can be used for research.

Practice examinations, 2 OSCEs, 2 writtens, and 1 basic science written, are held yearly for senior residents.  PGY-3 residents can also sit the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) BASIC practice exam and the PGY4-5s can sit the ABD Online Practice Exam in preparation for the final ABD Exam if they choose to take it.  The ABD practice exams are voluntary but are paid for by the Division.

Vacation time is per PARO and consists of 20 days, 1 floater day, 1 lieu day for a Stat Holiday worked per year.  

Residents are allowed 7 working days for Professional Leave per year, including travel. Residents can choose how they wish to use their Professional Leave days (i.e. a resident can attend any conference they would like or not attend any conferences at all).

PGY5 residents are also permitted 7 additional days leave prior to the Royal College Written and/or OSCE.

Aim

The aim of the program is to train competent, safe and compassionate consultant dermatologists by providing broad-based and balanced exposure to all aspects of dermatology.

Rotations

The academic year is from July 1st to June 30th and consists of 13 four-week blocks. 

Dermatology clinics consist of general adult and pediatric clinics, as well as the following subspecialty clinics:  skin cancer, skin cancer surgery, Mohs surgery, contact dermatitis, phototherapy, pigmented lesions, rheumatology-dermatology, systemic therapy, and vulvar disorders.  The following specialty pediatric clinics are also offered:  rheumatology, plastic surgery, vascular anomalies.

During dermatology blocks, PGY-1 to PGY-5 residents follow schedule A, B or C, which facilitates equal exposure to general and specialty clinics.  They also perform 1 week on-call during some rotations.  When on-call, the resident only attends the on-call clinic so as to maximize time spent on the wards and in emerg doing consults.

PGY-1

• 3 blocks of internal medicine
• 2 blocks of pediatrics
• 2 blocks of dermatology
• 1 block of adult emerg
• 1 block of pediatric emerg
• 1 block of vascular
• 1 block of plastics
• 1 block of rheumatology
• 1 block of infectious disease

PGY-2

• 6 blocks of dermatology
• 1 block of rheumatology
• 1 of Mohs
• 1 block of allergy/immunology
• 1 block of ambulatory pediatrics
• 1 block of ambulatory medicine
• 1 block of dermatopathology
• 1 elective block

PGY-3

• 11 blocks of dermatology
• 1 block of dermatopathology
• 1 elective block

PGY-4

• 9 blocks of dermatology
• 1 block of laser / cosmetic dermatology
• 1 block of dermatopathology
• 2 elective blocks

PGY-5

• 7 blocks of dermatology
• 1 block of transitions to practice
• 1 block of laser / cosmetic dermatology
• 1 block of dermatopathology
• 3 elective blocks

As residents gain seniority there is the expectation of increased responsibility in decision-making on managing patients in the clinics and on the consultation service. Greater participation in teaching, supervising and supporting junior residents as well as off-service residents and medical students also occurs.

PGY-4 residents share Chief Resident duties for the year.  The position has additional administrative duties related to the organization of rotations and the academic program, with the help and supervision of the Program Co-ordinator and Director.  

The Chief Resident, and an elected junior and senior resident attend the Residency Program Committee (RPC) meetings, which are at least 4 times a year.

One to two residents are also chosen to sit on the Residency Selection Committee each year.

 

Research

In addition to that mentioned in the curriculum residents should be aware of the RCPSC guidelines which state that at least one paper has to be prepared as if for publication or presentation to enable them to take the Canadian Fellowship Examinations.

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Training Sites

Training Sites

 

1. The Ottawa Hospital [www.ottawahospital.ca]

    Civic Campus: 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9

    General Campus: 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6

    Riverside Campus: 1967 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1H 7W9

2. Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) [www.cheo.on.ca]

    401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1

3. Laserderm

    1600 Carling Avenue, Suite 650, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 1G3

4. Ottawa Dermatology Clinic

    460 Hunt Club Road, Suite 105A, Ottawa, ON  K2E 0B8

5. Dynacare Laboratories (Dermatopathology)

    750 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON  K1G 6S4

6. Community Dermatology offices.

 

 

 

Details

Since August 2017, the Charlie Logue Dermatology Centre of Excellence at the Civic Parkdale Clinic houses the Division of Dermatology.  It incorporates clinics, Mohs surgery, phototherapy, administrative offices and meeting rooms.

The Ottawa Hospital (Civic, General and Riverside Campuses) provide exposure to inpatients and outpatients for the foundational years as well as for consult service.  The Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre (ORCC) at the General Campus houses the skin cancer clinics.

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) provides exposure to both inpatient and general outpatient pediatric dermatology, as well as general pediatrics for the foundational years.

The dermatology/rheumatology clinic is at the Riverside Campus.

Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital is a site for general dermatology outpatients and a phototherapy clinic.

Laserderm provides exposure to cosmetic dermatology.

Ottawa Dermatology Clinic provides exposure to cosmetic dermatology.

 

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Additional Information

Successful completion of a dermatology residency training program at the University of Ottawa will enable candidates to sit the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada fellowship examinations as well as the American Board of Dermatology examination (latter if desired). The University of Ottawa takes pride in its Dermatology training program. There are rigorous academic demands and a high clinical workload which is shared among the resident cohort. Overall, our residents are treated very fairly and are respected colleagues right from the outset. There will be times, however, when residents might be asked to put group interests ahead of their own. Future residents who are up to this challenge are encouraged to submit an application.

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FAQ

FAQs

 

1. What is the housing situation?

-Residents have not expressed any difficulty in obtaining appropriate accommodation. 

-They tend to live near the Civic hospital site as this is where most Dermatology clinics take place in senior years. The cost of an average one-bedroom apartment is $1200-$1800/mo plus Hydro.

 

2. Do I have to have a car?

-This is desirable as sites can be quite far from each other, and timelines between clinics short. It is particularly helpful to have one's own transport when on call. 

-Dermatology residents take call from home.

-The Ottawa Hospital does run a free shuttle service between the Civic, General and Riverside campuses, running half-hourly from 6am to 5:30pm.  CHEO is located close to the General Campus.

-Parking is available for a fee.

 

3. What sort of workload can I expect?

-The dermatology program is very demanding.

-Residents are often surprised at the volume of knowledge and expertise they have to acquire within 5 years of training.

-Preparation for Fellowship examinations is a challenge and stressful.

-Reading is expected during weeknights and on weekends.

-Work days tend to be long, with clinic time alone covering as many as 30 hours a week. Clinics can end anytime and may go into the evenings. 

-Residency is not only 8am-5pm

-On-call can be demanding but is shared among all residents. On-call occurs during the week, but also on weekends and evenings.