Program Contacts

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Important Information

​Competence by Design

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada​ (RCPSC)​ 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 p​​atient needs.

CBD uses time as a resource rather than the basis for progression. It is not anticipated that the duration of training will change for the majority of trainees. Residency programs are broken down into stages, and each stage encompasses a series of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) and milestones based on required competencies. These EPAs and milestones 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.

Our program successfully transitioned to CBD in accordance with the national coordinated schedule as of July 1, 2019.​ Our program will continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation process as traditional programs. All programs, CBD and traditional, will continue to lead to RCPSC-approved certification. ​Within a CBD program, all EPAs (documented within an electronic portfolio), stage promotions and the Royal College examination must be successfully completed to achieve certification. For more information, please contact cbd@royalcollege.ca.​

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Return of Service

There are no return of service requirements at the University of Alberta.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

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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

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Interviews

Dates:

• February 8, 2023

Selection Criteria

-Strong interest and dedication in the field of neuroscience and interest in neurosurgical research endeavors.

All applicants to the Neurosurgery residency program at the University of Alberta are required to complete the CASPER (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) test, to assist with our selection process. Successful completion of CASPER is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility. CASPER is an open-response, situational judgment test that evaluates aspects of applicants’ social intelligence and professionalism such as ethics, empathy, problem-solving and collaboration. For more information on the test, go to https://takealtus.com/casper/. Casper scores are only valid for a single admissions cycle and for the test type for which you have taken the test. For example, if an applicant took the Canadian Post Graduate Medical Education test for the CaRMS Round 1 match, the same Casper score will be considered for the Round 2 match. 

Program goals

The primary objective of the Neurosurgical program at the University of Alberta is to develop graduates of excellent moral and ethical character who possess the factual knowledge, surgical technical skills and motivation required to successfully practice neurosurgery in Canada or elsewhere.  Candidates are selected and trained for careers in either academic or community neurosurgery.  This initial formal period of training represents only one phase in the evolution of a profession characterized by continuing self-evaluation and self-education.

Selection process goals

The successful applicant will demonstrate a strong work ethic and a true commitment to neurosurgery.  Critical thinking is important.  Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach is vital.  Given the nature of the specialty, the ability to perform under pressure is a requirement.  Strong visuo-spatial skills and fine motor skills are necessary.  Professionalism in previous interactions will be assessed.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

We do not consider any information gathered outside of the CaRMS application and local interview processes.

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

1) Residents are exposed to a robust and diverse clinical experience at three sites: University Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Stollery Children's Hospital. (Over 2500 clinical operative cases are done annually).

2) The University of Alberta Neurosurgical Residency Program offers a unique PGY 4 experience. Residents are able to explore research interests, pre-fellowship interests and/or further clinical experience (academic or community) during this year.

3) A formal academic schedule exists for Neurosurgery residents, including Gamma Knife Rounds, Journal Club, Neuroscience Grand Rounds, Quality Assurance Rounds, and Neurosurgery case rounds and didactic rounds.  Regular sessions in our Simulation Lab are scheduled throughout the year.

4) Residents gain experience in all aspects of subspecialty Neurosurgery and new innovative Neurosurgical equipment. (Complex spine, neuro-endoscopy, deep brain stimulation, endovascular neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery and gamma knife).

5) Residents receive expense coverage for meetings, microneurosurgical symposiums and review courses.

Residents are encouraged to attend at least one Neurosurgical meeting or symposium per year and are expected to develop fluency in case and paper presentations at the weekly Neuroscience Grand Rounds.  A didactic schedule of lectures given by faculty runs throughout the year to cover the entire curriculum in a 3 year cycle.  Written exams after each block are administered as well as a practice oral exam yearly.  The Annual National in-training written exam is also administered.  Practice oral examinations are offered by faculty members in preparation for the Royal College Neurosurgical Fellowship Examinations for those residents in their final year of training.

Upon completion of training, graduates from the University of Alberta become competent in performing the full spectrum of Neurosurgical practice.

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Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 6 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

Curriculum

The primary objective of the Neurosurgical program at the University of Alberta is to develop within a six-year time frame, graduates of excellent moral and ethical character who possess the factual knowledge, surgical technical skills and motivation required to successfully practice Neurosurgery in Canada or elsewhere. Candidates are selected and trained with a view to careers in academic neurosurgery and are made aware that this initial formal period of training represents only one phase in the evolution of a profession characterized by continuing self-evaluation and self-education.

Electives

Interprovincial and international electives are available throughout the course of training. Recently residents have done clinical electives in developing countries (Kenya) and in community neurosurgery centres in Canada (Victoria, Kingston).  Research electives have taken place internationally (Finland).  Residents have also completed research years at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona and with the Endovascular group at the University of Montreal.

Research

The Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Alberta has been active in clinical and basic scientific research, offering Masters and Doctoral programs. Our research endeavors currently include the study of:

-Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

-Blood transfusion in subarachnoid hemorrhage

-Clinical Trials of aneurysm treatment

-Dendritic cell immunotherapy for malignant gliomas

- Quality of life measures in brain tumour patients

-Neuroanatomical impact of radiation therapy in the treatment of glial tumours

-Cervical spondylotic myelopathy

-Spinal cord regeneration

-Management of spinal cord injury

-Hydrocephalus Research

-Use of diffusion tensor imaging in the intra-operative MRI environment

-Neuroimaging biomarkers of response to surgical treatment of epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia

-Neuroimaging features of treatment-resistant depression

-Impact of deep brain stimulation therapy on speech and language function

-Quantitative assessment of gait and postural instability in Parkinson's disease patients undergoing DBS

 

 

MSc ( 1-2 year ) or PhD (3 years) programs are available to interested residents. The basic science laboratories are housed in the new Heritage Medical Research Building adjacent to the University Hospital . For further information regarding our research endeavors please review our Neurosurgery website. Annual research projects are completed under the supervision of a preceptor with the goal to present at the annual Alberta Neurosurgical Society Meeting, the Department of Surgery Research Day and/or the national meeting.

PGY-1

The PGY-1 year is part of the Surgical Foundations Program at the University of Alberta. In Neurosurgery the PGY-1 rotations are: one 28-day block of Coronary Care Unit, one 28-day block of Emergency Medicine,  two 28-day blocks of General Surgery, one 28-day block of Anesthesia, six 28-day blocks of Neurosurgery, one 28-day block of Pediatric Neurosurgery and one 28-day block of vacation.

PGY-2

The PGY-2 year consists of: 7 blocks of Neurosurgery at either the University of Alberta Hospital or the Royal Alexandra Hospital, 3 blocks of ICU, 2 blocks of Neurology and 1 block of Neuroradiology.

PGY 3

To fulfill Royal College requirements, in this year, the resident will spend 3 blocks on Neuropathology, 1 block on Gamma Knife and 1 block on Interventional Neuroradiology.  The remainder of the year is spent on Clinical Neurosurgery rotations.

PGY 4

This year is designated for research or may be utilized as dedicated time to pursue a clinical elective.  If the resident desires to obtain a Masters or PhD, additional years may be accommodated.

PGY-5 to 6

These final 2 years are utilized to fulfill the current requirement of 42 months on the Clinical Neurosurgical Service.  At least 12 months will be spent as the Chief Resident.  With the shift to Competency Based evaluation, the last 3 months will be Transition to Practice.

As residents graduate into their senior years, responsibilities will include running the teams at the University site, presenting cases at QA rounds and case presentation rounds, organizing schedules and running the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit with the Neuro-Intensivist.

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Training Sites

Walter C. MacKenzie Health Sciences Center (University of Alberta Hospital)

Royal Alexandra Hospital

Stollery Children's Hospital

Computer equipment is available for exclusive resident use with appropriate software

Website: Division of Neurosurgery (www.ualberta.ca/surgery/divisions/neurosurgery)