Program Contacts

---

Important Information

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 1^st 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:

• delay in issuance of an educational register license and a delay in start of postgraduate training beyond July 1^st
• release from CaRMS match contract

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.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Matched applicants are required to provide proof of ACLS certification (current as of July 1, 2023) to the PGME office prior to starting their training program. The ACLS course must be endorsed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and/or the American Heart Association. ACLS training that is not certified by these two organizations and/or is completed entirely through an online course will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining ACLS certification.

---

General Instructions

Program application language: English

Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.

---

Supporting Documentation / Information

---

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

---

Interviews

Dates:

• February 7, 2023
• February 9, 2023
• February 11, 2023
• February 13, 2023
• February 15, 2023
• February 17, 2023

Selection Criteria

- Candidates who have demonstrated proficiency in clinical skills.

- Superior communication and interpersonal skills.

- Candidates with a favorable academic record.

- Candidates who will fit in well with the philosophy and approach of our program - a non-competitive, supportive and collegial program that seeks to train top quality internists capable of practicing in a wide variety of venues from academic and/or research to community based practice.

- An interest in research is an asset.

Selection is based on the following assessments:

- Two independent file scores. File assessors follow a standardized assessment and base their scores on a review of all components of the file: transcripts, personal letter, reference letters and CV.

- Three independent interviewer scores.

Final decisions about ranking are made by the formal selection committee, which includes the program directors/administration, faculty and senior resident representation.

Program goals

The overall mission of our residency training program is to train top quality internists capable of practicing in a wide variety of locations from academic and/or research to community based practice.  This philosophy and approach of the program is to foster success in our trainees in a non-competitive, supportive, and collegial enviroment.  Residents in our program will demonstrate exceptional communication and clinical skills, academic excellence, and be a true team players. 

Selection process goals

Successful applicants to the program are those who embody our teaching and learning philosophy of pursuing success in a non-competitive and supportive learning enviroment.  We are looking for applicants who are academically strong and are able to apply this knowledge clinically with a patient-centered approach to care.  Participation in research prior to residency shows a commitment to scholarship, and is an asset, but is not mandatory.  Successful applicants have a strong interpersonal skills and are team players.  Successful applicants have strong communication skills with high ethical and professional standards. Finally, successful applicants show a true commitment and passion for Internal Medicine and training in Saskatchewan.  

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   

---

Program Highlights

Distributive Learning at the University of Saskatchewan

The College of Medicine, while physically located in Saskatoon, is a provincial resource in attitude and in practice. Postgraduate medical education at the University of Saskatchewan takes seriously its role in supporting quality health care to all people of the province. This means training physicians to meet the needs of, not only urban populations, but also those of rural and remote populations. In so doing, the College of Medicine has developed, and continues to develop, rotations in Regina and other communities. These rotations are designed to provide educational experiences to enhance the resident's knowledge and skills, and take maximum advantage of unique educational opportunities in a diversity of communities. All postgraduate programs are expected to develop and incorporate into their curriculum, rotations in communities other than Saskatoon. The manner in which each program does this is not strictly prescribed by the College of Medicine - but is determined by the Residency Program Committee, taking into consideration the needs of their residents, and the excellent opportunities available in other locations. These rotations continue to evolve as we seek to build stronger and better programs.  We currently have mandatory rotations in Regina in the first and third years of training.

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 relocate.

For residents assigned to short term rotations in Regina, fully furnished private apartments are provided (laundry facilities, wi-fi, cable TV) and are located in close proximity to the Regina General Hospital. Family friendly and pet friendly housing is available.

While all residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of educational experiences in other communities to ensure a well rounded education, the amount and format of such time is determined by the program committee.  As directed by the College of Medicine at the U of S, Royal College Specialty residents are expected to complete 10% - 20% of their training in Regina.

Quick Facts

- Residents are allowed 3 blocks of out-of-province for electives during their core resident training period. 

- Opportunities exist for possible community based GIM rotations in various rural locations in the province.

- GIM and select subspecialty rotations are also available in Regina. Accommodations are provided for these rotations.

---

Program Curriculum

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.

Curriculum
	Our Program has a strong academic curriculum which is presented in a flexible format according to the evolving needs of healthcare education. In addition to a comprehensive approach to general internal medicine, the academic curriculum also includes bioethics, evidence-based medicine, critical appraisal and communication skills. TIPS (Teaching Improvement Project System) is a mandatory course that develops communication and teaching skills. While our teaching staff is relatively small there is a wide range of academic and research interest represented and the small size of our program provides for close contact between staff and residents. The first three years of the residency program are considered core training. The purpose of these three years is to build a firm foundation in the practice of internal medicine that will be supplemented by either: a) subspecialty training or b) an additional year of training in internal medicine in preparation for a community or academic practice in general internal medicine. Clinical rotations are scheduled in 13 four-week blocks per year. Rotations will vary in length from 1/2 to 2 blocks, depending on the rotation.
	Ambulatory care experience is available on most subspecialty rotations and is also available as a "2 half block rotations" during first and third year. During the block rotation, residents pre-schedule half-day or full-day clinics weekly with preceptors of their choice. Additional time on the ambulatory care rotation is used for follow-up of investigations, reviewing dictations and communicating with referring physicians, and to pursue evidence based answers to clinical problems seen in the clinic. Evaluation of residents on the ambulatory care rotation is encounter-based, with opportunity for formative feedback to be provided as patients are reviewed with the attending physician.

PGY-1
	The current PGY-1 curriculum, has undergone revision recently for the transition to CBD which started on July 1, 2019. For further information on Competency by Design, please refer to: http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/cbd/competence-by-design-cbd-e The PGY-1 year focuses on the development of strong clinical examination skills and patient management skills. It also provides for extensive experience in emergency assessment and management of medical problems. Junior residents are responsible for the primary assessment of patients referred to Internal Medicine from the Emergency Department. A typical PGY-1 year is structured as follows: - multiple blocks Clinical Teaching Unit in which the resident works as part of a team comprised of: CTU Chief (faculty member), one senior resident, three to four junior residents, two senior medical students.  - 1 block Coronary Care Unit - 1 block Neurology - 2-3 block selectives  - 1 block Emergency Medicine
PGY-2
	The second core year is designed to provide a wide range of experience in subspecialty areas as well as Sr. roles of Internal medicine such as CTU Sr. Two blocks of ICU will primarily be scheduled in PGY 2 year, and 7-8 blocks of subspecialty selectives or preceptorships. Three elective blocks will be primarily scheduled in the PGY 2  and PGY 3 year.
PGY-3
	The third core year, residents will continue to gain experience and continue to improve their consultancy skills through a number of opportunities including CTU Sr., outpatient department, emergency room consults and subpsecialty rotations.  These rotations occur at both Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon and the Regina General Hospital in Regina. One block of CCU is mandatory during the PGY-3 year.
PGY-4
	This year is designed to prepare the resident for the practice of Internal Medicine in all its aspects. The PGY-4 year offers a reasonably flexible rotation schedule which will be tailored to meet the interests, career goals, and the CBD EPA's for completion of training. The PGY-4 year is geared towards completing training in community-based Internal Medicine.

Subspecialty Training
	Subspecialty fellowships are currently offered in Cardiology, GIM, Respirology, Rheumatology and Nephrology. Residents trained in our program have had extremely good success in obtaining out-of-province fellowships in the subspecialty of their choice.  Chief Residents at both sites can offer guidance to gain resident perspective due to no electives this year.
Vacation
	Each resident is entitled to 20 regular working days plus 6 consecutive days at either Christmas or New Year's. At least two weeks of holidays will be taken as a scheduled block and the dates must be chosen at the time the resident schedule for the year is created. The remaining 2 weeks of holiday time may be taken during the course of the year upon approval by the rotation supervisor and Program Director. If residents prefer, all 4 weeks of holidays may be taken as a scheduled block or as two 2 week blocks.
Educational Leave
	Residents are entitled to up to 7 days of paid leave annually to attend approved educational events (includes travel time). Each resident is provided with annual conference funding. Additional funding may be available to support travel costs with priority being given to residents traveling to present papers or research.
Examinations and Assessments
	Regular examinations are an essential component of our training program - both to allow assessment of the resident's progress in knowledge acquisition and to assist residents in preparing for certification examinations. Examinations take a variety of formats, including: The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is recognized as the world's leading medical journal and website.  NEJM delivers high-quality, peer-reviewed research and interactive clinical content to the global medical community.  Our program has a subscription for the NEJM for the residents.  This includes access to a question database and a yearly mandatory exam.  The exam scores offer the residents a complete breakdown of their results.  This examination is not used for promotion or evaluation purposes in the program, but is used as a self-assessment modality.   - Oral examinations are held regularly throughout the program.  - A mandatory OSCE examination for PGY-1's is held annually. - A mandatory OSCE examination for PGY-2's is held annually. - A mandatory OSCE examination for PGY-3's is held annually. - A mandatory Clinical Scenario examination for PGY-2's and PGY-3s is held annually. In addition to formal examinations, evaluations of clinical performance are completed by preceptors at the end of each rotation. Overall, resident performance is reviewed and summarized by the Competency Committee as outlined by Royal College requirements.
Research
	The goals of our resident research program are: - To promote interest and develop skills in research in Internal Medicine - To acquire skills in interpretation of clinical research - To provide opportunities for residents to explore and understand different types of research - To provide opportunities for residents to acquire research and presentation skills - To provide opportunities for residents to publish their research
Research Expectations
	PGY-1 Year: First year residents are expected to identify an instructive clinical case and complete a verbal presentation of the case as part of Resident Research Days. Faculty mentors provide guidance in choosing and writing up cases. Prizes are awarded for the best three case reports and residents are encouraged to submit case reports for presentation at regional or national meetings. PGY-2 Year: PGY-2 year residents are expected to complete a quality assurance project and to present their work as a poster presentation or podium presentation during Resident Research Days. Collaboration with other residents is encouraged. Prizes are awarded for the top three poster presentations. PGY-3 Year: PGY 3 The completion of a research project during the PGY3 is optional. A research facilitator with specific skills and interests in research and biostatistics is available to assist residents in identifying potential research projects and identifying appropriate mentors. Limited funding is available to support selected research projects by application to the Department of Medicine Research Committee.
Seminars & Academic Program
	- Morning Report is case base discussions around the cases admitted overnight.   - PGY 1 Foundations seminar series are held during academic half days from July to November/December.  They are videoconferenced to Regina.  This is protected education time and attendance is mandatory for all residents.   - Core Internal Medicine PGY 2/3 Academic Half Day are held Tuesdays 12:00 - 1:00 pm and Thursdays 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.  They are videoconferenced to Regina and St. Paul's Hospital.  This is protected education time and attendance is mandatory for all residents.   - Grand Rounds are held on Wednesday's at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Attendance is MANDATORY for residents in the Internal Medicine program.  They are videoconferenced to Regina and St. Paul's Hospital. - Training in learning styles and teaching skills is an integral part of our program.  In addition, PGY-1 residents are required to complete the 2 day TIPS (Teaching Improvement Project System) Course. Assessment of teaching and presentation skills is also an integral part of the program. - Quality Improvement Rounds (Tuesdays) - sessions will be scheduled throughout the year and are presented during AHD.  These will be led by PGY 2 and PGY 3's. They are videoconferenced to Regina and St. Paul's Hospital. - PGY 1 Internal Medicine Bootcamp is held at the beginning of residency to introduce Competency by Design medical education training to the incoming PGY 1 residents. - PGY 1 residents will be part of the PGME led RaPID (Resuscitation and Procedural InterDisciplinary) curriculum which is scheduled throughout the year and is mandatory for all PGY 1 residents in Internal Medicine.  The curriculum includes high fidelity simulation sessions, ultrasound simulation sessions and central venous line insertion simulation sessions.   -  A resident retreat is organized annually.  The retreat is a combination of social events, educational sessions and discussions about the program. Recent retreats have included Practice management seminars and personal development themes.

 

---

Training Sites

Saskatoon Hospitals

Royal University Hospital

St. Paul's Hospital

Regina Hospitals

Regina General Hospital

Pasqua Hospital

Rural Options

Prince Albert, Victoria Hospital

Swift Current, Cypress Regional Hospital

- Private Practice offices in all centers

Distributive Learning at the University of Saskatchewan

The College of Medicine, while physically located in Saskatoon, is a provincial resource in attitude and in practice. Postgraduate medical education at the University of Saskatchewan takes seriously its role in supporting quality health care to all people of the province. This means training physicians to meet the needs of, not only urban populations, but also those of rural and remote populations. In so doing, the College of Medicine has developed, and continues to develop, rotations in Regina and other communities. These rotations are designed to provide educational experiences to enhance the resident's knowledge and skills, and take maximum advantage of unique educational opportunities in a diversity of communities. All postgraduate programs are expected to develop and incorporate into their curriculum, rotations in communities other than Saskatoon. The manner in which each program does this is not strictly prescribed by the College of Medicine - but is determined by the Residency Program Committee, taking into consideration the needs of their residents, and the excellent opportunities available in other locations. These rotations continue to evolve as we seek to build stronger and better programs.  

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 relocate.

For residents assigned to short term rotations in Regina, fully furnished private apartments are provided (laundry facilities, wi-fi, cable TV) and are located in close proximity to the Regina General Hospital. Family friendly and pet friendly housing is available.

While all residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of educational experiences in other communities to ensure a well rounded education, the amount and format of such time is determined by the program committee. Royal College Specialty residents are expected to complete 10% - 20% of their training in Regina.

---

Additional Information

For more information on the University of Saskatchewan, Department of Medicine click Dept. of Medicine

To learn about Saskatchewan visit the Tourism Saskatchewan website.

For information on living in Saskatoon go to:

Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority 

Saskhouses (private home sales) 

Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors

---

FAQ

Please note:  These questions and answers have been provided by our Chief Residents.

What are strengths of this program?

- Collegial atmosphere with very supportive administrative staff

- Staff physicians with a dedicated interest in your development

- Staff mentors that are enthusiastic to discuss your career plans

- PGY3 and PGY1 resident mentorship match at the start of every year

- Collaborative friendly atmosphere amongst residents with a yearly resident retreat and multiple social events throughout the year

- Multiple opportunities in leading positive change within the program

- Administrative staff that are very receptive to new resident driven ideas and initiatives

- Wide variety of opportunities for teaching medical students in both clerkship and the formal undergraduate curriculum

- Research mentors available in a variety of subspecialty fields

- Grants for resident research available

- Funding available for conference presentation and attendance

- Flexible schedules tailored to your career interests

- Three month of out of province elective time available

Are there any benefits of being a resident in Saskatchewan?

- The Resident Doctors of Saskatchewan contract applies to all residents within the province and conveys multiple benefits:

     - Three weeks off call prior to both Royal College Examinations

     - One of the top paid salaries in the country

     - Four weeks of vacation plus six days off over Christmas or New Years

     - Full medical and dental coverage for you and your family

     - Additional coverage for paramedical services including massage therapy

- Affordable housing and rental opportunities

- Short commuting time

- Beautiful summers full of events and festivals

- An amazing culinary scene

- Fantastic lakes and beaches throughout Saskatchewan - perfect for canoeing, camping, and outdoor enthusiasts

What type of fellowships are offered? (These are all in Saskatoon)

- General Internal Medicine - 4 positions 

- Cardiology - 2 positions

- Respiratory - 2 positions

- Rheumatology - 2 positions

- Nephrology - 2 positions

How many residents are in the program currently?

- The Saskatoon site accepts 18 residents on average into the program each year

- The Regina site accepts 6 residents on average into the program each year

- Currently there are 78 residents within the program between the two sites

Who can I speak with to gain a resident perspective of the program?

- We are always excited to speak with prospective applicants and meet with every elective student that visits our program

- If you did not have an opportunity to meet with us prior to your application, we would be happy to answer your questions. You can reach us at chiefres.sk@gmail.com