Program Contacts

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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.

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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

Our review team is composed of the Program Director, the Chief Resident, program administrators and designated faculty members.

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Interviews

Dates:

• February 13, 2023

Selection Criteria

We are looking for well rounded, mature individuals who exhibit interest in neurosurgery through experience in the form of electives, rotations, or research.  An interest in neuroscience is an asset.  Applicants who are hard working, dedicated, have an enthusiasm to learn as well as adapt to the demands of neurosurgery residency training are encouraged to apply.  Applicants are encouraged to have leadership experience and have demonstrated attributes highlighted in the 2015 CanMEDS roles.  Applicants must be able to excel in team environments.  

Program goals

The University of Saskatchewan offers a well-organized comprehensive training program in Neurosurgery as per the Royal College guidelines.  The program is fully accredited. Our residents will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills, clinical skills, surgical skills, leadership skills, research experience and academic excellence.  

Our program strives to train exceptional, well rounded neurosurgeons who are competitive for fellowship positions and job opportunities at the completion of their training program.  

Selection process goals

- Applicants will have an interest in neurosurgery, and have demonstrated this interest by way of rotations, electives, research or other neurosurgery related experience.

- Applicants will have an acceptable academic record which demonstrates both basic proficiency in clinical medicine, and special proficiency in subjects related to neurosurgery.

- Experience in research will be an asset.

- Experience in team work, or leadership will be an asset.

- Applicants will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Applicants will have demonstrated an ability to interact appropriately with patient and other team members.

 

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   
Other : Demonstrated clear lack of interest in the discipline or the location.

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Program Highlights

Quick Facts

- Competency by Design educational delivery, both in surgical foundations as well as Neurosurgery

- Up to 12 months for research including up to 6 months interprovincial/international electives.

- Home call on Neurosurgery. Call coverage restricted to one hospital.

- Early hands on experience in the operating room.

- Ratio of residents to faculty is about 1:1.

- Pediatrics and spine are integrated into daily work (not a separate rotation).

- Excellent support for attendance at conferences/meetings.

- Masters Program, Ph.D Programs, Royal College Clinical Investigator Program. 

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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.

PGY-1 and 2

These two years include rotations in General Surgery Trauma, Vascular, Ortho Spine, ICU, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, and twelve months of the first two years are spent in neurosurgery.

PGY-3 to 6

During the subsequent four years of training, residents complete 30 additional months of clinical neurosurgery (for a total of 42 months). Residents spend three months on neuroradiology and may choose three to six months of neuropathology. Nine to 12 months may be spent in basic or clinical research, or alternatively spent in subspecialty neurosurgical training (i.e. a clinical elective). Up to six months of this 9-12 month block may be spent outside of Saskatchewan (in Canada or internationally).

Electives

An optional neurosurgery rotation in Regina is available. Additionally, up to six months may be spent in an interprovincial or international elective (see PGY-3 to 6, above).

Research

Clinical or basic research is strongly supported and encouraged. Research opportunities in spine injury, pediatric neurosurgery, oncology, neural regeneration, stroke, epilepsy surgery, and neurosurgical applications of the synchrotron are readily available. A Masters of Surgery or Ph.D may be obtained through the Department of Graduate Studies or through the Royal College Clinical Investigator Program (www.medicine.usask.ca/research/clinical-programs/clinical-program-files/CIP-2011)

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Training Sites

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 Training 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 available (laundry facilities, wi-fi, cable TV) and are located in close proximity to the Regina General Hospital. Residents who bring their children with them for the duration of their rotation, will be housed in family-friendly multi-bedroom apartments.

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 encouraged to complete 10% - 20% of their training in Regina.