Program Contacts

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Important Information

To obtain a postgraduate training license after the conclusion of the match, Canadian Medical Graduates (CMG's) must have registered and challenged the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE 1) by July 1, 2024. Those unsuccessful in the exam are subject to the decision of the regulatory authority regarding licensure.

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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 December 2, 2023

Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened  on  December 2, 2023

Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on December 2, 2023

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Interviews

Dates:

• January 23, 2024
• January 24, 2024
• January 25, 2024

Selection Criteria

Candidates are selected based upon their academic record, interview, personal letter, references and interest in this field. Interactions with the program in formal and informal settings may be considered in the selection process.

Program goals

To attract:

• Candidates who are academically strong and have a strong interest in Diagnostic Radiology
• Candidates who are well-rounded and interested in pursuing Research and Teaching.
• Candidates who are interested in group and team learning and can work both independently and collaboratively as needed.
• Candidates who have a history of responsibility and accountability to their colleagues.
• Candidates with diverse background experiences and demonstrated outside interests and goals.

To provide

• A safe and friendly learning environment
• A well-rounded curriculum that satisfies the requirements of the Royal College
• Access to opportunities to complete supervised research
• Access to opportunities to become involved in teaching and administration
• Access to local as well as national experts to enrich the learning experience
• Access to the appropriate number and types of studies to give a well-rounded experience
• Access to community practice experience
• Structured guidance and support for Residents in difficulty
• A solid foundation for fellowship training or direct entry into community practice
• A solid foundation to promote life-long learning

Selection process goals

The goals of the selection process are:

• To select academically strong candidates who have a strong interest in Radiology as well as Research and Teaching.
• To identify candidates who are interested in group and team learning and can work both independently and collaboratively as needed.
• To select residents who have a history of responsibility and accountability to their colleagues.
• To attract diverse candidates with outside interests and goals.

Our program and university value the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in residency education, and achieving a diverse and inclusive group of residents is a goal in our selection process.

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
Other : Informal interactions during virtual sessions or with program members in phone, text or email communications.

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

Quick Facts:

- Electives are available outside of our regular training sites, pending approval of the Resident Program Committee subject to Royal College requirements.

- Ratio of residents to faculty is 3:5.

- Average patient load is not applicable to this specialty.

- AIRP Radiology/Pathology course is made available to all residents (tuition paid by department).

Additional Comments:

Residents are encouraged to attend an annual national/international scientific meeting with stipend from the university department during training.

Dalhousie University Department of Diagnostic Radiology offers a high teaching staff to resident ratio and harmonious working relationship with referring clinical departments.

Departmental Website:  https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/radiology/programs/residency.html

 

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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.

The 2022-23 academic year saw the launch of Competency by Design for Radiology programs across Canada.  Below you will find a description of the different stages of training. A more detailed review will be provided during PGY1 orientation as well as within the CBD handbook that you will receive.

TRANSITION TO DISCIPLINE:

This will consist of 11 rotations off-service, very similar to the traditional cohort as well as a new Longitudinal Radiology rotation.  There are 6 EPAs (Entrustable Professional Activities) that must be achieved during this phase of training.  The rotations are meant to provide foundational medical knowledge to enhance your learning during the Foundations stage of training in radiology.  The rotations will include:

• Emergency Medicine (2)
• General Medicine (2)
• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• General Surgery (2)
• Anatomical Pathology
• Medical Oncology or Radiation Oncology
• Orthopedic surgery or Thoracic surgery

Longitudinal Radiology Rotation;

This is a longitudinal 8-month-long half-day per week PGY1 curriculum for Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine residents to help achieve early Diagnostic Radiology EPAs, foster an understanding of the competence by design framework, build community within the residency group, improve resident integration within the department, and support resident wellness.  The program will run from September until end of April (when residents start radiology rotations).  The program will be assessed during and after its first year of implementation.

PGY1 residents will work together as a group.  Much of the imaging components will be done through saved teaching cases on PACS, modules and self-assessments.  Some sessions will be supervised by more senior residents. 

This is a new rotation that is meant to provide foundational instruction and introduction to the specialty of Diagnostic radiology.   This will involve a half day back to our department where the PGY1 residents will participate in and complete educational activities specific to radiology and to specifically address and meet the requirements for EPAs and training experiences laid out in the CBD curriculum.

The details of this rotation will be provided in the CBD handbook including which EPAs and training experiences are covered with this piece of curriculum.

 

FOUNDATIONS:

During this stage of training residents will become competent in the discipline of radiology as it pertains to acute and common disease.  This stage takes place over a period of 10 rotations that begins at the end of the PGY1 year and finishes near the end of the PGY2 year.  There are 8 EPAs to be completed during this phase of training.  Often these will involve review of a single case will assessed by a senior resident, faculty, or may be assessed as part of a an OSCE or quiz.   There will be a focus on teaching residents the skills they need to function in the radiology department and feel prepared for starting call towards the end of this phase of training.  Rotations have been selected to facilitate this and include:

• Ultrasound
• CT
• Neuro CT
• Emergency Radiology
• MSK
• Chest
• Nuclear Medicine
• General pediatric radiology

Ideally residents will achieve at least one rotation in US, CT, Neuro CT and Emergency Radiology before they start call in early PGY2.

In addition, there is a dedicated introduction to call series that the residents will complete.

 

CORE:

This is the longest stage of training and will take place over a period of 38 rotations beginning at the end of PGY2 year and finishing midway through the PGY5 year.  At the end of this period of training it is expected that the resident will be competent in the breadth of the specialty of Diagnostic Radiology.  There are 9 EPAs to be completed during this stage of training. It is expected that these EPAs will be achieved by the end of the stage of training and will not be achieved in a sequential manner.  Rotations during this stage will cover all general and specialized areas of imaging including procedural work in the Interventional/Neurointerventional suite as well as on the biopsy service.  Subspecialty training in pediatric imaging as well as obstetric imaging will take place during this phase of training. 

Extras:  Towards the end of this stage, residents will become eligible to participate in the locum program.    During this phase of training all residents have the opportunity to attend the 4 week AIRP course. 

Royal College Examination:  This will take place between the end of Core training and at the beginning of Transition to Practice. 

Written exam - Fall

Applied Exam – Spring

 

TRANSITION TO PRACTICE:

The transition to practice stage of training is the shortest stage.  It occupies the final 6 rotations of training and is meant to give the residents the opportunity to work as a ‘junior staff’ and manage a radiology service while still in training.  This is also an opportunity for residents to do rotations in areas specific to their future work or study or to enhance their learning in areas of perceived weakness.   This also provides an opportunity for residents to finish any scholarly work that may be outstanding.

 

Research

Residents are required to carry out original clinical research/audit/educational activity with the guidance of the Research Director and committee. Time will be made available for this academic activity. Presentation at national/international scientific meetings are supported by the department.

Seminars

Eight teaching seminars per week are conducted, inclusive of all general and subspecialty imaging services in radiology and nuclear medicine. A weekly quiz in the OSCE format is carried out. An integrated physics course, monthly journal club, introduction to ethics, quality assurance, continuing education workshops are offered to all residents beyond the PGY-1 year.

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Training Sites

The following are primary hospitals for PGY 1-5:

• QEII Health Sciences Centre is the base hospital, Halifax, NS
• Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, NB
• IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS

- Electronic medical resources available include Teaching files, RADPrimer, StatDx

- Residents are encouraged to take part in community rotations

NOTE: The Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program in Halifax includes several blocks that are outside HRM, including Saint John, NB. Please be aware that if matched to Halifax, as part of your training you may be expected to complete rotations outside central zone but within the maritime provinces. 

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Additional Information

AIRP radiology-pathology course is made available to all residents (tuition paid by department). Residents are encouraged to attend annual and/ or international scientific meetings with financial support from the university department. Dalhousie University Diagnostic Radiology Program offers a high teaching staff to resident ratio with a high clinical volume. There is an excellent working relationship with radiology, cardiology and related clinical departments. 

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FAQ

Find out why our current residents chose the Dalhousie programs: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/radiology/programs/hear.html 

Find out why our current residents chose the East Coast as their residency home: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/radiology/programs/east-coast.html