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.​ 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

The radiation oncology training program at the University of Alberta follows the guidelines of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The program consists of four stages: Transition to Discipline (1 month), Foundations (9-13 months), Core (36-44 months of radiation oncology), and Transition to Practice (3-9 months).

There is an established didactic teaching program covering necessary basic science knowledge such as physics, radiobiology, treatment planning, biostatistics and medical ethics as well as a two year core curriculum in oncology which is shared with the medical oncology program and repeats itself every two years.

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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 29, 2024

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be chosen on the basis of their:

-Strong academic record, especially in those areas related to our specialty.

-A convincing demonstration of sincere interest in radiation oncology as a career choice. Number of radiation oncology electives will not be considered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on elective rotation scheduling.  

-Empathy, maturity, and communication skills.

-Candidates with a demonstrated interest in clinical or basic science are encouraged.

Program goals

This training program is dedicated to ultimately produce well trained Radiation Oncologists who can provide exemplary care to cancer patients.  As well, the graduates should be able to promote the academic aspects of our discipline as well as be involved in teaching and be prepared to participate in healthcare administration.  To reach these goals our program must promote the discipline to medical students through involvement in the undergraduate curriculum.  Once appropriate candidates have been accepted into our program it is our goal to provide excellent training as directed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and more particularly the Radiation Oncology Specialty Committee.  To oversee these goals an appropriate Residency Program Committee is charged with these duties.

Selection process goals

A potential candidate should be a well-rounded physician with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to be able to deal with the demands of cancer patients.  An aptitude for math and physics is helpful, but more importantly we are looking for physicians who have explored the components of radiation oncology which are not apparent to most medical students in their limited exposure of our specialty.

Candidates require empathy, maturity and communication skills to be able to deal with oncology patients.  A strong academic record and a demonstrated interest in oncology is preferred.  Research and/or teaching experience is an asset.

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 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.

 Transition to Discipline (TTD) (1 month)

This stage will introduce residents to the Radiation Oncology specialty.  Residents will have a comprehensive orientation in Radiation Oncology, which will include: clinical experience (outpatient and inpatient), safety principles, introduction to the practice of medicine (access to patient records, policies, and knowledge centre), formal instruction in difficult conversation and best practices for handover, as well as attendance at multidisciplinary and peer reviewed rounds.

Foundations of Discipline (F) (9-13 months)

The Foundations stage will provide the resident with the knowledge and skills to provide care to patients in various settings, as well as a broad exposure to specialties which will help with their ability to qualify for the LMCC part-two examinations.  Currently there are 10 four-week rotations, as well as a four week vacation block.  These rotations are as follows:  Internal Medicine (2 blocks), General Surgery, ENT, Emergency Medicine, Palliative Care, Medical Oncology (2 blocks), Diagnostic Radiology, and Respiratory (ATOP).

Core of Discipline (C) (36-44 months)

The Core stage of training will focus on the resident’s clinical skills in radiation oncology. The resident returns to Radiation Oncology/Cross Cancer Institute for the remainder of their training. The next 36-44 months are preceptor based two-month blocks in which the resident is exposed to all tumor sites.

During this stage residents are expected to provide Radiation Oncology home-call for the Cross Cancer Institute approximately 7 days per block (no more than 9).  The expectation is that all decisions and advice given by a Junior Resident (PGY2-3) is reviewed with the Staff Radiation Oncologist on-call prior to any actions being taken. After the PGY3 year the necessity to review advice/decisions with the Staff member immediately will be left at the discretion of the resident.

It is during this stage the didactic course work occurs. Early in Core stage courses start with Basic Physics and Treatment Planning, with weekly lectures from the physicists.  The Radiobiology course is also provided early in Core stage, given by members of the Division of Experimental Oncology. Written exams are given for each of these courses.  

One month is set aside as a Clinical Physics Month where in depth training and exposure is provided by the Medical Physicists and Dosimetrists in applying the basic knowledge learned previously to clinical treatment planning, this is done after the completion of basic physics and treatment planning.

At the midway point of Core preceptor block rotations are lengthened to three months to allow a more longitudinal exposure to patients through their consultation and course of treatment.  At this time residents may also consider clinical electives relevant to the specialty or completion of a research project.  There is some flexibility in the timing of electives and research.

A series of treatment planning seminars which are case oriented are given by Radiation Oncologists to senior residents in their final year of the Core stage (after completing their clinical physics month and prior to RC exams).

Mock oral examinations are given with increasing frequency over these years to help prepare residents for the Royal College Exams.

Written exams are done yearly.

There are three sets of rounds in which residents are expected to make presentations.  These are the Thursday Resident Rounds, Journal Club as well as M&M Rounds.  The schedule for these rounds and the resident participation is coordinated by the Lead Resident.

The Royal College Certification Exam will be written at the end of the Core stage training.

Research

Residents are required to complete a scholarly project during their training. A research project is encouraged.  The opportunity exists to participate in clinical or basic science research in conjunction with other members of the Department of Oncology through individually sponsored projects supplied and supervised by Faculty members. The Department of Oncology includes a full contingent of basic scientists doing research in radiobiology, physics and molecular oncology as well as in clinical research. This ensures a broad and varied spectrum of research through internal collaborations with expertise readily available in many areas. For individuals wishing to pursue an academic career the Department of Oncology has sponsored MSc and PhD programs which can be integrated within the 5-year residency and is organized under the University of Alberta Clinical Investigator Program.

Transition to Practice (TTP) (3-9 months)

Transition to Practice will refine the residents’ skills as a Radiation Oncologist.  Residents will manage a radiation oncology practice at a consultant level for at least four tumor sites.

 

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Training Sites

Resources

-The University of Alberta and other Alberta Health Services Hospitals

- Community-based cancer centres:  Grande Prairie Cancer Centre, Central Alberta Cancer Centre (Red Deer), Jack Ady Cancer Centre (Lethbridge).

- A one-month mandatory community-based rotation has been introduced as of July 1, 2014.

-The Cross Cancer Institute is a freestanding cancer clinic on the campus of the University of Alberta. There are 45 inpatient beds and comprehensive outpatient facilities. The division of Radiation Oncology serves a population base of 1.5 million and treats more than 3,900 patients per year. The division is well equipped for the delivery of standard radiotherapy as well as conformal radiotherapy, SRS/SBRT, intensity modulated radiotherapy and both low and high dose rate brachytherapy. A Centre for Biological Imaging and Adaptive Radiotherapy includes PET imaging, and a 3-Tesla functional MRI unit. New technologies include a GammaKnife ICON unit, and a MRI-Linac. The division is actively involved in international and national clinical trials.

-Interprovincial and international electives are available only if arranged by the resident and approved by all involved parties (Residency Program Committee, Postgraduate Office, Alberta Health Services)

-The ratio of residents to faculty is approximately 1:3

-As most rotations are preceptor based, the patient load is divided among a few inpatients, 12-25 patients on active treatment and outpatient clinics, where there might be 15-30 patient contacts per week.

-There is a comprehensive integrated computing network with web access, electronic charts and electronic imaging.

-There is a resident library including textbooks and educational CDs.