Program Contacts

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Important Information

In 2024 there are two positions for Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology (formerly Anatomical Pathology).  Candidates are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the differences between DMP and Diagnostic and Clinical Pathology (DCP)  and apply to the program(s) of interest.  Separate applications are required for each program.

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 Par 1 (MCCQE 1) by July 1, 2024. Those unsuccessful in the exam are subject to the decision of the regulatory authority regarding licensure.

Our program values the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as a goal in the selection process. 

To help inform and advance EDI in our selection process we are pleased to offer the option to submit the voluntary CaRMS Self Identification Questionnaire. Additionally, there is an additional verification process for Indigenous membership or citizenship. Please see sections below for further information.

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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

Applicants may not be offered an interview if they do not meet our selection criteria. 

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Interviews

Dates:

• January 23, 2024
• January 24, 2024
• January 25, 2024
• February 1, 2024

Selection Criteria

Program goals

The goal of our residency program is to train highly qualified MDs to become safe and competent pathologists. Residents who have successfully completed their training will be ready for practice or prepared for further fellowship training in Canada and around the world. We strive to help the next generation of Anatomical Pathologists become leaders in their field and advocates for excellence in diagnostic services and patient care.

Selection process goals

The following are the criteria we consider when offering interviews and ranking candidates:

• A favourable academic record
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, as evidenced through the personal letter, written application documents, and interview
• References from academic specialists in clinical or laboratory disciplines, under whose supervision you have worked and who can attest to your professional and personal qualities (maximum of one (1) non-physician).
• An appreciation for Anatomical Pathology practice, preferably with prior exposure during an elective
• A well-written personal letter outlining interest in Anatomical Pathology and Dalhousie
• A demonstrable interest in research and/or leadership is an asset

  Dalhousie is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racialized persons, women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.

  Candidates are not required to submit the CaRMS Self Identification questionnaire or to complete the verification process for Indigenous identity, membership, or citizenship, but for those that do feel comfortable doing so the information received would only be used to advantage those who would contribute to the diversity of our community.

  Any self identification questionnaires received and the results of the verification process will be reviewed as part of our file review process, and used as an aid for file reviewers in selecting a diverse group of candidates for interviews. Information received may also be used by the program to adjust final rankings, at the discretion of the selection committee, to address issues of program priority and diversity.

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   

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Program Highlights

• Relatively small program (currently 10 AP residents and 9 GP residents) largely based at one institution (QEII HSC, Halifax.) This allows for close and collegial interaction between pathologists and residents.
• Highly engaged, collegial faculty with breadth of expertise who deliver high quality, one-on-one supervision and teaching
• Superb success rate at RCPSC examination and obtaining fellowships and/or jobs upon completion of program
• Excellent volume and variety of laboratory specimens available for residency education
• Spatious and well equipped resident workspaces (two resident rooms)
• Well developed and comprehensive Anatomical Pathology Transition to Discipline month in PGY1
• Well developed and comprehensive academic half day including a well designed laboratory management curriculum
• Resident issues are considered to be of great importance at the divisional and departmental levels
• Strong support to enhance learning environment and to balance more routine clinical work
• Strong off site subspecialty training including Forensic rotation at the Nova Scotia Medical Examiners’ office with 4-5 Forensic pathologists and Pediatric pathology rotation at the IWK with 4 Pediatric pathologists
• Research opportunities – residents are productive; many have received research grants and/or research awards
• Research methods course offered every year for PGY2/3 residents
• All pathologists’ offices and both frozen section labs at QEII HSC have at least a dual teaching head; several rooms have multihead teaching microscopes including an 18-head teaching microscope
• The Saint John, NB  based rotation exposes the residents to a variety of cases in a capacity of a junior pathologist (under supervision of the faculty). The SJRH busy service gives the residents an opportunity to test their diagnostic skills and contributes to their functioning independently in a diagnostic laboratory. The rotation allows the residents to get to know more maritime pathologists and the resources available.
• Development of strong examination skills with biannual in-house exams and optional annual RISE exam
• Electives may be taken at appropriate institutions in North America (up to twelve weeks)
• A medium-sized program that is supportive of career opportunities in both academic and community practice
• A program director who cares about each resident and facilitates all of the residents reaching their full potential.
• A flexible Transition to Practice period that focuses on the residents' chosen career path and prepares them for that.

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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 (July of PGY1)

The first month of PGY1 is a Introductory Transition to Discipline curriculum that allows residents to obtain the Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) required by the Royal College Competence By Design training system. It is shared with DCP residents and allows students to get to know faculty, other residents, and learn the basics of microscope function, slide scanning, grossing, and photography. The program is a mixture of didactic and hand-on activities. There is an end-of-rotation slide quiz and a histology 'boot camp' incorporated into the summer Academic Half Day. 

Foundations of Discipline (rest of PGY1)

There are 12 blocks in the remainder of PGY1, which allow residents to complete the EPAs in the Foundations stage of training. Clinical rotations are chosen with care and are relevant to pathology:

• Clinical Hematology
• General Surgery (2 blocks)
• Radiation Oncology
• Gynecological Oncology
• Medical Oncology
• Subspecialty Pediatrics (usually Peds GI)
• Selective (1 block - Radiology, Dermatology, ENT, Emerg, other)
• Autopsy Pathology (at the Forensic Institute to learn basic autopsy skills)
• Foundations of Anatomical Pathology (3 blocks, one of which is in Saint John, NB as a community rotation - intro to grossing and simple surgical sign-out)

PGY2 through PGY5 - Core and Transition to Practice stages

PGY2/3

The first 15 months of PGY2/3 consists of a core experience in surgical and autopsy pathology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.  Included are rotations in Lymph node pathology and Molecular pathology. There is a 1 month community rotation at a site in the Maritime provinces in PGY2/3. The remaining time in PGY3 includes three 12 week subspecialty rotations in Neuropathology, Cytopathology and Pediatric Pathology. In PGY3 we have also introduced a new 'Biomarker' rotation that exposes residents to direct sign out of cancer biomarkers and molecular testing of many solid tumors. 

PGY4/5

The Forensic Pathology rotation is undertaken in one of the senior years and is eight weeks in duration.  There is a required 3 block Anatomical Pathology rotation at a community site in the Maritimes (at least 2 blocks in Saint John, NB - a large, regional hospital in New Brunswick).  This serves as a senior resident rotation in the PGY4 or 5 year.  Accommodation is provided.  The remaining months involve additional training in Anatomical Pathology, including  senior Cytopathology (1 block), senior Anatomical Pathology (6 blocks) and a senior Cardiac/Liver/Kidney biopsy rotation (1 block).  In appropriate circumstances, up to one year of the program can be outside Anatomical Pathology and could include training in another branch of the laboratory, in research or in a clinical field. Most residents choose to do subspecialty anatomical pathology electives. Some residents complete a Medical Education or Leadership elective (1 block) offered by the PGME. The elective time is very flexible and is utilized to strengthen skills and provide opportunities to explore potential career choices. In addition, the elective time provides CBD residents with opportunities to tailor their training in order to complete remaining EPAs from the Core of Discipline stage.

The Transition to Practice period occurs after the Royal College exams and will be a combination of required AP rotations in order to complete EPAs as well as electives geared toward the residents' career plans.

 

Educational Program 

An academic half day is held every Wednesday morning during which time, the residents are excused from all service responsibilities. This includes didactic and small group sessions plus teaching at the multihead microscope. Additional divisional teaching rounds include autospy, quality assurance, journal club, interesting case and gross-micro rounds. Several subspecialities provide regular teaching sessions at the multihead microscope. In PGY4 or 5, each resident has access to $1000 to help fund a conference or review course without the need to present.

 

Research

The program requires each resident to engage in at least one well-designed research project.  Opportunities exist in both basic science and clinical realms. A resident research coordinator is in place to provide support and guidance.  The resident is expected to present his/her research at the annual Pathology Departmental Research Day, CAP (or other appropriate conference), and to attempt to publish the data.  Financial support is provided for PGY2 through PGY5 residents to attend a conference annually at which they are presenting a paper or poster ($1500).  Residents are required to present a poster or platform presentation at the annual Pathology Departmental research day in PGY2 through PGY4.

 

Teaching Opportunities

Residents are essential advocates and teachers for the medical students and residents rotating through pathology. They regularly teach their peers for a component of the academic half day. Additional opportunities include medical school lab instruction and Radiology-Pathology correlation rounds. Senior residents will also play a greater role in evaluating junior residents in the CBD model of assessment/evaluation. 

 

In house exams

Once a year there is an inhouse exam for PGY2-5 residents that includes all components (written, practical, oral) of the Royal College exam. A second oral and practical slide exam is provided every fall. PGY2-5 residents have the option to write the annual RISE exam. 

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Training Sites

• QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS
• IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS
• NS Medical Examiners Office, Dartmouth, NS
• Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, NB
• Others may include community hospitals in Truro NS, Fredericton NB, Charlottetown PEI, Moncton NB

NOTE: All residency programs are required to have 10% of their residency training outside of Halifax Regional Municipality as stipulated in the most recent Academic Funding Plan set out by the Department of Health and Wellness. 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.

Each training site has one or more resident rooms and access to the internet, scanners, and appropriate software, etc.  Residents have ready access to high quality digital cameras with dedicated computer and imaging software and a digital slide scanner.

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Additional Information

Join a dynamic program based in one of Canada’s largest health care institutions.  The structured teaching schedule, abundant volume of cases and wide spectrum of subspecialty expertise will furnish you with an ideal environment in which to excel in Anatomical Pathology.  Institutional centralization (QEII HSC) provides for maximum exposure to a large volume of interesting teaching material at one site, and rotations to other centres (IWK Children's Hospital, Medical Examiners Office and Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick) add diversity, additional expertise and a broad perspective on the practice of pathology.  The atmosphere is collegial with an emphasis on teaching.  The staff at the main teaching hospital (QEII) is youthful and expanding in number. 

Annually, pathology specimens in Halifax include >1000 autopsies (150 hospital, 110 pediatric, 100 neuropathology, 800 medical examiner) plus >50,000 surgical and >65,000 cytological specimens. At the IWK, there are >3500 surgicals.

When the time comes to relax, you will enjoy the wild beauty of the maritime shores, friendly people and an active social life.

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FAQ

1. Where are the training sites and how will I get to work?  The two sites where residents spend the majority of their time are within a 12 minute walk of each other in downtown Halifax (Mackenzie building at Victoria General Hospital, IWK Children's Hospital)! A number of residents live close by and walk to work. During residency there are two to three months at the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service in Dartmouth. This is a 20-30 minute drive from the Victoria General Hospital site, and has free parking. There is also a ~3 month senior rotation in Saint John, NB where accommodation is provided in a building with other residents that is within walking distance of the hospital. Programs are also encouraged to facilitate rotations for residents within the Maritime Provinces but outside Halifax; rotations in community hospitals can provide residents with more graded responsibility and allow residents to explore different career opportunities.

2. How will I learn to do autopsies? During a one-month rotation at the NS Medical Examiner Service in PGY1, you will be trained to eviscerate and dissect the organ block! Within the first week, you will be applying these new skills to cases with suspected medical cause of death (under supervision of course). Most residents complete around 10 autopsies during this block. 

3. Is the training in AP subspecialty based? At Dal, you can enjoy a 'hybrid' model of subspecialty and more general sign out. The PGY2 ‘junior AP’ and PGY5 ‘senior AP’  rotations include a group or pair of AP subspecialties (e.g. GI and H&N).  Grouping subspecialties presents an opportunity for longitudinal learning. Residents are also taught by a few general surgical pathologists in Halifax, as well as during community rotations. In PGY3-5, residents rotate through individual subspecialty rotations and electives. 

4. What organized social events are there? Maritime Resident Doctors (MarDocs) organizes tons of free events to help you meet other residents and experience Halifax, including weekly exercise classes (yoga, bootcamp) and approximately one social event per month (axe throwing, paint night, post-exam socials, wine tour, holiday party, etc). 

5. Think we’re a small residency program? Think of us as double the size – anatomical plus general pathology (together currently 20 residents). Residents in both programs share resident rooms, academic half day, and organize social activities together. 

6. Other questions? Reach out and ask!