University of Calgary - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - Calgary
2024 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Foothills Medical Centre
1403 - 29th Street NW
Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9
University of Calgary, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Canadian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehab
Program Contacts
Important Information
Please visit our program website which contains all information about our program, staff & resident profiles, the program curriculum, our CaRMS timeline, and frequently asked questions: Calgary PM&R Program Overview
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Supporting Documentation / Information
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• IELTS
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General
IELTS, OET or CELPIP is required by CPSA for candidates from medical schools in Quebec except for candidates from McGill and for IMG candidates. Please check CPSA https://cpsa.ca/ for ELP updates.
- Three letters of reference are required.
- A minimum of two letters must be from physicians who know the applicant well and can comment on their clinical ability.
- One letter may be from a non-health care provider, but is required to be from an academic researcher or professor, that can comment on the candidate's potential to pursue academic endeavours, such as research or medical education.
- The strength of a reference letter is determined by the detail to which the referee can comment about the observed attributes and accomplishments of the applicant.
Your medical school transcript can be submitted through one of the methods below:
- Obtain your medical transcript from your school and upload it directly to your CaRMS Online account. Follow your school’s policy regarding accessing or requesting your transcript;
- Ask your medical school to upload your medical transcript through their CaRMS Undergraduate Portal account; or
- International (IMGs) and United States (USMGs) medical graduates can transfer their transcript from their physiciansapply.ca account.
For current year Canadian medical graduates (CMGs), there is no action required from you. Your medical school will automatically submit your MSPR to CaRMS on your behalf for you to assign.
If your MSPR is in a language other than the program language of English or French, you are required to have the document translated.
A personal letter with a maximum word count of 1,500 is required. In this letter, candidates should outline their interest in PM&R, what attributes they possess for becoming a good physiatrist, and eventual career goals in PM&R. Any specific reasons why one chooses Calgary as a place to study should be mentioned.
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
The documents for each applicant will be reviewed by the program director and a committee of physiatrists and senior residents using a standardized rubric assessment. Decisions around offering interviews to applicants are collectively made by the committee members.
Interviews
Dates:
- January 16, 2024
- January 17, 2024
- After reviewing the application, the residency program will invite short-listed candidates for an interview.
- Applicants will be interviewed formally by the program director, chief residents, and staff physiatrists. The interview will be split up into up to 3 separate sessions.
- All interviews will take place via a virtual format. Therefore, it will be important for applicants to have computer hardware with a mic and webcam, as well as a strong internet connection.
Selection Criteria
Program goals
The PM&R Residency Training Program at the University of Calgary is focused on the wellbeing and the specialty training of the residents within our program, so that they can become competent physiatrists that pursue excellence in clinical care, medical education, administration and scholarly work. We strive to foster a positive workplace culture that recognizes the value and worth of our residents, and their important role in the provision of excellent patient care.
Selection process goals
Our program is looking for bright, energetic, and passionate people dedicated to receiving and progressing through excellent training in physiatry, as well as giving back to improve and advance our residency program. Some general characteristics the residency program is looking for in applicants include:
- A solid academic standing.
- A strong commitment to a career in PM&R.
- Excellent communication skills, ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, and strong interpersonal skills.
- Applicants with an interest and proven experience in either basic sciences or clinical research are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should demonstrate and highlight their commitment to community engagement.
File review process
Review team composition : The CaRMS Search and Selection Committee is comprised of the residency program director, the chief residents within the program, as well as physiatrists within the division.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 0 - 50
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 76 - 100 %
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Organized, succinct summary of pertinent information regarding the applicant. |
| Electives | Electives including a breadth of experiences in physiatry and related fields, as well as a variety of locations - all within context of what the applicant's home medical school is able to permit. |
| Examinations | Any notes regarding examinations during medical school as described in applicant transcripts and rotation evaluations will be considered. |
| Extra-curricular | Commitment & dedication to the pursuit of excellence. |
| Leadership skills | Examples of leadership roles and experiences. |
| MSPRs | General comments regarding applicant's performance during medical school. |
| Personal letters | Demonstration of a commitment to pursuing PM&R training, and a discussion around the reasons for interest in the Calgary PM&R Residency Program. |
| Reference documents | Examples of commitment & dedication to the pursuit of excellence. |
| Research/Publications | Demonstration of interest in & understanding of research/scholarly work. |
| Transcripts | Medical school transcript reviewed. |
Elective criteria
While we do not require applicants to have done onsite electives, we will have a better understanding of your clinical experience and characteristics relevant to our program if you have done an onsite elective.
Interview process
Interview format :
We may accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants due to weather, technology failure, or unforeseen circumstances.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | Examples of collaboration from the applicant's previous experiences. |
| Collegiality | Examples of collegiality from the applicant's previous experiences. |
| Communication skills | An ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and through presentations. |
| Health advocacy | We do not evaluate this interview component |
| Interest in the discipline | An solid understanding of the depth and breadth of the field of PM&R. |
| Interest in the program | An understanding of the culture within the training program as well as unique aspects of the Calgary PM&R program. |
| Leadership skills | Examples of leadership from the applicant's previous experiences. |
| Professionalism | Examples of professionalism from the applicant's previous experiences. |
| Scholarly activities | Ability of applicant to express understanding of the importance of scholarly work and PM&R. |
| Other interview component(s) | The ability of applicants to receive constructive feedback and to use the opportunity as a means of personal and professional growth. |
Information gathered outside of CaRMS application
Specifically, we may consider:Ranking process
The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :Program Highlights
Please visit our website linked here for a comprehensive overview of our program. Some main points are below:
- The program facilitates learning in an atmosphere of collegiality and mutual respect through active communication between residents and faculty. Our program aims to serve both the present and future needs of our discipline.
- There is a close association between our residency program and Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Sports Medicine.
- The main focus of inpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation rotations is at Foothills Medical Centre (45 beds) and outpatient rotations across multiple locations within Calgary.
- Our program offers exposures and training in all subspecialties of physiatry including ICU, cancer and burn rehabilitation.
- Electives are planned by the resident in consultation with the Program Director. Residents have the opportunity to pursue inter-provincial and international electives. A rural rotation is possible but not a mandatory component of the program.
- At present, there nearly 50 physiatrists affiliated with the University of Calgary. Our training program can accommodate two residents per year of training.
- There is an annual joint OSCE practice examination organized in collaboration with the physiatry training programs at the University of Alberta and the University of Saskatchewan.
- Residents have a variety of opportunities to gain competence with ultrasound-guided procedures, including in formal academic settings like practice sessions in the anatomy lab on cadavers, as well as in the clinical setting.
- Resident wellness and mentorship are prioritized and formalized in our program.
Please click here to see highlights of some of our residents and staff in the division.
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.
Our residency program has been in the Competence-By-Design format since the 2020-2021 academic year. The curriculum consists of the following stages of training:
Transition To Discipline (TTP, 2 blocks)
- 1 block inpatient neurorehabilitation on Brain Injury or Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- 1 block of outpatient clinics in General Physiatry & Outpatient Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Foundations of Discipline (FOD, 16 blocks)
- 3 blocks of General Internal Medicine
- 3 blocks of Neurology
- 2 blocks of Orthopedic Surgery
- 2 blocks of Rheumatology
- 1 block of Geriatrics
- 1 block of Psychiatry
- 1 block of Palliative Care
- 1 block of Surgical Clinics
- 1 block of ICU
Core of Discipline (COD, 34 blocks)
- 3 blocks of Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- 3 blocks of Stroke Rehabilitation
- 3 blocks of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- 3 blocks of Prosthetics & Orthotics or Amputee Rehabilitation
- 3 blocks of Neuromuscular/Electromyography Medicine
- 3 blocks of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
- 3 blocks of Pediatric Rehabilitation
- 1 block of Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- 1 block of Chronic Pain Medicine
- 1 block of Cancer Rehabilitation
- 3 blocks of Research
- 1 block of Quality Improvement
- 7 blocks of Electives or Clinics & Consults as organized by the senior resident
Transition To Practice (TTP, 13 blocks)
- 13 blocks of electives
Please click here to see aspects of our residency program including Competence by Design, Academic Curriculum and Funding Supports.
Training Sites
Hospital-based rotations occur at various sites throughout the city:
- Foothills Medical Centre
- Rockyview General Hospital
- South Health Campus
- Peter Lougheed Centre
Community-based rotations occur at various clinics throughout the city including:
- Kinesis Medical Centre
- Alberta Neurologic Centre
- Infini Health
- University of Calgary Sports Medicine Clinic
- Chronic Pain Centre
- Innovations Clinic
- Evidence Sport and Spine
- Group23 Sports Medicine
- Southland Sports Medicine
- Southland EMG
- Catalyst for Health
Additional Information
Calgary is a growing dynamic city that offers opportunities for a wide variety of participation in cultural and outdoor activities. There is a superb network of trails throughout the city for biking, running and walking and the Rocky Mountains are just fifty minutes away!
Calgary is known to be one of the most liveable cities not only in Canada, but the world.
Every July, the city hosts the Calgary Stampede, the greatest outdoor show on earth!
Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper are just some of the common tourist destinations that are just a few hours away from Calgary.
Our residents are a close-knit group and for the summer months, time is set aside for wellness activities during academic half day during which residents engage in group physical activity and exploring the city.
For more information, please visit our website.
FAQ
What is the structure of your neurorehabilitation unit?
The Tertiary NeuroRehabilitation (TNR) unit is located in Foothills Medical Centre and houses 50 inpatient rehabilitation beds. This includes brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke and general neurorehabilitation patients. Hospitalists are the most responsible physicians for inpatients, and the physiatrists are consultants who round on patients several times per week and lead weekly interdisciplinary rounds and family conferences.
Because our unit is directly integrated into the acute care hospital, for each of brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke there is both an inpatient TNR physiatry consultant (who rounds on and oversees rehabilitation for TNR patients), and an inpatient consult service physiatrist (who sees all new and ongoing patients for potential inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation).
What is it like to be on-call in UofC PM&R?
When physiatrists are on-call, they are only on home call for TNR inpatients (all inpatient consults and emergency room calls are deferred to the daytime services). Residents are first call via home-call for all ward issues, and have a staff back-up for second call.
Residents are required to go in and round on the weekends for both Saturday, Sunday and any holidays to check on patients in person. During weeknights, call for TNR is from 5pm - 8am. Residents may have to go in to see patients overnight for acute medical issues. If a resident is in-house beyond 12am, they may take a post-call day the next day.
Residents may be on call a maximum of 9 times per month. The call schedule is organized by chief residents, and the majority of residents are on-call between 4-7 times per month.
What are the duties of your chief residents?
Chief residents are self-selected by the resident group but typically consists of two co-chiefs in PGY-3. This includes organizing the call schedule, corresponding with medical students interested in our program, mediating all resident concerns and communicate with the program director on a regular basis. There are additional duties such as safety committees, helping with CaRMS and attending residency program committee meetings & division meetings, but these are shared among the PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents as well.
Does the resident group have autonomy in driving their residency experience?
Yes - our program encourages residents to self-direct their resident experience as possible while also ensuring adequate support. This includes individual residents selecting and organizing clinics & consults rotations to their areas of interest, and arranging longitudinal research experiences. The group as a whole self-directs their non-clinical endeavors including medical education & research initiatives with support.
How much funding do residents receive in the program?
All residents receive $2000 per year towards work-related expenses such as textbooks, learning resources, conference funding and technology. There is additional funding to attend one Canadian Comprehensive Review Course prior to writing the Royal College licensing examination.
How is resident health and wellness addressed?
All residents are provided with an academic advisor (a staff physiatrist working in the resident's area of interest) and a senior resident mentor. Residents meet with their advisors at least once every 3 months and with their mentors at least twice a year to ensure they are doing well, with funding for these meetings.
There is a wellness curriculum in our program with 17 topics to help address resident wellness. One half day every 6-8 weeks is blocked off for personal wellness time. Finally, there is funding for resident wellness including 2 resident retreats and 2 mentorship meetings per year.
Are residents equipped upon graduation to do procedures or practice in special areas of physiatry?
Yes. There is ample time to complete EMG training required to challenge and successfully pass the EMG licensing exam. 9 of our 10 most recent graduates have passed the licensing exam without issue at the end of their PGY-5 year without difficulty (the one other graduate did not write as EMG was not part of their eventual clinical practice). Approximately 40-50% of our graduates choose to challenge the CASEM sports medicine licensing exam, and all have passed successfully. Finally, all residents interested in image-guided interventions have ample exposure to gain experience and competence in performing these procedures upon finishing their residency.
Are there opportunities for rural physiatry exposure?
Yes - we have physiatrists working in smaller areas outside of the city of Calgary including in Lacombe, Red Deer and Lethbridge with a mix of general physiatry including inpatient and outpatient clinical work. Exposures to these areas can be arranged during the PGY-3 to PGY-5 years via electives, with funding from the Post-Graduate office for accommodations in rural areas.