University of Alberta - Anesthesiology - Edmonton
2025 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Last approved on September 11, 2024
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
University of Alberta
Clinical Sciences Building, Room 2-150
Edmonton , Alberta, T6G 2G3
Program Contacts
Return of Service
There are no return of service requirements at the University of Alberta.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Supporting Documentation / Information
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• Record of Landing, clearly showing the date of landing in Canada
• IELTS
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General
Please see the Alberta provincial criteria.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are required to provide proof of English language proficiency as determined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs) who completed their medical education in Québec or at the University of Ottawa (French Stream) are required to provide proof of English language proficiency as determined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).
CMGs who completed their medical education at the University of Ottawa must indicate on their application which stream they completed (either French or English).
For more information on the CPSA English language requirements, please visit the CPSA website.
No more than three references will be accepted. One letter from a physician outside the discipline of anesthesia is REQUIRED. The purpose of asking for a reference from outside the field of anesthesia is to ensure that the applicant demonstrates a strong work ethic, exemplary interpersonal skills, and a willingness to learn even when they are not working in their preferred field of medicine. An application that includes three references from anesthesia rotations only (with an FRCPC of Family Practice Anesthesiologist) will still be reviewed, but will be at a disadvantage during the file review process. A reference letter from an Intensivist that also practices anesthesia will be considered outside the field of anesthesia for the purpose of this criteria if the assessment was completed while the applicant was on an ICU rotation. A letter from a senior resident will not be accepted.
A personal letter stating why the applicant feels they are suited to our specialty is required. Ensure to address the following:
- Why you have chosen a career in anesthesia?
- Give a personal example of failure (can be related to medicine or personal). Outline how you dealt with that failure and what you learned from it.
- Describe what about the anesthesia program at the University of Alberta or living in Edmonton appeals to you. Please include whether or not you have connections to the city.
Maximum of 800 words
Medical School TranscriptYour 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.
required if not already part of CaRMS application
Review Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on November 29, 2024
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on November 29, 2024
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on November 29, 2024
The files will be reviewed by 2 independent assessors each. The candidate's academic performance, CV, reference letters and personal letter is reviewed.
Interviews
Dates:
- January 18, 2025
Specific intervie dates will be posted in September.
Selection Criteria
Program goals
We want to select a diverse set of applicants with a true interest in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, an apparent potential for the specialty who would be suitable for our program, and are likely to contribute to the program, specialty, and society – in a variety of ways: research, teaching, administration, and innovation.
Our goal is to provide a learning environment that facilitates development of medical school graduates into complete Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada specialist certified consultant anesthesiologists with a passion for lifelong learning and healthy work-life balance.
Our vision is that our residency program will be a top ranked program in Canada recognized for its high quality clinical, academic, and research programs; world-class integrated simulation program; and clear focus on healthy, positive and enthusiastic learning environments.
Selection process goals
Our program is committed to ensuring every resident develops the specialized knowledge and skills to become a high caliber anesthesiologist. We have a robust and well-structured training program that is invested in fostering our residents to develop this expertise.
There are some qualities that facilitate a learner’s training and future practice as an anesthesiologist. Our program values several non-cognitive traits that serve as the backbone for training and therefore are incorporated into our selection criteria. These include 6 core values: communication, kindness, a strong work ethic, attention to detail, enthusiasm for learning, and an interest to invest in the program and specialty.
Communication – Includes communicating well in teams, delivery of medical care in critical events, as well as in administrative and clinical responsibilities.
Kindness – We deeply value both compassion for patients, as well as being considerate of our peers and allied health workers. A safe working environment is critical for appropriate delivery of care, and can specifically be a concern under stressful situations or critical events.
Work-ethic – It is important for learners to devote effort to their clinical environments. The program invests in the learner and we expect the learner to invest in their environment and in themselves.
Attention to detail – We expect applicants to have a high attention to detail, in their organization and clinical practice.
Enthusiasm for learning – It is important for our residents to have a passion for learning, to deliver the highest standards of care for their future patients.
Investing in the program and specialty – We value learners that invest in teaching and supporting their peer residents, and their program at large. As staff anesthesiologists, our specialty’s growth is dependent on contributions through administrative leadership roles, research, and education.
Selection criteria will be based on assessing these 6 core values, as well as a balance of all CanMED roles.
File review process
Review team composition : The files will be reviewed by 2 independent assessors each. The candidate's academic performance, CV, reference letters and personal letter is reviewed.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200
We usually receive 125 to 150 applications
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 26 - 50 %
We offer interviews to 60 candidates
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Looking for above-average CVs |
| Electives | We are looking for and rewarding applicants who have completed a broad range of electives including in our discipline. We do not require applicants to have done onsite electives. |
| Examinations | We do not specifically evaluate this component outside of previously submitted academic performance. |
| Extra-curricular | Good work-life balance, well-rounded |
| Leadership skills | Should demonstrate experience in some form of leadership role |
| MSPRs | Indications of remediation, unsatisfactory completion, performance deficiencies and adverse actions should be explained |
| Personal letters | Well-rounded life experiences; is interested in and has good understanding of the Anesthesia specialty. |
| Reference documents | Strong reference letters. One letter from a physician outside the discipline of anesthesia is REQUIRED. A letter from a senior resident will not be accepted. |
| Research/Publications | Not necessary, but definitely an asset |
| Transcripts | No unexplained absences or breaks during training; no fails or incompletes |
Elective criteria
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 | works well in a team |
| Collegiality | enjoyable/pleasant interview; demonstrates the ability to work with varying personalities |
| Communication skills | is articulate and confident |
| Health advocacy | promotes health and access to health care |
| Interest in the discipline | demonstrates a keen interest in Anesthesiology |
| Interest in the program | demonstrates interest in working at UofA |
| Leadership skills | demonstrates confidence and ability to take a leadership role |
| Professionalism | demonstrates respect for diversity and all members of interdisciplinary teams |
| Scholarly activities | research is an asset |
| Other interview component(s) | The program places significant weight on the applicant interview and appreciates the time invested in getting to know the applicants via a face-to-face encounter. This is our opportunity to assess the applicant and ask questions which give insight into suitability to the specialty and for our Program. We are looking for our future colleagues and the future of our specialty. |
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 :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 University of Alberta conducts a postgraduate training program in anesthesia in accordance with the specialty training requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The PGY1 year is described in the University of Alberta introduction pages. Compulsory portions of the PGY2-5 years of the training program are completed in four Edmonton tertiary care teaching hospitals. These institutions, with a combined volume of approximately >50,000 surgical procedures annually, provide abundant clinical resources for a training program of 30-35 residents.
The University of Alberta Hospital is clinically strong in the areas of pediatric anesthesia, regional anesthesia, acute and chronic pain management, neuroanesthesia and cardiac anesthesia (adult, pediatric, and transplantation), with additional specialized experiences available in anesthesia for transplantation and for major burn surgery.
The Royal Alexandra Hospital offers strong clinical experience in thoracic and high risk obstetrical anesthesia while also maintaining a broad variety of other surgical disciplines. In addition, it provides a specific airway rotation.
The Grey Nuns Hospital hosts major vascular anesthesia and an extremely busy obstetrical anesthesia service while also offering experience in lower risk community anesthesia.
The Misericordia Hospital offers a broad range of experiences in ambulatory anesthesia.
There is a well-organized academic program consisting of general and subspecialty case-based seminars, lead resident rounds, interesting case discussions, journal clubs, and visiting speaker lectures. Financial resources are available to support attendance of residents at a major specialty conference within North America. Opportunities exist for residents to participate in clinical and basic science research, and this is strongly encouraged.
We conduct semi-annual oral examinations on all residents from PGY2-5. A sub-committee organizes oral exam practice throughout the year for PGY5 residents.
The anesthesiology program has access to a high fidelity patient simulator complete with anesthesia machine, standard and difficult airway equipment and surgical props. Residents from PGY1-5 participate in an annual Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management simulation. All residents from PGY1-5 participate in case-based simulations that mirror the concurrent academic program. Anesthesia residents also participate in simulation sessions in difficult airway, in-house code and trauma throughout their training.
PGY-1 (Transition to Discipline and Foundations)
The sequence of training begins with a PGY1 resident seconded to a broad based clinical year. As such, residents complete the following rotations: Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Obstetrics and a minimum of two blocks of anesthesia, establishing a solid anesthesia foundation. There is also an Anesthesia Communications course which includes an introduction to anesthesia equipment and pre- and post-operative medicine.
Foundations II and Core (PGY2-4)
The transition from Foundations I to II begins with an Anesthesia Simulation Boot Camp which allows trainees to experience deliberate practice in a number of common and important anesthesia scenarios. There is also a dedicated summer lecture series which follows the boot camp.
Residents in Foundations II and Core concentrate their experience in the O.R. in general anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and difficult airway rotations. There is a continuum of learning and throughout Core residents will also concentrate their experience in the subspecialty rotations which include cardiac, thoracic, neurosurgical and pediatric anesthesia, in a variety of intensive care settings and relevant medicine subspecialties such as cardiac and pulmonary medicine. Other highlights include Regional Anesthesia and FOCUS workshops during the academic year.
Transition to Practice (PGY5)
The Transition to Practice year has up to six months elective time available, with the remaining six months usually spent as a senior resident in anesthesia.
Research
All residents are required to make two scholarly presentations at the Annual Research Day during their residency. This typically consists of a poster presentation in PGY2 and an oral presentation in PGY4. Ideally, clinical or basic science projects should be the goals of the residents which would be showcased at the Annual Research Day as a project proposal (poster presentation) and preliminary data / completed work (oral presentation). Residents are strongly encouraged to identify a particular research interest and formulate a research question / project. Many of these research projects have been suitable for publication or presentation at National or International scientific meetings. Exceptional residents may pursue additional training appropriate to the establishment of a career as a clinician scientist. Residents have access to seasoned researchers to advise them about research design, statistics and writing scholarly articles.
Faculty research interests include cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology with particular interests in the control of vascular tone and hemodynamics, mechanisms in myocardial protection, applied pharmacology of local anesthetic agents, blood and blood substitutes, innovative methods of acute and chronic pain management ultrasound and population based outcome studies and medical education. The Department has a permanent research infrastructure supporting ongoing research activities of faculty and residents. There is a strong emphasis on the performance of regional anesthesia under ultrasound guidance and the Department has become one of the leading centres in North America in this rapidly growing discipline.
Training Sites
Residents can expect to rotate through the following hospitals:
- University of Alberta Hospital
- Royal Alexandra Hospital
- Grey Nuns Hospital
- Misericordia Hospital
- Stollery Children's Hospital
- Leduc Community Hospital
- Sturgeon Community Hospital
Residents have access to computers at all sites. Residents have their own library of available books and materials including AV and computer equipment.
Additional Information
- Interprovincial and international electives are possible
- There are no mandatory rural rotations but funded electives are available
- Each resident will typically manage 750-1000 patients per year
CaRMS Self-Identification Questionnaire (CSIQ)
The University of Alberta recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, inclusivity, decolonization and indigenization (EDIDI) and is committed to the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's policy on anti-racism.
Further, the University is committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action that are relevant to education and medicine. The pursuit of diversity and equitable opportunities is a core value that guides our selection practices.
The University encourages application from underrepresented groups, including Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racialized persons, women, persons of a minority gender identity or sexual orientation, and individuals who would contribute to the diversity of the medical community. The CaRMS Self-Identification Questionnaire (CSIQ) is an optional form that candidates can fill out.
Our program recognizes the importance of EDIDI and anti-racism in residency selection, but is currently not using the CSIQ as part of our application process. We are using other methods to ensure mitigation of bias and equitable opportunities for all applicants.
FAQ
Please refer to our Department website for more information:
Summary of changes
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