University of Calgary - Plastic Surgery - Calgary
2026 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Last approved on September 22, 2025
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
Dr. Aaron Knox
Rm 382, 1403 - 29 Street N.W.
Calgary AB T2N 2T9 , Alberta
Program Contacts
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)
• Proof of Protected Person / Convention Refugee Status
• Certificate of Indian Status / Aboriginal Status or Makivik Society Card
• Canadian Citizenship 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.
We only require three reference letters. If possible, one or more letters from a faculty member in Plastic Surgery would be beneficial, but they are not mandatory.
Consistent with the AFMC measures established in response to the Québec physicians’ strike, we will implement the following accommodations for applicants from Québec faculties of medicine and for applicants from other Canadian faculties who had planned visiting electives in Québec during this time.
- We will accept reference documents completed by any physician able to support the applicant’s candidacy.
- We will not require reference letters from physicians practising in the same discipline as the program.
- Applicants are required to submit two (2) reference documents but are permitted to submit up to the maximum of three (3).
All applicants are required to submit a CV.
Personal LetterWe require a personal introduction letter of all applicants no longer than 750 words.
PhotoThis is required and is used as a memory aid.
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.
For applicants from Québec faculties of medicine, as well as those from other Canadian faculties who had scheduled visiting electives in Québec during this period, we will accept incomplete MSPRs for file review and ranking purposes.
An incomplete MSPR is one that may be missing final assessments from placements expected to be completed by the date of submission but delayed due to the strike. A complete MSPR will not be required as a criterion for file review or ranking for these applicants.
Review Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on November 27, 2025
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on November 27, 2025
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on November 27, 2025
The Program Administrator will contact selected candidates via e-mail in December/January to arrange for interviews. Applicants must confirm interviews as early as possible and before the indicated deadline on the invitation. This also applies to applicants who wish to decline the invitation.
Interviews
Dates:
- January 27, 2026
Interview Date: January 27, 2026
Interviews will be held virtually on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Details will be circulated closer to the interview date.
Selection Criteria
Superior academic record.
Demonstrated interest in and involvement with the specialty of Plastic Surgery.
Personal attributes desired of medical professionals. References and documentation supporting above criteria.
Program goals
The Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program of the University of Calgary aims to train competent and ethical plastic surgeons. To this end, we offer a minimum five-year residency program integrating CanMEDS competencies into teaching plastic surgery.
The Program is looking for academically driven candidates eager to take advantage of all the opportunities our program offers.
Highlights of Calgary's Plastic Surgery Residency Program include enthusiastic teaching faculty, dedicated residency program leadership, a tightknit group of resident peers, five state-of-the-art teaching facilities, substantial financial support for travel to applicable conferences and research projects, and strong track record for graduate residents accepted in prestigious fellowships and obtaining desirable jobs after.
Selection process goals
Applicants providing evidence of academic potential in the CaRMS application file will be considered first. This includes achievement in the form of academic standing or awards, scholarship (e.g. research, publication, innovation, etc.), evidence of leadership capacity and experience (e.g. committee memberships), and teaching experience.
We do not require applicants to have done on-site electives.
File review process
Review team composition : Files are reviewed by the Plastic Surgery Residency Training Committee.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 0 - 25 %
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | A well-rounded CV with an established record of superlative academic performance is essential |
| Electives | Completing electives in plastic surgery helps demonstrate an applicant's interest in the specialty. While an elective at our site is not required for an interview, we acknowledge that electives at University of Calgary can be valuable for both applicants to learn about our program and for us to get to know them better before the interview. |
| Examinations | We do not evaluate this file component. |
| Extra-curricular | This is strongly weighted, emphasizing how their acquired skills translate into a career as a plastic surgeon. |
| Leadership skills | Demonstrating leadership roles and their impact on success during residency and as a plastic surgeon. |
| MSPRs | This will be reviewed with a focus on areas of excellence during rotations and areas of concern. |
| Personal letters | A well-crafted, non-clichéd personal letter is an asset |
| Reference documents | Strong reference letters from clinical supervisors, and particularly surgeons, are extremely important. |
| Research/Publications | While not by any means required, a track record of meaningful scholarly activity, particularly in jobs previously held. |
| Transcripts | We require undergraduate transcripts. |
Elective criteria
Completing electives in plastic surgery helps demonstrate an applicant's interest in the specialty. While an elective at our site is not required for an interview, we acknowledge that electives at University of Calgary can be valuable for both applicants to learn about our program and for us to get to know them better before the interview.
Interview process
Interview format :
We routinely accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants due to weather, technology failure or unforeseen circumstances.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | The candidate's experience working in a multidisciplinary team setting will be probed. |
| Collegiality | This facet would mostly be drawn from comments in reference letters regarding social skills. |
| Communication skills | The ability to respond to diverse questions in a unscripted way will be one of the main criteria assessed. |
| Health advocacy | We indirectly consider this as part of leadership. |
| Interest in the discipline | Candidates without an interest in the discipline should not apply. |
| Interest in the program | Implied based on having applied to the program. |
| Leadership skills | An impression on this facet is more likely to be formed from file review rather than the interview. |
| Professionalism | An impression on this facet is more likely to be formed from file review rather than the interview. |
| Scholarly activities | An impression on this facet is more likely to be formed from file review rather than the interview. |
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 Highlights
Highlights of Calgary's Plastic Surgery Residency Program include enthusiastic teaching faculty, dedicated residency program leadership, a tightknit group of resident peers, five state-of-the-art teaching facilities, substantial financial support for travel to applicable conferences and research projects, and strong track record for graduate residents accepted in prestigious fellowships and obtaining desirable jobs after.
The program offers early exposure to operative procedures, regular wellness initiatives, and hands-on skill simulation workshops. Additionally, it includes cadaver lab dissections, a staff-driven, case-based academic curriculum held over half a day with catered lunches, and significant research support. Residents also benefit from site-based home call, a senior resident cosmetic clinic, and extensive exposure to all areas of plastic surgery, including less common specialties such as head and neck reconstruction, wrist and distal radius surgery, and gender surgery. Quarterly one-on-one check-ins with the program director ensure that residents' personal and professional goals are supported.
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 Calgary's Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program is a small, preceptor-based program that offers a wide variety of clinical experiences. Each year, we welcome three new residents, and we currently have twelve residents in total. Additionally, we have clinical fellows specializing in areas such as head and neck reconstruction, breast melanoma, and upper extremity surgery. Our program emphasizes all aspects of the CanMEDS Roles and includes a formal wellness program to prepare residents for safe and independent practice. Our goal is to develop plastic surgeons who are both technically skilled and academically proficient.
PGY-1 and 2 - Surgical Foundations
Rotations are designed to prepare residents and establish a solid foundation for managing surgical patients. First-year residents will have ample time on service, which includes early exposure to operative procedures. Participation in mandatory seminars and courses covering biostatistics, bioethics, research protocols, and critical thinking is required. The Royal College mandates rotations in orthopaedic surgery, trauma, ICU, and plastic surgery. Additionally, the program requires rotations in breast melanoma, vascular surgery, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, and ENT. These rotations are specifically tailored to optimize the resident's experience. Plastic surgery residents are expected to attend all academic rounds related to plastic surgery during their plastic surgery rotations.
R1 residents are required to attend the Surgical Foundations (SF) teacher's training retreat, SF bootcamp, and plastic surgery bootcamp. They are also expected to participate in undergraduate medical education (UME) teaching and clerk supervision. Additionally, there are opportunities for involvement in curriculum development and medical student teaching through the Calgary Plastic Surgery Primer.
The Calgary Plastic Surgery Medical Student Primer is a structured educational program that introduces medical students to all subspecialties within plastic surgery through approximately four sessions each year. Entirely resident-run with support from faculty, it provides a dedicated space for student learning while also offering residents valuable opportunities to develop skills in curriculum design, teaching, and leadership.
PGY-3 and 4 - Core of discipline
Residents undergo three years of adult and pediatric plastic surgery training in preparation for the Royal College certification exams. During this time, they are exposed to all aspects of plastic surgery, including maxillofacial, craniofacial, microvascular, hand, peripheral nerve, burn, breast, facial aesthetic, and body contouring surgery. The training also involves elective and community rotations. Residents spend time in consultant offices and attend scheduled clinics, which cover hand surgery, reconstructive surgery (including oncologic cases), cleft lip and palate repair, burn treatment, peripheral nerve surgery, vascular birthmark management, craniofacial head and neck reconstruction, wrist surgery, and gender care.
PGY 5 - Transition to Practice
The final year of residency at the University of Calgary is characterized by increased autonomy to provide a smoother transition to practice. R5 residents are expected to run clinics independently (Cosmetic Clinic, Head and Neck Reconstruction Clinic), take on inpatient management more completely and operate with less supervision. High volumes of surgery in all aspects of plastics are on offer. Preparation for the Royal College oral exam is prominent in the final year, with opportunities for mock examinations and time away from clinical duties for study.
Research
PGY-1
Research methodology and related topics provided in the form of courses and seminars. Presentation at the annual Resident Research Day is compulsory.
PGY-2-5
Participation in a significant research project is required annually or on a continuing basis, along with a presentation at the annual Resident Research Day. Although elective research blocks are optional, residents are provided with weekly protected academic time dedicated to their research activities. We strongly encourage residents to present their research findings at national meetings, and financial support is available for those who present their papers.
In addition to the weekly protected research time, there is also an optional monthly "research day." Our program fully supports innovation and academic advancements across various fields, including education, wellness, and technological advancements.
Seminars, Courses & Training Examinations
Biostatistics, bioethics, critical thinking, research methodology, ATLS Course/ACLS Course, CanMeds seminar series, surgical skills lab, departmental rounds, general plastic surgery rounds, burn rounds, hand rounds, morbidity and mortality rounds, journal clubs, city-wide rounds, American and Canadian review courses, CAGS Exams, Surgical Skills exam/POS, MCC Part II, American Plastic Surgery In-Service exam, biannual sectional exams, American Hand In-Service exam. There is a protected academic/research half-day on a weekly basis.
Training Sites
Foothills Medical Centre
Tom Baker Cancer Centre / Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Alberta Children’s Hospital
Rockyview General Hospital
Peter Lougheed Centre
South Health Campus
Additional Information
To contribute to the success of Canadian physicians and the delivery of high-quality patient care, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 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 patient needs and empowering learners to more fully engage in their education process.
CBD uses time as a framework rather than the basis for progression. It is not anticipated that the duration of training will change for the majority of trainees. Residency programs will be broken down into stages, and each stage will have a series of milestones based on required competencies. These 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.
The Royal College anticipates that all specialty and subspecialty programs in Canada will adopt CBD in gradual phases. The Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program in Calgary formally started CBD in July 2020.
All programs implementing CBD will continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation processes as traditional programs. All CBD and traditional programs will continue to lead to Royal College approved certification. Certification for trainees in both CBD and traditional programs will include the completion of a Royal College examination. Residents in CBD programs will also be assessed against training milestones throughout their training. Within a CBD program, all milestones (documented within an electronic portfolio) and the Royal College examination must be successfully completed to achieve certification.
FAQ
2026 CaRMS Information Session
November 13, 2025
6:00 - 7:00 PM MST
Join us on our information session to learn more about the Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Program at Calgary! This is a resident-led information session where we talk about our curriculum, resident community, and the opportunities the Calgary program can offer you if you join our family. We look forward to meeting you!
Zoom Registration - https://ucalgary.zoom.us/meeting/register/UO8ThU6eTWumS3We_WwANg
Summary of changes
| SUMMARY ID | Section | Summary of changes | Updated on | NOTIFY APPLICANTS | SECTION NAME | Actions |
|---|