Program Contacts

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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

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

Applications submitted after file review has opened on March 17, 2026

Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened  on  March 17, 2026

Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on March 17, 2026

Selection Criteria

Each applicant’s file (curriculum vitae, academic transcript, medical student performance record, UME Dean’s letter, reference letters, and personal letter [as required in the “supporting documents” section]) will be reviewed and scored by the program director, CC chair/Assistant PD and the Lead resident or RPC designate. 

Final rank ordering of applicants will be made by the residency selection committee that includes all interviewers and the Program Director, and will take into account the application file, experience, and interview process.  

Program goals

The overall mission of the Hematological Pathology Residency Program at the University of Alberta is to develop competent consultants in all areas of hematopathology practice. Specifically, our goals are to develop competent and effective specialists in diagnostic morphology, hemostasis and coagulation, transfusion medicine, histocompatibility and immunology, lymphoma pathology, and laboratory management, whilst utilizing state-of-the-art ancillary techniques including flow cytometry, cytogenetics and molecular pathology.

Our graduating residents will enter the specialty equipped with the medical expertise and essential leadership qualities, communication and collaboration skills, critical analysis and clinical reasoning ability, and managerial prowess to contribute positively to multidisciplinary and patient-centered care and the future of hematopathology.  

Selection process goals

Our candidate evaluation tool targets personal attributes and skills compatible with successful residency training and a career in hematological pathology, including:

• clinical aptitude and demonstration of ability
• clinical and academic performance
• excellent verbal and written communication skills
• superb interpersonal, collaboration and teamwork skills
• insight, personal and professional maturity
• self-direction and regulation, reflective ability, plus effective and constructive utilization of feedback
• ability to thrive in a proactive and supportive learning environment, and
• ability to assume graduated independence and responsibility

These essential skills, behaviors and traits are key to contributing positively to the training program and specialty as a whole.

Desirable candidates will have 3 strong reference letters of support that highlight the above attributes and their suitability for our training program and specialty, in addition to a proven clinical and academic track record that makes obvious the potential for success as a resident and future hematopathologist.

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
Other : We may contact preceptors or references directly for a more in-depth discussion.

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   
Other : Criteria in the Application File, Interview Process, or Elective Experience that may result in NOT ranking the candidate include:
- the candidate shows no clear demonstration of knowledge, interest, or aptitude for residency training and a career in hematopathology
- there is/are significant concern(s) regarding the candidate’s clinical or personal preparedness for the University of Alberta residency training program
- there is/are significant concern(s) regarding the candidate’s ability to practice hematopathology in its broadest sense on completion of residency training
- there is/are significant concern(s) regarding the candidate’s suitability for the University of Alberta training program
- none of the 3 reference letters on file strongly endorses the candidate
- any major concern noted in any reference letter
- there is/are significant concern(s) in the candidate’s clinical or academic record that question(s) potential success in residency training or licensing examination
- there is/are significant concern(s) regarding whether the candidate will succeed in or contribute positively to the training program and division
- there is/are significant concern(s) that the candidate will be resource intensive for the training program and faculty
- there is/are significant concern(s) regarding a deficiency or deficiencies in any of the CanMEDS competencies

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Program Highlights

• A comprehensive training program utilizing clinical materials amassed from tertiary, academic and community patients of all age groups, within a single academic health region.
• Exposure to an internationally accredited transfusion medicine service (which is also the largest Transfusion Medicine (TM) service in North America) that provides transfusion support and consultation to clinical teams and patients at multiple hospitals/training sites across the Edmonton Zone and North Zone. Supporting clinical programs in anesthesiology, cardiac and other specialty surgery, adult and pediatric and neonatal intensive care, in addition to transplantation and oncology, etc.
• Integrated longitudinal training and on call exposure in hemostasis and coagulation, transfusion medicine and pediatric hematopathology throughout the 4-year residency program.
• Opportunity for laboratory consultation at academic, suburban and rural community facilities.
• Extensive clinical and basic research opportunities.
• Opportunities for teaching undergraduate, medical student and other postgraduate trainees.
• Joint academic program and shared learning opportunities with residents in Diagnostic and Clinical pathology, as well as Adult and Pediatric Hematology. Our program also participates in the Distributed Academic half-day with programs from across Canada.

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Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 4 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

Goals of Training

The ultimate objective of our Hematological Pathology Residency Program is to produce consultants who excel in the diagnosis and laboratory monitoring of hematological disorders.  Our training program is founded on an integrated and immersive experience that ensures a broad exposure to benign and malignant diagnostic morphology, transfusion medicine and coagulation medicine throughout the course of residency training.  In addition, skilled detection of systemic complications from hematological disorders is expected.  Our program also strives to train laboratory medicine consultants whose knowledge of laboratory testing would assist clinical colleagues in patient diagnosis and management of complex medical problems. 

 

CBD 4 stage Hematopathology training outline

Our Hematological Pathology program is arranged in accordance with Royal College regulations and specialty standards to train a physician in the practice of hematological laboratory medicine, using a Competence by Design (CBD) model.

1. TRANSITION TO DISCIPLINE (TTD)
The focus of this initial stage is the orientation of new trainees to the policies, protocols, resources, and facilities of the program and the institution(s), including laboratory safety and issues of privacy and confidentiality. During this stage, residents will participate in basic specimen handling and microscopy and demonstrate an understanding of clinicopathologic correlation.

2. FOUNDATIONS OF DISCIPLINE (FD)
The focus of this stage is the development of the knowledge and skills required to integrate clinical and laboratory information in the evaluation of disease processes. This includes assessing patients and performing select clinical diagnostic procedures. It also includes assessing laboratory samples and generating reports for routine diagnostic investigations, as well as advising on routine requests for blood components.

3. CORE OF DISCIPLINE (CD)
In this stage, residents build on the skills and knowledge of the previous stages to provide laboratory clinical consultations and manage diagnostic and ancillary testing for cases, including generating complete and diagnostically accurate reports. Trainees at this stage will take on additional responsibility for after-hours coverage, quality management, presentations at multidisciplinary conferences, and scholarly work.

4. TRANSITION TO PRACTICE (TTP)
The focus of this stage is the consolidation of skills required to lead daily operations of the laboratory and independently manage a full caseload across the breadth of hematological pathology practice. Residents will also be responsible for the supervision of junior learners and sharing expertise in hematological pathology at multidisciplinary meetings.

Throughout the program, the trainee's skills in critical analysis of literature and information, formulation of relevant research questions, teaching competency and speaking proficiency will be enhanced through regular biannual presentations at joint division and department rounds. Initial experience with laboratory information systems, laboratory accreditation, and laboratory management will also be acquired.

Our annual residency in-training examinations further prepare the resident for success at the Royal College Licensing examinations.

The University of Alberta Hematopathology Residency Program is a comprehensive academic and community-based program with enthusiastic and dedicated faculty, excellent facilities, materials and resources.

 

Research/Scholarly Concentration

There is ample opportunity and encouragement either to take part in ongoing research/scholarly work within the division or to set up a project with the help and guidance of faculty members.  The level of involvement will depend on the interest of individual trainees.  Other graduates have used this time to pursue additional training in medical education, laboratory management, and informatics in lieu of clinical and basic science research.

 

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Training Sites

• University of Alberta Hospital / Stollery Children's Hospital
• Alberta Precision Base Laboratory
• Cross Cancer Institute 
• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Misericordia Hospital
• Grey Nuns Hospital
• Canadian Blood Services
• Calgary Foothills Hospital/ Tom Baker Cancer Center (Calgary AB)
• Suburban and rural hospital consultations and laboratory site visits

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Additional Information

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 applications 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. 

Final rank ordering of applicants will be made by the selection committee that includes all interviewers and the Program Director, and will take into account the application file, elective experience, and interview process.

 

Current residents in the program: 4

Dr. Golasa Samadi (golasa@ualberta.ca), PGY2, Lead Resident

Please direct all questions to either our Lead Resident or our Program Administrator (hemepath@ualberta.ca). 

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: 

•  What are some strengths about your specialty? What draws and keeps people in your specialty?

Hematological Pathology is a specialty within laboratory medicine that integrates clinical consultation and diagnosis with quality laboratory management and practice.

We provide consultations to hematology, oncology, internal medicine, anesthesiology, critical care, surgery, and organ/tissue transplant specialists in the diagnosis and investigation of hematological disorders, coagulation disorders (bleeding and thrombosis), transfusion medicine and blood product utilization, histocompatibility/immunology, and molecular pathology.

In other words, we don’t just look at glass slides under the microscope! We enjoy having a rich variety of clinical encounters with other clinicians and specialists. The resulting breadth and depth of hematopathology practice is the most attractive and exciting aspect of our daily work. Instead of having traditional contact with patients through histories and physical exams in the hospital or outpatient clinics, we encounter them through bone marrow biopsies, under the microscope during blood film and bone marrow reporting, and discussions at morphology, coagulation and transfusion medicine rounds.

Since we do not see or admit patients in the traditional sense, this also means we do not have to worry about things like lack of clinic or operating room time or space, or the lack of hospital beds to admit patients, etc.

• What are some common complaints about your specialty?

There are not enough of us, so we all have a lot to do! The silver lining though is that there are positions available across the country for graduating residents.

Alumni from the Edmonton program have worked/are working in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, and Halifax! Some have even pursued additional fellowship training in the U.S. before beginning their staff positions.   

• Why did you choose your specialty?

Hematological Pathology is one of the most clinically focused of the lab medicine specialties! In this evolving specialty, we enjoy the daily variety (and surprises) of our in-person or on-the-phone consultations with clinicians and lab technologists, the challenge and visual beauty of diagnostic morphology, the intellectual rewards and problem-solving detective work in coagulation and transfusion medicine, and integrating and applying cutting edge techniques such as flow cytometry, cytogenetics and molecular pathology to arrive at the most appropriate diagnosis and management plan for clinicians and patients.  

• What types of clinical cases do you commonly see?

On a typical day we review peripheral blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other tissue samples from patients. The range of diagnoses that we make extends from the benign (e.g., iron deficiency or hemoglobinopathy) to the malignant (i.e., leukemia and lymphoma). The patients we encounter span the entire age spectrum and from all clinical services.

We frequently discuss transfusion medicine issues with physicians from all specialties to recommend the appropriate investigations, blood products or advice about the dose or duration of therapy. We are also involved in the investigation and management of transfusion-related adverse events.

In the course of the day, we may also consult with a hematologist, internist, anesthesiologist, intensivist or surgeon to help them decide on the appropriate coagulation tests to help diagnose and appropriately manage a bleeding, thrombosing, or pre-operative patient, and help the clinical team interpret abnormal test results.

Even though we do not routinely talk to patients or their families, we converse regularly with our team of technologists, clinical colleagues, other pathologists, residents, and students while we oversee the proper daily function and operations in the blood bank and hematology laboratory.

•  Briefly describe a typical day.

Hematological Pathology, like other areas of medicine, is not a 9 to 5 job. Most days we start work around 8 or 9 am. We perform or assist residents to procure bone marrow biopsies in the morning, then we start reviewing peripheral smears and bone marrows. Throughout the day, we will also be reviewing and signing out coagulation test results and advising clinicians, technologists, or other pathologists in person or on the phone. We would also interpret molecular tests and antibody and transfusion reaction investigations from the blood bank. We almost always have hematopathology or general pathology residents, hematology fellows, or medical students working with us, so in the afternoons we will gather at the microscope to review and sign out cases together.

Every day is a little different and the variety and surprises are what keep things interesting and exciting in this field. When we are “on the take” for new bone marrow cases, we would often go home after 6 pm, particularly if the service is very busy.

All of us have responsibilities outside of signing out cases depending on our individual portfolios in laboratory oversight administration, research or education, or guiding laboratory policy and practice locally and nationally. These responsibilities keep us busy when we are not “on the take” for new cases.

•  What are the varieties of lifestyles within your field?

Options are academic practice, community-based hospital practice or private laboratory practice. There are a number of hematopathologists in Edmonton who work part-time and the majority have families and children. Some spend part of their time doing clinical/translational research. Others work with Canadian Blood Services to oversee the blood collection, processing and testing of donors. Some hematopathologists confine their practice to one or more areas of hematopathology or have a specialty interest in a specific area.

Some examples of affiliated subspecialties in which hematopathologists might work include coagulation, flow cytometry, molecular pathology, histocompatibility/immunology, and transfusion medicine. Lymphoma pathology, pathology informatics, and medical education are also subspecialty areas where hematopathologists are active.

• Specifically, how able is your specialty to accommodate family life?

The potential for part-time work, the relatively regular hours and the opportunity to cover on-call duties from home make hematopathology practice ideal for integrating and balancing our professional, family and personal lives.

• Range of incomes?

The payment structure varies considerably as does the range of income depending on the province. Some hematopathologists are on salary – paid by a hospital or health region. In some provinces (not including Alberta), there is a fee schedule similar to the schedule of medical benefits used in clinical practice but involving lab testing procedures. Hematopathologists in private practice in these provinces may bill “fee for service” and their income will depend on the volume and complexity of lab testing performed. Some work under a contract for services wherein they are paid by a hospital, health authority or government agency for providing a range of laboratory consulting services.

Generally, across the country, annual income would vary from a low of ~$200,000 to a high of about $400,000 per year for full time work. On-call payment and consulting fees or honoraria for teaching and other services may also be paid in some jurisdictions.

•  How do you see your discipline changing over the next decade?

Laboratory hematology practice, like medical practice in general, is becoming more complex and subspecialized so hematopathologists will need to become increasingly conversant in new diagnostic techniques like molecular pathology and flow cytometric immunophenotyping to complement the traditional morphologic diagnostic approach. Emerging new technologies have led to increased demand for hematopathologist oversight to ensure quality diagnosis and cost-effective practice that integrates a multimodality approach as the specialty moves towards patient-centered diagnosis and precision treatment. We are also increasingly involved with information technology and management.  We need future hematopathologists who can seamlessly combine the scientific know-how of the specialty with the interpersonal, communication, teamwork and leadership skills inherent for success and productivity in this field to forge the way.

The increasing quality and decreasing cost of digital imaging techniques are facilitating greater consolidation of expertise in large centres where hematopathologists may be able to provide diagnostic morphologic consultations for distant sites based on digital slide images.

• What are you looking for specifically in an impressive candidate?
•  Professional and personal maturity
• Aptitude for the specialty by demonstrating the ability to learn, understand and apply new knowledge to clinical patient care quickly
• Insight and reflective practice, with the ability to adapt to and effectively implement constructive feedback
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Superb interpersonal, collaboration and teamwork skills
• An adult learner who is self-motivated and directed for proactive learning; showing initiative to learn and contribute to the program and specialty

• What is your residency program’s focus? 

Our focus is to train hematopathologists with excellent diagnostic, communication and collaboration skills in all aspects of Hematopathology so that they become successful and productive specialists in a rapidly evolving field.

•  What is the availability of experiences in subspecialty areas during training?

Virtually all areas of subspecialty lab medicine are well established locally and are available for resident rotations. Many of our residents have also chosen to do electives at other institutions as a part of their subspecialty exposure and this is certainly encouraged and supported by the program.

•  Are there sufficient elective opportunities during training to explore your special interests? 

Yes! We have elective time woven into the 4yrs which allows for a wide array of optional opportunities for immersion. Some of our residents undertake basic research projects during this time, others use this time to consolidate their experience in areas of special interest and still others have pursued further training in education and leadership. The U of A's PGME Policy does not limit resident out-of-province elective time during the course of the 4-year training program, so our residents have been able to experience hematopathology in Vancouver, Regina, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax! U.S. and international options are also available, if desired.

•  What is the on-call schedule during each year of residency?

During the rotations spent in the laboratory the call schedule is 1 in 3 home call as per the Resident Physician Agreement with the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA); the home call is taken for up to 7 days (or 8 days if including a long weekend) at a time. Nowadays, many residents and staff choose to do Monday to Thursday call during one week, then on another week do Friday to Sunday call. Call is supervised at all times by an attending hematopathologist, who is always available for discussion and consultation on all cases. Residents on their scholarly concentration/research block are also on the call schedule.

During clinical rotations, on-call responsibilities would depend on the particular clinical service – i.e. for Adult Hematology clinical rotations, our resident would be scheduled on-call with other clinical residents.

There is no on-call requirement for the Medical Oncology or Pediatric Hematology/Oncology rotations or for Bone Marrow/ Stem Cell Transplant (BMT/SCT) in Calgary. 

•  What distinguishes the U of A program from other programs?

Our program has been around for a long time and all our Canadian Medical Graduates have passed their Royal College Examinations on the first attempt. We now have a community of practice across Canada and abroad. We share resources and teachers with other lab medicine and pathology programs as well as adult and pediatric hematology.  We are lucky to contribute to the close collaborative relationship with our colleagues in clinical hematology through our weekly joint hematology rounds and our joint academic day programs on Tuesday afternoons.

Our affiliation with Alberta Health Services and Community Diagnostics Laboratories in the region gives us access to clinical programs in virtually all spheres of medicine and to all of the affiliated teaching hospitals in the region. Our laboratories are internationally accredited and support an enormous volume of diagnostic testing – both routine and esoteric.

Like all residency programs at the U of A, our Hematological Pathology underwent a regular external review by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada in November 2017.  Our fully-Accredited Program was cited for the following strengths:

• Dedicated, supportive and well-respected program director responsive to resident concerns.
• Highly enthusiastic and dedicated teaching staff committed to residency education.
• A well-organized joint academic half day program provides opportunity for inter-professional communication and collaboration.

Finally, our small program (generally one - two residents per year) allows for a close working relationship between residents and faculty, which fosters a climate of collaborative learning. There are extensive opportunities for resident involvement in research and in teaching.

•  Who can we contact for more information or to set up electives?

Program Administrator: hemepath@ualberta.ca

The following elective opportunities are available for medical students:

• years 1 & 2 students are offered a half to 1 day observership
• year 3 students are offered a 1-week elective
• year 4 students are offered a 2-week elective

• Is there a resident whom we can call or email?

Dr. Golasa Samadi (PGY2), Lead Resident; golasa@ualberta.ca

•  How competitive is it to get in, and then to succeed in your field?

We have 1-2 funded CMG positions through the CaRMS match each year. We generally have between 4 – 8 CaRMS applicants each cycle. Please refer to the CaRMS website at www.carms.ca for the most up to date information.

Additional program information is available through our Hematology Pathology Residency Program website.

•  Is there active and/or required research in your residency program?

A scholarly/research project is required during the course of residency training and sufficient time is available to fulfill the project work.

There are a number of clinical and basic researchers within the Department of Lab Med and Pathology. The department also has a very active program in graduate studies with many faculty supervisors. These basic researchers are important collaborators and research supervisors for our residents. A number of courses offered through the Graduate Studies program are also available for interested residents.

Departmental support is available to facilitate residents in attending and/or presenting at meetings.

The annual Lab Medicine and Pathology Department wide education and research day (DRIvE) in April highlights the clinical, educational, and research activities of all staff, residents, and graduate students in Lab Medicine. The two-day program celebrates the scope and extent of activities within the department.

• What role does research play in your career?

Lab Medicine practice, by its nature, involves research related to new test development and validation. Involvement in these types of research endeavors is a usual part of laboratory medicine practice. In addition, extensive opportunities for clinical and outcomes research related to particular diagnostic tests, blood products or blood product manipulations are available. Although I (as the program director) am not heavily involved in research ventures, many of my colleagues collaborate with clinical or lab medicine colleagues and with residents and students in projects, which have resulted in many local and international presentations and publications.

• What local, national or international conferences would be of benefit to candidates interested in your residency program?

There are many conferences that are specific to one field of practice – such as the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) meeting which is an international transfusion medicine meeting, held annually in October – or the American Society of Hematology Meeting, held in the United States in December of each year. Other conferences include International Society for Laboratory Hematology (ISLH), International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH), and many others.

Canadian meetings that may be of interest to Medical Students interested in a career in any area of Lab Medicine and Pathology include the Canadian Association of Pathology annual meeting – held in a different Canadian city each year – usually in June or July; or the Canadian Society of Transfusion Medicine (CSTM) meeting – also held in various Canadian cities – usually in April or May.