University of Alberta - Medical Microbiology - Edmonton
2026 R-1 Main Residency Match - second iteration
Competitive Stream for CMG
Last approved on March 03, 2026
Approximate Quota:
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Accreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
2B3.13 WMC 8440-112 St.
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2J2
Program Contacts
Important Information
Our program successfully transitioned to CBD in accordance with the national schedule as of July 1, 2024. Our program will continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation process as traditional programs.
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)
• IELTS
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General
Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs) who completed their medical education in a French Stream within Québec or at the University of Ottawa are required to provide proof of English language proficiency as determined by the CPSA. CMGs who completed their medical education at the University of Ottawa or at McGill University must indicate on their application which stream they completed (either French or English).
Proof of language proficiency must be submitted at the time of application and exams must have been completed within 24 months of the expected residency start date.
Please refer to the Summary of Language Proficiency Requirements for Alberta. For more information on the CPSA English language requirements, please visit the CPSA website.
If applicable.
Letters of recommendation should be from faculty members, preceptors, supervisors, or consultants who know the candidate well.
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).
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.
Medical Student Performance Record
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 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
Program goals
Medical Microbiology is a branch of medicine concerned primarily with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and consists of the following spheres of activity:
- Scientific development and administrative and clinical direction of a microbiology laboratory.
- Clinical consultations, in both in-patient and out-patient settings, on the investigation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
- Infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship.
- Public Health and epidemiology of communicable diseases.
GENERAL PROGRAM GOALS
- Upon completion of training, residents are expected to be competent specialists in Medical Microbiology, capable of assuming a consultant’s role. The residents must acquire a working knowledge of the theoretical and practical basis of the specialty, including its foundations in the basic medical sciences and research.
- Residents must be competent in clinical medicine and demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes for effective patient-centered care and service to diverse populations. In all aspects of specialist practice, the graduate must be able to address issues of gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, ethnicity and ethics in a professional manner.
- Residents must develop skills to be critical thinkers and lifelong learners as well as be capable of conducting research in their field of interest.
- Residents must be able to effectively teach learners at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, provide continuing education to medical and other health care professionals and educate patients and their community.
- Medical Microbiology residents should be prepared to conduct their practices in an ethical and cost effective manner.
- Emphasis is placed on effective communication in partnership with laboratory technologists, physicians and health care providers, patients, and other stakeholders.
Selection process goals
- A proven interest in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease demonstrated by elective history and related research projects.
- High academic achievement.
- Strong letters of recommendation from faculty members or consultants who know the candidate well
- Candidates must have good communication skills and be able to work with a wide variety of people and team settings.
- A proven record of professionalism and sincere commitment to quality patient care.
File review process
Review team composition : The review team consists of members of the Medical Microbiology Residency Program Committee (RPC). The RPC fulfills an advisory role to the Program Director regarding operation of the program and assists in the planning, organization and supervision of the program.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 0 - 50
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 0 - 25 %
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Overall background indicating a strong interest in Medical Microbiology |
| Electives | Our program does not favour residents who do electives at our site or numerous electives in our specialty. We consider and value applicants with broad clinical experiences. |
| Examinations | MCCQE I (if already written) |
| Extra-curricular | Commitment to volunteering and a balanced lifestyle |
| Leadership skills | Examples of leadership within and outside of the medical context |
| MSPRs | Strong overall performance during medical school |
| Personal letters | Letters showing a keen interest and enthusiasm for Medical Microbiology |
| Reference documents | Positive letters of reference from faculty who know the candidate well |
| Research/Publications | Any research in the areas of microbiology/infectious diseases is of benefit |
| Transcripts | High academic achievement during medical school |
Elective criteria
Interview process
Interview format :
We routinely accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | Ability to work well with others and understanding the value of teamwork |
| Collegiality | Demonstrates collegiality through examples of cooperation and sharing responsibility |
| Communication skills | Understanding and answering interview questions in a clear, concise, and logical manner |
| Health advocacy | Understanding of how patient advocacy can be done in a laboratory medicine context |
| Interest in the discipline | Obvious personal/career interest in Medical Microbiology with examples |
| Interest in the program | Enthusiasm in the program with questions about the program |
| Leadership skills | Examples of taking on leadership roles |
| Professionalism | Demonstrates professionalism by being polite at all times |
| Scholarly activities | Able to explain research and clinical interests and prior projects related to Medical Microbiology |
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
The Medical Microbiology Residency program is a five-year post graduate medical training program in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
It is designed to facilitate the development of expertise in clinical microbiology and for residents to acquire broad-based clinical and laboratory experience to meet training requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The inherent flexibility within the program allows it to accommodate and fulfill special interests of the trainee and initiate further advanced training in a chosen area. Completion of the program prepares residents to function as specialists in Medical Microbiology.
Rotations primarily take place at Edmonton Base Lab, an acute care diagnostic laboratory (formerly called DynaLIFEDx), and at the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health for Alberta, at the University of Alberta Hospital. Our faculty members have expertise and interest in a wide variety of fields including the core disciplines of bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, molecular microbiology and laboratory management. The trainees are encouraged to participate in research projects in all areas of microbiology, infectious diseases, public health, epidemiology, infection control and laboratory management. For more information, please contact the Program Director.
There are opportunities for interprovincial and international electives while training in our program. Some previous electives have taken place at CDC (Atlanta), Australia, Hong Kong, and the National Microbiology Laboratory (Winnipeg). Courses that can be taken as a part of training include Tropical Medicine and Laboratory Medicine as well as others.
There are no mandatory rural rotations in this program.
The average ratio of residents to faculty is 1:1.
We provide our residents with access to electronic medical resources.
Each resident is required to complete at least one research project with faculty members of their choice. The program allows for ample opportunities for clinical and basic research through individually sponsored projects. A broad and varied spectrum of research is available through internal collaborations with expertise readily available in many areas. Interdepartmental research collaborations are also encouraged by the program. Residents are expected to author or co-author at least one abstract or peer-reviewed paper, as well as present at national and international conferences.
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.
Medical Microbiology has transitioned to Competence by Design (CBD). In CBD, the previous time-based structure (which divided the programs into PGY years), is replaced by the following four stages. The overall length of the program is expected to be five years for most residents.
1) Transition to Discipline
- This stage is meant to introduce trainees to the medical microbiology laboratory and its associated protocols, including laboratory safety, pre-analytic workflow, and basic microscopy and laboratory techniques. It also provides clinical experience to ensure that trainees are able to assess patients and present cases accurately.
2) Foundations of Discipline
- The purpose of this stage is for trainees to obtain a wide breadth of clinical experiences in various settings and with different populations with a focus on more common presentations. Trainees also gain experience in the microbiology laboratory as they concentrate on all aspects of bacteriology testing.
- This stage includes rotations in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Medical Microbiology.
3) Core of Discipline
- Making up the bulk of training, this stage includes rotations in community and public health Medical Microbiology laboratories, as well as laboratory management, for trainees to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to practice the full scope of the specialty.
- Rotations in Adult Infectious Diseases and its subspecialties (such as STI clinic, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis) as well as Pediatric Infectious Diseases are undertaken for trainees to become proficient at assessing and managing patients with a wide range of infectious diseases and related issues.
- Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship rotations provide further training for residents to become competent and knowledgeable in these related fields.
- Elective rotations at other sites are encouraged and research blocks are also provided to allow trainees to explore specific areas of interest.
4) Transition to Practice
- In this stage, residents consolidate their skills to work independently in the junior staff role and to act as leaders in the laboratory and on clinical service.
Training Sites
The primary training sites where most laboratory-based rotations occur are Edmonton Base Lab (formerly called DynaLIFEDx) and the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health for Northern Alberta in Edmonton, also referred to as ProvLab.
Additional laboratory training sites:
- Provincial Laboratory for Public Health for Southern Alberta (Calgary)
Primary clinical rotation sites:
- University of Alberta Hospital
- Royal Alexandra Hospital
- Misericordia Community Hospital
- Grey Nuns Community Hospital
- Other Alberta Health Services sites
Additional Information
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.
FAQ
What are the best things about your specialty?
It bridges the gap between clinical and lab specialty. Compatible work hours, steady income - a good balance between work and home/family life.
What types of clinical cases do you commonly see?
Infections of all types and systems, including those in adults and children.
Describe a typical day.
Outbreak investigations, clinical consultations, lab problem solving, meetings, teaching various learners, and research.
How do you see your discipline changing over the next decade?
There is an acute shortage of Microbiologists in the country right now and more vacancies will arise as current staff proceed to retirement.
What is the on-call schedule during each year of residency?
Call load is as per the Resident Physician Agreement with Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA)\. Call is done from home and workload is usually light, but it does involve coming in for several hours on the weekend.
What distinguishes the U of A program from other programs?
This is one of the largest free-standing microbiology programs in the country - but most of all its flexibility allows custom tailoring educational experiences to individual needs. Good relationships with, and geographical proximity to, other relevant educational and non-educational settings (Provincial Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, private labs).