Program Contacts

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Important Information

The Postgraduate Medical Education Orientation for all residents, which is MANDATORY, will be held on June 26, 2026.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

The University of Manitoba Psychiatry training program offers a supportive and welcoming learning environment. Residents are active and central members of the Department of Psychiatry, and the whole psychiatry community together to ensure excellence in education.

Our program has been able to develop an excellent balance between the biological and psychological perspectives of treating psychiatric illness.  Residents receive expert training in biological and somatic treatments as well as a high level of training in several modalities of psychotherapy.

Application

All required documentation is available at the time of the opening of the application review period.

Interview Information

All interviews will be conducted virtually. Interviews will only be considered for those candidates with completed applications. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted by email.

The selection process includes two interviews. One 30-minute interview conducted by a committee and one 15-minute interview conducted by the residency Program Director.  

Candidates will be selected on the basis of a demonstrated interest in, aptitude, and motivation for a career in psychiatry. Selection criteria include recent clinical clerkship and elective experiences in psychiatry, prior residency training in psychiatry or clinical work in the mental health field, along with relevant life experiences and examination results. References from clinical supervisors that speak to an applicant's potential for work in psychiatry are very helpful. Demonstrated proficiency with the English language as evidenced through the nature of undergraduate courses completed including university level English courses, publications, the submitted personal letter and/or IELTS, CELPIP and OET are also selection criteria. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated interest and curiosity about the human experience are important criteria that are explored in the interview process. Interest and experience in scholarly work and research are viewed as valuable assets.

While elective experience in psychiatry is an asset, on-site electives are not required for application to our program.  We are looking for candidates that have completed electives in a broad range of topic areas that include our specialty and are enthusiastic about working with residents from a variety of backgrounds.

You are required to fulfill ALL of the most current Provincial Criteria for Canadian Medical Graduates for Manitoba.

The criteria can be found at:  https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/manitoba/

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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

Applications, references and documents which arrive after the application deadline will not be considered.

All completed applications submitted by the time the file review period has opened will be considered for selection for interview.

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be selected on the basis of a demonstrated interest in, aptitude and motivation for a career in psychiatry. Selection criteria include recent clinical clerkship and elective experiences in psychiatry, prior residency training in psychiatry or clinical work in the mental health field, along with relevant life experiences. References from clinical supervisors that address an applicant's potential for work in psychiatry are very helpful. Demonstrated proficiency with the English language as evidenced through the nature of undergraduate courses completed including university level English courses, publications, and the submitted personal letter are also selection criteria. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated interest and curiosity about the human experience are important criteria that are explored in the interview process. Interest and experience in scholarly work and research are viewed as valuable assets.

Program goals

The five-year residency training program in Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba is a well-established, thriving and growing program designed to produce psychiatrists with broadly based academic and clinical expertise. Residents receive clinically based training with a focus on mastering all aspects of psychiatric practice including biological and psychological therapies. The University of Manitoba program also focusses on the care of vulnerable and underserved populations, and exploring models to deliver effective mental health treatment to distant areas.

Selection process goals

Successful applicants to the residency program will demonstrate academic excellence, excellent communication skills, and a history of advocating for patient mental health. CVs, and application packages are reviewed to assess these attributes and they are also assessed during the interview process.  During our selection process, applicants have some opportunity to ask about the unique opportunities available at the University of Manitoba, such as opportunities to develop mental health resources and deliver care to various vulnerable populations. However, a more comprehensive opportunity to hear about these parts of our program would be one of the virtual open houses we offer to interviewed applicants. The selection process is viewed as occurring collaboratively with applicants.

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

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   

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Program Highlights

The five-year residency training program in Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba is a well-established, thriving and growing program designed to produce psychiatrists with broadly based academic and clinical expertise. 

We see our responsibilities as including the following:

1. To train psychiatrists who are fully qualified to practice within the complex, changing field that is modern psychiatry.
2. To provide a breadth of exposure and opportunity for in-depth training in the many varied aspects of psychiatry appropriate to the candidate's chosen community of practice.
3. To provide a formal education program which prepares the residents not only for success at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) specialty examinations but will also enable residents to fulfill the many roles of a competent physician including:

• Medical expert/clinical decision maker
• Communicator
• Collaborator
• Leader
• Health Advocate
• Scholar
• Professional

4. To continue to change and evolve our training program in response to the changing needs of residents, the community and the specialty of psychiatry.

The program is designed to meet these objectives through several overlapping approaches including clinical rotations, didactic seminar series, psychotherapy training program, research, community-based experiences and continuing education. 

As our program is growing we have maintained all the advantages of a medium- sized program.  We have all of the resources of a larger program and the welcoming, friendly and personal atmosphere of a smaller program.  Training in our program will leave you ready to comfortably move into your career as a psychiatrist.

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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.

Curriculum

This residency program is for 5 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada standard.

The PGY-1 year is a basic clinical training (BCT) year, designed to meet the requirements of the Royal College.

There is a protected time academic half day from PGY-1 through PGY-5 when the core academic didactic series occurs, which includes an interview skills and OSCE series. In addition, clinical service rounds, general departmental teaching rounds, continuous case seminars and grand rounds are available for all residents.

Residency enhancing opportunities exist in psychiatric teaching, psychiatric research, and rural/remote clinical work.

PGY-1

The PGY-1 is a Basic Clinical Training (BCT) year preceding four years of formal psychiatric training. The PGY-1 year consists of 52 weeks of training divided among core rotations in psychiatry including rotations in inpatient psychiatric ICU, emergency room psychiatry, and consultation-liaison psychiatry, and research. This is combined with rotations in family medicine, emergency medicine, neurology and internal medicine that give a foundation of practice for psychiatric work. Residents have the opportunity to complete medical selectives in the BCT year.

There is a weekly Academic Half-Day (protected) which covers the areas of pharmacology, psychopharmacology, phenomenology, research methodology and an introduction to the main models and formats of psychotherapy seminars in psychiatry over the course of the PGY-1 year.

During the second half of PGY-1 residents begin psychotherapy training consisting of weekly psychotherapy sessions with one patient and supervision sessions in a group format. This is incorporated into the Academic Half-Day and represents a unique and early exposure to psychotherapy training which reflects the department's commitment to psychotherapy training overall.

PGY-2

This year is composed of two, 6-month serial blocks of adult inpatient psychiatry and adult outpatient psychiatry. In addition to the Academic Half-Day series, clinical service rounds, grand rounds, general departmental teaching rounds and workshops occur for all residents. The Academic Half-Day series occurs during a protected 1/2 day and covers a variety of areas including, phenomenology, diagnosis, psychotherapeutic modalities and psychopharmacology. Topics pertaining to upcoming PGY3 rotations (geriatric psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry) are also introduced. One individual psychotherapy supervisor is assigned at the beginning of this year. Residents also complete training in Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy during the outpatient rotation.

PGY-3

This year consists of two, 6-month blocks, one in each of geriatric psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. The Academic Half-Day series throughout this year continues to focus on child and adolescent psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry topics to consolidate understanding of normal and pathological development throughout the life span, as well as advanced topics in adult psychiatry such as psychosis and forensic psychiatry. In PGY-3 residents continue with one individual psychotherapy patient and are also assigned to a two-hour Family Therapy clinic.

PGY-4

The PGY-4 year includes 6 months of Consultation-Liaison psychiatry and 6 months of Severe and Persistent Mental Illness psychiatry. In addition, there are longitudinal experiences in Shared Care/Collaborative Care that occur in the first half of the PGY4 year. The PGY-4 Academic Half-Day is dedicated to practice OSCE sessions and protected study group time in preparation for the Royal College examinations which take place in the spring of PGY-4. Residents may use protected conference time to attend a review course for exam preparation.

PGY-5

The PGY-5 year consists of 12 months of elective training. Residents can choose from a wide variety of selective rotations. Our program collaborates with residents to create elective experiences that meet the resident’s learning goals and goals for practice-preparedness.

Formal psychotherapy supervision continues through the PGY2-5 years of the program and opportunities for training in a wide variety of psychotherapeutic modalities are significant components of the overall program.

Clinical oral examinations are held annually for all PGY2-5 residents. 

Residents in PGY2-5 are expected to participate in Community Psychiatry placements in community clinics, community based agencies, rural sites and Arctic sites under the supervision of faculty. These community exposures range in duration from one half day several times per year to a single four day exposure in a remote, northern or arctic site.

The Department of Psychiatry provides financial support for residents to attend and/or present at conferences and workshops.

The University of Manitoba Department of Psychiatry has a Royal College accredited subspecialty residency program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry. It is anticipated that a subspecialty program in Forensic Psychiatry will be developed in the near future.

Research

The development of resident research skills is an important focus of the training program. All residents are provided with teaching in this area. All residents are encouraged to participate in academic projects within the scope of their individual interests. All residents are required to complete at least one publishable research paper prior to the completion of PGY3. Resident presentations at cross service rounds, departmental grand rounds and academic meetings are an important part of the residency training program. Up to one year of residency, during PGY5 elective/selective time may be dedicated to research.

There is also a Research Track available during residency with a focus on the creation of clinician scientists. The Department of Psychiatry will provide research track residents additional support and mentorship to foster the development of research as a significant component of their future career.

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Training Sites

Resources

The major teaching sites are at the PsycHealth Centre, a state-of-the-art facility at the Health Sciences Centre, the McEwen Building at the St. Boniface  Hospital and the Victoria  Hospital. Elective opportunities exist at the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre. Community training experiences are available at community hospital-based clinics and hospitals including the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. Community psychiatry experiences in Northern Manitoba and the Arctic are available through Ongomiizwin which provides for exposure to the unique health care needs of First Nations and Inuit communities.

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FAQ

Where are interviews held?

All CaRMS interviews are held virtually via the Zoom platform.