Program Contacts

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Important Information

Applicants are responsible for reviewing the University of Saskatchewan Policies for the R-1 Match to determine if they meet all requirements and eligibility criteria. Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements or documents may result in an applicant’s file not being reviewed or ranked.

PGME Residents Applying for Transfer to Another Program/Specialty
Residents currently training in a Canadian residency training program can apply to programs in the second iteration of the CaRMS match as a possible route to change program or specialty, in accordance with University of Saskatchewan eligibility criteria and the National Transfer Guidelines. Residents applying for transfer must upload all in-training assessments/evaluations and a PGME Training Record in addition to the other required components of their CaRMS application. More information is available under Supporting Documentation-Additional Documents.

Shortlisted applicants will need to provide permission for the program to speak with their current Program Director as per the National Transfer Guidelines.

Casper Test
All applicants must complete the Casper test. Please refer to the Examinations section for more information.

Licensing
Matched applicants must be eligible for an educational register license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) for a July 1^st start date and must maintain eligibility for an educational register license throughout their entire training program. Matched applicants who are graduating in the spring will need to provide a copy of their medical degree/diploma to the PGME office and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) prior to the start of residency training. Any delays in providing all required documentation to CPSS may result in the following:

• delay in issuance of an educational register license and a delay in start of postgraduate training beyond July 1^st
• release from CaRMS match contract

Applicants completing medical education at the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) are required to submit proof of English language proficiency before the rank order deadline to demonstrate they meet CPSS requirements. More information is available under Supporting Documentation-Language Proficiency.

NOTE: Applicants who are considering a delay to their convocation date must be aware that a medical degree cannot be issued to a student until they have convocated. CPSS bylaws require that new residents must have received their medical degree prior to the commencement of residency training. Choosing to delay convocation will affect a matched applicant’s ability to commence their residency training program in Saskatchewan on July 1. Please refer to the U of S CaRMS Deferral Policy for additional information.

Credentialing
In order to commence and continue in Postgraduate Medical Education training programs, matched applicants must be eligible for and maintain privileges within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) as determined by their credentialing process. The Saskatchewan Health Authority requires successful applicants to submit immunization records and a current criminal record check as part of their pre-resident application for appointment. Applicants with criminal records will be considered on a case by case basis by the College of Medicine in consultation with the Health Authority. 

Any delays in providing all required documentation to the Saskatchewan Health Authority may result in a delay in the start of postgraduate training beyond July 1st.

Resident Boot Camp
All matched applicants must attend a mandatory in-person Resident Boot Camp scheduled for June 29 and 30, 2026 in Saskatoon. The purpose of the Boot Camp is to provide additional support to trainees as they transition to residency by introducing and consolidating baseline skills and knowledge needed to flourish during their residency years. The program includes interactive case-based and hands-on practice sessions. A social event is held to provide trainees with an opportunity to interact and network. Stipends are provided to trainees.

Attendance is required in person and absences are only permitted in exceptional circumstances with prior approval of the PGME office.

SHA Orientation
All matched applicants must attend a mandatory orientation with the Saskatchewan Health Authority on July 2, 2026. Attendance is mandatory and absences are only permitted in exceptional circumstances with prior approval of the PGME office.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Matched applicants are required to provide proof of ACLS certification (current as of July 1, 2026) to the PGME office prior to starting their training program. The ACLS course must be endorsed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and/or the American Heart Association. ACLS training that is not certified by these two organizations and/or is completed entirely through an online course will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining ACLS certification.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

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

Applicants are advised to only provide the documents requested by the program. No other documents submitted will be reviewed. 

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Interviews

Dates:

• March 24, 2026

Selection Criteria

Program goals

Goals of the University of Saskatchewan Royal College Emergency Medicine Residency Program:

The University of Saskatchewan Royal College Emergency Medicine Residency Training Program aims to train Emergency Medicine Specialists who:

      - Are skilled in resuscitative procedures and able to manage acute illness and injury in all age groups

      - Possess a sound approach to initial management, treatment and disposition of all chief complaints that present to the Emergency Department

      - Possess strong organizational skills, can triage and manage multiple acutely ill patients, and can be a leader in disaster situations

      - Function well within the team environment of the Emergency Department, and are effectively able to negotiate situations of conflict

      - Successfully integrate work and life within the challenges of working in the ED environment to maintain a strong degree of personal wellness

      - Contribute to their administrative environment, at the hospital and pre-hospital organizations

      - Contribute to the academic environment as an effective educator and scholar

      - Contribute to the overall health of their community, with particular attention being paid to the care of equity-seeking groups

Selection process goals

The file review and interviews will specifically evaluate candidates on the following characteristics:

 - Personal insight into the field of Emergency Medicine

 - Thoughtful review of the challenges and opportunities of training specifically in Saskatchewan

 - Likelihood of making a significant contribution to the field of Emergency Medicine in Saskatchewan

 - Academic potential and community engagement: demonstration of involvement in scholarship, leadership, and/or health advocacy domains

 - Demonstration of characteristics such as maturity, coachability, organizational skills, reliability to complete tasks, and maintaining work-life integration and resilience. 

 - Collaboration: Teamwork and inter-personal skills

 - Distance travelled: Insight into how personal and professional adversities faced, or a recognition of lack of adversities have contributed to personal growth and the improved care of equity-seeking ED patient populations.     

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   
Other : Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Saskatchewan's Royal College Emergency Medicine program is committed to fostering a training environment that is characterized by respect and equity, and free from harassment and discrimination. Our program strives to represent the diversity of our society and people that we serve. To that end, we are actively working toward ensuring that our selection process is equitable and inclusive and selects for a diverse group of residents, particularly those who have traveled larger distances through their own personal journeys of overcoming marginalization. If you do not see yourself represented by our current residents and faculty, please know that you will be welcomed here and that our Program and College have implemented several resources and initiatives to support you.

Further, we commit to implementing the 8 recommendations in CJEM’s Call to Action.

We recognize that some applicants have experienced or experience disability, which can occur in a variety of ways. We are committed to be supportive and helpful of all residents that match to our program and help accommodate their needs. More information can be found here: https://medicine.usask.ca/policies/accommodation-of-residents-with-disabilities.php#relatedForms

Our efforts to improve the equity, diversity and inclusion of our selection process are as follows:

• Implicit Bias Training will be completed by all file reviewers and interviewers.
• We have consulted with three EDI experts to improve our selection process (Drs. Erin Prosser-Loose, Manuela Valle-Castro, and Sean Polreis).
• We continue to encourage CaRMS to improve upon the data that is/isn’t collected and shared within applicant files, to better improve our process.
• Increasing the value of primary data (personal letter) and decreasing the value of secondary data (Letters of Reference)
• Purposefully involving EM physicians from equity-seeking groups, seeking to counteract the “minority tax”, in hopes to improve the diversity of our
matched resident group.
• We denounce “fit” as a component of our process and instead seek to improve the diversity of our resident group.
• Undertaking targeted methods to attract the interest of equity deserving students into Emergency Medicine.

As we attempt to improve the equity, diversity and inclusion of our selection process, we recognize that we have blind spots and, as such, may not implement our process to the precision that we desire. We are always open to feedback from community members, colleagues, and past/present/future applicants regarding how we can improve.

The following program stakeholders would be more than happy to address questions/concerns about resident diversity in our program. Pease feel free to reach out to them!

Dr. Shayan Shirazi (PGY-2-Saskatoon; shs709@usask.ca)
Dr. Kedra Peterson (PGY-4-Saskatoon; hyp216@usask.ca)
Dr. Ben Carriere (PGY-2 Regina Site; kzo845@usask.ca)
Dr. Sachin Trivedi (Faculty Alumni and Previous APD - Curriculum-Saskatoon Site; sachin.trivedi@usask.ca)


Statement of Commitment of Support

Recognizing that our new training site in Regina will come with learning curves, we are committed to working closely with the resident we match to ensure they have excellent access to program leadership and additional supports as required. We recognize the need to minimize disruption to the trainee's personal life and are committed to ensuring the bulk of training and activities be conducted in Regina. We will continually endeavor to ensure that the Regina training experience is excellent and constantly improving for years to come.

Additional Contacts:

If you would like to speak with faculty that are currently practicing in Regina to learn more about their experiences, please feel free to reach out:

Dr. Glenda Kaban
Area Division Lead
Email: gdh119@mail.usask.ca

Dr. Tiann O'Carroll
Area Division Lead
Email: tfo504@mail.usask.ca

Dr. Bijhan Ebrahim
Emergency Physician (Regina)
Email: bijhan.ebrahim@usask.ca

Dr. Ben Carriere (Regina Lead Resident/PGY3 Resident)
Email: kzo845@usask.ca

Quality Assurance Process:
Each year on Match Day, the program and its stakeholders go for supper to celebrate and discuss the match results, with a focused discussion on how the process can be improved for the year to come.

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Program Highlights

Program Overview

Saskatchewan's Royal College Emergency Medicine training program is run through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and has its main training site in Saskatoon and its distributed site in Regina. Founded in July 2011, we currently have 20 residents across all years of training and have graduated 28 specialists from the program, with 17 of those graduates having stayed to work in Saskatchewan. 

New Training Position in Regina

In 2023 we expanded to include Regina as a distributed training site and currently have 5 residents based at this site, and 15 residents based in Saskatoon. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a growing program. The small size also provides opportunities for more longitudinal one on one mentorship and more procedural opportunities. 

Distributed Learning

The College of Medicine, while physically located in Saskatoon, is a provincial resource in attitude and in practice. Postgraduate medical education at the University of Saskatchewan takes seriously its role in supporting quality health care to all people of the province. This means training physicians to meet the needs of, not only urban populations, but also those of rural and remote populations. In so doing, the College of Medicine has developed, and continues to develop, rotations in Saskatoon, Regina and other communities. These rotations are designed to provide educational experiences to enhance the resident's knowledge and skills and take maximum advantage of unique educational opportunities in a diversity of communities. All postgraduate programs are expected to develop and incorporate into their curriculum rotations in communities other than their primary training site of Saskatoon or Regina. The way each program does this is not strictly prescribed by the College of Medicine - but is determined by the Residency Program Committee, taking into consideration the needs of their residents, and the excellent opportunities available in other locations. These rotations continue to evolve as we seek to build stronger and better programs. For our program, residents complete at least one block at a regional centre (North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current or Moose Jaw) with opportunities being available for more blocks at the resident's request. 

Extensive support is available for rotations completed at other sites in the province. The exact nature of this support varies with location and program. The communities involved, individual programs, the College of Medicine, and the Ministry of Health work collaboratively to ensure residents are not financially disadvantaged by the need to relocate. Temporary housing is available at no expense to residents who leave their home site to complete short term mandatory rotations at distributed sites in Saskatchewan. Please review the PGME Housing Guidelines for more detailed information.

As we enter our third year of having a Regina distributed site, we continue to ensure that as much training is completed in Regina as possible to minimize the need to unnecessary travel to Saskatoon, thereby ensuring greater stability for the residents based in Regina. At a minimum, residents in the Regina Royal College EM Residency Program should plan to complete the following rotations in Saskatoon:

PGY-1: EM x1, Ortho x1, Plastics x1, and Peds EM x1

PGY-2: EM x1

PGY-3: EM x1, Toxicology x1 (*Calgary or NYC)

PGY-4: EM x1 (*Regional), Peds EM x1, PICU x1

PGY-5: EM x2

As Regina grows in its capacity to accommodate learners in the above noted rotations, Regina-based residents will complete increasingly more rotations in Regina and spend less time working at other sites. 

Teaching Sites

Regina

The Regina General Hospital (RGH) Emergency Department has an annual volume of ~ 60,000 patients with a 20% admission rate. It is the main trauma centre for southern Saskatchewan, where Emergency Physicians are an integral part of the trauma team. Most consultant services are based at this site. 

The Pasqua Hospital (PH) Emergency Department in Regina has an annual volume of ~40,000 patients with a 17% admission rate. It serves a high proportion of inner-city patients. 

In 2024, the SHA opened Saskatchewan's first Urgent Care Centre in Regina. Seeing daily volumes similar to the Pasqua emergency, emergency physicians work alongside family physicians and nurse practitioners to assess and treat urgent but non life threatening presentations. 

Residents from many specialty programs at the University of Saskatchewan spend some clinical time in Regina. There is a growing number of specialty programs with training based in Regina. There is also a Family Medicine-Emergency Medicine enhanced skills program based in Regina with whom we extensively collaborate with for academic training.  

Saskatoon

The Royal University Hospital (RUH) Adult Emergency Department in Saskatoon is physically located within the new Jim Pattison Children's Hospital (JPCH) on the University of Saskatchewan campus and has a total annual volume of ~ 53,000 patients per year with a 20% admission rate. It is the city's trauma centre, where Emergency Physicians are an integral part of the trauma team. Most consultant services are present at this site, and it is the main teaching hospital for the College of Medicine. The JPCH Pediatric Emergency Department is located adjacent to the Adult ED, with shared resuscitation and diagnostic imaging space. It is separately staffed, seeing ~28,000 patients per year. Pediatric EM faculty frequently contribute to academic teaching for our program.

St. Paul's Hospital (SPH) Emergency Department in Saskatoon has an annual volume of ~42,000 patients with a 15% admission rate. It serves a high proportion of inner-city patients. Nephrology, Urology, Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Thoracic Surgery are the consult services primarily based at this site. 

Saskatoon City Hospital (SCH) Emergency Department has an annual volume of ~24,000 patients and an admission rate of 1%. It is open from 09:00-20:30 daily and serves as an Urgent Care Centre. All patients requiring admission are transferred off site. The inpatient services now mainly serve patients awaiting long-term care, rehab services and day surgery for a number of surgical specialties. 

The City

Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan, is a charming metropolis with a mix of modern amenities and historical treasurers. With a population of around 240,000, Regina offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that attracts both residents and visitors alike. 

One of the city's crown jewels is the stunning Wascana Centre, one of North America's largest urban parks. This sprawling oasis boasts picturesque walking paths, serene waterways, and lush green spaces, providing a perfect escape for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The iconic Saskatchewan Legislative Building, with its distinct copper dome, is a key highlight within the park, offering guided tours to explore its rich history and architectural beauty. 

Cultural enthusiasts will find a plethora of attractions to indulge in. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum, one of Canada's oldest museums, features engaging exhibits on natural history and indigenous culture. The MacKenzie Art Gallery showcases a diverse collection of Canadian art, from traditional to contemporary works. 

Regina proudly embraces its history and heritage, with several heritage sites and museums that preserve the city's past. The Government House, a National Historic Site, offers insights into the province's political history, while the RCMP Heritage Centre provides an in-depth exploration of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their significance in the nation's history. 

Sports and entertainment are also integral to Regina's identity. The Mosaic Stadium, home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team, buzzes with energy during games and events. The city's lively downtown scene offers a range of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues to cater to diverse tastes. Additionally, the city is less than a 60 minute drive to cottage country and the lakes of the Qu'Appelle Valley.

Regina hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year, celebrating its cultural diversity and community spirit. The Regina Folk Festival, the Cathedra Village Arts Festival, and the Queen City Ex are just a few examples of the city's vibrant festival calendar. 

In conclusion, Regina's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, historical landmarks, and thriving community make it an enchanting city with a unique character and something to offer whoever is fortunate enough to match here.

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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.

Rotation Curriculum

PGY 1	PGY2	PGY 3	PGY 4	PGY 5
EM	EM (Saskatoon)	EM (Saskatoon)	EM (Regional)	EM (Saskatoon)
EM	EM	EM	EM	EM (Saskatoon)
EM	EM	EM	EM	EM
EM (Saskatoon)	EM	EM	EM	EM
EM	EM	EM or Elective	EM	EM
EM	EM	EM or Elective	EM	EM
EM	EM	PEM (Regina, Long.)	EM or Elective	PEM (Regina, Long.)
EM	PEM (Regina, Long.)	CCU	EM or Elective	Trauma
EM/Ophtho	EM	ICU or Transport	PEM (Saskatoon)	Transport
Ortho (Saskatoon)	Psychiatry	ICU	PICU (Saskatoon)	ACE
CCU	Anesthesia	ICU	Trauma	ACE
PEM (Saskatoon)	Obs/Gyne	IM	Ortho (Saskatoon)	ACE
Plastics (Saskatoon)	General Surgery	Toxicology (Calgary or NYC)	Anesthesia	ACE

 

All rotations are completed in Regina unless listed otherwise.

Vacation (4 weeks yearly) is preferentially taken during EM blocks. 

Flexibility exists to move rotations between years in certain circumstances. 

 

Our Emergency Medicine residency program offers a dynamic and comprehensive academic curriculum designed to build clinical excellence, scholarly curiosity, and teaching expertise. Academic activities are structured across all five years and combine core content delivery with interactive, hands-on, and resident-led learning.

🗓 Weekly Academic Half-Days (AHDs)
Residents attend protected half-days each week featuring case-based discussions, staff-led presentations, and resident teaching. Sessions incorporate high-yield Rosen’s Rounds, Consultant Rounds, Guidelines Reviews, and procedural teaching.

📚 Evidence-Informed, Resident-Driven Learning
Residents actively contribute to their learning through Group Learning, Resident Topic Presentations, and participation in Critical Appraisal Rounds and Journal Club. Our curriculum fosters active engagement and peer teaching, building a strong foundation in clinical reasoning and literature appraisal.

🧪 Research & Scholarly Activity
Residents complete a scholarly project with longitudinal support via monthly Research Rounds, an annual Research Day & Workshop, and access to mentorship and elective coursework. Streams in clinical research, education scholarship, and quality improvement are available.

🧍‍♂️ Simulation-Based Education
Residents participate in regular simulation through the SuperSIM series, Disaster Day, Geri-EM Day, and Tox Day, as well as Junior/Senior Procedure Rounds. Simulation is tightly integrated into EPA acquisition and spans resuscitation, trauma, airway, and procedural skills.

🔍 Ultrasound Curriculum
Spanning PGY1–3, our POCUS curriculum includes monthly rounds, independent scanning shifts, and a summative ultrasound exam, all supported by expert faculty and robust scanning targets tied to EPAs.

🎯 Exam Preparation & Assessment
Residents are supported in their exam readiness through structured Rosen’s Exams, Mock Oral Exams, and the Canadian In-Training Exam (CITE). PGY4s also lead exam reviews and practice oral sessions, reinforcing their knowledge while mentoring junior residents.

🌿 Wellness & Professionalism
Wellness is embedded in the academic culture through Wellness Rounds, wellness activities, and CanMEDS workshops that support communication, advocacy, and physician wellness.

🌍 PGY-Specific Development
Each year includes tailored learning:

• PGY1: Transition to Discipline Sim, ImageSIM, Collaborator Shifts, Indigenous Wellness Course
• PGY2: Transfusion Camp, independent ultrasound scanning
• PGY3 & PGY5: Longitudinal Education Block
• PGY4: Critical Appraisal teaching, exam preparation
• PGY5: Transition to Practice curriculum, leadership roles in simulation and teaching

🏥 Clinical Training Highlights

Our clinical curriculum is intentionally diverse, hands-on, and purposefully scaffolded across five years. Residents are immersed in a variety of high-volume emergency departments and critical care environments across Saskatoon, Regina, and regional sites, with progressive responsibility and independence.

🚨 Core Emergency Medicine Rotations (PGY1–5)
Residents rotate through high-acuity urban emergency departments in both Saskatoon and Regina, with regular exposure to pediatric, adult, and tertiary-level care. Pediatric EM rotations occur in both sites, with increasing complexity over time.

🌐 Breadth of Off-Service Training
Over five years, residents rotate through a comprehensive set of off-service specialties, including:

• Critical care(ICU, CCU, PICU)
• Surgical specialties(Trauma, Plastics, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, ENT)
• Anesthesia and Airway
• Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology
• EMS and Transport Medicine

Each rotation is selected to reinforce EM-relevant skills and decision-making.

🚑 EMS & Transport Experience
Residents gain experience with prehospital and interfacility transport medicine, including ride-alongs and air transport. PGY3–5 residents also contribute to EMS rounds, task completion, and newsletter writing, fostering leadership in prehospital care.

🧳 Electives and Areas of Comprehensive Expertise (ACE)
PGY4–5 residents are given flexibility to pursue elective rotations tailored to their interests (e.g., ultrasound, education, QI, trauma, international EM), culminating in a dedicated ACE block in PGY5 for advanced focus.

🌾 Regional and Rural EM
Senior residents participate in regional EM rotations, preparing them for practice across a wide variety of settings — from rural to tertiary centers.

🌙 Moonlighting Opportunities
Eligible senior residents may participate in moonlighting, gaining additional supervised experience and income while reinforcing core competencies in EM practice.

🧑‍⚕️ Longitudinal Learning
Several rotations and themes run longitudinally, including:

• Toxicology(PGY1–4)
• EMS(PGY3–5)
• Collaborator Shifts(PGY1)
• Education & Teaching Blocks(PGY3 & 5)

🧠 Graduated Responsibility
The clinical structure supports progressive autonomy, from supervised skill development in PGY1 to near-independent practice and leadership in PGY5. Each year builds seamlessly on the last to prepare residents for confident transition to independent practice.

Some local options for ACE are Pre-hospital care and Ultrasound.

 The University of Saskatchewan has options for Masters Degrees in Business Administration (https://www.edwards.usask.ca/programs/mba/),  Public  Health  (https://grad.usask.ca/programs/public-health.php),  and Health Professions Education (https://grad.usask.ca/programs/health-professions-education.php).

The College of Medicine has a Medical Education Fellowship Program (https://medicine.usask.ca/facultydev/teaching%20and%20learning/clinician-educator.php).

The Saskatchewan Health Authority offers the CQIP - Clinical Quality Improvement Program (https://www.saskhealthquality.ca/training-webinars/cqip/).

We do not offer formal fellowships in ICU, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, or Toxicology, but have successfully matched residents to these fellowships (and other fellowships) but will work closely with residents who are interested to ensure they have as many opportunities as possible to explore these career opportunities in Saskatchewan or elsewhere. We will do our best to support resident interests in other areas of expertise, however our priority will always to be ensure clinical competence in Emergency Medicine in the final year of training.

📈 Robust Program of Assessment & Coaching

Our residency embraces a Competency by Design (CBD) model supported by a coaching-rich assessment framework. Every resident is paired with a Royal College Academic Advisor (AA) and a CCFP-EM Longitudinal Mentor, both of whom work regularly with the resident in the clinical setting to provide consistent, meaningful feedback. This longitudinal relationship fosters trust, insight, and personalized growth.

Throughout their rotations, residents collect Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) assessments that reflect real-time performance in clinical environments. These are complemented by practice exam data and formative feedback from teaching sessions.

Three times per year, residents engage in a structured reflection cycle:
They review their assessment data, complete a self-assessment, and meet with their AA to set goals using a locally developed coaching model grounded in self-regulated learning theory. This collaborative summary is submitted to the Competence Committee (CC), where each file undergoes peer-reviewed analysis by a designated reviewer before group discussion.

Following each CC meeting, Program Directors hold one-on-one meetings with residents to review their progress, celebrate milestones, and refine individualized learning plans. These plans are then shared with the resident’s AA and Longitudinal Mentor to ensure on-shift coaching is focused and purposeful. This cycle reinforces resident ownership, promotes lifelong learning habits, and ensures every resident is supported on their journey toward independent practice.

🎁 Perks & Supports for Residents

💰 Generous Funding & Reimbursement

• $2000+ yearly academic fundingto support conference travel, textbooks, and exam fees
• CPR, ACLS, ATLS, PALS, AIME, NRP, ECGcourse fees covered by the program or health region
• Access toadditional grants for scholarly work, research presentations, and international electives

📅 Protected Time & Scheduling Flexibility

• Academic Half-Days and Simulationsessions are protected from clinical duties
• Clear structure forvacation and leave requests, including dedicated study leave in PGY4
• Moonlighting opportunitiesavailable for senior residents in good standing
• Robustelective time in PGY4–5 to support focused career development

📚 Exam Preparation Support

• Program covers registration forCITE (Canadian In-Training Exam)
• RegularMock Oral Exams and Rosen's Written Exams built into the academic calendar
• Protected time for exam prep, and tailored support in PGY5 withTransition to Practice curriculum

🧠 Wellness & Work-Life Balance

• FormalWellness Rounds and program-wide wellness initiatives
• Clear processes for accessingpersonal, parental, and sick leave
• Support forfamily accommodations in scheduling and travel where possible
• DedicatedResident Retreats!

🧑‍🏫 Opportunities for Leadership & Teaching

• Residents leadsimulation, journal club, AHD sessions, and teaching rounds
• Transition to Practice Blockin PGY5 focusing on leadership, billing, and practice management
• Multiple opportunities to mentor junior learners and participate in CaRMS recruitment

🌎 Mobility & Dual-Site Exposure

• Unique experience rotating in bothSaskatoon and Regina, offering exposure to different hospital systems, patient populations, and consultant groups
• Supportedtravel and accommodations for out-of-town rotations
• Regional and rural rotations develop adaptability and resourcefulness

🛠️ Strong Program Infrastructure

• Clear policies onassessment, remediation, and progression, promoting transparency and support
• Resident representation onProgram Committees and Competence Committee
• Accessible and responsiveProgram Directors and Admin Team

Curriculum Disclaimer

The above curriculum is not set in stone. Modifications to the curriculum have been and will be considered every year as part of the program's semi-annual curriculum-review retreats (mixed social event/curriculum review).  

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Training Sites

Academic Curriculum

Overview:

Over the past year we overhauled our academic curriculum with the goal being to utilize more active learning techniques, remove redundancies within the curriculum, and delve more into the depths, not just the breadths, of emergency medicine. This curriculum, outlined below, is now in its first year of implementation and has received promising initial feedback from residents. 

Academic Half Day (AHD) takes place on Wednesday afternoons.  It is shared with the CFPC-EM Program, which runs a distributed program in Saskatoon, Regina & Swift Current. AHD is video-conferenced between all three sites. Academic Full Days (AFD) occur approximately twice per month, often including practice exams and simulation sessions in the morning. 

Components:

Resident-Led Topic Presentations - These 25-minute talks are a focused and in-depth review of 2-3 major issues within a given topic.

Staff-Led Case Presentations - These 25-minute interactive cases illustrate clinical reasoning and application of knowledge through real-time management of cases, delivered by faculty emergency physicians. Cases are delivered by physicians at all three training sites. 

Resident-Led Peds Guidelines Rounds

A two-year curriculum covering the top 22 pediatric EM guidelines has been developed, whereby residents pre-read the provided guidelines and then participate in this resident-led session that aims to focus on the application of the guidelines to common EM cases. 

Staff-Led Adult Guidelines Rounds

A two-year curriculum covering the top 18 adult EM guidelines has been developed, whereby residents pre-read the provided guidelines and then participate in this staff-led session that aims to focus on the application of the guidelines to common EM cases. 

Consultant Rounds

We have implemented Consultant Rounds, which are sessions led by non-EM physicians, focusing on skills that have room for improvement based on the perspective of our non-EM consultant colleagues. 

Group Learning

We have implemented group learning sessions, which are sessions led by residents that focus on interactive and group-based learning on the topics of the monthly Rosen's textbook readings. These sessions provide opportunity for group discussion and delving into the depths of emergency medicine.

Self-Directed Learning

In order to remove curriculum redundancies and support resident wellness, we offer self-directed learning time for residents to complete their assigned curriculum tasks during protected AHD time. 

Provincial Grand Rounds

The provincial Department of Emergency Medicine facilitates Provincial Grand Rounds. Residents are encouraged to attend and have protected time to do so if they wish. 

Trauma Rounds

Residents are encouraged to attend monthly Trauma Rounds.

SEMAC (Saskatchewan Emergency Medicine Annual Conference)

SEMAC is a conference that targets Family Physicians and Emergency Physicians who work in regional and rural Saskatchewan. It is a great conference for residents and medical students to attend. 

CAEP Conference

Is a great opportunity to network with other EM providers across the country and attendance is encouraged. 

Wellness Rounds

Once a month we have a presentation on a wellness topic, followed by a group activity session (fitness and non-fitness options). The goal is to promote regular healthy habits in the busy life of a resident, to provide an opportunity for residents to bond outside of work-related duties and to build resiliency in our residents. All physical activities are scalable and adaptable to be inclusive to all, and efforts have been made to have a mix of fitness and non-fitness activities. Wellness rounds are optional for residents, recognizing that wellness looks different to different people. 

Procedure Rounds

Procedure Rounds follow a curriculum that is based on the core procedures of emergency medicine and are designed to provide residents with simulated experiences for procedures that they will be expected to perform and collect EPAs on during their clinical rotations. The first half of the session will focus on more advanced procedures (typically led by a staff physician) and the second half of the session will typically be led by residents. Occasionally, allied health professionals or staff/resident physicians from other discipline will facilitate these sessions. 

EMS Rounds

The Royal College EM Residency Program serves as an adjunct Medical Advisor for Ground Ambulance Services in Saskatchewan, under the supervision of Dr. Owen Scheirer (Central Zone Lead) and Dr. Kamini Erker (Provincial Lead). The Lead Residents chair these meetings and keep minutes to ensure all tasks related to this position are delegated and completed.  All tasks are reviewed by Dr. Scheirer. Mini-topic presentations occur and cover key components of the EMS curriculum.  This position serves as part of our longitudinal EMS rotation in the PGY3 year. Money earned from this position is used by the residents to pay for educational expenses. 

Ultrasound Rounds

Our ultrasound curriculum is stratified by years of training. PGY1 residents focus on FAST scan (free fluid abdomen, lung, heart) and procedural guidance (central line placement) through the RAPID course.  PGY2 residents focus on Obstetrical, Renal and Aorta scanning.  PGY3 residents focus on resuscitative ultrasound (advanced cardiac, lung, IVC).  Once per month residents meet and review an ultrasound topic, then proceed to practice scanning with supervising faculty.  Residents are expected to log a target number of scans each year, with a percentage of them being observed as EPAs.  There is an ultrasound exam at the end of each year. 

SuperSIM 

Residents participate in 6 inter-disciplinary high-fidelity simulation sessions per year based on our resuscitation curriculum themes being: Cardiac, Shock, Toxicology, Trauma, Geriatrics & Airway. Residents also participate in 2 simulation sessions during each of their Pediatric EM rotations. 

The Geriatrics SuperSIM and Toxicology SuperSIM are hosted within our annual special AFD's: Geri-EM Day and Tox-Day. Additionally, for the last 3 years, we have hosted a Disaster Day which is an AFD focusing on mass casualty training with a high-fidelity large-scale simulation event and other learning modalities as well. 

Simulation for Assessment

PGY1 residents participate in Transition to Discipline simulation sessions in July, targeting EPA 1.1 (recognizing the sick patient) and Foundations simulations sessions during the RAPID course targeting EPA 2.1 (assisting in the care of an ill patient).  PGY-2 & 3 residents participate in Difficult Airway simulation sessions targeting EPA 3.3 (Airway management).

Journal Club

Our combined resident and faculty provincial journal club runs quarterly over the year in the evenings.  

Textbook Rosen's Rounds

Emergency Medicine Residents will be assigned monthly reading of Rosen's textbook of Emergency Medicine.  The bulk of this textbook is covered every two years. A faculty member develops exam style questions on the assigned reading, and residents write a low-stakes practice exam during protected AHD time.  The answers to the questions are reviewed the following week during an evening social event over supper, generally hosted at the faculty member's house. 

The reading schedule is purposefully designed to ensure a variety of topics/chapters are covered each month (as opposed to the previous schedule where multiple chapters from the same topic were read in the month). This will provide greater variety and intermingling of concepts for learners. 

Canadian In Training Exam (CITE)

The Canadian In-Training Exam is a short answer style exam, designed to reflect the style and content of the Royal College Exam.  It is written in the Fall and Winter, and scores are compared nationally to give residents a sense of their progress in training.  Our monthly textbook rounds are designed to prepare residents for this type of exam.

Practice Oral Exams

Emergency Medicine Residents will be exposed to at least one practice oral exam session per year, and several in their final year.  We also run an annual mock oral exam, where residents participate in 12 oral exam cases over 2.5 hours.  This exam is modelled after the Royal College oral exam format.

The above curriculum may seem like a lot, but it has been purposely mapped and regularly reviewed to ensure residents are given the best opportunity to be competent Emergency Medicine Specialists!  

A Robust Program of Assessment

Each resident is assigned a Royal College Faculty Academic Advisor (AA) and a CCFP-EM Longitudinal Supervisor/Mentor. When on EM rotations, residents work at least a couple of shifts with each of these physicians, who can provide insightful feedback on their progress through repeated longitudinal exposure. Residents will collect EPA (Entrustable Professional Activity) assessments during their rotations, in line with our Competency by Design educational model. Three times yearly, residents will review all of their assessment data (EPAs, practice exam scores, other assessment data), fill out a self-assessment form on their progress, and have a meeting with their Academic Advisor to review their progress.  AAs have been trained in a local coaching model based on the self-regulated learning theory to help residents set goals for the next quarter. The resident and AA submit a report to the Competence Committee (CC). One CC member completes primary review of the resident's assessment data, as well as the self-assessment and AA report. They present their findings to the CC members for discussion and recommendations for progress decision. Targeted learning goals are summarized. The Program Directors meet with each resident shortly after the CC meeting to share their progress decision and learning plan. The summary of their progress and learning plan are sent to the AA and Longitudinal Supervisor/'Mentor for focused coaching on shift. 

Because of this robust spectrum of assessment, and our smaller program, we can ensure each resident achieves their academic goals and grows into an effective specialist Emergency physician. 

Program Perks

Funding:

We have multiple sources of revenue to support your education. Because of this, we are able to reimburse you for many training costs including Rosen's textbooks, Roberts and Hedges' textbooks, ATLS course, PALS course, Airway Course, NRP Course, ATLS Instructor Course, ACLS Instructor Course, PALS Instructor Course, Exam Prep courses, $3000 toward your ACE, $2000 toward presenting at a conference once, $500 for annual conference attendance, travel for all mandatory learning, and other expenses on a case-by-case basis. 

Self-Scheduling:

Starting in PGY-3, you will self-schedule all of your EM shifts. Residents really enjoy this perk as it is more realistic to staff practices and allows them to schedule around their personal lives and promote personal wellness. 

Retreats:

The Program hosts a fall retreat and summer retreat each year, which serves as both a social event and curriculum review opportunity. Additionally, the residents host a faculty-free wellness retreat (usually skiing or something else fun), partially funded by the program. 

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FAQ

Thank you for considering us as your future training program! We look forward to reviewing your application! Please reach out if we can provide you with further information about our program.