2023 Research Day group photo

Residency Program Overview

If you are looking for a program that provides you opportunities to become a well-rounded anesthesiologist, you found the right program!

 

SMALL PROGRAM

THE ADDED BENEFIT OF A RELATIVELY SMALLER PROGRAM IS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE RESIDENTS AND THE STAFF WE WORK WITH!

 

CURRICULUM DESIGN

WE HAVE A CURRICULUM SUB-COMMITTEE THAT RECENTLY REVAMPED THE CURRICULUM TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

 

FELLOWSHIP-LEVEL CASES

RESIDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO FELLOWSHIP-LEVEL CASES. EDMONTON HAS A MASSIVE CATCHMENT AREA. EXTREMELY BUSY CENTER FOR TRAUMA, TRANSPLANT, COMPLEX PEDIATRICS, AND HIGH-RISK OBSTETRICS.


Interview/CaRMS Specific Information 

Canadian graduates can review program descriptions here, and international medical graduates can review eligibility requirements here.

 

Contact Us

2-150 Clinical Sciences Building

8440 112 St NW
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2G3

Phone: (780) 407-2781 or (780) 407-7361
Fax: (780) 407-3200

Email: apmedu@ualberta.ca


Dr. Graham Steel
Program Director

 

Dr. Jaime Sim
Assistant Program Director


 

Program Administrators: 

Darci Chaba  (780) 407-2781 
Laura Kruzenga (780) 407-7361

Welcome to our program

We are fortunate to have a great team including residents, administrative personnel, allied health, and faculty. There are currently 32 residents spread out over 5 years of training in our fully accredited program by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Some of our strengths include a wide variety of surgical cases, wide catchment area. Our residents are exposed to a diverse range of clinical settings as Edmonton zone hospitals are at the forefront of modern medical care. They serve as major referral centers in the areas of organ transplantation, pediatric surgery, cardiac surgery, high-risk obstetrics, trauma and neurosurgery. In addition, our dynamic faculty provide leading-edge care in the areas of regional anesthesia, vascular and thoracic anesthesia, and ambulatory surgery. Our residents have gone on to meaningful careers across North America both in the community and as academic faculty.

Our department is also comprised of accomplished clinical and basic science researchers who contribute significantly in the area of academic medicine. Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management (ACRM) simulations run annually in addition to a content-related simulation curriculum throughout the year. This helps prepare our trainees to become consultant anesthesiologists, as well as solid ambassadors and innovators in the fields of anesthesiology and medicine.

Our staff have trained locally, nationally, and internationally; they actively participate in day-to-day clinical teaching, academic teaching, simulation, and exam preparation.

Our program has outstanding exam preparation opportunities, formal personal and academic mentorship opportunities as well as award-winning educators. We also collaborate with other specialties to train our residents (i.e Simulation training with Obstetrics & Gynecology residents)

This activity takes place on the backdrop of Edmonton, Alberta, one of North America's fastest-growing and vibrant cities.

We are looking forward to meeting you!

Dr. Graham Steel
Program Director

Dr. Jaime Sim
Assistant Program Director

Our Program

We are a fully accredited program that follows the guidelines set out by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 

Program Highlights

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Exposure to a large variety of cases, including subspecialty rotations.

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Large referral base.

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During residency training, residents have the opportunity to rotate through a wide variety of sub-specialties led by excellent and dedicated teaching staff. Subspecialty rotations include: Neurosurgery anesthesia, Cardiovascular surgery anesthesia, Thoracic anesthesia, Regional anesthesia and Pediatric anesthesia.

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Grooming a well-rounded resident: In addition to training you to become a great clinician. The program, in collaboration with PGME, offers a variety of courses to provide you the skills and knowledge to become a researcher, a teacher, and a health advocate.

 

Program Supports

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Academic advisors to help navigate Competence by Design residency.

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Formal mentorship program to support your wellness.

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2 full-time program administrators.

Wellness sub-committee to foster resident camaraderie, and support wellness.

Peer to peer support: residents are given a buddy resident to help navigate competence-based residency.


Residency at a Glance

Learn about each year of the program with an overview of each year.

Year 1
8 weeks General Anesthesia (Transition to Discipline stage)
4 weeks Cardiology
4 weeks Adult ER
4 weeks Pediatric ER
4 weeks Pediatric surgery
4 weeks Internal Medicine
4 weeks Obstetrics/Gynecology
4 weeks Otolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery
4 weeks general surgery
4 weeks elective
4 weeks general anesthesia
4 weeks vacation
Year 2
4 weeks airway rotation
4 weeks regional anesthesia
4 weeks obstetric anesthesia
4 weeks pediatric anesthesia
24 weeks general anesthesia (in different locations)
8 weeks elective
Year 3
12 weeks ICU
8 weeks CCU
8 weeks Pulmonary medicine
4 weeks Medicine selective
4 weeks Transfusion medicine
8 weeks Pediatric Intensive care
4 weeks POCUS rotation
4 weeks Elective
Year 4
8 weeks Cardiovascular anesthesia
8 weeks Thoracic anesthesia
8 weeks Regional anesthesia
8 weeks Neurosurgery anesthesia
4 weeks Vascular anesthesia
4 weeks Chronic pain
8 weeks elective
4 weeks Out of OR rotation
Year 5

8 weeks Obstetrics anesthesia
8 weeks Pediatric anesthesia
8 weeks General anesthesia (Community and Tertiary practice)
4 weeks Pre-admission clinic
4 weeks Out of OR rotation
4 weeks Obstetrics anesthesia junior consultant
4 weeks Pediatric anesthesia junior consultant
12 weeks elective


*Note: Rotations are subject to change due to scheduling and career goals


Teaching Hospitals

We have four major training sites that provide a wide variety of surgical and trauma exposure.

University of Alberta Hospital 

Royal Alexandra Hospital 

Grey Nuns Community Hospital

Misericordia Community Hospital 

UAH and STARS helicopter

Subspecialties

Our graduates commonly pursue the following subspecialty programs (both locally and internationally):

  • Cardiac Anesthesia
  • Thoracic Anesthesia
  • Regional Anesthesia, Simulation
  • Medical Education
  • Obstetrics anesthesia
  • Postgraduate degree (PhD)


Meet Our Residents

We asked our residents what they like about Edmonton, their highlights of the program, and one piece of advice for applicants about the interview process. Here is what a few of them had to say.
Mike Janke

Mike is one of our R4s in the program and is currently co-chief. He grew up in Edmonton and is currently completing the hat trick of medical education with his undergraduate, medical degree, and residency all in the same great city. 

Outside of residency you can find Mike playing a game of hockey, long boarding, or enjoying some tapas and a cold beverage. When time allows Mike travel’s BC’s interior in search of the perfect game of golf or perfect terrain to ski.

– Dr. Mike Janke (R4) 
 Elliot Pittman

Elliot is one of our R4s in the program and is currently a co-chief resident. While Elliot is originally from Edmonton, he had a brief sabbatical in Calgary to get his MD and then returned home for his pursuit of anesthesia residency.
Beyond the walls of the hospital, you'll find Elliot getting his hands dirty in a home project, swapping stories alongside a frosty Heineken, or taking his wife Carlie sled skiing out in Valemont!

– Dr. Elliot Pittman (R4)
 jaasmitk hurana

Thanks for considering our Anesthesiology program at the UofA! Being a local for (nearly) my entire life, I’ve completed my post-secondary education in Edmonton while seeing it transform into a major city. In the last decade, the downtown skyline has changed dramatically which has reflected our rapidly growing food scene, ability to attract major sporting events/artists to the new Rogers’ Place, and added to our already abundant list of year-around festivals. The best part? Even on a resident’s salary, you can live within walking distance or a short train ride to these amazing amenities and even to the hospitals. Our program has also attracted extremely talented staff members who have taken our education to the next level! Can you imagine, even as a PGY2, having opportunities to care of patients with pheochromocytoma, those undergoing transplant or thoracic surgery, or Whipple’s procedure?! Many programs either don’t offer these experiences or (if you’re lucky) you may get to see them well into your senior years with a fellow. Despite offering these unique exposures, our program recognizes just how tough residency can be. As a result, having a sense of camaraderie is really promoted here, whether that be through staff mentors who check in on us regularly or doing virtual games with other residents after half day. These close bonds and, what are sure to be, ever-lasting friendships add another layer to our program which tries to make us the best anesthesiologists that we can be!

– Dr. Jaasmit Khurana (R4) 
Montana Johnston

What do you like about Edmonton: Edmonton has a friendly, down to earth and welcoming demeanor. The city has all the amenities and attractions you need while also offering an easy commute to hospitals. The city is still affordable enough to purchase a home during residency!

What are the highlights of the program for you: The residency program has multiple clinical sites, a diverse array of staff anesthesiologists, incredible co-residents and few fellows. As a resident, we are exposed to many complex cases on a daily basis. Due to the complex patient population that undergoes operations in Edmonton and relatively few fellows, it is not uncommon to be slated in a renal harvest/transplant room or take care of a patient with multiple solid organ transplants even as a junior resident. The residency program in Edmonton is small enough that you are recognizable to staff across the city and exposes you early on to ASA 3 & 4 patients.

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: Do not let the CARMS process or your classmates stress you out! Find the program that fits your personality, learning style and will move you closer towards both your goals and aspirations in anesthesia.

– Dr. Montana Johnston (R4)
Ally Farran

What do you like about Edmonton: I am a born and raised Calgarian… but found a love for Edmonton after attending medical school in this city, and never wanted to leave. In the summer you can find an event or festival going on pretty much every weekend from May to October. I love the vibrancy of the city, and how it comes alive during these times. The food scene is also incredible in Edmonton, with tons of tiny restaurants through the Whyte Ave and Downtown area (this scene is also very much alive during COVID-19, with just about all the best restaurants available for curbside pick-up/delivery!). Lastly, the River Valley is unlike anything else. There are a multitude of paths for running, road biking, and mountain biking all through the area. In the winter, many of these are transformed into cross-country ski trails.

What are the highlights of the program for you: Anesthesia at the U of A is a moderate sized program that offers opportunities you would only expect at larger institutions. We have one of the biggest transplant programs in the country (including pediatrics), yet very few fellows to take priority over cases. You may find yourself navigating through a liver transplant as early as PGY-2! In that endeavour you won’t be alone though, as we have some incredible staff who will be there to support and teach you along the way. Lastly, we are an incredibly close group of residents. Some of my closest friendships have developed as a result of being a resident in this program.

– Dr. Allyson Farran (R5)
Melissa Shears

I am one of the PGY-2s in our program. I grew up in Ontario and graduated from Queen’s Medicine before moving across the country to Alberta for residency.
When not in the hospital, you can find me running in the river valley, hiking and skiing in the Rocky Mountains, cooking, and baking sourdough (I swear I did it before it was cool)! Track me down to find out my favourite trail or recipe. You’ll never catch me in the same scrub cap 2 days in a row!

– Dr. Melissa Shears (R4)