Department of Medicine

Faculty of Medicine

Program Details

Core internal medicine

The four-year core internal medicine residency program is built on the principle of graded responsibility. It's designed to enable you to comfortably take on greater clinical responsibility over time in a supportive, respectful environment.

The program’s goals and objectives are consistent with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s (RCPSC) learning objectives for internal medicine [PDF - 62 kB]. It received full, six-year accreditation from the RCPSC in 2018.

PGY1

Medical Teaching Unit 2 blocks
Respirology 1 block
Gastroenterology 1 block
Coronary Care Unit (CCU) 1 block
Cardiology 1 block
Hematology 1 block
Endocrinology / Medical Oncology / Rheumatology 1 block
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) 1 block
Intermediate Medical Care Unit (IMCU) 1 block
Geriatric Medicine 1 block
Neurology 1 block
General Internal Medicine Community Experience Rotations are offered at:

Nova Scotia

Aberdeen Hospital – New Glasgow, NS
Cape Breton Regional Hospital – Sydney, NS
Dartmouth General Hospital – Dartmouth, NS
South Shore Regional Hospital – Bridgewater, NS
Valley Regional Hospital – Kentville, NS
Yarmouth Regional Hospital – Yarmouth, NS

New Brunswick

Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital – Fredericton, NB
The Moncton Hospital – Moncton, NB
Miramichi Regional Hospital – Miramichi, NB

Prince Edward Island

Queen Elizabeth Hospital – Charlottetown, PEI
 1 block

PGY2

Medical Teaching Unit 4 blocks
Ambulatory Care Clinic (Halifax) 2 blocks
Intensive Care Unit 1 block
Ambulatory Care Clinic (Saint John) 1 block
Coronary Care Unit (CCU) 1 block
Infectious Diseases 1 block
Nephrology 1 block
Elective 1 block
Selective (Halifax) 1 block

PGY3

In the PGY3 year, you'll assume more of a consultant role, including providing outpatient and inpatient ambulatory care.

Medical Teaching Unit 3 blocks
Ambulatory Care Clinic 2 blocks
Intensive Care Unit 1 block
Electives 2 blocks
Selectives (one may be an elective) 3 blocks
General Internal Medicine Consults 1 block
General Internal Medicine (GIM) Ambulatory Care Clinic (ACC) Rotation
is currently offered in:

  • Halifax
  • Yarmouth
  • Saint John
 1 block

PGY4

All core internal medicine residents undertake a fourth year of training to allow the completion of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada qualification examination.

Medical Teaching Unit junior attending 2 months
Community General Internal Medicine 1 month
Selectives which include general internal medicine consults or clinics,
intensive care unit or critical care unit		 3 months
Electives 6 months

Scholarly activity

As a resident, you'll produce at least one academic project each year: a formal research project, a case report, a medical education project or a quality assurance project. Time can be allocated from your schedule to facilitate research, in the form of half-days or a one-month block. Research grants are available through the Department of Medicine, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Dalhousie Medical School.

Residents are encouraged to attend one conference each year, the cost of which is subsidized by the Department of Medicine. If residents chose to present research at a conference, they're eligible for subsidized funding for a second meeting.