This residency program is for 5 years. This program length meets the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
Transition to Discipline (July of PGY1)
The first month of PGY1 is an Introductory Transition to Discipline curriculum that allows residents to obtain the Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) required by the Royal College Competence By Design training system. It is shared with GP residents and allows students to get to know faculty, other residents, and learn the basics of microscope function, slide scanning, grossing, and photography. The program is a mixture of didactic and hand-on activities. There is an end-of-rotation slide quiz and case presentation.
Foundations of Discipline (rest of PGY1)
There are 12 blocks in the remainder of PGY1, which allow residents to complete the EPAs in the Foundations stage of training:
| Subject |
Length |
|---|
| Clinical Hematology |
1 block |
General Surgery
|
2 blocks |
Radiation Oncology
|
1 block |
| Gynecological Oncology |
1 block |
| Medical Oncology |
1 block |
Subspecialty Pediatrics
Usually Peds GI
|
1 block |
Selective
Radiology, Dermatology, ENT, Emerg, other |
1 block |
Autopsy Pathology
At the Forensic Institute to learn basic autopsy skills |
1 block |
Foundations of Anatomical Pathology
Intro to Grossing and Simple Surgical Sign-Out
|
3 blocks |
PGY2 through PGY5 - Core and Transition to Practice stages
PGY2/3
The first 15 months of PGY2/3 consists of a core experience in surgical and autopsy pathology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. The remaining time in PGY3 includes three 12-week subspecialty rotations in Neuropathology, Cytopathology and Pediatric Pathology.
PGY4/5
The Forensic Pathology rotation is undertaken in one of the senior years and is eight weeks in duration. There is a required 12-week Anatomical Pathology rotation at the Saint John Regional Hospital (a large, regional hospital in New Brunswick). This serves as a senior resident rotation in the PGY4 or 5 year. Accommodation is provided.
The remaining months involve additional training in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology, including mandatory training as follows:
| Subject |
Length |
|---|
| Molecular Pathology |
1 block |
| Senior Cytopathology |
1 block |
| Senior Anatomical Pathology |
6 blocks |
| Senior Cardiac/Liver/Kidney biopsy rotation |
1 block |
In appropriate circumstances, up to one year of the program can be outside Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology and could include training in another branch of the laboratory, in research or in a clinical field. Most residents choose to do subspecialty anatomical pathology electives. Many residents complete a Medical Education elective (1 block) offered by the PGME. The elective time is very flexible and is utilized to strengthen skills and provide opportunities to explore potential career choices.
