Application Process

Get ready for residency

We’re looking for mature candidates with good clinical, problem-solving, self-assessment and interpersonal skills—plus plenty of motivation.

If you have these skills, we encourage you to apply via the Canadian Resident Matching Service.  

FAQ's and Resident Insight

What is the program like and what sets you apart from the other programs accross the country?

 - Our program accepts six residents annually.  "As co-residents we are also friends and support one another.  Our staff know us on a name-to-name basis, even as junior residents."  This is in part due to the size of the program, but also because there is a lot of operative time with staff.

OR Exposure/Rotations as a Junior Resident:

- Juniors begin operating right away and spend little time off service.  Our program offers exposure to multiple subspecialties, including Transplant, Pediatric Surgery and Oncology, etc without the presence of many Fellows.  This means our residents are first/second assist for virtually all cases.  You obtain direct feedback from staff while operating and develop confidence in your skills throughout exposure.  
- As a PGY1, you rotate through many General Surgery blocks, including Acute Care Surgery, Pediatric Surgery and two Community Surgery blocks where you spend a lot of time in the OR and often are the first assist.  In addition to learning important patient management and attending clinics.  As a PGY2, your operative experience is vast and are given the opportunity to be first assist in cases like organ retrievals, laparotomies, Thoracics and Vascular cases.  You will perform cholecystectomies, appendectomies, hernia repairs, scopes, wedge resections and other procecdures with the support of the senior residents and staff. 
 - A couple of rotations that set Dalhousie General Surgery apart from other programs include the liver transplant rotation, where junior residents (PGY2) spend two months doing organ retrieval and receipient transplants, and a scoping rotation, where trainees are provided a dedicated two months to learn coloscopyand gastroscopy. 
- Several of our rotations also take place in the community setting, which means you would often independently manage the floor, with support from staff.  This helps to build your skillset in perioperative care early on in training.

Succesful Graduates:

"Having been a student at Dalhousie, I have observed the success of several Dalhousie General Surgery graduates.  It is recognized that, whether our trainees wish to pursue a Fellowship, or begin working in Community Surgery, they have the skillset and ability to do so." 

Halifax:

"As a junior resident, I recognized that I would be busy and that I'd value my time outside of the hospital.  In Halifax, we work between three hospitals, all within walking distance of one another in the downtown core.  Most residents also choose to live in close proximity to the hospitals.  This means you do not need a vehicle and do not spend time in traffice commuting.  This translates to more personal time.  Halifax is a vibrant city, close to several outdoor attractions; we often indulge in post-call days at the beach or coastal hikes on days off!"  
"Halifax is an amazing city to live in.  Halifax has so many amazing restaurants, trails and communities to explore.  A big selling feature for me is that it's located on the ocean!  Regardless of how you decided to spend your time outside of the hospital, Halifax has all amenities of a larger city wtih East Coast hospitality." 

After you apply

If your application meets our requirements, you may be invited to meet residents and attend five multiple mini-interviews in Halifax (this years interviews are being held via Zoom).