Program Info
Program Info
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A welcome message from the Program Director, Core Internal Medicine
A welcome message from the Program Director, Core Internal Medicine
Core Internal Medicine in Canada is a three year program which serves as a foundation for entering into a number of specialty training programs, including General Internal Medicine itself. Upon completion of the Core Internal Medicine Program, subspecialty training in Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Occupational Medicine, Medical Oncology, Pulmonary Medicine, and Rheumatology is offered at the University of Alberta.
The Core Internal Medicine program is designed to meet the educational needs of learners with diverse backgrounds and a wide range of career aspirations. Our primary mission is to inspire and support residents as they strive for excellence in the CanMEDs roles of medical experts, communicators, collaborators, managers, health advocates, scholars, and professionals, within the Competence By Design framework. The overall goal of our program is to foster safe learning environments with a structured progression through the CBD stages, allowing residents to reach their full potential.
We understand that direct patient interactions with appropriate supervision is the most powerful setting for training, and aim to harness this in our academic program and assessment practices. Residents in Core Internal Medicine are mentored, supervised and evaluated by over 200 faculty affiliated with the Department of Medicine representing five Edmonton teaching hospitals (the University of Alberta Hospital and Mazankowski Heart Institute, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the Grey Nuns Hospital and the Cross Cancer Institute), and other community settings including St. Albert, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Yellowknife.
Provision of service is a fundamental part of the program. Residents who harness their experiences by regularly reflecting on their performance and seeking feedback will gain the most out of these short three years. Expert clinical reasoning skills and judgment are the hallmark of a competent internist, and are the natural result of extensive patient contact and rich interactions with supervising staff physicians. Competence By Design is fully integrated into our program, providing residents with increased direct supervision and frequent opportunities for feedback.
While nothing can replace the rich mixture of clinical practice, apprenticeship and formal study that comprise the learning experience of residency, we also strive to ensure that all residents have opportunities to benefit from innovations in teaching, including simulation and evaluation (including direct observation, structured feedback through EPAs, OSCE, Multisource feedback).
The additional skills of research and teaching excellence are integrated into our program. Research is encouraged during the second and third year of residency through research selectives. We encourage all residents to develop their skills in teaching and provide opportunities for residents to nurture career paths in educational scholarship through faculty wide teaching opportunities.
We also strive to be leaders in physician health and well-being. We endorse the philosophy that excellence in residency training and career depends on successful attention to physical and mental health and personal relationships. Amidst the rigors of residency training, the Core Internal Medicine program supports a number of social activities intended to encourage the health of our residents and their families. I am personally committed to meet with our residents one-on-one regularly and at any time to help coach them through anything that might prevent them from reaching their maximum potential during the residency training experience. Sometimes, it will mean acting as an advocate for residents. At other times, it may mean discussing sensitive personal or learning issues which are recurring in their residency experience. The University of Alberta provides numerous avenues for residents to seek advice, should they need it, from the Learning Advocacy and Wellness Office, House Staff Well Being Committee, the Lead Resident(s), Medical Education Manager, or the Medical Education Program Assistants.
Dr. Thirza Carpenter
Dr. Thirza Carpenter
Program Director, Core Internal Medicine, University of Alberta
Program Director, Core Internal Medicine, University of Alberta
Program Overview
Program Overview
High quality subspecialty teaching sessions, subspecialty grand rounds, daily morning report, and weekly Medicine Grand Rounds.
Three core years offer a wide experience in GIM and most subspecialties, including rotations through GI, Hem, Pulm, Nephro. There is gradation of responsibility, with critical care (ICU and CCU) as well as senior rotations scheduled in the PGY2 and PGY3 year.
Subspecialty training is available in most subspecialties, including transplantation.
Opportunities exist to do rural community rotations (eg Red Deer and Grande Prairie).
Ample elective and selective time is offered allowing opportunities for you to choose rotations based on your career goals.
An innovative two-week PGY3 CanMEDS rotation including clinical ethics & communication skills, opportunities to participate in a Simulation Series, as well as facilitated QI training.
Nightfloat and shift systems at the University of Alberta Hospital and Royal Alexandra Hospital respectively for senior residents which improves continuity of care and decreases fatigue.
Adherence to PARA call legislation:
26 hour rule: call duration is limited to 24 consecutive hours plus time for adequate patient sign-over (not to exceed 2 hours) and no new patient care responsibilities will be assumed in that time.
Average call between 1:4 to 1:6
Protected time Thursdays for Academic Half-Day sessions - combination of lectures and small groups coordinated by faculty members; AHD also includes resident prepared presentations.
Regularly scheduled formative in-training exams including end or rotation exams, yearly clinical exams, and the NEJM practice examination.
Numerous opportunities for basic science and clinical research are available. Protected research selective time is offered with an opportunity to participate in the yearly Department of Medicine Research Day.
Funding for conference travel is provided ($650/year).
Internal Medicine Google Sites: Outstanding resource providing single port access to educational resources.
Collegial, hardworking residents who are advocates for their peers and patients.
A very supportive Department and faculty and a strong and supportive residency training program.
A strong commitment by the residents and the Department of Medicine to support residents, foster well-being, and continually improve the program.
We encourage and welcome students from out of province to apply to our program.
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