While the terms "fellow" and "resident" may be used interchangeably in casual conversation, in Respirology at the University of Alberta, there are important distinctions.

Respirology Specifics at UAlberta 

Respirology Residents: Trainees in the Adult Respirology Residency Program undergo a structured 2-year sub-specialty residency (usually following an Internal Medicine residency) to achieve their core Royal College certification. Their rotations include general respirology, bronchoscopy, sleep medicine, and critical care.

Respirology Fellows: Physicians who already hold a specialty certification in respirology (or a related field) and want to gain highly concentrated, specialized expertise not required for basic certification. UAlberta offers specialized fellowships, such as advanced Sleep Medicine or neuromuscular respiratory failure training.

Administrative and Licensing Details: Both groups are registered through the UAlberta Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) office, but they require different credentials with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)

Residents typically hold a Postgraduate Trainee Register license.
Fellows generally must meet independent licensure requirements or advanced fellowship-specific criteria.