Program Summary

• In Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology, we examine approximately 115,000 surgical cases and 210,000 gynecologic/10,000 non-gynecologic cytology cases per year, and perform approximately 210 adult and 350 pediatric/fetal autopsies per year.

• Our program hosts 2 major examinations per year

• We provide our trainees with a Professional Allowance

• Trainees can apply for up to $4,000 for internally supported research projects which is awarded through the Trainee Led Project Support Initiative Fund.

Our program participates in the annual CaRMS match and accepts three CMG (Canadian Medical Graduate) and one AIMG (Alberta International Medical Graduate) residents per year into a five year program. Training in diagnostic and molecular pathology is conducted at all of Calgary's major laboratory facilities: The Foothills Medical Center, South Health Campus, the Rockyview General Hospital, Peter Lougheed Hospital, and Alberta Children's' Hospitals, the Chief Medical Examiner's Office and the Diagnostic Scientific Centre (DSC).  The first year of training is split between Transition to Discipline and Foundations of Discipline orientation blocks and general clinical blocks.  This is followed by four years of training in diagnostic and molecular pathology including surgical pathology, autopsy pathology, pediatric pathology, cytopathology, and forensic pathology as well as other surgical pathology sub-specialties. 

The elective periods of the residency can also include time in the clinical pathology disciplines (hematopathology, medical microbiology, and clinical biochemistry), electives in outside institutions (often a means of preparing for a fellowship year after RCPSC qualification), and research.

In recent years, multiple international rotations have been set up as well as rotations in smaller Alberta communities. There is some financial support available for rotations in rural settings through the Distributed Learning Rural Initiative grant, managed by our Post Graduate office.

Research is a core component of the training program. Residents participate in an annual Research Day, and have ongoing research projects throughout their final four years of training. Our program has been internationally recognized for achievement in resident research, and all of our recent residents have travelled extensively to present original research at national and international conferences.

Laboratory medicine was amalgamated in Calgary in the 1990s. For residents, this means that the training program accesses a patient population of over one million people on a common laboratory database with ~65 staff pathologists, most of whom have sub-specialty interests within pathology. 

In Calgary, we have new laboratory facilities at the DSC, South Health Campus, and Alberta Childrens' Hospitals. Laboratories at Rockyview and Peter Lougheed were recently renovated. Our core teaching facility at the Foothills Medical Center moved into a new space in 2015. This new department at the Foothills is on the 7th floor of the McCaig Tower and features state of the art teaching infrastructure. The Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre was constructed at the Foothills Campus and will house new laboratory spaces for Molecular Genetic Pathology, Hematopathology, Cellular Therapy, as well as the Histocompatibility and Immunogenics Laboratories -- move into these new spaces is being planned for 2025.

2 blocks TTD Orientation (FMC)

1 block Gastroenterology

1 block Medical Oncology (FMC)

1 block Gynecologic Oncology (FMC)

2 blocks Clinical Elective

2 blocks FoD Orientation (FMC)

2 blocks Surgical Pathology (FMC)

2 block (adult) Autopsy (FMC) 

R2

8-9 blocks Surgical Pathology (FMC/PLC/DSC/RGH/SHC)

1-2 blocks (Adult) Autopsy (FMC) 

3 blocks Elective

R3/R4

3 blocks cytopathology (DSC) 

1 block renal pathology/electron microscopy (FMC)

2 blocks pediatric pathology (ACH) 

2 blocks forensic pathology (OCME) 

2 blocks neuropathology (FMC)

2 blocks GU pathology (RGH) (may be split)

1 block lymph node pathology (FMC)

1 block bone marrow pathology (FMC)

2 blocks molecular genetic pathology (molecular, cytogenetics, genetic & genomics) 

1 block dermatopathology (DSC) 

3-4 blocks Chief Resident FMC

4-6 blocks other AP Selective rotations

13 blocks DMP Selective Rotations in a junior staff role

Q. Why are we posting this? Isn't this supposed to be a secret?

A.  We follow the Best Practices in Applications and Selection Guidelines which advocates a far and transparent process for application review, interviews, and ranking. The BPAS guidelines are endorsed by the U of C's PGME office.Q.  What do we look for in an applicant?

• Documented interest and experience in the specialty, as evidenced by previous pathology elective rotations or observerships, past or upcoming.

• Aptitude for anatomical pathology (strong evaluations from pathology electives, and at least one letter of reference from a pathologist)

• Broad and well-rounded medical knowledge (strong medical school performance +/- exam scores)

• Excellent written and spoken English skills and non-verbal communication skills

• Evidence of research and teaching ability

• Desirable personality attributes such as collegiality, teamwork skills, leadership skills, conflict management ability, and time management skills

• Strong professionalism attributes (including integrity, reliability, collegiality, resilience, punctuality and responsibility)

Q.  How do we select applicants for interview?

A.  We accept applications through CaRMS, and consider applications from Canadian-trained medical students in that match. In the 2022 match our program will offer three spots to Canadian medical graduates.   We currently do not have the capacity to consider sponsored international applicants or applicants for re-entry training positions. There is a mechanism for International applicants (sponsored IMG's), those persons are to contact imgapps@ucalgary.ca for other programs that may take IMG applicants. International applicants are reviewed by a program only after they have satisfied all conditions of the Post Graduate Medical Education Office at the University of Calgary. 

Each year we have more qualified applicants than interview spots.  A team of 6-8 independent reviewers, consisting of staff pathologists and current anatomical pathology residents, scores each CaRMS application based on the degree of fit with our program's selection criteria.

The scores are averaged, and the applicants with the highest overall scores are invited for an interview.  Applicants with widely divergent scores, as well as applicants with scores at the borderline of the interview threshold, receive further discussion prior to final a decision.

Please note that applicants with no previous anatomical pathology experience are generally deemed unqualified, and will not be considered for an interview.

Q.  How does our interview process work?

A.  We offer two interview days during the designated CaRMS season.  In 2022, All interviews will be virtual through the Zoom platform. When invited for an interview, applicants are asked to provide their first choice and second choice of date, and whether they prefer morning or afternoon.  Unfortunately, due to the complexity of our interview process, we are unable to accommodate requests for interviews outside of the designated interview days.

We make every attempt to conduct our interviews in the most fair, transparent, and equitable way possible.  We use a panel format for our interviews.  Both staff pathologists and current anatomical pathology residents serve as interviewers.  Each applicant rotates through four different panels of two interviewers and each interview lasts about 25 minutes.  Each panel has a designated set of standardized questions that are asked of all interviewees.  As with the initial CaRMS file review, each interviewer scores each applicant independently and objectively.

Obviously, the interview is also intended as a way for applicants to get to know our program, and decide if they would be happy training here.  Therefore, the interview includes ample time for interviewees to ask questions of current residents and staff.  The interview process takes about half a day.

Q.  How do we decide how to rank applicants?

A.  This is a complex process which involves a face-to-face meeting of the interview committee immediately after the interviews are complete.  The interview scores are combined with the CaRMS file review scores in order to determine the rank order.  Sometimes scores are tied or are very close.   In that case, there is a group discussion about the rank order.

We take pride in the fact that all members of the selection committee, including our current residents, have an equal voice in ranking decisions.  We make every effort to rank applicants objectively based on how well they meet our program selection criteria, and on our perception of their ability to succeed and thrive in our residency program.

Q. Do I need to do an AP elective at the U of C in order to be considered for an interview?

A.  No. However, if you have a strong interest in our program, we highly recommend coming for an elective here, since it will allow you to get to know the program better, and will help you make a more informed decision.