Program Highlights
What makes Calgary's PM&R program unique?
Comprehensive Program Encompassing all Subspecialties & Rotations
Calgary PM&R encompasses every subspecialty of physiatry including pediatric, interventional MSK, burn, cancer and trauma rehabilitation. Many of these subspecialties are not present at every center in Canada. As a result, many Out-of-Town and Out-of-Province residents do electives in these areas here, when UofC PM&R residents are afforded and prioritized for these opportunities in their program.
If there are areas of special interest Physiatry that residents would like to pursue outside of Calgary (examples including very specific procedures or particular rehabilitation populations), we fully support these experiences at other institutions through elective rotations.
Anatomy & Interventional MSK Training
Residents have a variety of opportunities to train in the use of ultrasound, including:
Ultrasound-guided injection training sessions in the cadaver lab
Ultrasound Symposiums organized by Calgary physiatrist Dr. Rodney Li Pi Shan, including didactic and hands-on training
MSK rotations at Kinesis Medical Centre (a core rotation in MSK), Infini Health, and Vivo Cura, all of which provide experience and development of ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided procedures.
Calgary PM&R Residents undergoing these rotations graduate from the program competent and confident to perform these procedures in independent practice. Some residents have chosen to pursue further training either informally or through fellowships to add to their proficiency while practicing as staff.
2019 Calgary PM&R Ultrasound Symposium
2022 Academic Half Day Ultrasound Teaching
Strong Neuromuscular & Electromyography Training
Our Neuromuscular NCS/EMG rotation is headed by neuromuscular neurologist Dr. Sam Chhibber. Residents work in EMG clinics throughout all four tertiary hospitals and multiple community clinics with neurologists and physiatrists.
All Calgary PM&R residents opting to challenge the EMG licensing exam via the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (CSCN) have been able to do so successfully, including nine residents in the last 5 years who have gone on to include NCS/EMG in their clinical practice.
Unique EMG opportunities in Calgary:
Regular EMG/waveform rounds and Preston/Shapiro rounds.
Multidisciplinary peripheral nerve clinic with neurologists, plastic surgeons and neurosurgeons
Multidisciplinary neuromuscular clinic with neurologists and allied health therapists
EMG in physiatry clinics such as Kinesis Medical Centre where simultaneous physiatric interventions can be implemented during EMG appointments to help treat patients, such as carpal tunnel steroid injections
Excellent Funding
Calgary PM&R residents have excellent funding in comparison to most programs. This includes:
$2000 yearly per resident to spend on textbooks, courses, and conference expenses
$2000 during training to attend one CAPMR review course
$500 during training to attend one American review course
The program also provides funding for residents to attend a one-block research course, funding for two wellness retreats, wellness mentorship meetings, and for the annual divisional educational retreat.
Residents attending the 2023 CAPM&R Annual Assembly in Prince Edward Island.
Program Collegiality and Focus on Wellness
All programs aim for resident collegiality and well-being, particularly when all health care providers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Calgary program has taken active steps in major ways:
Two resident-led wellness retreats with funding
Development of a Wellness committee led by physiatrist Dr. Vishal Tulsi, meeting multiple times a year to check in on residents, address areas of well-being and advocate for residents at Division Meetings
Academic Half Days in July & August consist of half the time in academic activity, then half the time in an outdoor wellness event as a resident group.
Residents participating in the 2023 winter wellness event
The Dr. Stone Competency-By-Design (CBD) Introductory Boot Camp
Incoming residents receive introductory teaching to CBD and Physiatry during one half day per week to prepare them for residency. These sessions are taught & led by senior residents, and facilitated by the program director. Topics include:
The structure of CBD and how it works
Tips and tricks to obtain feedback and evaluations
The logistics of the residency program including Academic Half Day and resident events
What to know for your off-service rotations and physiatry call
Introductions to the principles of neurorehabilitation and MSK rehabilitation.
The Boot Camp includes tours of various areas of neurorehabilitation in the hospital, time for interaction and mentorship with senior residents, and great lunches courtesy of the program director.
The CBD Boot Camp was largely initiated and first led in 2020 by Calgary PM&R resident, Dr. Jacqui Stone, in her PGY-5 year as part of her interest in medical education. She now practices at the Alberta Neurologic Centre.
What is the program working on?
Our program is continually developing and looking to improve both in our residency training and our division as a whole. Here are some of the areas where we are always looking to improve and evolve:
Continual recruitment of academic physiatrists with an interest in neurorehabilitation including brain injury, stroke and prosthetics & orthotics
Development of cancer rehabilitation in conjunction with the construction and eventual opening of the new Calgary Cancer Centre
Physiatry training and clinical involvement in the management of baclofen pumps
Extending the reach of physiatry in inpatient rehabilitation services beyond the Tertiary Neurorehabilitation Unit at Foothills Medical Centre, to other centres throughout the city
Developing Transition To Practice plans and rotations for CBD residents in their final year of residency training
Incorporating Equity, Diversity & Inclusion initiatives into training experiences