Pediatric Nephrology Residency Program
Welcome to the Pediatric Nephrology Residency Program at the University of Alberta.
Renal Transplant Program
Our transplant program is integrated into the Alberta Kidney Care-North infrastructure. Transplants are currently done in children as young as 18 months and up to 18 years of age.
EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE
The Stollery is the second largest hospital in Canada, offers quaternary care, and has the largest geographic catchment area of any children's hospital in North America. Over 2500 children per year are seen in nephrology clinic, providing training exposure to a wide range of cases
Nationally Acclaimed Educators, Researchers and Clinicians
Trainees work with leaders in pediatric nephrology, renal pathology, HLA typing, transplantation and pediatric critical care.
Interview/CaRMS Specific Information
All interviews for the CaRMS match will be held virtually over Zoom. Interview format may be a one on one and/or panel meeting(s). These will include meeting with the Program Coordinator, Program Director, teaching faculty and current trainees. These interviews will focus on communication skills, interpersonal skills, self-reflection, ability to learn from feedback, and ability to work on a team. The process is approximately two to three hours in length and an agenda will be sent in advance.Contact Us
Pediatric Nephrology Residency Program
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology,
University of Alberta
Email: pedsneph@ualberta.ca
Dr. Michelle Ruhl
Program Director, Pediatric Nephrology
Kathleen Blair
Medical Education Program Coordinator (MEPC)
Welcome to Pediatric Nephrology
We offer a two year residency training program, accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. There are additional opportunities for further training in a clinical or research fellowship, or through the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP).
Our program offers a balance of clinical practice and dedicated academic/scholarly sessions, creating a stimulating environment in which to develop your skills in Pediatric Nephrology. We have a faculty with diverse clinical and research interests committed to resident education.
Our program offers exposure to the full spectrum of renal disease in children aged 0-18 years, including general nephrology, acute and chronic renal replacement therapy, and transplantation. Our referral base includes northern and central Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and northeast British Columbia serving a population base of over two million. Trainees are exposed to both common and rare nephrological disorders in inpatient and outpatient settings. The Stollery Children’s hospital includes a general PICU, a dedicated pediatric cardiac ICU and a quaternary NICU. Joint adult-pediatric hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis units offer a unique opportunity to develop expertise in renal replacement therapy. Residents will learn to evaluate a diverse spectrum of renal disease including electrolyte disturbances, glomerulonephritis, congenital urologic disorders, end-stage renal disease. We have well-established joint clinics with Urology,Rheumatology, Hematology, liver and heart transplant and an excellent multidisciplinary team, all of which amplifies the resident learning experience.
Educational curriculum is delivered through a weekly joint adult-pediatric academic half day, additional dedicated pediatric teaching sessions, simulation-based teaching, grand rounds presentations and pathology rounds Trainees are asked to complete in-training evaluations yearly to ensure that they are well prepared for their Pediatric Nephrology Royal College examinations.
Our residency program aligns with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Nephrology Competencies and Training Experiences and follows the Competence by Design model. Please see A Resident's Guide for more information.
Thank you for learning about our program, we look forward to meeting you!
Dr. Michelle Ruhl
Program Director
Program Highlights
Dedicated research training including research methodology (academic half-day curriculum), longitudinal mentored journal club/critical appraisal, and Quality Improvement education through the CSN QI program and divisional Clinical Education rounds.
Delivery of Pediatric Nephrology care close to home through the Nipisihkopahk Clinic, located in the Maskwacis community - one of the only pediatric clinics located on reserve lands in Canada.
Multidisciplinary clinics with pediatric rheumatology, pediatric urology, pediatric solid organ transplant, and high risk prenatal services.
Subspecialty trainees participate in a trainee run continuity clinic.
Overall Rotation schedule
This residency program is for 2 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada standard. A two year rotational curriculum involves the following rotations:
Note: 4 weeks each year allotted to vacation time and 6 additional days for Winter break or Alternate Religious Holiday.
Electives:
- Fluid and Electrolytes
- Pediatric Critical Care (PICU)
- Neonatal Critical Care (NICU)
- Community Nephrology (Dr. Hussein)
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Pediatric Thrombosis (KidClot)
- Genetics
- Adult Glomerulonephritis
- Research
Research Opportunities
Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher Todd Alexander discusses his child health project, developing better treatments for young patients with kidney disease. Dr. Alexander's work is funded by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and its donors.
Teaching Hospitals
The primary training sites for the Pediatric Nephrology Training Program are at the Stollery Children’s Hospital and University of Alberta Hospital.
Resident Testimonials
We asked our residents what they like about Edmonton, their highlights of the program, and one piece of advice for applicants about the interview process. Here is what a few of them had to say:
What are the highlights of the program for you? The program has provided immense opportunities to learn about pediatric nephrology including management of pediatric hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplant recipients. The staff are very supportive and dedicated to teaching. However, it was challenging to adjust to the new electronic health record system of EPIC and being efficient in the clinical work. The program is well funded with trainee funds available for conferences and purchase of resource materials such as books and subscription to online resources. Overall, it is an exciting experience with lots of learning and skill acquisition.
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? My advice to the new applicants is that they should be confident during the interviews and have a clear idea of what their goals of training are.
What are the highlights of the program for you? The wonderful and supportive staff that have mentored me during my training. This program has a shared patient care model that allows for frequent case discussions and having the perspectives of multiple nephrologists for complex cases has been invaluable for learning. In addition, the Stollery is a centre for renal transplant as well as multiple other solid organ transplant programs and it has been a particular highlight to be able to manage and learn nephrology from this group of challenging patients.
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? Be yourself and know what your goals are. This program is a great place to train with excellent clinical exposure, high patient volume and mentors who are world experts in their fields. Best of luck!
What are the highlights of the program for you? The opportunity to manage complex cases across dialysis, transplant, GN and ICU in a high-volume centre. The program offers strong multidisciplinary clinics, accessible and supportive faculty, excellent teaching and simulation opportunities and protected time for scholarly activities. I appreciated the supportive culture and the response to resident feedback.
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? Know what you are looking for in a program, prepare yourself, ask specific questions, and most importantly, be yourself.
What are the highlights of the program for you? The highlights of the Pediatric Nephrology program at the University of Alberta are the diverse clinical exposures and the multidisciplinary approach to patient care. The opportunity to work in an established hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis unit, as well as a renal transplant program, has been incredibly enriching. Additionally, collaborating with urology and rheumatology teams to provide comprehensive care has broadened my perspective on patient management. The mentorship and support from staff members, each with their unique fields of interest, have also been invaluable in enhancing my learning and professional growth.
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? My advice to applicants is to approach the interview with authenticity and enthusiasm. Highlight how your personal interests and goals align with the program’s unique strengths, such as its multidisciplinary approach and specialized care facilities. Share concrete examples from your experiences that demonstrate your passion for pediatric nephrology. Lastly, make sure to ask insightful questions about the program, as it not only reflects your interest but also helps you assess whether it’s the right place to support your career aspirations. My best wishes in your interview!
What are the highlights of the program for you? Everyone you work with is really lovely! From the staff to the residents to the other services, everyone is very kind and hardworking towards the cause of helping kids feel better!
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? This is an excellent place to train, with a good combination of exposure without overwhelming volume. Your colleagues are wonderful and kind. The city has everything you need and is an affordable place to live. These are such important factors when you are at this stage of your life! You cannot go wrong with UofA!
What are the highlights of the program for you? It is a well organized program and has excellent resources. Reading books and online study material are provided for free. The nephrologists are a group of experts in the field. Each one has their own subspecialized interest. The dietitian and the specialty nurses are knowledgeable in their field and they participate in teaching as well. I found all the team members are very interested in teaching and very supportive for trainees. The teaching is intensified and covers all aspects of nephrology. The program is sharpening the skills and knowledge of the trainees, not only in clinical aspects and research but goes beyond that to laboratory and basic sciences. I will never regret being trained here.
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? Be authentic and genuine.
What are the highlights of the program for you? It has different rotations for the development of both clinical and research skills. The hospital offers tertiary nephrology care including dialysis and transplantation so we are exposed to varied complex diseases and situations. The half days are very useful, especially to improve my knowledge on renal physiology. The staff are brilliant nephrologists, always supportive, motivating and ready to teach. The work environment is great!
What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process? Prepare in advance all the questions you may have about the program and feel free to ask them.