Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Subspecialty Residency Program

Comprehensive Clinical Exposure

Train within one of Canada's largest child and adolescent mental health catchment areas, serving over 1.5 million people across Edmonton, northern Alberta, rural communities, and Canada's North.

Our residents gain experience across:

• Acute inpatient psychiatry
• Emergency psychiatry
• Consultation-liaison psychiatry
• Eating disorders
• Infant and preschool psychiatry
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Forensic psychiatry
• Community psychiatry
• Rural and northern mental health (Yukon)
• Residential treatment programs and rehabilitation psychiatry

Individualized Training

Our small program size allows flexibility to develop personalized training experiences through:

• Longitudinal continuity clinics
• Electives
• Psychotherapy training
• Scholarly projects
• Leadership opportunities

Exceptional Faculty

Residents learn from nationally recognized clinicians, educators, and researchers dedicated to resident development and mentorship.

Supportive Culture

We foster a collaborative and welcoming environment where resident wellness, mentorship, and professional growth are prioritized.

A Diverse and Comprehensive Clinical Experience

Residents rotate through a variety of academic, community, hospital, and specialized settings designed to provide broad exposure across the developmental spectrum.

Transition To Discipline & Foundations Rotations

Emergency Department, Urgent Clinic & Community Clinics

Introduction to child psychiatry at the Stollery Children' s Hospital.  There is close staff supervision as you become acquainted with the program. Choose from a variety of clinics and day hospital programs in the Foundations stage, both through Alberta Health Services and CASA Child, Adolescent & Family Mental Health

Core Rotations

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Stollery Children's Hospital)

Work alongside pediatric subspecialists at the Stollery Children's Hospital, providing psychiatric assessment and treatment for medically complex children and youth.

Infant & Preschool Psychiatry (Outpatient clinic & CASA)

Develop expertise in early childhood mental health, attachment, parent-child relationships, and developmental disorders through specialized infant mental health services.

Eating Disorders (University of Alberta Hospital)

Gain experience in multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of youth with eating disorders across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Forensic Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Outpatient programs & Alberta Hospital Edmonton)

Work with youth involved in legal systems while learning about risk assessment, youth justice, and forensic consultation.

Acute Inpatient Psychiatry (Royal Alexandra Hospital)

Manage complex psychiatric presentations within specialized child and adolescent inpatient units.

Residential Psychiatry (CASA House)

Participate in multidisciplinary care within specialized therapeutic treatment settings.

Rural & Northern Psychiatry (Yukon or rural Alberta)

Explore mental health service delivery in rural, remote, and northern communities through unique Alberta and Yukon experiences.

Psychotherapy training is integrated throughout residency through dedicated supervision, seminars, and longitudinal clinical experiences.

Residents gain clinical expertise in:

• Family Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Group Psychotherapy
• Behavioural Interventions
• Crisis Management

Additional therapy experiences include:

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
• Mentalization-Based Therapy
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

Unique Family Therapy Opportunities

Residents participate in longitudinal family therapy experiences and benefit from dedicated supervision from experienced family therapists and community partners.

Innovative and Resident-Centered Learning

Our academic curriculum combines local expertise, national educational opportunities, and experiential learning.

Core Seminar Series

• Developmental Psychopathology
• Normal Development
• Psychopharmacology
• Family Therapy
• Individual Psychotherapy

National Curriculum

Residents participate in the National Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Seminar Series alongside trainees from across Canada.

Simulation-Based Learning

Our co-created patient simulation curriculum allows residents to practice challenging clinical, leadership, and communication skills in a safe learning environment.

The WIDER LENS Curriculum

Our unique locally developed curriculum focuses on skills essential for modern psychiatric practice: This includes: 

• Wellness
• Integration of Work & Life
• Difficult Discussions & Dispute Resolution
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism
• Reflective Practice
• Leadership, Ethics, New Starts, Systems & Organizations
• These sessions prepare residents for successful and sustainable careers in psychiatry.

Leadership development is woven throughout training.

Residents actively participate in:

• Residency Program Committee
• Division and Section Meetings
• Quality Improvement Initiatives
• Curriculum Development
• Advocacy Projects

Our residents have held leadership roles within:

• Canadian Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Canadian Psychiatric Association
• Alberta Medical Association
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

The University of Alberta offers outstanding opportunities for residents interested in research, quality improvement, education, and scholarship.

Residents may pursue:

• Clinical Research
• Quality Improvement Projects
• Medical Education Scholarship
• Program Evaluation
• Knowledge Translation

Advanced Academic Opportunities

Residents may also pursue:

• Master of Science (MSc)
• Master of Health Sciences Education (MHSE)
• Doctoral (PhD) Studies

Faculty mentorship helps residents align scholarly activities with their career goals.

Training Beyond Edmonton

The University of Alberta has a longstanding commitment to serving rural and northern communities.

Residents may participate in training experiences in:

• Rural Alberta
• Suburban and community clinics
• Whitehorse, Yukon

These experiences provide unique perspectives on healthcare delivery, advocacy, and community engagement.

A Close-Knit Community

One of the greatest strengths of our program is our culture.

Residents work closely with faculty and one another, creating a supportive environment that values:

• Collaboration
• Mentorship
• Wellness
• Professional Growth
• Work-Life Integration

Whether exploring Edmonton's river valley, attending festivals, skiing in the Rockies, or participating in local arts and sports communities, residents find Edmonton to be an exceptional place to live and train.