Enhanced Skills

Addiction Medicine

Welcome to the Addiction Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alberta.

Unique

ADDICTION MEDICINE FOCUS BASED IN FAMILY MEDICINE

ADAPTABLE

OUR PROGRAM IS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR INTERESTS TO MAKE YOUR ADDICTIONS RESIDENT EXPERIENCE FIT YOUR FUTURE GOALS

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ADDICTION MEDICINE IS AN IN DEMAND FIELD OF MEDICINE THAT IS CONTINUING TO GROW IN RELEVANCE AND SIZE

Interview/CaRMS Specific Information

Interviews will be offered in a panel format and will be virtual. Dates will be arranged with each individual.

We are looking for Family Physicians (CCFP required) with outstanding verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They need to be able to actively listen and convey empathy. They must be able to inspire confidence and win the trust of patients and families. They must also work well within the team environment, respecting the rights and dignity of each and every patient, family, and coworker. They must also have strong clinical strengths regarding their ability to gather, synthesize, and act upon complex clinical information.

Welcome to Our Program

The program focuses on the holistic primary care of people with substance use disorders and behavioural addictions. The majority of time is spent in primary care settings, principally a community health centre (Radius Community Health and Healing formerly known as the Boyle McCauley Health Centre) which provides care almost exclusively on the lower socioeconomic, street-involved/homeless population with multiple medical, psychiatric and social comorbidities. Using a Competency-Based Medical Education format, the program is designed to ensure participants have documented achievement of the broad range of competencies required to qualify for the CFPC's CAC in Addiction Medicine. This program will appeal to those who intend to integrate addiction care into a primary care practice in special or marginalized populations.

This program has been designed from the ground up to embody the principles of the Triple C Competency-based Curriculum, to provide a learning environment that includes all aspects of the CanMEDS-FM competency framework, and to allow its graduates to confidently provide high-quality addiction care, whether in the context of general primary care for those with substance use disorders including marginalized populations, or in specialized settings such as detox and inpatient/outpatient treatment centres, hospital and consult services, or any area where the expertise in addiction and primary care best serve the community.

Dr. Mat Rose

Program Director

Our Staff

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Mat Rose BA MA MD CCFP (AM)
Program Director

Mat has been a family doc working at Radius since finishing his Family Medicine residency at the U of Alberta in 1999. He was the Medical Director at the BMHC for 14 years, and continues as Associate Medical Director since 2018. His chequered career includes chairing the group that established the first CPSA Methadone Maintenance Treatment Standards and Guidelines working group, as well as working with and chairing other CPSA committees. Mat was involved in the group that developed the Edmonton North Primary Care Network, and he served on its board for many years, including Secretary/Treasurer for 6 years. In 2016-18 he was a Member of the CFPC Working Group for the Assessment of Competence in Addictions Medicine, which established the Priority Topics and Key Features for Addiction Medicine.

Mat’s non-medical background (and first two degrees) were in language and literature. He enrolled in and dropped out of an MA in Philosophy several years ago, as he was unable to manage both a full time course load and a near full time practice. Philosophical rabbit holes remain one of his favourite things!

But through it all, it is his work as a primary care physician that has kept his feet on the ground, even when his head is in the clouds. Mat believes that unless the treatment of addiction is closely entwined with general primary care, people aren’t receiving the best possible care: this is why he advocates so strongly for an Enhanced Skills program that makes primary care an integral part of Addiction Medicine competence.

Our Program

The program runs for one year and is an Enhanced Skills Program that is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Entry into the Addiction Medicine program is contingent on successful completion of the Certification in the College of Family Physicians (CCFP).

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As a resident you are an integral part of the team. You make a difference.

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Patients are the focus of our centre. Your work impacts their lives.

Program Highlights

Customizable program to accommodate learner practice interests.

The interdisciplinary team at Radius Community Health & Healing offers a unique/holistic environment for the learning of Addiction Medicine.

Practice Quality Improvement projects, a research project and clinical teaching opportunities round out the skills development in the program.

We use the Patient's Medical Home (PMH) model, the future of family practice in Canada. Exposure to this system will enhance your learning experience.

Radius has 10 family physicians, 6 of which have their CAC AM designation.

Resident support program access in conjunction with Family Medicine Department.

Residency at a Glance

Core Program Rotations

50% of clinic time is at Radius Community Health & Healing
Rotations include horizontal and block time
In-Hospital addiction consult service
Chronic Pain clinics
OAT clinics
Detox facilities
Residential and outpatient treatment facilities

Elective Time

Elective time is built around the learner's interests, needs and future practice.

Service Learning

Service learning is encouraged through participation in our Women's and Men's Groups, or facilitating recovery groups.

Teaching LOCATIONS

Your year will be customized to fit your interests and your placements may include the following sites.

Radius Community Health & Healing

Chronic Pain Management clinics
Detox and Shelters
Residential treatment facilities
Opioid Agonist Therapy clinics
Primary care/primary healthcare clinics serving marginalized populations

Radius/BMHC Resident testimonials

"Coming into residency, my goals were to become a socially accountable, comprehensive family physician that worked within an interdisciplinary team to provide care to patients with structural disadvantages. It was at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre that I was supported to provide total patient, relationship-centered care, and develop skills in addictions medicine and trauma-informed care that incorporated the complex biological, psychological and social needs of our patient population. Here I found my people and I look forward to working with them as a colleague after I graduate." - Linda Lam, MD, CCFP

"The Boyle McCauley Health Centre (BMHC) is an excellent institution to train in family medicine and addiction medicine. As an R1/R2 in family medicine, I had the pleasure of being based at the BMHC. I have since gone on to complete an R3 year in addiction medicine and the BMHC has well-prepared me for this subspecialized field.

The BMHC is located in a low socioeconomic area of Edmonton and services a high-needs patient population. 67% of patients who receive care at the BMHC have an ACE score of 10/10 (https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html). For example, it is not uncommon for a given patient to present with comorbid opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and complex PTSD. By necessity, the physicians who work in this setting are well-versed in identifying and managing these conditions while also being flexible to meet patients "where they are at," all in the context of holistic primary care. These same physicians are keen on engaging learners in caring for their patients, making trainees an active and essential part of the team. In addition to working with physician providers, the BMHC sports a diverse team of NPs, nurses, social workers, support workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and more. The physical structure is unique as in addition to the clinical space and the above service providers, there is an on-site safe injection site, a clean supplies distribution service, and a laboratory/imaging suite. The in-house availability of these services allows for effective primary care provision to individuals who would otherwise struggle to attend appointments for basic investigations. I highly recommend training at the BMHC if your goal is to refine your approach to the management of substance use disorders within a primary care context." - Adam Rocker, MD, CCFP

"I completed my family medicine residency training with Boyle McCauley as my home site for 2 years. If it's any testament to the welcoming environment and meaningful patient interactions that are ingrained in this community health site, I decided to continue working at Boyle McCauley as a family physician and have spent my first year in practice here developing and caring for a patient panel. The training I obtained in my residency setting developed knowledge of substance use disorders, opioid agonist therapy, complex emotional trauma, psychiatric conditions, financial insecurity and navigating Edmonton's inner city social agencies.

This can be a challenging but rewarding area of training, and I felt like the challenging patient situations at this clinic related to complex social situations, personality disorders, and history of personal trauma helped me to focus on some of the more complex social skills that can be talked about in training but that can really only be learnt when actually dealing with these situations. For example, setting up boundaries with patients, dealing with suspected medication misuse, navigating homelessness, financial insecurity and medication coverage, communication skills, and de-escalation of an agitated patient.

My learning experiences and amazing mentors helped me learn more about substance use disorders, opioid agonist therapy including injectable therapy, complex trauma, financial insecurity, and psychiatric conditions. I have been able to directly use the skills from residency training, which I imagine would be similar but more focused and expanded in an R3 program, to continue into practicing independently in the community.

The work environment here is really excellent - you work closely with nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, and psychologists in a multi-faceted approach.

I also did horizontal electives at ARCH (in hospital addiction medicine), detox, and residential treatment programs which helped round out my training to other community organizations and resources.

Overall, what I would say is the most rewarding part of training in this environment is getting to know patients' life experiences, stories, and resilience." - Bailey Sorochan, MD, CCFP

"Training at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre was a unique and powerful experience. The BMHC provides a holistic center for care of people who use drugs, those with complex social circumstances, and others in the inner city community of Edmonton. It is an excellent location to develop skills in addiction and family medicine with passionate professionals who make strong educators. You will develop significant skills in the primary care for patients with significant medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and feel confident managing complex addictions. There are a multitude of allied health to learn from including nursing, social work, and counsellors as well as visiting professionals such as psychiatrists and pediatricians. Of most importance, the team dynamic and culture at the BMHC is unmatched, and I truly felt like a valuable member of the clinic." - Cole Sugden, MD, CCFP