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Welcome to the General Pediatrics Residency Program at the University of Alberta.

 

Number one

LEADER IN SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

 

Thirteen

SUBSPECIALTY PROGRAMS

 

Eight

RURAL OUTREACH SITES THROUGHOUT ALBERTA & NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Interview/CaRMS Specific Information 

We look forward to meeting you at our live events.

Check out the dates on the CANPREPP portal
Our group is an exciting bunch. We encourage you to ask questions and have some fun.

All interviews will be conducted virtually using Zoom as our interview platform. 

There will be a welcome and registration with the Program Directors on the day of your interview, we will email you your schedule with all your schedule details. 

We interview using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Format. Our MMI circuit consists of:

  • Seven stations: five stations are related to various CanMEDS roles, and two stations are interactive.
  • The stations are eight minutes, with two minutes between for reading the stem.

While you are with us, you will:

  • Have a virtual welcome with our Program Directors.
  • Have your MMI Interview.
  • Have a virtual guided tour by one or two of our fabulous residents.

The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Process was adopted by the University of Alberta, Pediatrics Residency Program in 2005. The MMI process allows for independent assessments by different interviewers based on different scenarios, during a timed circuit of seven stations. Applicants are individually scored and ranked by each interviewer.

The University of Alberta Pediatrics MMI circuit consists of five CanMEDS based scenarios and two personal stations.

Candidate applications are reviewed and scored separately by a small committee and this results in our offer to interview with us. One interviewer per track reviews your personal letter, all other interviewers are blind to your application.

MMI Interview tracks are 10 minutes per station in total including two minutes to read the scenario and eight minutes to respond to the scenario. 

There will be a countdown timer at the top of the top of the screen during your virtual MMI.

*Tip: If you feel you performed poorly in a station, don't worry, take a deep breath & calm yourself before you move onto the next station. This is a benefit of the MMI process!*

Once you have responded to the scenario to the best of your ability, you may tell the interviewer you have completed your response. If there is time remaining, the interviewers are trained to not engage in any additional/personal conversations. This often results in sitting in silence for the time remaining; while we recognize this can be somewhat uncomfortable, for both the candidate and the interviewer, silence is okay and should not be construed as negative. It is just meant to standardize the process.

Every attempt is made to ensure that interviewers do not know the candidates they are interviewing,  however, it does happen occasionally. We explicitly have interviewers identify any conflicts of interest ahead of the MMI process. If you know one of your interviewers, please carry on with the station.

Contact Information

General Pediatrics Residency Program
Department of Pediatrics,
University of Alberta 
genpeds@ualberta.ca
780-248-5538 
Pediatric Division Page


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Jessica Foulds
Program Director

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Anna Serebrin
Assistant Program Director

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Jodi Gartner
Program Administrator

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Cassie Rivait  
Program Administrator

Welcome to our program

Edmonton offers economical, accessible living for the lifestyle you choose. We are fortunate to have a great team including residents, administrative personnel, allied health and faculty. We all work together to promote the health of children and their families. Some of our strengths include the tremendous clinical diversity, rural and northern locations, international health opportunities, and health advocacy. In fact, as a part of their health advocacy initiative our residents formed a community pediatric clinic in the Maskwacis Cree community. This advocacy project was recognized by the Canadian Pediatric Society and received a CPS Health Advocacy Grant and has now grown into a full-time clinic run by a local pediatrician.

We provide services and education in all pediatric subspecialties including exposure to unique programs. The Stollery Children's Hospital is the referral center for all pediatric liver and small bowel transplants, and all pediatric cardiac surgeries including cardiac transplant in Western Canada. Our two pediatric intensive care units (Medical/Surgical and Cardiac) and Pediatric Emergency see a wide variety of pediatric diagnoses. Our residents have gone on to meaningful careers across North America both in the community and as academic faculty in General Pediatrics and subspecialties.

Our program boasts outstanding exam preparation opportunities, personal and academic mentorship opportunities as well as award winning educators. The department's collaboration with the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI), as well as being the home of world renowned researchers, enables a well supported resident research program.

We are delighted by the opportunity to meet you!

Jessica Foulds
Program Director


Our Program

We are a fully accredited program that follows the guidelines set out by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Our program is four core years spent in general pediatrics.

UofA General Pediatrics Mission sTATEMENT 

To support, educate, and foster the development of pediatricians in their preparation for the breadth and depth of pediatrics practice. We strive to do this in a dynamic manner that is mindful of the well-being of the learners, patients, their families and the greater community we serve. 

Program Highlights

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Experience in the inpatient and ambulatory care settings

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Exposure to large variety of pediatric subspecialty rotations
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Rural and northern community based rotations in 2nd and 3rd years of training

Large referral base

Excellent resident research opportunities


Residency at a Glance

Learn about each year of the program with an overview of each year.

Year 1
3 blocks - Transition to Discipline (TTD)
10 blocks - Foundations of Discipline (F)
  • 12 weeks - Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU - junior)
  • 4 weeks - NICU
  • 4 weeks - Emergency
  • 4 weeks - Developmental Pediatrics (Junior)
  • 4 weeks - Pediatric Surgery
  • 12 weeks - Selective (opportunity to do sub-specialty)
  • 2 weeks - Research
  • 4 weeks - Ambulatory
  • 4 weeks - Night Float
  • 4 weeks - Vacation
Year 2
13 blocks - Core of Discipline (C)
  • 8 weeks - Pediatric Intensive Care
  • 4 weeks - NICU
  • 2 weeks - Research
  • 10 weeks - Selective (opportunity to do sub-specialty)
  • 8 weeks - Elective (call free)
  • 4 weeks - Rural (rural or urban)
  • 4 weeks - Clinical Teaching Unit (team 3)
  • 4 weeks - Social Pediatrics
  • 4 weeks - Night Float
  • 4 weeks - Vacation
Year 3
13 blocks - Core of Discipline (C)
  • 4 weeks - Developmental Pediatrics (Senior)
  • 12 weeks - Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU - senior)
  • 8 weeks - Elective (call free)
  • 4 weeks - Community Rural (away rural, i.e. Yellowknife/Red Deer)
  • 4 weeks - Emergency
  • 4 weeks - NICU
  • 6 weeks - Selective (opportunity to do sub-specialty)
  • 4 weeks - Mental Health
  • 3 weeks - Night Float
  • 1-4 weeks - Research (1 week allotted for research, however flexible with selective time)
  • 4 weeks - Vacation
Year 4
4-5 blocks - Core of Discipline (C)
8-9 blocks - Transition to Practice (TTP)
  • 4 weeks - NICU
  • 4 weeks - Emergency
  • 3 weeks - Night Float
  • 1 week - Research (if needed)
  • 28 weeks - Selective (designed to complement the resident's career objectives) / Clinics
  • 8 weeks - Elective (call free)
  • 4 weeks - Vacation

Teaching Hospitals

We are a fully accredited program that follows the guidelines set out by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Our program is four core years spent in general pediatrics at multiple locations.

University of Alberta Hospital 

Royal Alexandra Hospital 

Stollery Children's Hospital 

Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

Grey Nuns Community Hospital

Misericordia Community Hospital 

UAH and STARS helicopter

RURAL ROTATIONS AND OUTREACH CLINIC OPPORTUNITIES

Our referral base is approximately two million people in Alberta from the north and Western Arctic, as well as northeastern British Columbia. As such, we are excited to be able to offer our residents rural rotations in Red Deer and Yellowknife (NWT) as well as out-reach clinic opportunities in Maskwacis and High Level.
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The referral base for the University of Alberta General Pediatrics stretches across northwestern Canada. Some of the key resident training centres are indicated.

Subspecialties

During General Pediatric training, residents have the opportunity to rotate through a wide variety of subspecialties led by excellent and dedicated teaching staff. Many of these subspecialty rotations have a residency training program of their own. The Department of Pediatrics is proud to offer 13 Royal College Accredited subspecialty programs, as well as many fellowship programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does your night float system look like?
Our night float system is a hybrid system, designed to minimize time away from other rotations while optimizing resident wellbeing and mitigate fatigue risk. A week on night float would consist of four night shifts that run from 5 p.m.-8 a.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. All other shifts are split shifts with no 24 hour in-house weekend call for general pediatrics.
How many residents go into subspecialty compared to general pediatrics?
On average, it is a 50/50 split.
What opportunities are available for outreach?

We offer flexible elective opportunities for those interested in rural/regional training

Including opportunities in:

  • Yellowknife
  • Red Deer
  • Grand Praire
  • Slave Lake
  • Cold Lake
  • High Level
  • Saddle Lake
  • Maskwacis
What is your biggest strength as a program?
Our people. Faculty and support staff are dedicated to providing you with the best, most diverse pediatric education possible.
What are the challenges in your training?

Implementation of Competence by Design is a new curricular change that we are navigating through and embracing!

More opportunities for longitudinal NICU experience as our general pediatric call coverage does not include labour and delivery.


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.
aran yukseloglu

What do you like about Edmonton: Edmonton combines some of the charms of a smaller city with plenty of the amenities, festivals, and events that you’d find in one of Canada’s bigger cities. On top of this, there are countless delicious restaurants to check out, and a seemingly endless expanse of lovely areas along the river valley to explore. The mountains are also just a quick trip away for a weekend escape!

What are the highlights of the program for you: Undoubtedly, the people. From the staff physicians, to the administrative teams, to the fellows and the residents, there is a deep sense of support here. During the inevitable tiring times of residency, this atmosphere provides the fuel to keep going, strengthens your learning, and creates a place where you can be happy to come to work.

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: You’ve been you your whole life. Be you during the interviews, and the rest will fall into place. At the end of the day, you want to end up in a residency program where you can be yourself and enjoy the years of training. The people interviewing you are just human and once went through similar stresses to what you may be experiencing now. Try to enjoy yourself and trust your gut... you’ll feel where you fit the most.

– Aran Yukseloglu (R4)

 

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What do you like about Edmonton: The people! Everyone inside and outside the program have been incredibly friendly and supportive. The city is also a paradise for foodies. For the nature lovers, the valley has endless hidden gems to discover and a getaway to the luxurious mountains is only a few hours away.

What are the highlights of the program for you: Again, the people. I chose Edmonton because I felt instantly connected to and supported by the staff. As a resident, I can endorse that all my interactions have been to this nature. Truly there is an interest in your learning and success here. Furthermore, the resident group feels like family.

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: Just take one day at a time. Thinking about everything that is to come your way can be super stressful. Remember, you can learn from today and start fresh tomorrow. Shrug off that awkward interview because it won’t matter at your next one!

 – Asa Rahimi (R3)

 

shirley guan

What do you like about Edmonton: Since I moved to Edmonton from Vancouver, I no longer have to spend hours every day commuting or being stuck in traffic and that is a huge perk! Housing price in Edmonton is very affordable so people here live in REALLY gorgeous homes, even on a resident's salary.

What are the highlights of the program for you: From the friendly PDs, the helpful program admins, to the supportive residents, every single person I've interacted with is so passionate about making Edmonton Peds an amazing program and they all deeply care about every resident's wellbeing and learning. The program is big enough that we only have a few call shifts a month on average but also rich with hands-on learning opportunities and interesting cases. The resident group is definitely another highlight. We share a very strong sense of community and we get together for a lot of fun social events with residents from all years- we had 3 BBQs already just within my first week of residency! Work is so much more fun and enjoyable when you love the people you work with.

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: After each interview, don't dwell on how "terribly" the interview might have gone, maybe they loved your awkward and quirky answers! The interview process was definitely stressful and expensive, but it'll be over and life will be a lot better afterwards!

– Shirley Guan (R4)

 

jenner lakusta

What do you like about Edmonton: I love Edmonton and think it's the greatest city on Earth! Don't listen to what people say. It's really not that cold. Edmonton has world class parks and outdoor spaces such as the river valley to explore and use. Edmonton has an amazing selection of food and culture. There is a festival nearly every weekend when it isn't COVID times. The city itself is large enough to offer any amenity you could need, but not so large to be overwhelming. And the rent is cheap!

What are the highlights of the program for you: Our program has a perfect mix of interesting and complex medicine with a smaller size so that you get to know your fellow residents and staff, and still have ample learning and research opportunities. If you want to see cool, rare or interesting types of medicine you can. If you want to focus on community medicine and building relationships/ longitudinal care you can do that as well.

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: Embrace the chaos because with CaRMS it's unavoidable. Remember that programs are also competing for your interest and that you are worth competing for!

– Jenner Lakusta (R3)

 

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What do you like about Edmonton: :I love Edmonton! Edmonton has been my home since 2004. My old elementary school and high school are just around the corner from the University of Alberta and the Stollery Children’s hospital, so I haven’t gone very far! I’ve chosen Edmonton again and again because Edmontonians are the type of people who will open the door for you or return a lost $20 bill or credit card (know from personal experience). The Edmonton peds group is especially warm, friendly and are amazing teachers who will make Edmonton feel like your home too if it isn’t already! People who come to Edmonton tend to stay or come back :)

What are the highlights of the program for you: The University of Alberta peds group is not only a really wonderful working environment but will give you a strong foundation and prepare you for whatever career in peds you’re interested in (e.g. rural regional, an academic subspecialty etc.). We are the largest children’s hospital west of Toronto, have all the peds subspecialties and 236 beds in total with 16 PICU beds and ~54,000 visits to the ER each year. The Stollery has one of the largest catchment areas of any hospital in North America and serves a very diverse population including many new Canadians, First Nation groups and many northern communities. You will see lots of complexity and acuity! It’s also a medium sized program, so you quickly become familiar with the staff, coresidents, nursing team and allied health colleagues. Whether it’s our biannual retreats in Canmore or you find a surprise starbucks gift card in your locker after a long week, the peds community and our incredible PDs really go above and beyond to make sure you feel cared for during training and supported in your career goals. 

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: Wishing you all the best and that you find the program that is the right fit for you! You’ve worked so hard to come to this point! I encourage you to try to enjoy the journey as much as you can along the way. The interviews can be fun and a great way to get career advice, find out about different people’s journeys and what career models and opportunities are available to you. Try to talk to people in the programs you are particularly interested in as much as you can :) I'm always available to chat too!

– Geri Huynh (R3)
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What do you like about Edmonton: People are super friendly here, and it's nice being able to see the gorgeous sunsets on our Autumn days. I moved to a new community for residency and all of my neighbours came out to say hi to us and welcome us to the community. 

What are the highlights of the program for you: The amount of emotional, mental and personal support I received when I joined this program was immense. People go out of their way to check in on you, people are eager to contribute to a community of teamwork and there's a strong sense of appreciation for each other. I know this program will provide me with the connections and inspiration to grow as a resident and physician, and learn the best way I can. 

What is one piece of advice that you want to share with applicants about the interview process: Have fun with it! You're getting to know the program as much as the program is getting to know you, ask them questions important to your values and see whats a right fit for you. Don't worry about trying to fit into a box, we're such a diverse collection of personalities that the program just wants to see who you are. 

– Paul Barber (R1)