The Medicine Teaching Unit (MTU) experience is considered to be the site’s strongest experience in Internal Medicine. This inpatient unit is managed by two 12-bed teams which is staffed by both general internists and subspecialty staff. Thanks to the Family Medicine Hospitalist unit on site, the types of patients on the MTU are restricted to those requiring Internal Medicine expertise – a factor that provides residents with appropriate and challenging cases that further their development of knowledge and skills.

In addition, since there are fewer residents on each service, there is more opportunity for direct interaction with the attendings, there is a consistently higher level of responsibility, and there is the opportunity for residents to take on leadership roles in guiding junior learners.

What is the general level of satisfaction amongst your residents?
The current residents are very satisfied with our Program. We are a close and supportive group, and we have excellent relationships with our attending staff. There is a strong commitment on the part of the Site Director, the Program Director and the administrative staff to provide the support to the residents, which ensures resdient success in our Program.

The Saint John Regional Hospital is the largest hospital in New Brunswick, offering experiences in numerous medical subspecialties, including cardiology, respirology, GI, hematology, medical oncology, nephrology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, and endocrinology. In addition, residents have various selective/elective rotations that can be completed in Halifax or elsewhere that supplement any areas of particular interest that a resident might have in Internal Medicine.

The Medical Education Department, hospital library, and nursing stations have extensive computer availability. The Medical Education Office has subscribed to the Up-To-Date program accessible at any computer station throughout the hospital. The Medical Information System provides rapid access to laboratory results and Web1000 permits immediate access to diagnostic imaging studies from most computer stations. The MTU also has “workstations on wheels” to provide access to records at the bedside.

The Saint John and Halifax based residents in the program complete rotations at each site. This interchange of residents between sites allows residents to build a strong sense of camaraderie between the sites. The combined social activities, an annual Resident Retreat (a weekend of education and socializing), as well as the combined curriculum events throughout the year (particularly the weekly Academic Half Day) allow for further interaction between the sites, which strengthens the relationships between residents.

In general, the Saint John Regional Hospital supports an active learning environment. At any given time, over 50 undergraduate and postgraduate learners are on clinical rotations in the various medical and surgical services at the site. In addition, the new medical school based in Saint John further supports the learning and teaching environment for the residents.

The collegiality between residents and staff, including attendings, nursing staff, and interdisciplinary teams , is a unique feature of training in Saint John. This is in part due to the smaller staff size which provides residents with a real sense of engagement. Likewise, the attendings and other hospital staff value and strongly supporting the residency training in Saint John.

Saint John is located on the southern coast of New Brunswick and provides an excellent blend of urban advantages and outdoor lifestyle – this combines to allow for an excellent quality of life. A 2007 study by UBC, found Saint John to be the happiest city in Canada, thanks in part to the lifestyle the city offers and the sense of engagement in the community.

The uptown area is a hub for arts, culture and heritage in Saint John. In fact, Heritage Canada recognized Saint John as a 2010 Cultural Capital of Canada. The area is noted for its architecture, theatre, and galleries. Restaurants, festivals, concerts, and sporting events are also attractions in the uptown area.

Outdoor activities are one of the best features of the area. The ease of commuting around the city and the close proximity to parks and waterways means that residents often find themselves in a kayak, on a bike trail or on a golf course within minutes of finishing their shift at the hospital. A few key locations are Rockwood Park (one of the largest urban parks in North America) which is less than 5 minutes from the Saint John Regional Hospital and the Irving Nature Park in the city’s west side. Water activities abound with the Saint John river systems, the Bay of Fundy, lakes, as well as indoor aquatic facilities.

Another feature that residents in the Saint John residency programs enjoy is the city’s strategic location which allows easy access to other locations in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, and the northeastern United States. The possibility of weekend road trips to Halifax, Boston, Montreal, etc. are an added bonus to living in Saint John.