We have a strong, supportive, collegial base of preceptors with a staff/resident ratio of 2:1.

Our large catchment area creates excellent opportunities for surgical and clinical experiences.

We have academic sessions specifically focused for our PGY I and 2 residents and a curriculum that rotates every 2 years, so every aspect is covered twice at both the junior and senior levels. 

We have a robust research program supported by our preceptors and two research directors.

Residents work in two trauma sites and three community hospitals with a wide variety of health-care professionals.

We offer program and divisional financial support for courses and conferences throughout the residency.

Our residents work hard, and when they sit exams they are based on actual cases they have done, not just what they’ve read in a textbook.

Edmonton is a great place to live, with easy commutes and safe neighborhoods, excellent schools and outstanding community resources. The city offers a rich cultural environment with established entertainment, arts and sports venues.

Boasting Canada’s largest urban park system, there is easy access to many outdoor recreational activities, all within the city limits. The North Saskatchewan River Valley has 160km of multi-use trails to explore by foot, bike, canoe, ski, snowshoe and even Segway.  Hiking downtown along the North Saskatchewan, it’s hard to believe you are in the middle of a city that is home to 1.5million people. 

Edmonton is also a short drive to many of Canada’s provincial and national parks for year-round activities. Escape the city and take a 35 minute drive/day trip  to Elk Island National Park, the perfect place to hike, snowshoe, camp, canoe, stargaze, and of course see wildlife including free roaming bison. 

Getting to the Canadian Rockies for access to world class ski and snowboarding opportunities is only a 3-4 hr drive away, with many ski tour companies offering day trips. 

It goes without saying that Edmonton’s sports scene is tough to beat. With a huge variety of sports that are played and enjoyed here, along with our professional sports teams and die-hard fans, there is always a game on.  The ICE District is located in the heart of downtown Edmonton, now considered one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. It’s a 25-acre development combining condos, a public plaza, sports, entertainment. It’s much more than a state-of-the-art arena. In Edmonton, you’ll find everything from big-name retailers to local boutiques – not to mention North America’s largest shopping and entertainment centre, West Edmonton Mall.

Q. What are you specifically looking for in an impressive candidate?  We look for candidates who have shown an interest in Orthopaedic Surgery, who enjoy and are able to work with other talented team members, have some research interests and possess good psychomotor skills.

Q. What draws candidates to Orthopaedic Surgery? Orthopaedics is extremely varied, encompassing every area of the body. The cases seen depend on the area of sub-specialization including spine, pediatrics, total joints, trauma and further sub-specialty based on the area of the body. These surgeries positively affect patients’ functions and quality of life and can quickly get people back to enjoying their life. This is a rewarding and satisfying field to be working in for those that love surgery and working with the musculoskeletal system.

Q. What is the availability of sub-specialty training during residency? Residents are trained in all Orthopaedic Subspecialties throughout the five year residency program. Additionally, residents are able to take a total of 16 weeks of electives, in their PGY 3 and 4 years, to further explore specific areas of interest.

Q. What are the varieties of lifestyles in your field? Lifestyle depends on the area of sub-specialization and the the size of the center where you are working. Our training prepares you for a community practice or for further education with a successful fellowship match. All surgeons are required to take call which is no more than one in four and can be as little as one in ten, depending on the center. The rest of the schedule depends on the surgeon’s interests and how hard they wish to work.

How successful is the program in placing graduating residents into Fellowships? The program is very successful; most of the residents that complete the program are accepted into Fellowship programs of their choice.