The University of Calgary resident training program for psychiatry is designed to graduate exceptionally skilled psychiatrists whom we would entrust with the care of our own family members.  We achieve this via a commitment to excellence and an iterative process of constant improvement and innovation.  By supporting our dedicated teaching faculty, developing new educational approaches, and focusing on culture and community, we prepare our residents for meaningful life-long careers.

Core training begins with an intensive summer program which ensures that new residents are prepared and confident to begin on-call.  The remaining first year curriculum is dedicated to foundational concepts supporting the transition into psychiatry rotations.  A two year rotating curriculum follows, with 7 major units covering the full breadth of psychiatric presentations and contemporary issues in the field.  The psychotherapy curriculum is provided through R1/2 years, enabling residents to begin providing therapy under supervision.

Our program is shaped by the experiences of our trainees.   We seek constant feedback through formal and informal processes including regular meetings with the program director, educational committee participation, and real time evaluations of lectures and events. Our residents needs and interests have inspired multiple educational initiatives unique to Calgary, including these recent highlights:

1)       R2- The Art and Science of the Interview:  Designed to meet the specific needs of psychiatric trainee, this course teaches advanced interview skills enabling residents to establish a foundation for efficient, effective, therapeutic patient care.

2)      Simulation Training in Psychiatry: As leaders in Sims, we have developed a complete junior series which exposes trainees to commonly encountered high acuity situations in patient management.  Our senior series provides experiences in managing less commonly encountered presentations which trainees may only rarely encounter in clinical rotations, but which are critical professional experiences.

3)      Annual OSCE exam:  In addition to annual long case interview practice, Canadian and American Psychiatry exams, and monthly OSCE seminars, we also run an annual OSCE exam day which simulates the Royal College Exam experience.

4)      Research Support Committee:  To support the knowledge, skill development and research success of our residents, notable researchers within our department and affiliated with the Matheson Center, are matched with each resident to provide direct advice and mentorship.

We support a culture of respect, collegiality, inclusion and professionalism.    Through our vertical mentorship program, near peer-support, biannual BOUNCE (Bringing Our Unique Narrative to Clinical Evolution) events, and a variety of resident led committees and clubs, residents build relationships and become an integrated part of our community.  We foster wellness literacy supporting both individual and institutional approaches to evidence based burnout prevention.  Through strong partnerships with the University of Calgary and AHS, we are integrating meaningful EDI initiatives throughout our curriculum ensuring that we are providing education in a manner that reflects our values.

If our program feels like a fit for you, we will look forward to your expression of interest, and the opportunity for further discussion.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM:

•  Collegial program at a mid-size center offering child, geriatric and forensic subspecialty training
•  A rich curriculum to support your professional development including a stand-alone psychotherapy curriculum to complement supervision.  Resident feedback is critical and is constantly shaping the teaching experience.
•  Access to phenomenal teaching, including early exposure to OSCE and STACER style examinations, research support committee and curriculum to support resident’s research projects, state of the art inter-professional psychiatric themed simulation training and early training in the Art and Science of the Psychiatric Interview.
•  Opportunity to teach others through volunteering with the U of C medical school (can be an OSCE evaluator or provide education during resident led noon hour sessions)
•  Access to a wide variety of psychotherapy options (at a minimum 1 year in psychodynamic psychotherapy, 6 months in CBT and 6 months in group or family therapy)
•  Significant job opportunities post-graduation
•  Access to mentorship opportunities (paired with a physician/resident mentor when starting the program, vertical mentorship (with residents at all levels/attendings) and opportunity to mentor others when a senior resident)