“UBC Radiology strikes a balance as a larger program that offers a wealth of academic and educational resources, while maintaining a collegial atmosphere whether its between the residents, technicians or staff.”
Program Overview
The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) is a national, independent, not-for-profit, fee-for-service organization that provides a fair, objective and transparent application and matching service for medical training throughout Canada. The UBC Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program uses CaRMS to facilitate CMG applications and interviews for interested applicants into our program.
Throughout the academic year, the Department of Radiology hosts several internationally known visiting professors, which includes up to 10 hours of lectures on topics covering their own special interests. There are daily Noon Rounds, a weekly Academic Half Day, and a weekly Grand Rounds session for which residents are excused and expected to attend. The Academic Half Day also includes rounds with community radiologists, practice OSCE exams, and resident-resident teaching rounds. Journal Club takes place twice per year and is moderated by a faculty member. Every resident has the opportunity to attend the AIRP Course in Washington, D.C. with financial assistance from the program. Junior and Senior residents write the ACR DXIT Exam each year, paid for by the program, which also provides access to RadExam. Each of the major teaching hospitals has hardware and software for computer-based learning, and residents are provided with subscriptions to both Rad Primer and StatDX, paid for by the program.
In a typical year, there are several social events that bring everyone together, including but not limited to a Summer BBQ, Curling Day, Volleyball Day, Ski Day, Holiday Event, and Graduation Dinner. Interested to hear a little more about our program? Please watch this short promotional video to hear from current residents in our program. Below are program highlights, summarized by PGY levels.
PGY-1
This year, as arranged at present, encompasses several facets of clinical medicine using a standard rotating format with medical and surgical rotations. UBC radiology offers a day back curriculum that runs longitudinally through the PGY1 year to help residents gain a basic understanding of radiology, as well as to feel a stronger connection to their home program. This occurs on the last Wednesday of every month. Additionally, a Block 13 Anatomy course/Radiology bootcamp is also provided to all PGY1s.
PGY-2
The first six months of the second year are devoted to obtaining a broad exposure to diagnostic radiology, covering neuroradiology, chest radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, abdominal imaging, emergency and trauma radiology, through the modalities of CT, radiography and ultrasound. A dedicated course for emergency radiology is given prior to the start of call, which begins approximately after 6 months. PGY2 residents will do 1 block of “buddy call” at various sites to aid in preparedness for call. The remainder of the year is rounded out with additional rotations including MR, mammography and nuclear medicine.
PGY-3
The third year covers a broad spectrum of radiology, completing more of the required rotations in the different subspecialty areas, including angiography/intervention and pediatric radiology. In this year the residents start to function more or less as general radiologists under supervision. The Physics curriculum has been condensed into an intensive one-year curriculum which is taken by all PGY3s. Early in this year residents are exposed to the concept of radiology audits by our vice-chair of quality.
PGY-4&5
The last two years can be tailored to the needs of the individual resident, as long as the requirements of the Royal College have been met. Further training in pediatric radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging, mammography and oncological radiology is added to the areas already mentioned. Block periods of training can be arranged in specific areas according to the interest or needs of the resident. Rotations at community hospitals and private clinics are also available. Dedicated time to research projects is available.
Audits & Research
Every resident is required to complete a clinical audit project and is strongly encouraged to pursue at least one research project during their residency training. To facilitate this process, during the second year of training, the residents will be introduced to the basics of research; data collection, critical evaluation of information, critical reading of scientific literature and the basic principles involved in writing a manuscript. There is also an annual Research Day in May/June of each year. Many of our residents who present at our Audit and Research Day events benefit from also presenting their work at the annual conferences, such as those hosted by RSNA and CAR.
Contact Us
If you are a CaRMS applicant and have any questions about the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program, please email the Senior Program Assistant at mason.leung@ubc.ca.