Name:	Lesley Reynolds
Title:	Subspecialty Program Administrator
E-mail:	lesley.reynolds@usask.ca
Phone:	(306) 966-1743
Name:	Stephan Wardell/Dr. Ahmed Sayed
Title:	Chief Cardiology Residents
E-mail:	sww375@mail.usask.ca / ais992@mail.usask.ca
Phone:	(306) 655-1000

Citizenship

All applicants must be Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents or Landed Immigrants at the time of application.

Applicants who are not eligible at our institution include:

• VISA students studying at Canadian Medical Schools (and those with work permits). The University of Saskatchewan has a postgraduate training agreement with the Embassy of the State of Kuwait (ESK). Applicants sponsored by the ESK must apply to our R-4 programs outside the CaRMS match.
• Students whose postgraduate training is funded by the Department of National Defense.

Applicants with Return of Service Agreements

ROS Applicants funded by Saskatchewan Ministry of Health (IMG Postgraduate Training Program):

Applicants with a Return of Service agreement under the Saskatchewan Health IMG Postgraduate Training Program must obtain prior approval from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to apply for subspecialty training at the University of Saskatchewan and/or any other medical school in Canada.

Applicants must contact Kim Statler, Medical Services Branch, Ministry of Health (Phone: (306) 787-7841; e-mail: KStatler@health.gov.sk.ca) to confirm eligibility and continued funding for subspecialty training. In addition, applicants are required to provide written verification from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health confirming they are eligible to apply for subspecialty training in the 2012 R-4 match.

ROS Applicants funded outside Saskatchewan:

Applicants from other Canadian provinces must declare any Return of Service obligations on their application and may be disqualified if their provincial obligations preclude subspecialty training. Applicants are required to provide written verification from their funding agency confirming they are eligible to apply to the 2012 R-4 match.

ACLS
All successful applicants are required to have completed an ACLS course prior to commencement of training. Proof of current ACLS certification must be provided to the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan prior to starting the training program on July 1, 2012.

NOTE: It is often difficult to register for ACLS courses as they fill up quickly and there may not be many course offerings between the CaRMS match dates and the start of the training program.

Immunizations
For the protection of the individual resident and their patients, all successful applicants are required to submit immunization records and proof of immunity (titres) to the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority prior to commencement of training on July 1, 2012. For more information contact Michelle Coakwell at (306) 655-0193 or michelle.coakwell@saskatoonhealthregion.ca; or, Rochelle Otto at (306) 655-0194 or Rochelle.otto@saskatoonhealthregion.ca.

Additional information and eligibility criteria that applicants must be aware of and are responsible to read and review are available on the University of Saskatchewan Overview at:

University of Saskatchewan Overview

Provincial Restrictions

Canadian Medical Graduates:

Document	Mandatory	Optional
Medical school transcript A notarized/certified copy of applicant’s medical school marks/transcripts must be submitted. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.	X
Reference letter Number of letters: 3 The reference letters should written by those who can best describe your suitability for residency training in Cardiology, including one from your current program director. The letter from you program director should confirm that you are in good standing and expected to complete at least your third year of Internal Medicine prior to the intended start of your Cardiology training. Reference letters must be current (within the last 6 months). Undated letters will not be accepted.	X
Medical School Performance Record A notarized/certified copy of applicant’s Medical School Performance Record must be submitted. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.	X
Personal letter A personal letter is required, not to exceed 500 words, and should address the following: Why have you chosen Cardiology as your career and why do you think the University of Saskatchewan is the right program for you. What experiences have led you to this choice? What strengths do you bring to the residency program? What do you see yourself doing in 10 years - what type of practice do you expect to have?	X
Proof of Citizenship Submit one of the following documents as proof of citizenship. Please note that documents must be notarized/certified: Canadian Birth Certificate Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of the card) or Certificate Record of Landing, clearly showing the date of landing Permanent Resident Card (both sides of the card)	X
Photograph		X
Curriculum Vitae	X
MCCQEI Priority may be given to those who have successfully completed the MCCQE (Part I) or (Part II). Applicants who have passed these exams must include copies of exam results in their application.		X
MCCQEII		X
MD Degree A notarized/certified copy of medical degree/diploma must be submitted. Applicants must be a graduate of an acceptable medical school as identified by: WHO Directory of Medical Schools (World Health Organization); OR, FAIMER International Medical Education Directory (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research). Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.	X

International Medical Graduates:

Document	Mandatory	Optional
Medical school transcript A notarized/certified copy of applicant’s medical school marks/transcripts must be submitted. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.	X
Reference letter Number of letters: 3 The reference letters should written by those who can best describe your suitability for residency training in Cardiology, including one from your current program director. The letter from you program director should confirm that you are in good standing and expected to complete at least your third year of Internal Medicine prior to the intended start of your Cardiology training. Reference letters must be current (within the last 6 months). Undated letters will not be accepted.	X
Medical School Performance Record A notarized/certified copy of applicant’s Medical School Performance Record must be submitted. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.	X
Personal letter A personal letter is required, not to exceed 500 words, and should address the following: Why have you chosen Cardiology as your career and why do you think the University of Saskatchewan is the right program for you. What experiences have led you to this choice? What strengths do you bring to the residency program? What do you see yourself doing in 10 years - what type of practice do you expect to have?	X
Proof of Citizenship Submit one of the following documents as proof of citizenship. Please note that documents must be notarized/certified: Canadian Birth Certificate Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of the card) or Certificate Record of Landing, clearly showing the date of landing Permanent Resident Card (both sides of the card)	X
Photograph		X
Curriculum Vitae	X
MCCEE Note: US trainees who are specialist certified by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties may request an exemption from the MCCEE. Eligible US trained applicants can provide the letter of exemption from the Medical Council of Canada in lieu of MCCEE results.	X
MCCQEI Priority may be given to those who have successfully completed the MCCQE (Part I) or (Part II). Applicants who have passed these exams must include copies of exam results in their application.		X
MCCQEII		X
Proof of language proficiency IMG applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. Applicants whose undergraduate medical school training was in a language other than English must provide proof of achieving a TOEFL score as follows (within the last four years): ≥600 on the written based exam, ≥250 on the computer based exam, or ≥100 on the iBT (internet-based). The only exception to the English language requirement is if the applicant completed their entire undergraduate medical education in one of the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. NO EXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE for the English Language Requirements as outlined above. We do not accept a copy of the FAIMER page for the applicant's medical school as proof of English language proficiency.	X
MD Degree A notarized/certified copy of medical degree/diploma must be submitted. Applicants must be a graduate of an acceptable medical school as identified by: WHO Directory of Medical Schools (World Health Organization); OR, FAIMER International Medical Education Directory (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research). Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.	X
RCPSC Ruling Letter Applicants who have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status and who are training in the United States in an Internal Medicine Program must provide a ruling letter from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.	X

There is no guarantee that applications or documents submitted after the deadline will be considered. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis whether or not applications and documents will be accepted after the File Review begins.

Date(s) of Interview: October 3, 2011 .

Invitation/ Notification Information:

Details regarding Interview:

The Cardiology Training Program at the University of Saskatchewan is committed to a fair, equitable and transparent application process. Successful applicants are those who we feel are best suited for our cardiology training program. The following criteria will be used as a baseline to determine who will be considered for an interview. However, not all applicants whose files meet our minimum criteria will be offered interviews.

The selection committee will rank applicants based on the following criteria:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a commitment to teamwork and professionalism
• Commitment to our Cardiology Training Program
• Medical school grades/ class standing/ awards
• Personal letter
• References

Quick Facts

• The Cardiology program at the University of Saskatchewan is part of a close knit Cardiology Division that trains a total of 4-6 residents (C1-C3)
• The program is committed to train excellent general cardiologists who are well equipped to meet the expectations of the contemporary cardiovascular specialist
• To achieve our main objective, the program provides an excellent learning environment with lots of hands on experience
• There is a maximum of 1:4 home-based call in the first 2 years of training, with graded call in the final year of training
• Given the excellent exposure to various common cardiac conditions while on call, our residents achieve a high level of comfort dealing with complicated issues very early during training, and ultimately the program is successful in preparing our trainees not just to be successful in the Royal College Cardiology Examination, but also to be outstanding clinical cardiologists
• As a testament to the success of the Cardiology Training Program, our trainees have enjoyed a 100% success rate at the Royal College Cardiology examination for at least 15 years
• There is no cardiology subspecialty fellowship training at the University of Saskatchewan, allowing our cardiology residents maximum hands-on experience during specialized procedures such as percutaneous coronary interventions, TEE, etc.
• Despite having no cardiology subspecialty training, our residents have been successful in obtaining their first choice fellowship training upon completing training at the U of S
• There is a well structured comprehensive academic program, including weekly rounds including academic half-day, teaching rounds, and regular journal club meetings
• Attending staff to resident ratio is 3:1 and residents have direct 1:1 clinical experience with attending staff in all areas of training
• A total of 4 electives blocks are scheduled through out the 3 years of training. In general 2 blocks in the first and second year each, with 2 blocks reserved for the final year of training to allow residents to attend those Universities were fellowship training are considered
• A minimum of 3 blocks are available for research. More time can be spent as elective rotations. These blocks are scheduled to suit individual resident needs. Basic science research opportunities are available through the Cardiovascular research group at the University of Saskatchewan and also the Department of Pharmacology
• The residents have a large Cardiology Residents Room, with lounge type comfortable seating, Internet access, and many different resources available for immediate access
• Residents can expect to attend the following Courses at no cost: The Cardiology Imaging Course offered by the Ottawa Heart Institute (C1 year), Pacemaker Course in Toronto (C2 year), a national Cardiology Conference (once during training or every time a presentation is done) and also the annual WECREEP conference, held in the Canadian Rockies
• Funds are available to offer residents financial support to attend the CCS Cardiology Review course in Toronto generally held in the third year of training and also, either the Mayo Clinic or ACC Cardiology Board review courses once during training

Medical and Library Resources

• Each Cardiology Resident has access to an extensive online collection of electronic medical journals through the University of Saskatchewan Library
• The Cardiology Residents Room contains an extensive collection of the major cardiology textbooks available
• Each Resident entering the program receives a copy of the current Braunwald’s Heart Disease textbook
• The Lopez Cardiology Library offers a quiet area for reading or studying and has an assortment of the most common cardiology journals.
• One computer is available in the Residents Room with full internet access. The Residents Room has wireless access to the internet to allow residents to bring their own laptops.
• The Cardiology Program provides each resident with an UptoDate subscription for the duration of cardiology training.

Outlined below is a brief description of the training according: (one block = 4 weeks)

C1 (Cardiology year 1):
• Coronary Care • Ward/Consults • Cardiac Catheterization • Echocardiography • Nuclear Cardiology • ETT/ECG/Rehab • Research • Elective • Regina	2 blocks 2 blocks 2 blocks 2 blocks 1 block 1 block 1 block 1 block 1 block

C2 (Cardiology year 2):
• Coronary Care • Ward/Consults • Ambulatory Clinics • Pediatric Cardiology • Cardiac Catheterization • Echocardiography • EP • Research • Elective • CV Surgery	1 block 2 blocks 1 block 1 block 1 block 2 blocks 2 blocks 1 block 1 block 1 block

C3 (Cardiology year 3):
• Coronary Care • Ward/Consults • Pediatric Cardiology • Cardiac Catheterization • Echocardiography • EP device rotation • Research • Electives • Nuclear Cardiology • ETT/ECG/Rehab	1 block 2 blocks 1 block 1 block 2 blocks 1 block 1 block 2 blocks 1 block 1 block

Saskatoon

• Royal University Hospital

Calgary

• Foothills Medical Center - This is a one month rotation of Electrophysiology training as part of an inter-university agreement with the University of Calgary.

Regina

• Regina General Hospital - This is a one month rotation in the second year focused on community Cardiology and surgical procedures such as placing ICD’s and permanent pacemakers.

Distributive Learning at the University of Saskatchewan

The College of Medicine, while physically located in Saskatoon, is a provincial resource in attitude and in practice. Postgraduate medical education at the University of Saskatchewan takes seriously its role in supporting quality health care to all people of the province. This means training physicians to meet the needs of, not only urban populations, but also those of rural and remote populations. In so doing, the College of Medicine has developed, and continues to develop, rotations in Regina and other communities. These rotations are designed to provide educational experiences to enhance the resident's knowledge and skills, and take maximum advantage of unique educational opportunities in a diversity of communities. All postgraduate programs are expected to develop and incorporate into their curriculum, rotations in communities other than Saskatoon. The manner in which each program does this is not strictly prescribed by the College of Medicine - but is determined by the Residency Training Committee, taking into consideration the needs of their residents, and the excellent opportunities available in other locations. These rotations continue to evolve as we seek to build stronger and better programs.

Extensive support is available for out of town rotations. The exact nature of this support varies with location and program. The communities involved, individual programs, the College of Medicine, and the Ministry of Health work collaboratively to ensure residents are not financially disadvantaged by the need to relocate.

For residents assigned to short term rotations in Regina, shared housing is provided in four 4-bedroom apartments located in the North Residence tower on the University of Regina campus. For a virtual tour go to: www.uregina.ca/residences/residence2/southindex.html. Where necessary, every effort will be made to provide family friendly accommodations.

While all residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of educational experiences in other communities to ensure a well rounded education, the amount and format of such time is determined by the program committee.

Saskatoon Quick Facts

• The Province of Saskatchewan's largest city. (Population 233,923 CMA 2006).
• There are more hours of sunshine annually than any other major Canadian city.
• The city is known for its beautiful parkland setting. It is graced by the natural splendor of the South Saskatchewan River with over 400 acres of riverbank trails and parks to explore.
• A four-season destination with temperatures ranging from 30°C (80°F) on the warmest summer days, to -30°C (-22°F) on the coldest winter days.
• Direct Air access available through United Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet Airlines and Delta.
• Over 6000 years of First Nations' culture celebrated on sacred ground at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
• Exception museums including the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, and the Western Development Museum
• Award-winning-golf courses, rated among the best in the Canada
• Professional and amateur theatre groups, a symphony and numerous art galleries
• Saskatoon's historic and unique Broadway Shopping District
• The University of Saskatchewan is one of the North America's most beautiful campuses with its distinctive architecture.
• Home to Canada's largest science project - the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron
• One of the most successful university related research parks in North America - Innovation Place

We look forward to welcoming you to Saskatoon! You may be interested in visiting the following websites for more information on Saskatoon and Saskatchewan:

City of Saskatoon

Tourism Saskatoon

Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority

Tourism Saskatchewan.

Housing information can be found at Saskhouses (private home sales) and Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors.