Program Description

Anesthesiology

The residency training program in anesthesiology is under the direction of the McGill Department of Anesthesiology.  The main locations for training include the McGill University Health Centre (including the Royal Victoria, Montreal General, Montreal Children’s, and Montreal Neurological Hospitals), St. Mary's Hospital and the Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital.  The aim of the program is to provide resident trainees with a strong background in the basic sciences and a broad exposure to clinical anesthesiology.  Satisfactory completion of the training program leads to eligibility for the certification examinations of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Collège des médecins du Québec.

The training period is of five years duration.  Students in their final year of medical training in any Canadian medical school are eligible to apply to the program at the PGY-1 level via CaRMS.  Other medical graduates must contact the McGill Faculty of Medicine to determine eligibility for entering the program.

Clinical Program 

The McGill Residency Program in Anesthesia implemented the Competency by Design Curriculum in July 2017.  There are four stages of training:

The Transition to Discipline Stage is an 8-week orientation program which serves to introduce the medical student graduate to the basics of anesthesia.  This is accomplished by intensive sessions with senior residents and staff in the simulation centre through 11 modules, previously known as our Junior Orientation Program.  These modules focus on the anesthesia machine, airway management, fluids and resuscitation, pharmacology, neuraxial anesthesia and obstetrical anesthesia, post-operative care unit and pain management, and pre-operative evaluation.  These include sessions that review these concepts in follow-up and synthesis modules.  These modules include didactic teaching, interaction with standardized patients, task trainers and hi-fidelity simulation.

The Junior Orientation Program, which has been an integral part of the McGill Residency Program in Anesthesia since 2009, is complemented by clinical exposure to anesthesia at one of the 4 main adult teaching sites.

The Foundations Stage of approximately 2 years duration gives the resident an opportunity to learn and solidify their knowledge and clinical expertise in general anesthesia and general internal medicine, such as emergency, critical care, ENT, and obstetrics.  Included in the Foundations stage is an introduction to bedside ultrasound and to clinical epidemiology and statistics which serves to introduce the resident to basic concepts in research to facilitate the development of the residents' critical appraisal skills. They are also mentored by staff and encouraged to participate in the development of a research project which can be presented at our Annual Anesthesia Research Day (Bromage Day).

The Core Stage of approximately 2 years duration gives the resident an opportunity to explore, learn and solidify their knowledge in the major subspecialty areas in the discipline of Anesthesia, including pediatrics, neuro, obstetrics, cardiovascular, regional, thoracics, and acute and chronic pain.

At both the Foundations and Core stage, the residents are given the opportunity to experience clinical work in a more community environment, in the beautiful setting of Gatineau-Hull or Valleyfield for example.

The Transition to Practice Stage is designed to give the resident an opportunity to gain independence in their practice, to focus on their clinical or research interests in view of their personal goals and objectives.

Research   

The McGill program includes involvement in a scholarly project during residency and offers a minimum of three periods in order to fulfill this requirement. The McGill Anesthesia Department offers great opportunities for different types of clinical and basic research, including quality assurance projects and research in medical education and simulation.  All residents are expected to present their academic work once during their residency at the annual McGill Anesthesia Day. It is possible to pursue a Master's degree within our Residency Program. 

Academic Program

Resident Seminar Program

This program covers the basic areas of anesthesia knowledge. Seminars are held weekly from September to June, and residents are freed from clinical duties to attend. The teaching format varies, with a combination of case-based seminars, resident presentations, and lectures. Visiting professors at McGill are asked to conduct one of these seminars during their visit.

Hospital-based Rounds and Teaching Sessions

From September to June, each hospital has its own departmental rounds and resident teaching sessions. Residents are often asked to prepare literature reviews or case discussions for these rounds as a requirement for completing the hospital rotation.

Journal Club

Held monthly during the academic year. Presented by residents, with faculty guidance. The format is designed to develop critical appraisal skills.

Anesthesia Research Day

The annual Anesthesia Research Day provides a forum for residents, fellows and postgraduate students associated with the Department of Anesthesia to present their work. All residents are expected to present once during their residency at this event. Presentations can involve research work, quality improvement projects, case reports, or educational projects.

Resident Education Day and Retreat

Every year invited speakers offer workshops to residents on topics related to the CanMEDS competencies and resident well-being.  There is an annual retreat for staff, residents, and their families.

LUCAS (Lower & Upper Canada Anesthesia Symposium) / McGill Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program

The Anesthesia Departments of  McGill University, the University of Ottawa and Queen's University have collaborated to present a joint refresher course, the Lower & Upper Canada Anesthesia Symposium (LUCAS). Residents are encouraged and supported to attend LUCAS.  There is also a visiting professor program throughout the academic year as part of the Department's active Continuing Medical Education Program, and all residents are expected to attend these sessions.

McGill Medical Simulation Centre

McGill Anesthesia Residents have simulation sessions that complement the seminar program to help consolidate learning points in a hi-fidelity simulation setting. Residents participate as well in the Canadian National Anesthesia Simulation Curriculum and in inter-specialty simulation sessions with emergentology, obstetrics and critical care trainees. Moreover, residents also provide teaching sessions to medical students at the centre.

Training Sites

Royal Victoria Hospital
Montreal General Hospital
Jewish General Hospital
Montreal Children’s Hospital
Montreal Neurological Institute
St. Mary's Hospital Center
CISSS de l'Outaouais, Hôpital de Hull
CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, Hôpital du Suroît, Valleyfield

Program Governance

Major decisions about the organization and implementation of the program are made by the Residency Program Committee (RPC) of the Department of Anesthesia. This committee has strong resident representation, with three resident members, one of whom is the Chief Resident.

Requests for further information should be sent to:

Dr. Catherine Paquet, Program Director
McGill Department of Anesthesiology
McGill University Health Centre
Glen Site, Royal Victoria Hospital
1001 Decarie Boulevard, Room C05.2760
Montreal, Quebec  H4A 3J1
Tel. :  (514) 934-1934, ext. 36864
Fax :  (514) 843-1488
E-mail :  anesthesia [at] mcgill.ca

 

McGill Department of Anesthesiology web-site :
https://www.mcgill.ca/anesthesia

 

 

 

 

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