Residency Program

What is the McGill Critical Care Medicine (CCM) Residency Program?
The McGill CCM Residency Program is a two‑year, fully accredited Royal College program that prepares physicians for excellence in the care of critically ill patients through rigorous academic teaching and broad clinical exposure.

What certification will I receive upon completion?
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification examination in Critical Care Medicine.

Where is the program based?
The program is based at McGill University in Montréal, Quebec, with core training at major tertiary and quaternary care hospitals across the McGill network.

What makes this program unique?
Residents gain exposure to a diverse case mix across multiple ICUs, benefit from strong interdisciplinary collaboration, and train with world‑leading intensivists with varied subspecialty backgrounds.

At which hospitals will I train?
Core ICU training occurs at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH), the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC–Glen site, including the CVICU and Montreal Chest Institute), and the MUHC–Montreal General Hospital (MGH), with additional rotations at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) and the Montreal Chest Institute (MCI).

What types of patients and cases will I see?
Residents manage a wide spectrum of critically ill patients, including complex oncology, pulmonary hypertension, obstetrical, trauma, neurocritical care, thoracic, transplant, and advanced cardiac/mechanical support cases.

How many ICU beds are there at the main sites?
The JGH ICU has 28 beds, the MUHC–Glen has 32 ICU beds including a dedicated CVICU, and the MUHC–MGH has a 22‑bed ICU divided into two teams.

Is there exposure to post‑ICU recovery and long‑term ventilation?
Yes. Residents rotate through the Critical Illness Recovery Centre (CIRC) at the MGH and the MCI ICU, which focuses on prolonged mechanical ventilation and runs the outpatient long‑term ventilatory program for Montréal.

How is the academic teaching structured?
Residents attend a weekly protected Academic Half Day every Tuesday afternoon, featuring lectures from local and international speakers, simulation sessions, and journal reviews, plus daily teaching at all core ICU sites.

What simulation training is offered?
High‑fidelity simulation is integrated throughout the program, with in‑situ sessions in each ICU and additional training at the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning.

What is the Critical Care Ultrasound (CCUS) curriculum like?
The program offers a comprehensive CCUS curriculum covering core topics for modern intensivists, with opportunities for a dedicated CCUS elective at the JGH and longitudinal exposure through lectures, simulation, and case reviews.

Is there formal echocardiography training?
Many faculty have advanced echocardiography expertise, including transesophageal echocardiography, and residents are encouraged to complete at least one month in a McGill cardiology echocardiography lab.

What is the first‑year “bootcamp”?
During the third period of the first year, incoming residents complete a four‑week bootcamp elective focused on core critical care topics through simulation, lectures, and hands‑on sessions to build strong foundational skills early on.

What is Competency‑By‑Design (CBD) and how is it used?
The curriculum follows the CBD framework, emphasizing progressive achievement of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) with ongoing feedback and coaching from faculty.

How long is the program and how is it organized?
Training spans 26 periods over two years, including 13 mandatory core ICU periods across the three main ICU sites, plus required rotations at the MNI and MCI and a variety of elective options.

What elective rotations are available?
Electives may include trauma, toxicology, thrombosis medicine, critical care ultrasound, the Critical Illness Recovery Centre, air transport, CVICU, interventional radiology, research, medical education, and others aligned with resident interests.

What does the call schedule look like?
Residents typically do in‑house call during the first year (approximately six core ICU rotations) and then transition to graded home‑call in the second year; there is no call when on elective rotations.

Are there research and quality improvement opportunities?
Yes. Residents participate in research and quality improvement projects ranging from clinical trials to system‑level initiatives, supported by dedicated research mentors.

Is there support for attending conferences?
Funding and mentorship are available for residents who present their work at national and international meetings.

Which additional certifications are required during training?
Residents complete Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) during the program.

Can I pursue advanced echocardiography certification?
Most residents choose to sit the Examination of Special Competence in Critical Care Echocardiography (CCeEXAM) offered by the American National Board of Echocardiography.

Who is eligible to apply to the CCM Residency Program?
Typical applicants are in their final year of Canadian residency in an Internal Medicine subspecialty (such as General Internal Medicine, Respirology, Cardiology), Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Cardiac Surgery, or General Surgery, or in the third year of Core Internal Medicine.

How do I apply?
Applications are submitted through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS); applicants should consult the CaRMS website for full eligibility details and application instructions.

What criteria are used in selection?
Selection is based on academic excellence, clinical aptitude, and a demonstrated passion for critical care medicine.

Is overlap training possible with Anesthesiology or GIM?
Residents in McGill Anesthesiology may apply for overlapping CCM training after at least three years of residency with approval from their program director, and McGill GIM subspecialty residents may apply in PGY‑4 with similar program director approval.

Are international applicants eligible?
International physicians must be fully sponsored and funded by their home government and should contact the McGill Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office for eligibility and application procedures.

What language is used for training?
Training is conducted primarily in English, with the added benefit of exposure to French in Montréal’s bilingual hospitals and community.

Are French language courses available?
Yes. Free language courses are available for residents who are not comfortable in French.

What is it like to live in Montréal as a CCM resident?
Montréal is a vibrant, multicultural city with excellent food, culture, festivals, and a strong arts scene, offering a balance between demanding training and high quality of life.

Is there easy access to outdoor activities?
The city is located about 30 minutes from the mountains, providing convenient access to nature for summer and winter sports and leisure.

Who will supervise my training?
Residents are supervised by engaged intensivists from diverse backgrounds, including internal medicine, cardiology, respirology, anesthesia, emergency medicine, cardiac surgery, and trauma surgery.

Can I learn more about current residents and alumni?
Yes. The program highlights current residents and showcases past graduates who have built careers in academic medicine, community leadership, and subspecialty practice across Canada and internationally.

Who can I contact for program‑specific questions?
Prospective applicants can contact the Critical Care Medicine Residency Program office by email at residency.criticalcare [at] mcgill.ca.