Subspecialty Residency Program

Training Requirements

The Pediatric Endocrinology Subspecialty Residency Program follows the training requirements set by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPSC).

There are 12 months of clinical learning and the additional mandatory second 12 months may be spent either undertaking clinical or basic science research, a postgraduate degree or diploma (for instance Masters in Epidemiology or Medical Education), additional clinical training or a combination of all three. Most candidates interested in working in a Canadian tertiary care centre will complete a third year of training; this is often used to complete the additional training (Masters) or research project. There is a great amount of flexibility in the training program, and the resident works closely with the Program Director to design a personalized curriculum.

Year 1 usually includes approximately 5 blocks of service (responsibilities include ER and ward consultations, rounding on hospitalized patients that are followed by our service, answering calls from doctors and from families, and attending clinics), 1 to 2 blocks of clinics, 3 blocks of research (can be used to prepare for a project in year 2, writing case report(s), starting a project, etc), 1 elective block (spent outside our centre depending on trainee's interests), 1 Adult Endocrinology block, 1 Genetics block, 1 Laboratory rotation (learning about lab methods, radiology), 1 to 2 weeks at Diabetes camp.

Year 2 is very flexible. It generally includes 3 blocks of service where the trainee manages the team of residents and students and acts as a junior attending staff with increasing responsibility and autonomy. The trainee may choose to have one elective block as well. The rest of the year is generally spent on research and/or courses at McGill University.

Blocks are 4 weeks long. Trainees are allowed 4 weeks of vacation per year, 1 week off during the Christmas/New Year's holidays, up to 10 days of conference leave (length of time spent away at conferences can be increased if the trainee presents an abstract), and up to 7 personal/study days.

Training Sites

The majority of the training takes place at the Montreal Children’s Hospital for inpatient and some outpatient care. Outpatient care also takes place at four clinics across the city, while the adult rotation occurs at the McGill affiliated hospitals. Residents may participate in elective rotations outside of McGill (usually 1 or 2 months); some sites of interest include Hopital Ste Justine, Montreal; CHEO, Ottawa; Camp Carowanis, diabetes camp in Ste-Agathe, Quebec; and the Shriners Hospital for bone metabolism (adjacent to MCH). Residents may also organize elective rotations elsewhere in Canada, in the US and abroad.