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Education

Geriatric Medicine

Residency Program Sharepoint

Our Program

The Geriatric Medicine Residency Program at the University of Calgary is an excellent opportunity for Internal Medicine trainees who are interested in furthering their skills in care of frail, complex older adults. Trainees who excel in our program have demonstrated:

  • Excellence in internal medicine and interest in providing personalized health care to older persons
  • Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to work within teams
  • Successful engagement with principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our residency training features rotations in consultative and attending models of geriatric care, longitudinal clinic, work within supported living/long term care as well as experiences in physiatry and geriatric psychiatry. Learners are supported to train for their future goals with opportunities for coaching, mentorship and numerous elective opportunities. Highlights include exposure to a diverse geriatric population, geriatric movement disorders, peri-operative geriatric medicine, rural/Indigenous health outreach, longitudinal QI teaching and a tailored Transition to Practice phase.

Our program is a leader in Competency Based Medical Education with a culture of observation and constructive feedback to help develop excellence in geriatric medicine. Our faculty includes innovative educators and teachers who contribute through clinical experiences and our academic half day curriculum. We have a strong culture of collegiality and support that includes trainees, past and present and a healthy respect for work-life balance.
 

Application Process

Application to the two-year subspecialty program in Geriatric Medicine at University of Calgary is coordinated through the Fall Subspecialty Residency Match (FSRM) (formerly the Medicine Subspecialty Match (MSM)) offered through the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS).

For complete details on eligibility and on applying to the University of Calgary Geriatric Medicine Program through the FSRM, visit www.carms.ca.

Program Curriculum

  • The TTD phase of training consists of the first two blocks and includes a local boot camp week where new residents will meet faculty and attend a variety of sessions designed to convey both core geriatric knowledge, as well as information to orient them to local practices and to the program. There are generally also opportunities to attend other boot camp programs, including at the national level.
  • The remainder of TTP includes a sampling of the core clinical experiences (including Consults, Clinic, and the Acute Geriatric Unit, as well as time to begin planning for a scholarly project).
  • The FoD phase of training includes core experiences in Geriatric Medicine Consultations at Foothills Medical Centre, the Acute Geriatric Unit (our inpatient mixed acute care/rehabilitation ward) at Rockyview General Hospital, and the Geriatric Day Hospital at Carewest Glenmore Park.
  • The Falls, Fractures, Ambulation and Balance (FFAB) block also takes place in FoD. This innovative block combines a variety of training opportunities, including home visits, Falls Rounds, vestibular assessments, the Fracture Liaison Service, and other multidisciplinary care, and allows residents to become well acquainted with the assessment and management of the falling older adult.
  • Off-service rotations include inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
  • There are also other outpatient learning opportunities integrated into FoD, including Neuropsychiatry, outpatient Geriatric Psychiatry, Long Term Care, and other subspecialty clinics (e.g. Movement Disorders).
  • Elective time is also allocated in FoD.
  • In the CoD phase of training, residents further consolidate and expand their skills in Geriatric Medicine. Core rotations in Consults (which can occur at sites other than Foothills Medical Centre), the Acute Geriatric Unit, and Day Hospital are also present, but more responsibility will be given to the learner compared to their FoD versions.
  • Similar outpatient learning opportunities are also integrated into CoD.
  • There is also protected time for a QI project.
  • There are also multiple blocks allocated for elective time, and research blocks are also permissible. 
  • TTP typically consists of the final three blocks of training.
  • There is one block of Junior Attending on the Acute Geriatric Unit/Day Hospital, and one block of Junior Attending on Consults.
  • The final block, “#stafflife”, is individualised for each resident based on their proposed career plans, and the resident is matched to a preceptor (or preceptors) who have jobs as close to the resident’s intended staff role as possible.
  • Longitudinal Fellows’ Clinic, generally supervised by faculty members with an interest in education, occurs most weeks (excepting when the resident is on Foothills Medical Centre Consults or the Acute Geriatric Unit), and usually takes place at the Bridgeland Seniors Health Clinic. In this clinic, the resident will see new consults and follow them longitudinally through their training, with graduated responsibility as they progress through their training.
  • In addition, opportunities for residents to pursue their own career interests, such as medical education, research, leadership, or specialised clinical services are also available and can be facilitated.
  • Formal educational opportunities include Division Rounds on Wednesday mornings and Academic Half Days weekly on Thursdays.
  • Simulation sessions and the annual Geriatric Medicine practice examination are also integrated into the formal academic curriculum.
  • Residents are also encouraged to attend the annual meeting of the Canadian Geriatrics Society.

Elective Information for Residents and Medical Students

Electives are available and can potentially be tailored to one’s learning goals. 

If you are interested in doing a Geriatric Medicine Elective in Calgary, please email alexandra.bellefeuille@ahs.ca.  Please include any specific learning objectives that you may have.