Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program

The Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at the University of Calgary is fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 

Our goal is to prepare the next generation of physicians to become highly skilled clinical radiologists while also teaching the skills required to excel in research, education, and innovation in the field of diagnostic imaging. 

The first year of residency training (PGY1) is predominantly clinical, based at the Rockyview General Hospital, to ensure a strong foundation of clinical skills. This year focuses on the transition from medical school into residency, building a strong foundation of clinical skills and subsequently the transition into radiology. The remaining four years of residency (PGY2-5), primarily located at the Foothills Medical Centre, focus on acquiring the core competencies of diagnostic radiology with emphasis in the PGY5 year on preparing senior residents for the transition into practice. 

All of the radiology faculty are fellowship trained sub-specialists and recognized as leaders in the field of radiology. Radiologists in each sub specialty area are well integrated into the clinical health care team and participate in multidisciplinary rounds to promote the delivery of excellent patient care through their roles as clinicians, administrators, scholars and teachers.

The University of Calgary is a medium sized program with approximately 26 residents that emphasizes teamwork, collegiality and wellness in addition to our role as medical experts. Our residents work together and alongside with staff radiologists to provide high quality patient centered care. Residents in the University of Calgary have an integrated core-teaching curriculum taught by faculty during protected academic half days each week. Daily case rounds presented by residents, fellows and staff further enhance the teaching curriculum. All the teaching activities take place in the R.D. Johns Lecture Theatre which is a state of the art teaching class room with an integrated PACS viewing station and 98” LCD monitor (the first of its kind in Alberta). There is a dedicated residents library with core radiology textbooks and reference material that is complemented by radiology textbooks available electronically through the University of Calgary Library. There are also devoted Mac and PC workstations in the radiology resident library which are used for research and teaching. All the residents have access to StatDx and RadPrimer, which are comprehensive online references and teaching material to supplement their core textbook reading.

The Diagnostic Radiology Visiting Professor program has been a huge success over the years to allow the residents to be taught by experts, often world renowned, in various subspecialty areas of radiology. Also, the program allows the residents to make contact with experts from major teaching centres, which has opened doors for highly competitive fellowships in the past.

All residents participate in research during residency at the University of Calgary, enhanced through important academic ties with the Department of Radiology Division of Image Science. The Division of Image Science brings together 14 full time research faculty members, over 40 trainees (MSc, PhD and Post-doctoral fellows) and an additional 19 research assistants/associates. There are many clinical and preclinical research groups that work closely with the Department of Radiology including the Seaman Family MR Research Centre, the Experimental Imaging Centre, the Centre for Mobility and Joint Health, The Stephenson Cardiovascular Imaging Centre and the Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program. Held annually, the Alex and Kaye Cummings Radiology Research Day highlights resident and academic trainee research within the Department of Radiology.

The University of Calgary Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program is a dynamic, resident driven program with state of the art facilities, subspecialty-trained staff and exposure to a wide spectrum of pathology. There is a proven track record of excellence in radiology, teaching and research. Graduates from our program have been very successful obtaining fellowship training positions and employment at prestigious institutions throughout Canada and the USA. 

Applications are accepted through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)