AFC and Clinical Fellowship Programs

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, together with Alberta Precision Laboratories, offer a unique opportunity for Clinical Fellowship & AFC training in a vibrant medical and cultural setting of Canada's "Blue Sky City" located in the foothills of the picturesque Rocky Mountains. 

Our principal mission is to prepare trainees for careers in academic diagnostic pathology and laboratory medicine. Using extensive clinical material and the mentorship of ~77 dedicated faculty members of our department, the AFC Trainees and fellows are trained to become knowledgeable in their field. 

The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (Alberta Precision Laboratories) performs more than 20 million laboratory tests per year. In Anatomical Pathology, we examine approximately 130,000 surgical cases, 220,000 gynecologic/10,000 non-gynecologic cytology cases per year, and perform approximately 210 adult and 350 pediatric/fetal autopsies per year. 

The fellowship programs provide 1 or 2 years of intensive training in the respective sub-specialty areas. In addition to clinical expertise, the fellows acquire a working knowledge of the theoretical basis of the specialty, including its foundations in the basic medical sciences. Program specific opportunities for participation in collaborative clinical research are available and encouraged.

MD Timeline:

18 months prior to prospective start

• Application period opens (November 1)

14 months prior to prospective start

• Application period closes
• Fellowship program review submitted applications
• Fellowship programs review files and interview applicants
• Positions allocated

12 months prior to prospective start

• Letter of Intent is sent to applicants
• PGME Documentation is started

5 months or less prior to start

• Active onboarding APL HR/Medical Affairs
• PGME Letters of Offer Issued

3 months or less prior to start (for July 1 start)

• Trainee requests for Criminal Record Check with VSS from local policy agency
• CPSA licensure process begins
• Trainee signs up for CMPA coverage

Timeline example for July 2026 commencement (in a nutshell) MD Fellowship:

1. November 1, 2024 application period opens
2. March 31, 2025 application period closes
3. April 2025 submitted applications are reviewed and interviews are offered
4. May 2025
   1. Positions are allocated
   2. Verbal offers extended
5. August 2025 PGME letters of intent requested (new process) and issued
6. November 1, 2025 PGME Framework Forms and other documents due
7. December 2025/January 2026 upload necessary documents to APL Medical Affairs
8. April 1, 2026 – first day for trainee to request new Criminal Record check with Vulnerable Sector Search (must not be older than 90 days prior to commencement) with their local police agency.
9. July 1, 2026 First day of Fellowships

PhD Timeline:

1. August 1 annually - application period opens
2. November 1 annually - application period closes
3. November submitted applications are reviewed and telephone/virtual interviews are offered for mid-December
4. January  - in person interviews are offered for top 3 candidates
5. By end of February  -
   1. verbal offering of position
   2. Letter of intent sent for signing
   3. Medical Affairs notified of chosen candidate once letter of intent is returned signed
6. November 1, 2025PGME Framework [CLS2] [SP3] Forms and other documents due
7. December 2025/January 2026 upload necessary documents to APL Medical Affairs
8. April 1, 2026 – first day for trainee to request new Criminal Record check with Vulnerable Sector Search (must not be older than 90 days prior to commencement) with their local police agency.

July 1, 2026 First day of Fellowships

MD and AFC Program inquiries: calgaryfellowship@albertaprecisionlabs.ca

Clinical Biochemistry inquiries: APL.CalChemistryFellowship@albertaprecisionlabs.ca

Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Lab inquiries:  TBD