FAQs | Department of Medicine | School of Medicine

How many residents are there in your program?

There are currently 78 residents in the Core Internal Medicine residency program. It is anticipated that 18 (CMG) and 6 (IMG) residents will be recruited for the 2024 CaRMS Match.

What is the application process?

All applications are through CaRMS.

Do you accept foreign medical graduates?

Yes, each year the program accepts applicants who have completed their medical training outside of Canada into the Core Internal Medicine residency program.

What are the strengths of your program?

Queen's Internal Medicine residency program provides residents with an excellent opportunity for clinical training. Kingston Health Science Centre (KHSC) is a tertiary care hospital with a wide catchment area, and a referral population of over 600,000 patients. Internal Medicine residents receive the opportunity to study a variety of medical problems throughout their training and receive significant 'hands-on' experience with critically ill patients, with nearly all acute medicine admissions coming to the Clinical Teaching Units (CTU). In addition, medical residents and faculty are able to develop meaningful relationships due to the large faculty-to-student ratio. There is a friendly and collegiate atmosphere throughout the program, providing a positive and supportive learning environment. Learn more about the residency expereince.

What is the call schedule like?

During their first year of training, residents on the Clinical Teaching Units (CTU) or Cardiology services take approximately 4-5 calls, mostly as emergency room call or cross covering wards at night. On subspecialty rotations this is usually 4-5 calls/block.

The PGY2/3 on CTU take 1:4 call, but leave at 10:00 pm, handing over their duties to the night float resident. The PGY2 on ICU or cardiology take is a traditional 1:5 overnight call.

The PGY3s cover the DICU step down unit and provide in-house back-up for the junior residents. This call is 2-4 calls/block. If working a Cardiology block (e.g. CSU or Consults) they take 1:5 Cardiology call.

PARO rules dictate that any resident who is on overnight call leaves by 10:00 am on their post-call day.

How much formal teaching is done?

The program provides several settings for formal teaching. Fixed weekly conferences include medical grand rounds, and a departmental mortality and morbidity conference. The Internal Medicine rounds (Sign-In Rounds) take place three times per week, involving case presentations, patient safety rounds, cardiology rounds, neurology rounds, a program mortality and morbidity rounds and lectures. Other days provide opportunities for residents to attend subspecialty conferences of their choice. Academic half days are being held once a week for all residents. In addition, a journal club is held 8-9 times throughout the academic year during the evenings at a local restaurant.

Are there any research opportunities for the Internal Medicine residents?

Queen's boasts an active research faculty, and our residents are encouraged to participate in research projects with a mentor. Protected research time is available in the form of a research block, and residents are expected to participate in the annual Resident Research Day at the end of the academic year.

How do you evaluate the residents?

As Queen's Core Internal Medicine program is a medium sized program, there is a large opportunity for faculty and staff to get to know all residents very well. Residents are evaluated on an on-going basis during clinical rotations via the Queen’s School of Medicine online learning platform, Elantra. In addition, residents meet individually with their academic advisors and with the program director several times per year to discuss their progress with program evaluations and unique learning goals. We formally test medical knowledge with the American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine In-Training Exam (IM-ITE) annually. A Royal College like multi-OSCE station exam is also held every year. Junior residents also participate in a "nightmare course" simulation series with their colleagues until they have achieved competence.

How much elective time do I get?

All residents are eligible for 3 electives over 3 years (one in each academic year, PGY-3 electives are scheduled in blocks 1-3). These electives can be taken at Queen's or at another institution. In addition, residents are allocated one selective/research block per academic year where they can select a particular rotation of interest which must be completed at Queen's or decide to complete a research block. These options allow significant flexibility in the residents’ schedule, with some residents having taken the opportunity to do electives abroad. Any selective block can be used for research (up to a maximum of 3 blocks).

Future subspecialty training?

The program provides subspecialty training in most of the major subspecialties (Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Palliative Care Medicine, Respirology, and Rheumatology). The program has experienced significant success in placing residents in the subspecialty of their choice, usually in the city of their choice. While we cannot guarantee any resident a particular subspecialty position when first joining the program, Queens’ residents are favourably viewed by our faculty. The program does its best to ensure all residents are provided the best career opportunities for their future. All residents are guaranteed 4 years of training to qualify and prepare for the Royal College exams.

What other benefits are available to the residents?

Residents are encouraged to attend a national meeting every year, for which educational stipends are available if research is being presented. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the program will also be partially funding subscriptions to UpToDate® for all residents within our program. Repeated code blue training sessions with varying scenarios are provided at our simulation center, and specific procedure-based teaching in small groups. There are also several educational courses run by the Queens Post-Graduate Office which focus on medical education and leadership skills, and senior residents are encouraged to apply. Residents have created a “Resident Survival Guide” that is available to all Internal Medicine residents.

Miscellaneous and Social Events:

There is a collegial and supportive atmosphere amongst the residents and faculty members. The program organizes several social events throughout the year, the highlight being a weekend retreat outside of Kingston (recent trips include Château Montebello, Hockley Valley Resort, and Château Bromont). Resident wellness is also one of the program’s top priorities, with the Resident Wellness Committee organizing various activities for residents to engage in together as a group. These have included events such as open mics, board game nights, gingerbread house competition, etc. The program also hosts an annual welcome BBQ, and an end of year 'Last Call Ball' at the Isabel Bader Centre where awards and prizes are presented, and the graduating residents are 'roasted' by the faculty.