Residency | Department of Medicine | School of Medicine

Resident Help

The Division of Rheumatology at Queen's University offers a two-year residency program in Adult Rheumatology fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Residents are prepared for independent practice through training in the specialized assessment and care of patients with Rheumatological, Autoimmune, and Musculoskeletal Health Disorders.

Program Highlights

The Division of Rheumatology and the Rheumatic Diseases Unit are fully approved for training in Rheumatology by the Canadian College of Physicians and Surgeons. This is a two-year training program, ordinarily following completion of three years of training in Internal Medicine in an approved Program. Applicants are taken on a competitive basis and funded through the Ontario Ministry of Health. The Training Program offers a wide spectrum of Clinical training as well as a number of Research and elective opportunities, described below.

The Rheumatology Residency Program is two years in duration with 13 blocks per year. It offers a wide spectrum of clinical training in addition to varied research opportunities. The program is flexible and meets the needs of individual trainees, while at the same time fulfilling Royal College requirements. The curriculum includes the following:

Ambulatory Clinics in Rheumatology including a longitudinal Resident’s Clinic
In-patient Consultation Service
Rotations in Community Rheumatology, Pediatric Rheumatology and MSK radiology and Research
Electives of the residents choosing are offered in the PGY5 year. Options include Subspecialty Clinics at a variety of Academic Institutions, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation/EMG, Orthopedics or any rotation that will enhance the residents learning and preparation for future practice
Weekly academic program designed for Rheumatology trainees with input from the trainees themselves
Weekly rounds for Rheumatology open to all students and faculty in the Department of Medicine
Curriculum that includes basic science, critical appraisal and review of the CanMEDS roles
Pediatric Rheumatology rotation at McMaster, University of Ottawa or University of Toronto

Our graduates, competent to function as consultant rheumatologists, are excellent, astute clinical rheumatologists with wide clinical experience. We are pleased to offer a program that is both flexible and supportive for the individual career paths of our residents.

Admission

Admission to the Rheumatology program at Queen's University is through the Medicine Subspecialty Match, coordinated by the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS).

Curriculum and Educational Activities

This residency program is for 2 year(s). Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

The Curriculum for Postgraduate Trainees in Rheumatology will include the following:

Ambulatory Clinics in Rheumatology including a longitudinal Residents Clinic with the opportunity to quickly develop skills needed for independent practice
Mandatory Pediatric rheumatology rotation, Community rotation, MSK radiology and Research rotation
In-patient Consultation Service with the Rheumatology subspecialty resident involved in all consults and collaboration with other services providing an exceptional breadth of exposure
On-call opportunities also offer opportunities to address rheumatologic concerns from other specialists and primary care providers in the community and from surrounding catchment areas
Electives in Research, Orthopedics, Dermatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (including EMG), The Arthritis Society and any Subspecialty Disease Clinic the resident feels is useful to their learning and future practice
Weekly academic program designed for Rheumatology trainees in accordance with Rheumatology Competencies as designated by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Weekly rounds for Rheumatology open to all students and faculty in the Department of Medicine
Curriculum that includes basic science, critical appraisal, QI, and professional/career development
Regular feedback, evaluation and support for professional development
Practice examinations, including written and oral formats
Pediatric Rheumatology rotation at the University of Ottawa or Toronto

The Academic Curriculum for Rheumatology is delivered through Academic Half-Days, Rheumatology Rounds, and a Journal Club.

Academic Half-Day
These occur weekly and are a blend of faculty and resident led presentations that meet the Royal College of Physician and Surgeon (RCPS) Rheumatology Competencies

Rheumatology Rounds
Held each Thursday, the Rounds provide a venue for guest speakers, rheumatology residents. Faculty, rotating residents, and students to present topics in Rheumatology

Journal Club
The Journal Club meets monthly and presents evidence-based Rheumatology and literature relevant to clinical practice. It emphasizes the principles of critical appraisal and evidence-based medicine.

Research

Division members are active in a number of Research areas. Queen’s has a strong Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME) which links bench researchers with clinical researchers of a variety of subspecialty backgrounds. Those with a strong interest in research have opportunity to find research support through TIME. In addition, MDs interested in a career in Research, have opportunities to register in the Clinical Investigation Program (CIP).

Our current Faculty have a wide variety of research interest including bench research in Ankylosing Spondylitis, approach to systematic reviews/metanalysis, quality improvement initiatives, Resident Education, Vasculitis and Connective Tissue Disease related ILD.

Being involved in at least a part of some type of research project is mandatory by the RCPS. The intensity and extent of the research experience is tailored in accordance with the resident's interests, previous research experience, and career aspirations. Examples of recent ongoing and/or completed resident research projects include:

Effect of telephone or email reminders on No-show rate in Rheumatology Clinics at Queen’s
Survey of ILD screening in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis by Canadian Rheumatologists
HIF-1α and MIF enhance neutrophil-driven type 3 immunity and chondrogenesis in a murine spondyloarthritis model
The extent of the osteoporosis care gap in the Kingston region.
Synvisc in osteoarthritis of the hip: A pilot study.
A comparison of hypochondriasis and somatization in patients with fibromyalgia compared with rheumatoid arthritis.
An internet survey of Ontario Rheumatologists with respect to procedures used in joint aspiration/injection.
Systematic review of pharmacological therapies for hand osteoarthritis.
Systematic review of the ability of glucosamine to alter glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity.
An internet survey of Ontario Rheumatologists with respect to their views on fibromyalgia.

Training Sites

Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is southeastern Ontario’s leading centre for complex-acute and specialty care and home to the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, and is the primary teaching site. KHSC is composed of both the Kingston General Hospital (KGH) site and Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) site. KGH serves almost 500,000 people through its Kingston facility and 24 regional affiliate and satellite sites. KGH was ranked in 2011 as one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals by Research Infosource.

Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) is the main ambulatory care teaching and research hospital for Kingston and Southeastern Ontario. As an ambulatory (or outpatient) care facility, it provides medical care or treatment that does not require long overnight stays and includes services such as specialized clinic visits, day surgeries, and diagnostic procedures using advanced technology, equipment, or procedures

Providence Care Hospital (PCH) provides specialized mental health care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, specialized geriatric services, complex continuing care, palliative care, and long-term care. Care is provided through inpatient, outpatient and community services.

Policies

Postgraduate Policies

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EDI Statement

"The Division of Rheumatology and the Rheumatology Training Program at Queen's University are committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in all that we do. We extend this respect and honour to the diversity within our community, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, socio-economic status, class, and religion. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that brings together diverse perspectives from our students, faculty, staff, patients, and members of the community. We honour this commitment in our recruitment of students, faculty, and staff by creating an environment that reflects the diversity in our society and maintains an environment of equity and fairness where we can all work and learn. We strive to provide a program and curriculum that prepares our graduates to meet and understand the needs of the diverse communities they will serve in their careers in Canada and around the world. Together, we will advance excellence in the field of Rheumatology in ways that are equitable, diverse and inclusionary."

- Approved by Rheumatology RPC Sept 14th, 2023