Our Program
The Curriculum
Adult Neurology training in Canada is a 5-year entry-level postgraduate training program, with standards set by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
As of July 2020, our program has transitioned to the Competence By Design (CBD) curriculum in accordance with the Royal College standards. The CBD curriculum is divided into four sections (Transition to Discipline, Foundations, Core and Transition to Practice).
Residents begin their PGY1 year with Transition to Discipline, which includes one block each of inpatient neurology and CTU.
This is followed by Foundations, during which residents will develop clinical knowledge in a variety of specialties, including CTU and Internal Medicine subspecialties (e.g. hematology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, cardiology, geriatrics etc.), Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, ICU, and Neurosurgery. In Foundations, resident education is largely built around inpatient rotations and developing clinical skills relevant to neurological practice.
The next 35 blocks are the Core during which residents will solidify knowledge and expertise in general and subspecialty areas of Neurology. Rotations are arranged in inpatient neurology, ambulatory clinics (MS/Neuroinflammatory, Movement Disorders, Dementia, Neurogenetics, Rapid Access Neurology Clinic), Neuromuscular and EMG, Epilepsy and EEG, Pediatric Neurology, etc. The Royal College written examination will be scheduled for the end of Core (corresponding to the end of PGY4).
In the final PGY5 year, residents complete Transition to Practice. Emphasis is placed on their role as a junior attending on inpatient rotations, and customizing their rotation schedule according to individual career goals. The Royal College OSCE examination will be scheduled for the end of Transition to Practice.
Longitudinal Clinic experience begins in PGY3 for all residents and continues until the end of PGY5. Residents also have opportunities to be involved in various research projects throughout the course of their training.
More information on Competence By Design can be found on the Royal College website.
For additional information on the UBC Adult Neurology Postgraduate Training Program, please visit the CaRMS website.
Residents at Work
As a junior resident, most of your rotations will be off-service, but you will still be a core member of our residency family! Junior residents do five blocks of neurology as part of their training, in addition to a block of community neurology. They attend the Neurology Academic Half-Day even in R1, as well as Neuroscience Grand Rounds when their rotation schedule allows it.
As a senior resident, you begin the transition to independent practice, with more exposure to a variety of neurology subspecialties. We are fortunate in Vancouver to have access to world-renowned attendings in (almost) all subspecialties, who are all very eager to teach our residents. As a senior resident, you will also be more responsible for teaching junior residents and medical students during your time on service.
Rotation Schedule
Transition to Discipline (2 blocks)
1 block of VGH General Neurology or Stroke
1 block of CTU
Foundations (R1-R2; 18 blocks)
5 blocks of a combination of VGH General Neurology and Stroke (3 of each will be completed by the end of R2)
2 blocks of SPH Neurology
1 block of CTU
1-2 blocks of Neurosurgery
1 block of ICU
1 block of ER
1 block of Psychiatry
1 block of Community neurology
4 blocks of Cardiology, Geriatrics, Hematology, Rheumatology, or Infectious Diseases
1 block of Research
Core (35 blocks)
12 blocks of inpatient neurology (VGH general, VGH stroke, and SPH neurology)
3 blocks of UBC Ambulatory Clinics (Movement Disorders, MS/NMO, Dementia, Neurogenetics, Huntington’s)
3 blocks of EMG / Neuromuscular
3 blocks of EEG / Epilepsy
2 blocks of Neuro-Ophthalmology
1 block of Neuro-Psychiatry
1 block of Community Neurology
3 blocks of Pediatric Neurology
1 block of Palliative Care
1 block of Physical Medicine & Rehab (Physiatry)
1 block of Rapid Access Neurology Clinic (RANC)
1 block of Ambulatory Clinics
1 block of Neuropathology
1 block of Pain
1 block of electives
Transition to Practice (10 blocks)
3 blocks of junior attending (VGH neurology, VGH stroke, and SPH neurology)
1-2 blocks of RANC
5-6 blocks customized to the resident’s individual training plan
Resident Research
Research is an important component of medical care in Canada, advancing new knowledge and treatments for neurological diseases. Research is optional in the UBC Neurology Royal College Training Program. Participation in research projects during residency will provide valuable learning experiences and mentorship opportunities for Neurology Residents. In general, this is a self directed learning program with collaboration from a staff supervisor. Residents are encouraged to do a variety of projects in different subspecialty areas. However, they may elect to do one main project throughout the 5 year program.
The goals of our research program are: to provide research opportunities for residents; to encourage mentorship; and to provide training on the ethical conduct of research.
Residents will have up to 6 months of elective time available for research during the 5 year Royal College Program. Given the limited amount of time, some projects will allow the resident to play a major role (chart reviews, case studies, possibly pilot studies), whereas basic science projects will primarily provide exposure to the complexities of setting up assays and conducting research.