This two-year subspecialty program offers intensive, high-calibre preparation for physicians seeking to build a career centred on paediatric emergency care. Delivered through the Division of Emergency Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa, the program is designed to develop deep clinical expertise, advanced procedural skills, and the leadership capabilities required in high-acuity paediatric settings. Its structure, educational depth, and strong academic environment position graduates for impactful careers in paediatric emergency medicine across Canada and beyond.
Training is based at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a renowned tertiary centre serving southeastern Ontario and western Quebec. With approximately 70,000 annual emergency visits and designation as the region’s level-one paediatric trauma centre, CHEO provides unmatched exposure to a spectrum of presentations—from common childhood illnesses to complex trauma and critical care cases. The program is fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and successful completion makes trainees eligible to sit for the PEM subspecialty examination.
Applicants can enter the program through multiple pathways. Residents may pursue the two-year track beginning in their fourth year of training by applying directly to the Program Director before the end of January of their third year; they then re-enter through CaRMS in their sixth year to complete subspecialty requirements. Alternatively, those completing full Emergency Medicine training may apply through the subspecialty CaRMS match in their fourth year, with funding considerations discussed with the Program Director due to provincial limitations on sequential dual certification. Regardless of entry route, the program offers a dynamic and supportive environment designed to shape highly capable, confident paediatric emergency physicians.
Contact
Dr. Terry Varshney, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
[email protected]