CHEO is a tertiary care children's hospital that provides pediatric inpatient services in the Ottawa-Carleton region and serves a referral population of over 1.5 million in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, Nunavut and parts of Northern Ontario. It is the only pediatric hospital in the region serving a large catchment area which provides the opportunity for exposure to common pediatric conditions and those unique to tertiary care pediatrics.
There are numerous subspecialty rotations available, many of which also offer Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accredited fellowship subspecialty training.
The program attracts the top students from across Canada who are interested in a career in consulting or subspecialty pediatrics. Residents are chosen based on their academic potential and interest in pediatrics, problem-solving capability, communication and interpersonal skills.
The ratio of on-site pediatrics faculty to residents is 3:1 resulting in considerable direct contact and one-on-one teaching with staff. This is enhanced by the involvement of the community pediatrics faculty. The size of the pediatric residency program and the number of faculty and fellows ensure that all residents have superb opportunities for hands-on clinical work, developing teaching skills and actively participating in research and/or child health advocacy.
The work environment is friendly and supportive with a well-established mentorship program. The Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Committee carefully evaluates and incorporates feedback from the residents through the Annual Resident Retreat and resident representation on the PGME Committee.
The program provides time for resident learning, using a format of seminars, lectures, interactive discussions and journal clubs. The curriculum for this is planned by the PGME Education Subcommittee, which includes resident representation. Protected time includes weekly Grand Rounds, Residents' Academic Half Day and monthly morbidity and mortality rounds, all of which provide excellent learning experiences for the residents.