The Medical Oncology Subspecialty Residency Training Program is one of six subspecialty post-graduate programs currently offered by the University of Saskatchewan (Cardiology, General Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Respirology and Rheumatology).The residency is a two-year program leading to the RCPSC Certification of Special Competence. The program achieved accreditation by the Royal College of Canada in May 2022.The educational CBD program is designed with the application of the principles of adult-centric learning. The resident is expected to be a full participant in their own learning. The educational teaching opportunities and assessments have been thoughtfully aligned with the subcompetencies, milestones and EPAs as outlined by the Royal College of Canada.An annual program evaluation has been designed to ensure that we provide a reflective internal process to assist us in the growth of the program. As the most important stakeholder in the residency program are the residents themselves, we value the input from our resident in this continued growth. Unique features of the curriculum include a collaborative partnership with the University of British Colombia for academic half day, a systemic therapy prescribing curriculum, course work on communication skills, resident case rounds, and a basic science embedded within the academic training.

Faculty members have strong academic research backgrounds in oncology with a track record of peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals. These members will assist the residents in their pursuit of their own research goals. We have a strong basic science and clinical trials groups, and they are look forward to designing a project with the resident depending on the residents’ career aspirations. Additional graduate work will also be supported, including enrollment in Master level medical education programs if the resident wishes to pursue this. We pride ourselves on providing interprofessional care for the management of cancer patients. We have extensive multi-disciplinary rounds to ensure that we are treating all patients with the highest standards of care. We are well-supported by allied health professionals who assist physicians in guiding the patients and their families throughout the disease trajectory. The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency serves a diverse population with multiple ethnicities including a large Indigenous population. As such, the resident is expected to understand and demonstrate how to provide medical care with cultural sensitivity and competency, as well as their ability to address complex ethical issue with a high level of professionalism.

The overall goal of our medical oncology training program at the University of Saskatchewan is to ensure that you function as a competent and independent medical oncologist in a hospital setting and an outpatient clinic, either in an academic center or in a rural community setting. You will be given three months of elective time and you may choose to tailor your learning in settings such as the inpatient palliative care words and consultation service, rural community medical oncology practice or engage in a basic science or clinical research project including guideline development. You may also wish to concentrate your electives on clinical work in a site-specific area of interest in Saskatoon, Regina or outside the province.

Clinical experiences include out-patient medical oncology, radiation oncology and malignant hematology consultations and follow-up care, in-patient consultations and ward responsibilities and palliative care. The longitudinal clinic begins in the first block of the Core of Discipline training phase. You will be expected to attend oncology conferences with an emphasis on Canadian and national conferences such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Clinical Trial Group conference. 70% of the training is completed in Saskatoon with the remaining 30% in Regina.

Our program is based out of the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and is affiliated with Royal University Hospital (RUH). In Regina, the program is based out of the Allan Blair Cancer Centre and is affiliated with the Pasqua Hospital. These two main host hospitals are full-service tertiary care teaching facilities. Additional in-patient consultations can take place at City Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon.
Radiation Oncology and Hematology clinics take place at both cancer center sites. We have a closed oncology admitting ward at RUH, which is supported by clinical associates. There is a dedicated in-patient palliative care ward at St. Paul’s.

This program will enable you to learn continued self-education and self-evaluation. A unique component of the evaluation process is found in your monthly composition of reflective assignments. As well, all of your clinical responsibilities will be transferred to a faculty member to ensure that you have protected time to participate fully in all of the academic activities without distractions. We also support undergraduate medical and post graduate medical educational rotations and you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills in medical education as you participate in teaching and supervising of junior learners.