The Postgraduate Medical Education Office (PGME) is committed to the health, protection and personal safety of the Postgraduate medical trainees, faculty and staff at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

The role of our office in addressing public health crises is one of coordination and information sharing — with residents, teaching hospitals, stakeholder agencies and various departments.

PGME Updates

The PGME office has been working diligently to keep programs up to date on the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health and safety of residents, staff and faculty.

Several memos have been sent to all programs regarding redeployment, licensure, vacations and leave concerns. Please familiarize yourself with the instructions provided in the memos. Below is more specific information on how the processes will be managed.

A Resident Redeployment Hub (RRH) has been created for Program Directors, Residents and Service Provider use. The PGME office will collaborate with programs on the execution of the RRH. Please refer to the Resident Redeployment Form.

May 2024
May 17th - Covid Protocol sick and Vacation Time

March 2023
March 3rd - COVID Reporting and Vacation Carryover

December 2022
December 22nd - Time Away Due to Illness

July 2022
July 4th - Covid-19 Updates

May 2022
May 12th - PCR Testing

April 2022
April 20th - Covid Exposure/Testing, Return to Work, Reporting, International Travel, Proof of Vaccination

January 2022
January 21st - Covid Sick Time and Vacation Time
January 18th - Proccess to Follow for COVID symptoms

November 2021
November 12 - Redeployment

March 2021
March 29 - Regina Restrictions

January 2021
January 25 - Incoming/Outgoing Electives, Moonlighting, Vaccinations, Support for in-house call
January 15 - Unused vacation carryover for 2020-2021 Academic Year

December 2020
December 18 - CaRMS preparation time
December 15 - Resident Sick Leave and Return to Work

August 2020
August 28 - Letter to Residents, re on-call support
August 14 - Residency Duration, Work Expectations, Social Distancing & Safety

July 2020
July 3 - Examination Leave

June 2020
June 15 - Electives
June 12 - Educational Day Carryover
June 1- In-House Call support extended

May 2020
May 25 —  PPE Training and Fitting
May 6 — Vacations and Electives

April 2020
April 29 — COVID Memo to New Residents
April 6 — Resources, Redeployment, Research, Virtual Care, Licenses, SHA email, N95 Mask Fitting
April 2 — Redeployment and RRH

March 2020
March 28 — Activation of SHA Emails
March 25 — Redeployment, Licensure, Vacations, Leaves
March 24 — Pregnant and Immunocompromised Residents
March 21 — International Travel Cut-Off Date
March 20 — Redeployment of Residents and MedEd Decisions
March 18 — Spectrum Mobile App
March 16 — Residency Program Updates
March 15
• CaRMS 2nd Iteration
• Personal Safety
March 13
• National Certification and Licensure Examinations
• Resident Isolation Procedures and Expectations
• Resident Travel
March 11 — Residents in Emergency Medicine
March 10 — COVID-19 update

As in other years, the usual process for completing residents will be followed. Jenny Uhryn will be asking programs to specify the names of completing residents who may be eligible for a provisional license. Residents are responsible for applying for a provisional license through CPSS.

To assist with the application and tracking of voluntary clinical exemptions, a Voluntary Exemption form has been created for program use. Completed forms can be sent to Kailey Friesen. 

As in other years, the usual process for vacation payouts will be followed. Jennifer Dybvig will be contacting programs to obtain any vacation payouts for completing residents.

Resident Wellness

Patient care and residents' health and safety are our top priorities, so if you need any assistance during this stressful time please do not hesitate to contact our Resident Wellness Coordinator Jennifer Uhryn.

PGME Resident Resource Office (RRO) provides resources and support services for residents coping with personal and professional challenges. Virtual counselling services available during the Covid-19 health crisis, same day appointments may be possible including evenings and weekends. For assistance, please email the Resident Wellness Coordinator Jennifer Uhryn. 

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides free 24/7 confidential counselling and work-life solutions for residents and family members. Call 306-966-4300 or toll-free at 1-844-448-7275. 

Residents may also contact the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) Physician Health Program for confidential support. Contact 306-657-4553 or 1-800-667-3781. 


Education Resources

Guidelines for Working Remotely

Working remotely provides tremendous opportunity and flexibility--but brings with it certain risks and responsibilities. Under the university’s Data Management Policy, all members of the university community have the responsibility to appropriately use, maintain, and safeguard university data.

For virtual meetings involving patient discussions, it is important to be mindful of patient confidentiality. Use headphones or private space, confirm attendees, and use anonymized case information where possible.

The University of Saskatchewan offers a variety of training options for staff and faculty members to work remotely.

Library support for research and online learning is available.

  1. Teaching in the Age of COVID-19: Teaching with tech while socially distancing. You will find some tips and tricks that the ALiEM (Academic Life in Emergency Medicine Team have compiled to facilitate distance teaching and learning.
  2. Tools for Creating Online Materials by PIVOT MedEd (Partners In Virtual and On-Line Teaching in Medical Education). PIVOT MedEd is a national collaboration of medical educators working together to create and curate resources to help pivot the curriculum for medical learners during a pandemic, such as the one we're facing right now with COVID-19.
  3. Online Teaching Information by the Royal College