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Residency/Fellowship Training Programs
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Medical Oncology

The medical oncology training program of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ meets the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Collège des médecins du Québec, and the American Board of Internal Medicine for Specialty Training in Medical Oncology.

Of note, the program goals align with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s Competencies and Training Experiences for the Specialty of Medical Oncology (2018, Version 1.0) and has successfully launched the Competence by Design program July 1, 2018.
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Program Goals

The overall goal of the residency program is to train competent Medical Oncologists who will have the skills necessary to function independently as consultants. Ultimately, we aim to train future leaders in the specialty who are comfortable with both leading teams and being valuable team members.

We also aim to provide the trainee with an understanding of the functioning of clinical trials and research in oncology. Whether the trainee wishes to eventually work as a clinician-researcher at an academic centre or in the community, we provide them with the skillset needed to conduct research or refer appropriate patients for trials as it pertains to their practice.

At the end of training, the successful graduate from our program will be able to:

• Understand the basic scientific principles of pathology, epidemiology, and pharmacology and treatment of all the solid tumours.
• Formulate a management plan for both oncology inpatients and outpatients that is evidence-based and addresses all aspects of the health care needs of the patient and their family.
• Act as an independent specialist and implement treatment of individual malignancies.
• Work effectively with others in a multidisciplinary team.
• Develop skills for life-long learning to remain up-to-date with developments in cancer management.
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Selection Process Goals

A successful applicant will demonstrate:

• Strong clinical knowledge and excellent internal medicine skills.
• Exceptional professionalism skills and the ability to be a team player
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong academic performance in each of the CanMEDS 2015 roles
• A strong interest in oncology as a whole, and in particular, medical oncology, including knowledge of the role of the various members of the oncology team
• Ability and enthusiasm for self-directed learning and ability to adapt to the various demands of medical oncology residency training.
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Program Highlights

The three main training hospitals of the McGill Medical Oncology Residency Program, the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Health Centre, the Jewish General Hospital, and Saint-Mary’s Hospital Centre, serve a diverse population. The cancer pathology seen in our oncology clinics is diverse and exhaustive. The successful applicant will thus have an opportunity to see a wide array of cases and be confident in the management of various solid tumours, including rare tumours, upon completing the program.

Each teaching centre has its own expertise in oncology management and is part of the Rossy Cancer Network which serves to facilitate access to cancer clinical trials. As such, our training centres offer a variety of opportunities for both basic and clinical cancer research.

There is much flexibility in the program to help the trainee focus on particular areas of interest, whether it be a particular tumour site or a specific area of research.

The trainee also has the opportunity to carry out a longitudinal clinic during the 2-year course of the program. The trainee will have their own patient load during this time and follow and manage the patients through their cancer trajectory, preparing them for independent clinical practice in the future.
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This residency program is for 2 years.

Important: The Faculty cannot guarantee remuneration of a sixth year of training to obtain double certification in hematology and medical oncology. The number of residents that can complete this sixth year (extension of training in oncology or hematology) is determined annually by the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).

First Year

To ensure adequate and uniform exposure to all tumour sites, trainees will rotate through various tumour site-specific rotations as outlined below:

• one (1) orientation period with exposure to different cancer clinics;
• breast cancer – two (2) periods;
• gastrointestinal cancers – two (2) periods;
• lung cancer – two (2) periods;
• genito-urinary cancers – two (2) periods;
• mixed tumours – two (2) periods;
• community oncology – one (1) period;
• elective of choice -one (1) period.

Second Year

The trainees will also be scheduled for the following medical oncology, off-service, and elective rotations during their second year:

• general medical oncology - two (2) periods;
• community oncology - one (1) period;
• radiation oncology - one (1) period;
• hematology - one (1) period;
• palliative care – one (1) period;
• electives of choice - seven (7) periods. This may include further experience in clinical oncology or radiation therapy, pediatric oncology or an appropriate research project.

During the rotations, trainees will assist in various outpatient specialty clinics and be responsible for hospitalized patients and new consultations.

Trainees are expected to accomplish the following:

• develop competence in the investigation, diagnosis and management of the major types of neoplastic diseases and their complications;
• become familiar with the use of chemotherapy and the indications of other modalities of therapy in various tumours;
• acquire skills in the psychosocial management of cancer patients and in communicating with patients and their families;
• acquire experience in working with other members of the interdisciplinary team in the management of cancer patients.
• acquire experience in functioning effectively as consultants in medical oncology;
• participate in and begin to design clinical trials; and
• review case studies of a particular cancer topic.

Each year, the ASCO In-Training examination in medical oncology/hematology will be taken to assess the trainees and the program.

Trainees are also expected to complete a research project during their 2 years in the program. The project may touch upon any subject in oncology.

Trainees will also participate in academic half-days, including multidisciplinary oncology resident education sessions with radiation and surgical oncology trainees for a comprehensive understanding of how various tumour sites are treated. Other educational activities include simulated patient encounters at McGill’s Simulation Centre, Resident Research Day and the Resident Career Fair.

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Contact Information

Program DirectorÌý
victoria.mandilaras [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Victoria Mandilaras)

Program Contact
oncologysec.med [at] mcgill.ca (Vanessa Preddie)
Program Administrator
(514) 398-2264

5100 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite 720
Montreal, QuebecÌý H4A 3T2

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For Medical Oncology Fellowship opportunities, please consult the Fellowship Programs page of the Postgraduate Medical Education website.