McMaster’s program approaches time in residency with a balanced focus. The greatest strength of our program lies in the mix of a comprehensive, organized educational curriculum, in the setting of a friendly and highly supportive learning atmosphere. From fellow resident, to faculty to support staff, there is a very strong “team” atmosphere here. And yet, the experience of residency training is more than radiology, clinical rotations and hospital exposure. The five years should also foster the development of life-long friendships, hobbies, sports, extracurricular activities and family, alongside education. McMaster places high value on resident well-being. There is a great sense of camaraderie, as well as a thirst for knowledge and professional development here. Whether you enjoy the single life, are busy with a family, or somewhere in between, McMaster’s program can meet your needs. Take a look below at some of the features that make our program unique. McMaster University and Hamilton have a lot to offer you!
Social Gatherings
Our program hosts a number of formal social events throughout the year, in addition to many informal activities. These social activities keep residents closely connected to others from PGY 1 to PGY 5 year, fellows, as well as staff. Some of these activities include the Welcome BBQ, hosted at the Program Director’s home. This is a great event for introducing new PGY 1 residents. Golf Day is an end of academic year outing enjoyed by residents and staff – lots of fun for novices and pros alike! There are several hospital Christmas parties where residents are welcome. Other events include the post OSCE pub get-togethers. One special event is our annual Graduation Dinner, organized as a celebration and “send off” for the graduating PGY 5’s. The graduation is well attended by all resident PGY years, technologists, support staff and radiologists.
If you like organizing parties and events, there is plenty opportunity to become involved in program social activities. We host a “birthday club” at half-day, to celebrate the birthdays of all of our residents. We also welcome any ideas you might have for hosting or organizing and event!
There are many positions available for residents who are interested in additional program involvement. Those politically inclined may get involved with the provincial resident organization – PARO. There are 2 elected resident representative positions on our Residency Program Committee. Others may prefer just to get involved with our informal social committee or simply contribute by attending our various events. For CaRMS, all residents are invited to attend and assist with welcoming visiting candidates. We all remember how hectic that day can be and want to assist in making it a little less stressful. We also want to let candidates know how much we enjoy training at McMaster!
Many of our residents have families and others build them during residency. Many program and social events are “family friendly”, as partners and children are welcome to attend.
This is not “universal”, as many residents are still single and yet, both groups are able to mingle and share event time together. Both the formal organized program events as well as those organized by the resident group are great at creating fun opportunities to meet the needs of both singles and those with family.
There are lots of opportunities to meet and mingle with others!
Research
McMaster is a market leader in research innovation and our program encourages and supports resident research endeavors.
We are required to conduct at least one project during our time in residency and receive considerable support from the attending radiologists. In addition, there is dedicated time to complete the projects.
The program generously sponsors resident attendance at conferences in order to present our projects, education exhibits or poster presentations. Besides, it’s fun to go to meetings together! Our residents enjoy attending CAR, RSNA, ARRS and AIRP together! The residents as a group are invited along to industry, McMaster and educational events.
Come with us – you’ll have a blast!
Teaching
Our program is populated by residents who realize the important of group learning. The atmosphere here is a team one – it’s non-competitive and supportive. Seniors are continually setting up impromptu teaching and learning sessions with junior residents, to teach important facts, show interesting cases and test their knowledge. There are ample opportunities for teaching by staff, with daily teaching rounds at each of our four teaching sites, academic half-day afternoons and our great Visiting Professor Lecture series – this includes many renowned speakers from across North America and the globe.
In addition to residents “being taught”, we are also encouraged to be “residents who teach”. Junior residents teach medical students; senior residents teach junior residents. All share their enthusiasm for the program here and value the contributions of fellow residents to their learning. In addition, as PGY 3 residents we have a formal program requirement of teaching in the undergraduate medical program at the DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster. This involves teaching anatomy, with aid of ultrasound as an imaging tool. There is also ample opportunity to teach and mentor medical students at Radiology Interest Groups, as well as teaching at half-day’s for the PGY 1 residents and other training programs.
Hamilton as a City
As a city centered in the heart of the golden horseshoe area of Lake Ontario, Hamilton is well-situated. To the unfamiliar, Hamilton is known as an industrial city; however, there are many picturesque outdoor hotspots in and around the city that provide great hiking, biking and sightseeing. The Niagara escarpment carves its way through the city, providing some amazing vistas and outdoor playgrounds. These include the Dundas Valley Conservation area, Cootes Paradise, Royal Botanical Gardens, the Bruce Trail and the Rail Trails. Some call us the “City of Waterfalls”, as 65 separate waterfalls have been identified along the escarpment, all falling within the city borders, including the very picturesque Webster’s Falls.
Do you like to golf? There is an amazing array of affordable options in and around the city. This includes 20 public courses within the city borders, as well as a plentitude of others within close proximity. The rates are highly competitive, as courses just a short drive east on the QEW would cost twice the amount! Cyclists can also find their pleasure here too, as there are 100’s of kilometers of bike trails to explore here. Hamilton is an affordable city to live in – the rent is considerably less than many other University towns with radiology programs. Many residents are able to purchase a home here, with popular locations including the central city around St. Joseph’s, Ancaster, Westdale and Dundas. Many other residents reside in the surrounding communities of Burlington, Oakville or west Mississauga.
The city offers multicultural dining, with lots of different ethnic foods, along with interesting local neighbourhood areas, such as the Locke Street region. There is also a fun nightlife area at Hess Village, the regional club district, as well as many other local watering holes.