Welcome to the Pathology Residency Program
The UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is the academic home to a wide variety of exceptional individuals who create and convey knowledge related to the causes (etiology) and mechanisms (pathogenesis) of disease, enabling translation into improved diagnosis, prognosis and management of patients and populations (service). This in large part defines the “business” we are in. The Department has major roles in undergraduate medical and residency education, continuing professional development-knowledge translation (CPD-KT), and in the education of allied health professions.
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How It Works?
- Documented interest and experience in anatomic pathology, as evidenced by previous pathology elective rotations or observerships, past or upcoming
- Strong evaluations from pathology electives, and at least one letter of reference from a pathologist
- Broad and well-rounded medical knowledge (strong medical school performance +/- exam scores)
- Excellent written and spoken English skills and non-verbal communication skills
- Evidence of research and teaching ability
- Desirable personality attributes such as collegiality, teamwork skills, leadership skills, conflict management ability, and time management skills
- Professionalism skills (including ethics, judgement, resilience, punctuality and responsibility)
Application for entry level postgraduate positions in all primary certification programs at UBC is made through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). In recent years, our program has offered three spots per year to Canadian medical graduates, and one spot per year to an international medical graduate (IMG). There is also a mechanism for International applicants (sponsored IMG's) for our program, those persons are to contact ???????? for further information and process. International applicants are reviewed by the program only after they have satisfied all conditions of the Post Graduate Medical Education Office at the University of Calgary. Any international applicant accepted into the program cannot subvert the CaRMS match.Each year we have more qualified applicants than interview spots. A team of 6-8 independent reviewers, consisting of staff pathologists and current anatomical pathology residents, scores each CaRMS application based on the degree of fit with our program's selection criteria.
The scores are averaged, and the applicants with the highest overall scores are invited for an interview. Applicants with widely divergent scores, as well as applicants with scores at the borderline of the interview threshold, receive further discussion prior to final a decision.
Please note that applicants with no previous anatomic pathology experience are deemed unqualified, and will not be considered for an interview.
We offer two interview days during the designated CaRMS season. When invited for an interview, applicants are asked to provide their first choice and second choice of date, and whether they prefer morning or afternoon. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of our interview process, we are unable to accommodate requests for interviews outside of the designated interview days.We make every attempt to conduct our interviews in the most fair, transparent, and equitable way possible. We use a panel format for our interviews. Both staff pathologists and current anatomic pathology residents serve as interviewers. Each applicant rotates through four different panels of two interviewers and each interview lasts about 30 minutes. Each panel has a designated set of standardized questions that are asked of all interviewees. As with the initial CaRMS file review, each interviewer scores each applicant independently and objectively.
Obviously, the interview is also intended as a way for applicants to get to know our program, and decide if they would be happy training here. Therefore, the interview includes ample time for interviewees to ask questions of current residents and staff. Lunch and a light breakfast are provided, as well as an optional dinner. We also provide a tour of our facilities at Foothills Medical Centre. The interview process takes about half a day.
This is a complex process which involves a face-to-face meeting of the interview committee immediately after the interviews are complete. The interview scores are combined with the CaRMS application scores in order to determine the rank order. Sometimes scores are tied or are very close. In that case, there is a group discussion about the rank order.We take pride in the fact that all members of the selection committee, including our current residents, have an equal voice in ranking decisions. We make every effort to rank applicants objectively based on how well they meet our program selection criteria, and on our perception of their ability to succeed and thrive in our residency program.
Our residents are among the most passionate, bright, and forward-thinking individuals! Meet our residents
Specialties we offer
Residency Training Program at the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine is a fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
General Pathology
Program Director: Dr. Michael Nimmo,
MD, FRCPC, PhD
Vancouver General Hospital
Clinical Professor, UBC
3203-910 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3
Phone: 604-875-4892
Email: michael.nimmo@vch.ca
Anatomical Pathology
Program Director: Dr. Brian Skinnider,
LMCC, FRCPC
Vancouver General Hospital
Clinical Professor, UBC
3203-910 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3
Phone: 604-75-4892
Email: brian.skinnider@vch.ca
Hematopathology
Program Director: Dr. Suzanne Vercauteren
MD, PhD, FRCPC
Head Division of Hematopathology, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
4500 Oak Street , Room 2K51
Vancouver BC, V6H 3N1
Phone: 604-875-2939
Email: svercauteren2@cw.bc.ca
Medical Microbiology
Program Director: Dr. Chris Lowe
MSc, MD, FRCPC
Virology Laboratory, St. Paul’s Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, UBC
2nd Floor, Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6
Phone: 604-806-8422
Email: clowe@providencehealth.bc.ca
Medical Biochemistry
Program Director: Dr. Sophia Wong,
MD, FRCPC, MBA
Medical Biochemist, Vancouver General Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
3203-910 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3
Phone: 604-875-4892
Email: Sophia.Wong3@vch.ca
Neuropathology
Program Director: Dr. Ian Mackenzie,
MD, LMCC, FRCPC
Neuropathologist, Vancouver General Hospital, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
Professor, UBC
3203-910 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3
Phone: 604-875-4892
Email: ian.mackenzie@vch.caMeet our Staff
Shelley Berkow, Residency Program Administrator
3203-910 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3
Tel. (604) 875-4892
Fax. (604) 875-4988
Shelley.Berkow@pathology.ubc.caDan Kim Residency Program Finance/Assistant
3203-910 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3
Tel. (604) 875-4111 ext 68709
Fax. (604) 875-4988
pathology.residencyasst@ubc.caProfessional Advancement Learning Series (PALS) One hour interactive presentations that provides “information you can’t get from a book”
