Neuropathology

This residency program is for 5 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

This residency program is for 5 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

In July 2022, our Program will implement Competency Based Education and follows the Royal College Competency By Design framework.

Transition to Discipline Stage:

This is a 2 block training period which includes core skills and competencies needed for early residency success.  These include an orientation to Neuropathology and an introduction to laboratory services. Residents will become familiar with the autopsy suite, gross room, intraoperative consultation suite, specimen accessioning, and histology lab. Residents will have access to work stations with microscope, camera, and access to LIS. Residents will participate in multiheaded microscope teaching sessions and will learn laboratory safety policies. Observation and select participation in grossing, intraoperative consultation, specimen preparation, tissue processing and slide preparation will be expected.

Foundations Stage:

This training period spans 24 blocks of residency.  Residents experience clinical rotations designed to support educational opportunities including neurology, neurosurgery, pediatric neurology, neuroradiology, and internal medicine. This is followed by relevant rotations within anatomical pathology, including autopsy, cytopathology, and surgical pathology.

Core Training Stage:

This training period is expected to span 33 blocks of training. This stage covers the core competencies that make up the majority of Neuropathology training. Core areas will include teaching in neuroanatomy, surgical neuropathology, muscle and nerve pathology, autopsy and forensic neuropathology, pediatric and perinatal neuropathology, and ancillary testing including immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and molecular pathology. Experience in digital pathology and telepathology is available.

Transition to Practice stage:

During this time (6 blocks), the senior trainee will obtain training experiences designed to support readiness for independent practice.

Research

Research is emphasised during training and may be based on clinical material or an experimental project may be undertaken. Areas of research interest in the division include neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumours, artificial intelligence, and pediatric neuropathology at both the morphological and molecular level. Some trainees choose to pursue graduate degrees (MSc or PhD) during or after their residency training. 

Application 

Apply through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) if you have Canadian Citizenship or Permament Residency. 

The CaRMs website contains information on eligibility.

Selection criteria 

We select trainees based upon your: 

• academic performance
• letters of reference
• impression at interview.

It is not mandatory, but encouraged that you have completed at least one elective in our specialty. 

Given the large number of applicants each year, we are not able to offer an interview to all candidates. We offer personal interviews to candidates based on the criteria listed above and they are mandatory for admission to the program. 

International Medical Graduates accepted into the program will have access to the same opportunities, training and experience as Canadian Medical Graduates. 

Sponsored Residencies 

The University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine also has sponsorship agreements with various governments regarding training at the University.

If you are an applicant from one these countries, you must have the approval of the sponsor involved. Your sponsor must contact the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Medical Education Office (PGME) directly with approval before formally applying to a training program.  

More details on applying for residency training Post MD Education (see under International Residency Applications)