Medical Microbiology 

In July 2024, all PGY1 residents in Medical Microbiology residency training programs throughout Canada implemented a Competence By Design (CBD) curriculum format. This is a Competency Based Medical Education system instituted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. CBD mainly reflects changes in the way residents are coached, assessed and promoted throughout their residency. Under CBD, the residency is divided into four stages: Transition to Discipline, Foundations of Discipline, Core of Discipline, and Transition to Practice.

The first stage for residents is Transition to Discipline (TTD), which will include an orientation to Medical Microbiology.

Foundations of Discipline (FOD), the second stage of the continuum of residency education, is when the basics are taught, learned, assessed, and demonstrated and will include rotations in both clinical medicine (heavily weighted in clinical infectious diseases) and the clinical microbiology laboratory.

Core of Discipline (COD) is the third stage of the continuum of residency education and is the longest stage of training. During this stage, the resident will complete various Medical Microbiology rotations in hospital-based adult and pediatric clinical microbiology labs as well as at the Public Health Lab to gain competence in all aspects of microbiology diagnostics related to bacteriology, virology, serology, mycology, parasitology and molecular diagnosis. In addition, teaching and competency assessment will take place in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Antimicrobial Stewardship. It is anticipated that in the future the specialty exam will be administered near the end of the Core stage.

The fourth and final stage of residency education is Transition to Practice (TTP), which focuses on ensuring residents’ confidence and competence to practice within their discipline. This stage occurs after the completion of the Royal College exams to allow the resident some flexibility to complete research projects and rotations of particular interest.

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 

It is helpful, but not essential, to have demonstrated interest/experience in microbiology either as an undergraduate or during medical school.

We make decisions based on your: 

• academic record
• demonstrated commitment to the discipline of medical microbiology 
• reference letters 
• interview results 

Given the large number of applicants each year, we are not able to offer an interview to all candidates. We offer personal interviews 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)