Transition to Residency: A lecture series preparing residents for their training
“The first few months of residency are quite intimidating – with new people, new responsibilities, and a responsibility and accountability for the acute care of patients from the get-go,” said Dr. Amindeep Sandhu. “The idea of a lecture series to help give you key survival tips was brilliant.”
That idea translated into the Transition to Residency (T2R) Program. It is hosted by the Postgraduate Medical Education Office and managed by Joan Binnendyk, Educational Developer.
The goals of T2R are to enable first year residents from all programs early in their residency to be more comfortable in identifying acutely ill patients and deal promptly and efficiently with their problems; become familiar with local practice patterns, protocols, supports and back up in managing acutely ill patients; gain additional skills in the communicator, collaborator and manager CanMEDS roles and reflect on and discuss personal and professional aspects of the transition from clerkship to residency.
Through a series of eight half-day sessions focused on everything from hypotension/shock to neuro emergencies and the dying patient, residents gain the knowledge and skills they need to feel more comfortable and achieve success.
T2R is now in its fifth year, and continues to build on the successes of previous years by enhancing and improving what went well while addressing any identified challenges.
Dr. Sandhu has participated as a resident facilitator and a faculty member and he believes the Program enhances the residency experience, while reducing resident stress.
“The Program introduces all PGY1’s to each other to foster collegiality, engages them into key aspects of acute patient care with on-call inpatient survival tips, and allows residents to ask questions in a safe environment,” he said.
Dr. Sheri-Lynn Kane agrees. Dr. Kane has served as a faculty support for T2R and believes that the program helps prepare residents to handle common medical emergencies early in their residency, while learning some practical management tips focusing on London resources.
Dr. Mark Watling is also a faculty member supporting T2R and he sees the program as essential to setting the tone for coming years of residency – which can be some of the most demanding years in a doctor’s life.
“T2R acknowledges that transitioning from medical student to resident can be overwhelming,” he said. “It helps to soften the transition by encouraging an environment of support and inclusiveness and lets residents know they are part of a larger educational health care system and that they are supported by their School and training program.”
T2R is supported by a large number residents and faculty and facilitation of each session is done by a team consisting of two faculty members and two residents in conjunction with Binnendyk. The teams meet in advance to develop their presentations, and create interactive, engaging teaching strategies. Teams have brought in standardized patients for role plays, held IV races to demonstrate the speed with which fluids flow through different tubing and demonstrations of NG tube insertions.
A few years ago, an awards program was established to recognize the contributions of the facilitators. The 2017 award recipients are
Top Faculty Presenter - Dr. Sheri-Lynn Kane
Top New Faculty Presenter – Dr. Waseem El-Halabi
Top Resident Presenter – Dr. Shane Smith
Top New Resident Presenter – Dr. Sumit Chaudhari
Top Seminar –Altered Mental Status- Drs. Sheri-Lynn Kane, Mark Watling, Sumit Chaudhari, Mike Mikhaeil
Top Seminar-Abdo Pain/GI Bleed – Drs. Julie Ann Van Koughnett, Shane Smith, Zaid Khot, Amin Sandhu, Raj Rai, and Bharat Markandey
The Program will return in the summer of 2018.
