Curriculum

The Nuclear Medicine residency program at University of Toronto enables residents to combine both Nuclear Medicine and Radiology training in preparation for rapidly expanding hybrid and fused imaging techniques and for their future career. 

During the two-year program, the residents will have an opportunity to learn a wide variety of Nuclear Medicine imaging techniques and procedures as well as Radionuclide therapy. The large number and variety of procedures performed in each hospital allow the residents broad exposure to nuclear medicine imaging.

Residents are encouraged to pursue at least one research project during their residency training and participate in the annual resident achievements’ day and many of these projects are subsequently presented and published at national and international levels.
The program underwent a Royal College Review and received the status of full accreditation with follow-up at regular review (in 8 years). In July 2020, Nuclear Medicine Program has been able to successfully implement the Competence by Design (CBD) curriculum as required by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Please see the curriculum per year outlined below.

PGY 6 Curriculum

In the first year of Nuclear Medicine training, residents will rotate through a variety of teaching hospitals during their thirteen, four week blocks. Some highlights include:

  • 1 block of Radiopharmacy
  • 1 block Elective (pending approval by the program director)

Residents are also encouraged to pursue at least one research project during their residency training.

PGY 7 Curriculum

This final year of the program consolidates skills learned in previous years and finalizes a resident's ability to run a nuclear medicine practice.

Our curriculum includes rotations in general nuclear medicine, pediatrics, nuclear cardiology, PET/CT, community, and 2-3 electives.

General Curriculum

The following sections apply to both the PGY6 and PGY7 modes of training

Physics Instruction

A formal program of physics courses and lectures is provided by members of the Department of Medical Biophysics.  In the PGY6 and PGY7 years, a dedicated physics course is provided.  Residents have the opportunity to attend lectures on clinical MR Physics and other Physics courses which are integrated into the academic half-day curriculum during radiology residency training.

Research Program

All Residents are required to participate in the didactic research program and to complete at least one research project during their residency.  A series of lectures is given to introduce the Residents to critical appraisal, quality improvement, research methodology, study design, data handling, and manuscript preparation during a four-day research course held annually.  Residents may choose research rotations during their elective blocks.  A dedicated nuclear medicine research project is encouraged to undertake during the PGY6 year and presented at the annual research day in PGY7.

Half Day Program

There is protected academic time each week (every Tuesday morning) when the Residents are free from clinical duties to attend scheduled seminars and Department activities. This curriculum repeats every 2 years and covers all major areas of basic science of Nuclear Medicine (medical expert competency) with updates and additions made to the curriculum to continually improve the program based on feedback and evaluations.
 
In addition, there is a curriculum of non-medical expert CanMEDS competencies with sessions that are mandatory for all residents (including sessions related to the manager, collaborator, communicator, professional, scholar, and health advocate competencies).

In the PGY6 and PGY7 year the resident receives formal didactic sessions in physics, radiopharmacy, radiation safety, radiobiology, instrumentation as well as additional clinical seminars.

Journal Club

There is an annual Journal Club event in the Nuclear Medicine Program.  These are held in the evening with dinner provided and former trainees are also invited. Faculty attend and assist the residents with critical appraisal of the chosen articles. Residents are also encouraged to attend and participate in the GTA Nuclear Medicine city-wide rounds. In addition the Nuclear Medicine residents have opportunity to attend other Journal Club events in the Department of Medical Imaging.

University of Toronto - Visiting Professor Program

Visiting Professors are invited each year and spend a half day with the residents and faculty, and present three didactic lectures.  They also meet separately with the Residents for case showing rounds. The visiting professor program is integrated into the Academic Half-Day Program and occurs from October to May each year.