Psychiatry Residency Training
in Thunder Bay
Objectives
To review the past 20 years of
Psychiatry Residency training in
Thunder Bay
To plan for future training
Health Sciences North
Where is the training?
Re d Lake
Ear Fall s
Siou x Loo ko ut
Keewatin
Keno ra
Dryden
Rai ny River
Emo
Ge ra ldton
Lon gla c
Ignace
Ati ko ka n
Manitouwad ge
Nip igon Schreiber
Hornep ayne
Re d Rock
Terrace
Bay
Thunder Bay
Maratho n
Wawa
L ak e S u p erio r
La
ke
Mi
ch
iga
n
Fo rt Frances
Armstrong
La
ke
Hu
ro
n
Ottawa
Kingston
Toro nto
Mississauga
L ak e O n ta rio
Ha milton
Lon don
e
L ak
E ri
e
Health Sciences North
A look at the region…
Largest urban centre Thunder Bay
Populations from 1,000 –
109,000
Specialists concentrated
in Thunder Bay
Health Sciences North
 Accessible to outdoor
recreational opportunities
 4000 acres green space
within city limits
 Lakes and Wilderness to suit
every interest
 2200 hours of sunshine
annually
 And seasons…
We have four of them!
Health Sciences North
Affiliated Teaching Sites
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences
Centre Acute Care Regional Referral
St. Joseph’s Care Group
- Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital Regional
Mental Health Centre
- St. Joseph’s Hospital where
construction of new 38 bed wing for people
with mental illness will begin in 2007/08
Health Sciences North
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Health Sciences North
Lakehead
Psychiatric
Hospital
(now part of
SJCG)
A look at the region…
Largest urban centre Thunder Bay
Populations from 1,000 –
109,000
Specialists concentrated
in Thunder Bay
Health Sciences North
A look at the region…
Largest urban centre Thunder Bay
Populations from 1,000 –
109,000
Specialists concentrated
in Thunder Bay
Health Sciences North
About Us…..
Commitment to High Quality Teaching
Adherence to teaching standards of national
certification bodies: ie CanMeds
A comprehensive evaluation process
Acquired McMaster University faculty appointments
Preceptor participation in faculty development
Demonstrated teaching awards
Access to a broad array of electronic and on-site
learning resources
Health Sciences North
Learning Resources Available
 Tele-learning including; Web based curriculum,
videoconference rounds and academic half-day
sessions, Continuing Medical Education and Clinical
Consultations across Canada and beyond
 Innovative learning approaches that foster selfassessment and skill development
Health Sciences North
Our Partners
University of Western Ontario
NOMP/Health Sciences North
University of Toronto
McMaster University
University of Ottawa
Health Sciences North
University of Western Ontario
8 Psychiatrists were faculty of the
Extended Campus Program in the mid
1990s and we met regularly with
colleagues from across the province-our
salary flowed through ECP and we had
UWO benefits
I attended monthly Post Grad meetings
to bring the perspective of the north and
to encourage training
Health Sciences North
Health Sciences North
 A collaborative training program
between McMaster University
and Health Sciences North
(HSN)
University of Western Ontario
 30 years of coordinating
learning experiences for
residents and undergraduate
medical students
Health Sciences North
Information about HSN
Community-Based Clinical Teachers
Total of 347 physicians practicing in the region
2/3 (275/347) of them are preceptors in HSN
1/3 teaches 1 month/year
1/3 teaches up to 3 months/year
1/3 teaches more than 3 months/year
½ have earned academic appointments at the Academic
Centres
Health Sciences North
Learning Resources Available
Health Sciences North Library and access to
the Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Library
Full time Librarian
Health Sciences is wireless
Computer lab
Remote access to state of the art biomedical
databases including over 10,000 electronic
books, journals and other resources
Health Sciences North
University of Toronto
Accredited rotations in 2003 for core
training in
Chronic Care
Acute InPatients and Out Patients 1yr
CL
Health Sciences North
Re-entry through UofT
Allowed 2 thunder Bay Family Physicians
working at the LPH to re-enter Psychiatry
Residency training and complete 2 years
in Thunder Bay with virtual rounds and
psychotherapy support and complete their
residencies at University of Toronto
Health Sciences North
NOSM -McMaster
With the advent of NOSM we needed to
prepare for our own residency programs
a partnership with McMaster, joint
programs were established in several
specialties inaddition to the FMN that had
previously existed
Health Sciences North
Hamilton Ontario,
McMaster University
Thunder Bay Ontario,
Health Sciences North
Health Sciences North
Why Community
Psychiatry?
Gain perspective on the skills necessary for a
successful community practice
Understanding of the unique geographical,
cultural and socioeconomic factors and the
skills required due to relative isolation from
tertiary care centres (i.e. skills in First Nations
issues, solvent abuse)
Health Sciences North
Highlights of the Program
 A community hospital, a specialized psychiatric
hospital, community based clinics, and a large urban
teaching centre
 Curriculum that will prepare the learner for a
successful career in Psychiatry
 One on one learning while working with preceptors in
Northwestern Ontario
 Adventurous learning experience where spectacular
scenery combined with many recreational
opportunities will give balance to resident
responsibilities
Health Sciences North
Where was the training?
Learning
Site
McMaster University
and affiliated teaching hospitals
Health Sciences North
and affiliated regional clinical learning sites:
Thunder Bay
Basic Clinical Training (BCT)
4 months Mandatory; Internal Medicine (2 months) ,
Neurology (1month) Paed Neuro or Neurosurgery
(1month)
Basic Clinical Training (BCT)
8 months (4 – 2 month) each Selective; Psychiatry,
Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Emergency Medicine, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine
e.g. Geriatrics, Neurology, Endocrinology,
Immunology
PGY-1
PGY-2
Chronic Care In-Patient Psychiatry – 6 months
General Adult In-Patient Psychiatry – 6 months
PGY-3
Hamilton – 6 Months
PGY-4
PGY-5
General Adult Out-Patient Psychiatry – 6 months
Consultation – Liaison and Geriatric Psychiatry (3 months each) and Child Psychiatry ( 6 months) Up to 18
months is available for electives, which may be taken in the PGY 3 to 5 Years. Training involves working in a
variety of locations, stressing the psychiatrist’s role as a consultant who shares care with the Family
Physicians and other mental health workers.
* It is expected that the Community Psychiatry program will evolve over time and respond to the
learning needs of residents. Some of the rotations may vary within and across postgraduate years
and the locations may vary.
Health Sciences North
Unique Learning Opportunities
First Nations Issues
Solvent Abuse
Concurrent Disorders Program
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
Teams
Health Sciences North
Teaching Resources
19 Psychiatrists in Northwestern Ontario
(1 rural and 18 in the City of Thunder Bay)
History of providing accredited core training in
Adult General In & Out Patient Psychiatry
Chronic Care and Consultation Liaison
Selective and elective training in Child &
Adolescent, Forensics, Assertive Community
Treatment and Concurrent Disorders
Health Sciences North
Teaching Resources
Psychiatry Specialties:
 Forensics
 Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
 Assertive Community
Treatment
 Geriatrics
 Concurrent Disorders
 Chronic
Care/Rehabilitation
Health Sciences North
Education and Training
Access to Academic Sessions & Rounds
All HSN sites have videoconferencing links via a
videoconference network
Residents will be able to participate in grand
rounds and teaching sessions with McMaster
peers
Residents will be participants in HSN’s Regional
Rounds through Thunder Bay Regional Health
Sciences Centre and can participate in other local
teaching sessions, rounds and CME activities
Health Sciences North
Pan Northern Residency
With the goal of achieving a stand alone
Psychiatry Residency Program the NE
site (affiliated with UofO) and NW site
merged
Pan northern training established and I
became a Site Director of a program
affiliated with UofO
Health Sciences North
University of Ottawa
We have interviewed in Ottawa for
residents but have not always filled
positions
We are now looking to get accreditation
as a stand alone program but look to
the ongoing support of past and future
partners!
Health Sciences North
Contact Information
For General Information about Psychiatry ResidencyTraining
Dr. Suzanne Allain
Interim Regional Program Director
(807) 343-4333 Ext. 4278
allains@tblph.ca
Health Sciences North