CaRMS

As the largest Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery program in the country we train approximately 25-30 residents per year. The residency program is completed over a five year period and residents will either pursue specialized fellowship training following graduation, or secure a position as a practicing otolaryngologist.

  • We have the largest and most comprehensive training program in Canada.

  • We have significant depth and cover all subspecialties within Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.

  • Most of our core teaching faculty are recognized national leaders in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery and many are considered international leaders.

  • We have extremely well-organized and comprehensive didactic and hands-on skills training to cover the depth and breadth of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.

  • Our residents are very happy.

  • Once our residents have completed their training, they possess unique skills and unparalleled experience to enter a community setting or initiate a career in an academic setting.

  • Many of our residents and fellows go on to assume leadership roles in both academia and the community.

  • Our research programs and support are innovative, comprehensive, and award winning.

Program Contacts

Program Director: Dr. Vincent Lin

UME Coordinator: Josie Romantini
Email: umecoordinator.ohns@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-946-3973

Information Sessions

Medical Students: Join us for our CaRMS Information Sessions! Meet our Chair, Vice Chair Education, Program Director & Residents. 

You will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn all about specializing in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. Sign up here: CaRMS 2024 - Meet the Chair, Vice Chair Education, Program Director & Residents - Google Forms

Information Session Dates: 

  • Wednesday, November 29, 2023 (6:00pm - 7:00pm EST)
  • Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (6:00pm - 7:00pm EST)
  • Tuesday, December 12, 2023 (6:00pm - 7:00pm EST)

Important Information

Applying competency-based practices to Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Residency Education

To contribute to the success of Canadian physicians and the delivery of high-quality patient care, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has embarked upon an initiative to introduce competency-based medical education (CBME) in Canadian postgraduate specialty training and in professional practice in Canada. This initiative, called Competence by Design (CBD), aims to enhance patient care by aligning medical education and lifelong learning with evolving patient needs and empowering learners to more fully engage in their education process.  All levels of training are now fully immersed in the CBD curriculum.

CBD will use time as a framework and competency as the basis for progression. It is not anticipated that the duration of training will change for trainees. Residency programs will be broken down into stages, and each stage will have a series of “Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA’s)” based on required competencies. These EPA’s are based on milestones that are assessed by frequent, formative assessments within the clinical workplace to ensure residents are developing and receiving feedback on the skills they need.

All programs implementing CBD will continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation processes as traditional programs. All CBD programs (and traditional programs) will continue to lead to Royal College approved certification. Certification for trainees will include the completion of a Royal College written and applied examination.Within a CBD program, all EPA’s(documented within an electronic portfolio) and the Royal College examination must be successfully completed to achieve certification.  

For more information, please contact cbd@royalcollege.ca.

General Instructions

Program Application Language: English

Supporting Documentation

1. Certificate of Canadian Citizenship:

Proof of current citizenship or permanent resident status must be provided by submitting one of the following verifications to CaRMS by the Rank Order List deadline. (Photocopies acceptable). No other forms of verification are acceptable:

  • Notarized photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by an authority in Canada with any photo ID, or

  • Notarized photocopy of Canadian Passport, or

  • Notarized photocopy of Canadian citizenship certificate, Record of Landing; or

  • Notarized photocopy of Permanent Resident Card/Canadian Citizen Card – copies of both sides of card must be provided and legible.

2. Letters of Reference:  Maximum number accepted: 3

If possible one or more letters from a faculty member in otolaryngology is helpful but not required. Letters from other clinical and research supervisors are acceptable.
3. Photo  [Note: Photograph is used as memory aid only]
4. Medical School Transcript
5. Medical Student Performance Record
6. Custom Résumé / CV
7. Personal Letter: Maximum 1000 words
8. Ophthalmological Report: It is strongly recommended the applicant provide a written report from an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist stating the applicant's visual status, including stereopsis and colour vision.  Vision testing, however, is not mandatory.

Interviews

Date: February 2, 2024

Notification/Invitation: Program will notify all applicants.

Details regarding the interview process:

Applicants that are considered competitive for admission to the program based on the analysis of last year's applicants will be offered an interview. We will contact applicants who are selected for an interview by email. Candidates will attend virtual interviews with faculty and residents.

Residents from our program will be available virtually after the interviews to meet with you and discuss any questions you may have pertaining to the program or city.

Selection Criteria

The candidates we are looking for are bright, have excellent interpersonal skills, good clinical judgment, high ethical and professional standards and have a real interest in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery in either academic or community practice. Demonstration or presumed sufficient bimanual dexterity and hand eye coordination to perform delicate surgery is highly desirable.

We are looking for the best candidates for our specialty so preference is not given to any particular medical school. We make our selections based on the dossier you submit as well as personal interviews. Interviews are mandatory and will take place on Friday, February 2, 2024, conducted virtually.  The interviews will involve meeting with faculty and residents.  The major factors that influence our ranking are: the strength of the academic record, the letters of reference and the interviews.

Elective Requirements:

We are looking for and rewarding applicants who have completed a broad range of electives including our specialty.