CAPE BRETON - SYDNEY

The heart of Gaelic culture in Canada, Cape Breton Island is a truly magical place—physically, culturally, and socially. Here, lively kitchen parties are balanced with world-class golf and hikes on breathtaking trails. Where the cliffs of the Highlands meet the sea, the Cabot Trail winds its way from stunning view to stunning view. Besides being the island’s only city, the area boasts cozy seaside towns and welcoming inland communities.

  • CNN named the Cabot Trail “One of 49 journey’s that’ll change your life”

  • Rich in Mi’kmaq, Acadian, and Celtic culture 

  • Hike, bike, sail, kayak, ski, and golf some of the worlds best golf courses 

  • Countless historic sites and nature parks  

132,000

POPULATON

#1

NAMED #1 ISLAND DESTINATION IN CONTINENTAL US AND CANADA,
#3 IN THE WORLD

Rated one of the best island destinations in the world

Cape Breton - Sydney facilities

The family medicine teaching unit is a community-based program primarily serving the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The program offers residents a variety of rural community experiences—in places like Cheticamp, Neil’s Harbour, Baddeck, and Arichat. Residents can expect placement in practices that expose them to the full spectrum of family medicine, including a wide variety of illnesses in a number of clinical settings—office, nursing home, hospital, and house calls.

  • Part of the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Eastern Zone. 

  • One regional hospital, three acute care facilities and five rural facilities. 

The Cape Breton Regional Hospital, located in Sydney, serves as the community hospital for Sydney and the surrounding area. 

  • The second busiest healthcare centre in Nova Scotia

  • Over 9,400 acute admissions per year 

  • Over 41,000 emergency department visits per year. 

  • Varied patient care mix of approximately 130,000 people. 

Salary range of $69,867 – $75,527 per annum

Program places residents with community-based family physicians throughout the municipality

Four acute care facilities and five rural facilities

Salary and benefits

During your residency in Cape Breton - Sydney, as with all our residency sites, your salary will be very competitive.

$69,867 – $75,527

PGY1 - PGY2 SALARY AMOUNTS

The curriculum

Our core curriculum is enhanced with programs that have been developed based on needs identified by our residents and faculty. The academic curriculum consists of:

  • Practice-based small group learning sessions 

  •  Evidence-based medicine curriculum

  • Resident-presented common problem seminars

  • Core faculty-presented seminars

  • Journal Club

  • Resident-driven specialty seminars

  • Annual family medicine resident-education weekend

  • Exam preparation (written and practical) for LMCC Part II and the CFPC Family Medicine certification exam 

Clinical experiences

PGY1 ROTATIONS

  • Core family medicine

  • Rural family medicine

  • Internal medicine

  • General surgery

  • Orthopedic surgery

  • Pediatrics

  • Obstetrics/gynecology

  • Emergency medicine

  • Hospitalist

  • Selective

PGY2 ROTATIONS

  • Core family medicine / integrated psychiatry

  • Community family medicine

  • ICU

  • Geriatrics

  • Electives

  • Palliative Care

To cross reference and compare the sites in our program, find more information by clicking below.

Meet Dr. Meghan Burns

Graduate

The best part of the program in Cape Breton was that it was very learner-based rather than service-based. There was a focus on all of our specialty rotations on what we needed to know as future family doctors, and not on providing a service to the specialist.  The physician community in Cape Breton is a very supportive one and being in a small program, and the only learners here, gives us the unique opportunity to get to know a lot of the local physicians personally. 

The community at large also embraces and welcomes the residents in the program and are thrilled to have us here.  When I moved to Sydney I didn't know anyone, I joined the local curling club, and now a group of us curl on a weekly basis, it's a great way to meet people and get involved in the community.  Finally, the best part of the lifestyle in Cape Breton is the opportunity to explore our beautiful island.  I have enjoyed exploring hiking spots all around Cape Breton, the opportunity for skiing & snow-shoeing in the winter and visiting the beaches in the summer.

Sound like a good fit?

If you want to learn more about a residency in the community of Halifax, get in touch. Our Halifax staff would be happy to answer all of your questions.

Site Director 
Dr. Stephanie Langley
dr.stephanie.langley@nshealth.ca
(902) 567-7741 

Associate Resident Leaders
Dr. Annie Dube (iFM/EM)    
adube@dal.ca 

Dr. Felicia Lotsios     
flotsios@dal.ca

Site Administrator
Lorna Jardine
lorna.jardine@nshealth.ca
(902) 567-8055