HALIFAX
Longest urban waterfront boardwalk. Canada’s oldest public park. Most pubs per capita. Halifax is rife with superlatives. Here, historic buildings and cobblestone streets contrast with modern glass towers and a burgeoning tech industry. A creative waterfront city, Halifax is as beautiful as it is dynamic, with shopping, dining, theatre, galleries, farmers’ markets and more. Multiple universities and colleges imbue the city with a youthful energy, and the countless festivals, events, and nightlife of Halifax take full advantage of the spirit.
A historic waterfront city rich in history and culture
Galleries, museums, markets, shopping, live theatre, and sports
Vibrant downtown with many restaurants, pubs, and festivals
Quality daycare, preschool, and schooling
Small city charm with big city lifestyle
Halifax facilities
Residents will develop expertise under the guidance of family physicians, family practice nurses, clinic aides and support staff, pharmacists, and mental health professionals. As well, residents have numerous opportunities to pursue areas of interest during elective rotations, take part in research projects, and teach undergraduate medical students.
Explore the Maritimes during your residency
During the PGY1, residents may spend three to four months in Saint John, Fredericton or Moncton for specialty rotations
Halifax hospital sites include: QEII Health Science Centre (Halifax Infirmary and Victoria General Hospital), IWK Health Centre, and Dartmouth General Hospital
The IWK delivers more primary obstetrical care than anywhere else in the country
Participate in team-based family medicine care, with site based prenatal clinics, procedural and IUD clinics
Academic Office
Dalhousie Family Medicine
Charter House
1465 Brenton Street, Suite 402
Halifax NS. B3J 3T4
Clinics
Bedford Waterfront Health Clinic
Hatchet Lake Medical Centre
Dr. Agnes Chinelo Iwegbu Medical Clinic
Hospitals/Sim Centres
A historic waterfront city rich in history and culture.
Salary and benefits
During your residency in Halifax, as with all our residency sites, your salary will be very competitive.
$77,038 – $82,259
PGY1 - PGY2 SALARY AMOUNTS
The curriculum
Our core curriculum is based on recommendations from the curriculum committee of the Dalhousie Family Medicine program and is enhanced with programs that have been developed based on needs identified by our residents and faculty. It consists of:
Practice-based small group learning sessions (case-based common family medicine problems)
Evidence-based medicine curriculum
Resident-presented common problem seminars
Core faculty-presented seminars
Journal club
Grand rounds
Practice management curriculum
Exam preparation (written and practical) for the CFPC Family Medicine certification exam
Clinician Scholar Program
The Dalhousie Family Medicine Halifax site offers a 3-year integrated Clinician Scholar Program (CSP) for a resident. The resident in this program will work under the supervision of a Halifax research faculty member. The resident’s area of research interest must align with the area of expertise of one of those faculty members.
Clinical experiences
PGY1 ROTATIONS
Core family medicine
Internal medicine
General surgery
Selective (orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, sports medicine, addictions and ER)
Pediatrics
Obstetrics / gynecology
Emergency medicine
Family medicine orientation block
Hospitalist medicine unit
PGY2 ROTATIONS
Core family medicine / psychiatry
Community family medicine
Geriatrics
IMCU or hospitalist
Palliative care
Electives
To cross reference and compare the sites in our program, view our clinical learning experiences chart.
Dr. Orrisha Denbow Burke
PGY2
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Halifax, NS
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I already lived in Halifax so I didn't need to find accommodations.
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It was close to home and my family.
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It felt right being able to be part of a community of family physicians providing care to patients from a diverse background and also taking into account my personal interests where I wanted to explore and gain more experience for future practice.
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The program is so welcoming, with wonderful administration support and excellent program leadership.
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The relationship is based on mutual respect, open communication and a supportive environment for the residents.
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Yes, I am actively involved in patient care by diagnosing and managing various clinical pathologies while building a relationship with patients to help with continuity of care.
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This would include attending clinic/hospital based rotations, having an active role in patient care and contributing to the management plan. There would occasionally be evening clinics when on Family Medicine Core and on call (weekday nights/weekends) for hospital rotations.
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Residency can be very challenging but having a community that advocates for wellness and understands the everyday challenges of life and the demands of a family helps to make a work-life balance possible. The clinical/administrative leadership are very understanding and accommodating. Personally, I try to ensure that I am able to tune out intermittently by taking breaks (vacation, weekend off's with family) and maximizing these moments to ensure that I am able to give my all at work while still feeling refreshed.
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There are regular wellness events throughout the year to help with team building, relaxation, and social engagement amongst residents. These can range from a simple get together in the park to a competitive fun game at Activate or Axe Throwing.
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The patient population is diverse with various socioeconomic compositions and various clinical pathologies that provide many teachable moments that produce incredible learning experiences.
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There are opportunities for both, you would just need to make leadership aware of these interests and see how best you can be aligned with a variety of clinics to help achieve your goals.
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I would say have an open mind and trust the process in this phase of your life. The experiences you will have, shape you into a wholistic family medicine physician. Look at negative experiences as learning points instead of feeling bad and soar through them just as you do for the positive ones.
All the best on matching into the Halifax site! We look forward to welcoming you!
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. Susan Ripley
hfxfmsd@dal.ca
(902) 473-4728
Assistant Site Director
Dr. Daralyn DeBaie
ddebaie@dal.ca
(902) 473-4728
Associate Resident Co-Leaders
Dr. Meghan Breckon
meghan.breckon@dal.ca
Dr. Orrisha Denbow-Burke
orrisha.denbow-burke@dal.ca
Site Administrator
Chantelle Brown
fmresidency.halifax@dal.ca
(902) 473-4744