An Integrated Translational Prostate Cancer Training Program
The University of Alberta and University of Calgary offer exceptional training and mentoring environments that provide a superior experience for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral trainees; including those with a health professional background. Under this team we are channeling this expertise in order to develop a new Translational Prostate Cancer Research Training Program (TPCRP) that fosters a dynamic multidisciplinary environment where scientists, physicians and trainees work together towards the common goal of eradicating prostate cancer.
At the centre of the TPCRP is the unique opportunity for program-wide “internships” to facilitate training in the novel core competencies that our Team offers; including cancer microparticle analysis and advanced pathology, genomics, metabolomics, proteomics and computation.
The multi-centre nature of our Team also allows TPCRP trainees to travel between sites, which broadens the scope of their research training. In addition, we also facilitate that each of the projects described above involve both basic science trainees (i.e. high school, BSc, MSc, PhD students and PDFs) as well as medical trainees (undergraduate MD and clinical fellows) working jointly on same translational projects in order to enhance training and communication between disciplines in a translational manner, ultimately providing the skills required to work on the threshold between discovery and applied research.
Urology Residence Program at the University of Alberta
The strength of this program is the volume and variety of operative and non-operative cases to which the resident is exposed. Expertise is provided in all disciplines of urology with emphasis on urologic oncology, laparoscopy, stone disease/endourology, urodynamics and female urology, pediatric urology, BPH, erectile dysfunction renal transplantation. A practical exposure to urology is maintained within a strong academic environment. The Urology training program at the University of Alberta is five years in length.
The mission of this surgical training program is to provide an individual with a firm knowledge base as well as the clinical and technical skills necessary to practice the discipline of Urology. Upon completion of this training program, the trainee will have obtained the necessary prerequisites set by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for certification in Urology.
The Division of Urology actively participates in clinical research as well as basic science research. The University of Alberta has an accredited Clinical Investigator Program. The Urology resident has the opportunity to enter into this program or a surgeon scientist program if so desired. An endourology simulator (Univeristy site) and laparoscopic dry lab (Royal Alex site) are located in the Urology resident’s office. The residents use these resources to assist them in mastering the skills of cystoscopy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous renal access, and laparoscopic suturing skills.