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Respiratory Medicine Education & Training
For over three decades, the Division of Respiratory Medicine has graduated numerous trainees from all over the globe through our active postgraduate education program.
We continue to prepare both Canadian and foreign subspecialty residents (formerly known as “Fellows”) for careers in paediatric respiratory medicine. Since the mid-1980s, special expertise in paediatric respiratory medicine has been recognized by subspecialty qualifications in both Canada (1988) and the United States (1986).
For more information about our Royal College accredited training programs, visit the University of Toronto website.
Medical education
Respiratory Medicine Subspecialty Residency Program
This is a two year program that trains residents to become Royal College certified paediatric respirologists. We emphasize both clinical expertise as well as research/scholarly experience. It is the largest paediatric respiratory training program in Canada and provides experience in both common and rare respiratory clinical conditions.
The overall objective of this training program is to provide an academic educational opportunity that enables the resident with previous experience in General Paediatrics to obtain the clinical, and laboratory knowledge, skills and attitudes to function as a clinical consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine.
At completion of the two-year training period the candidate should be capable of functioning independently as a consultant with a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of pulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, and a detailed knowledge and experience in the management of paediatric respiratory disorders. The trainee should be capable of supervising a clinical paediatric pulmonary function laboratory, demonstrate scholarship, and have a defined approach toward continuing medical education.
The training program has Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accreditation and is the largest training program for paediatric respiratory medicine in the country. It provides the full range of training that is required for board certification.
Competency By Design (CBD)
Competency By Design (CBD), Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) has officially launched as of July 2021 with our program.
Over the course of the 24 months, trainees will move through the stages of CBD from Transition to Discipline (TTD), Foundations of Discipline (FOD), Core of Discipline (COD), and Transition to Practice (TTP). Trainees will be assessed using Work Based Assessments (Entrustable Professional Activities). Promotion between stages is reviewed at the Competence Committee and is based on successful completion of EPA's.
To apply, please refer to CARMS Ontario for eligibility criteria and application process.
Medical students
Electives are accepted for two to four weeks in length. The trainee must be in their clerkship year (year three or four of training) and have completed their core paediatrics or core internal medicine rotation. The University of Toronto Visiting International Electives Program offers elective placements between January to June only for a maximum of four weeks. Electives are not offered to students from international medical schools between the months of July and December.
Visit the University of Toronto Elective website for information on how to apply.
Learners who are already enrolled in a postgraduate residency training program at The University of Toronto and wish to set up an elective rotation, please email respmed.trainingprogram@sickkids.ca to check availability. Resident electives are available throughout the year.
Please email respmed.trainingprogram@sickkids.ca to confirm elective availability and application requirements. Applications should be received a minimum of 3 blocks in advance.
Please email respmed.trainingprogram@sickkids.ca to confirm elective availability and submit application documents. Documents must be submitted at least 8 months in advance. Required documents include:
- Written permission from the current program director at the applicant’s home university
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae that includes the applicant's date of birth, citizenship, and email address
- Proof of citizenship
- Copy of Medical Degree (with English translation if applicable)
- Evidence of full financial support from the funding institution/organization for the duration of the elective
All documents must be submitted in PDF. Other file formats will not be accepted.
Observers
To submit your request, see the International Medical Observer Application page on the SickKids International website.
Paediatric Respiratory Medicine Clinical Fellowship Program (International applicants)
The training program is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is the largest training program for paediatric respiratory medicine in the country. The training program provides broad training in all the major areas of respiratory medicine with opportunities to develop clinical, research and scholarly skills. Our program offers two years of training based in core clinical aspects of respiratory medicine including consults, wards and ambulatory care.
Applications are due 19 months in advance of the program start date (July 1). Please refer to the dates in the table.
| Start date | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | January 2, 2024 |
| July 1, 2026 | January 2, 2025 |
| July 1, 2027 | January 2, 2026 |
| July 1, 2028 | January 2, 2027 |
| July 1, 2029 | January 2, 2028 |
| July 1, 2030 | January 2, 2029 |
Required documents
- Letter of intent, stating the applicant's reasons for applying to the fellowship, as well as their academic goals
- A copy of the applicant's medical degree, and specialty certification (if applicable), with English translation, where applicable
- A complete up-to-date curriculum vitae which includes the applicant’s date of birth, citizenship, clinical and research experience and an email address
- 3 letters of reference
Application process
For non-Canadian trainees who are citizens of and are sponsored by the following countries, visit U of T's Sponsored Trainee Application Registry and connect with pgme.international@utoronto.ca:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
For further information, please visit U of T's page on Fellowship Training.
For non-Canadian trainees who are not citizens of the above countries, applications can be submitted via: Paediatric Respiratory Medicine Fellowship – 2026 Applications
Program contact
Dr. Jackie Chiang, LTV Program Director
Email: jackie.chiang@sickkids.ca
SickKids Respiratory Medicine Training Program (general inbox)
Paediatric Asthma Medicine Fellowship Program
This is a 1–2 year subspecialty program that provides clinical competence in Paediatric Asthma Medicine. The goal of this fellowship program is to provide paediatricians, paediatric respirologists, paediatric allergists, and nurse practitioners additional training in asthma. This fellowship program is intended to be individualized to the trainee based on their previous experience and clinic expertise coupled with their long-term goals. Thus, general paediatricians may benefit from a largely clinical experience for 1 year whereas academic paediatric respirologists may benefit from a mixed research/clinical 2-year experience.
In addition to a core clinical experience of regular weekly clinics, trainees will have the option for additional training. This training will be individualized to the trainee as discussed above. It is anticipated that the trainee will be kept busy 5 days a week.
The two-year program is a combined research and clinical fellowship. In addition to the core clinical experience, the fellow will have additional research opportunities and obligations. Prior to starting the fellowship, 2-year fellows will meet with the Program Director and choose a research project related to asthma and a primary research supervisor. It is expected that this project will result in a presentation/abstract submission at a national conference and a manuscript submission. Fellows will be encouraged to combine this 2-year training program with a graduate degree (in IMS, LMP, Epidemiology or Physiology) and/or enrollment in the Clinician Investigator Program.
Applications are due 11 months in advance of the program start date (July 1). Please refer to the dates in the table.
| Start date | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | August 1, 2024 |
| July 1, 2026 | August 1, 2025 |
| July 1, 2027 | August 1, 2026 |
| July 1, 2028 | August 1, 2027 |
| July 1, 2029 | August 1, 2028 |
| July 1, 2030 | August 1, 2029 |
Required documents
- Pre-requisite training must include satisfactory completion of an RCPSC, ACGME or equivalent accredited residency program in Paediatrics or equivalent for nurse practitioners
- Letter of intent, stating the applicant's reasons for applying to the fellowship, as well as their academic goals
- A copy of the applicant's medical degree and specialty certification if applicable, with English translation, where applicable
- A complete up-to-date curriculum vitae which includes the applicant’s date of birth, citizenship, clinical and research experience and an email address
- A current passport-size photograph
- 3 letters of reference
Program contact
Dr. Theo Moraes, Asthma Program Director
Email: theo.moraes@sickkids.ca
SickKids Respiratory Medicine Training Program (general inbox)
Paediatric Sleep Medicine and Paediatric Long-term Ventilation Fellowship Programs
This is a 1-to-2-year subspecialty program to provide clinical competence in Paediatric Sleep Medicine and/or Long-term Ventilation (LTV). We have the largest Paediatric Sleep and LTV programs in Canada and a well-established training program in these respective areas. Eligible candidates are required to have successfully completed a Paediatric Respiratory Medicine residency program prior to the proposed start date.
The content and duration of the training program can be individually tailored to suit the trainee’s interest, including:
- 1 year Clinical in Sleep Medicine
- 1 year, 18 months, or 2 year Clinical in Sleep Medicine and LTV
- 2 year Clinical and Research in Sleep Medicine
- 2 year Clinical and Research in Sleep Medicine and LTV
Applications are due 10 months in advance of the program start date (July 1). Please refer to the dates in the table.
| Start date | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | September 1, 2024 |
| July 1, 2026 | September 1, 2025 |
| July 1, 2027 | September 1, 2026 |
| July 1, 2028 | September 1, 2027 |
| July 1, 2029 | September 1, 2028 |
| July 1, 2030 | September 1, 2029 |
Required documents:
- Letter of intent, stating the applicant's reasons for applying to the fellowship, as well as their academic goals
- A copy of the applicant's medical degree and specialty certification if applicable, with English translation, where applicable
- A complete up-to-date curriculum vitae which includes the applicant’s date of birth, citizenship, clinical and research experience and an email address
- A current passport-size photograph
- 3 letters of reference
For non-Canadian trainees who are citizens of and are sponsored by the following countries, visit U of T's Sponsored Trainee Application Registry and connect with pgme.international@utoronto.ca:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
For further information, please visit U of T's page on Fellowship Training.
For non-Canadian trainees who are not citizens of the above countries, applications can be submitted via email to all program contacts listed under Contact.
Program contacts
Dr. Sundeep Bola, Sleep Program Director
Email: sundeep.bola@sickkids.ca
Dr. Jackie Chiang, LTV Program Director
Email: jackie.chiang@sickkids.ca