A row of test tubes filled with blood samples.
  • icon house

    Department

    • Max Rady College of Medicine | Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

  • icon book

    Accreditation

    • Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists (CACB)

  • icon graduate

    Expected duration

    • 3 years

About the program

Our objective is to train individuals at the postgraduate medicine level in the field of clinical biochemistry, leading to certification by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists (CACB) to fulfill the demands for clinical biochemists.

The program is intended to provide training equivalent to that required by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for the fellowship in Medical Biochemistry.

It will, therefore, include practical and professional training in all aspects of laboratory medicine necessary to provide the resident with the skills necessary to practice as a clinical biochemist medical consultant and independently direct a clinical biochemistry laboratory.

Compensation and benefits

Salaries, benefits, and other entitlements are governed by a comprehensive collective agreement between PARIM and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA). Additional information related to benefits can be found on the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM) website.

Remuneration for residents in the Post Graduate Medical Education at the University of Manitoba is negotiated by PARIM. Starting salaries for residents in Clinical Chemistry start at post-graduate level 2 (PGY 2) and are equivalent to those of medical residents.

Annual salaries, as of July 1, 2023

  • PGY 2 - $69,370
  • PGY3 - $74,410
  • PGY4 -  $80,134

Program outline: year one

The first year of the program is intended to provide the resident with an overview of Clinical Chemistry laboratory operations and a general understanding of human disease. Rotations may include (subject to change):

Laboratory operations and processes

Central laboratory processes - comparison of processes across laboratories of differing size and function and hands-on experience - sample labelling and receipt, patient registration, test accessioning, requisitions, referred-in, referred-out, laboratory information systems, test information manuals, lab reports, pre-analytical and post analytical errors, laboratory safety, phlebotomy.

Automated chemistry

Comparison of processes at hospital labs of differing size and hands-on experience: instrumentation (operation, maintenance, troubleshooting), workflow, quality practices, test methodologies & their benefits and limitations, critical results, auto-verification, method protocols, accreditation requirements, specimen archiving, urinalysis, clinical utility of tests.

Toxicology and pathology

Instrumental and analytical aspects of clinical, medical, and forensic toxicology. Management and treatment of poisoned patients. Roles of poison-control center, RCMP laboratory, therapeutic drug monitoring. Forensic cases will be reviewed from autopsy to the toxicology lab.

Molecular and Genomics Laboratories

Molecular techniques, genetic diseases, and Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). Time will be spent at the CancerCare Manitoba Next Generation Sequencing laboratory (Health Sciences Centre campus).

Hematology and immunology

Investigation of hemoglobinopathies, plasma cell dyscrasias, and other autoimmune diseases. In-depth look at electrophoretic and immunofluorescence methods, along with flow cytometry and routine complete blood counts.

Special chemistry

RAST (allergy) testing, Hemoglobinopathy investigation, biogenic amine quantitation, cholinesterase phenotyping, Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) phenotyping, porphyria investigation, metal analyses, fluid testing.

Program outline: year two and three

The second and third years of the program largely involve clinical rotations and external laboratory rotations that are intended to provide the resident with a comprehensive understanding of clinical disorders related to the field of clinical chemistry and the utilization of laboratory test results in the clinical management of the patient.

Upon completion of these rotations, the resident will have covered all topics outlined in the CACB syllabus for a postgraduate training program in clinical biochemistry and be prepared to direct a small-medium size clinical laboratory.

The trainee is expected to identify cases of interest during these rotations and link them to laboratory testing. Regular presentations of these cases are an expectation.

The coordinator (a clinical chemist or a clinical colleague) for each clinical rotation identifies specific objectives in addition to the objectives outlined in the syllabus, and arranges with clinical staff, wards or clinics to provide exposure to their particular areas.

During these rotations, the resident will become familiar with clinical aspects of disease diagnosis and management along the related utilization of the laboratory. Scheduled clinical rotations include, but are not limited to:

  • Infectious diseases and microbiology
  • Hematology-Oncology and hemostasis
  • Immunology
  • Emergency medicine
  • Intensive care medicine
  • Pharmacy (family medicine and intensive care)
  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric medicine
  • Obstetrics and gynecology
  • Nephrology (including dialysis and transplant units)
  • Gastroenterology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical genetics and metabolics
  • Scientist drops a liquid into a test tube with a pipette.

Admission and application requirements

Application deadline: January 15, 2024

To apply for this fellowship program, you must:

  • Have a  PhD with a strong background in biochemistry, chemistry, or related discipline
  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
  • Be a leader with proven excellent interpersonal, communication, time management and critical thinking skills

For information regarding certification, please visit the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry website.

How to apply 

All applicants should submit the following documents: 

  • Completed fellowship application form (PDF)
  • Personal statement outlining your interest in the program (max. 500 words)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Copies of degrees awarded
  • Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
  • Official university transcripts (undergraduate and graduate; certified translations if not in English).
  • A minimum of three (3) letters of reference. Instruct your referees to send their assessments directly to michelle.newcombe2@umanitoba.ca

All electronically submitted documents must be in PDF format.

PDF documents will be supplied in an alternate format on request.

Explore the University of Manitoba

We attract people from around the world who share our ideals and vision for positive change. We believe in embracing challenges and taking action. Our students, researchers and alumni bring their unique voices to learning and discovery, shaping new ways of doing things and contributing to important conversations in topics that matter most, from human rights to global health to climate change. We are where imagination and action collide.

Contact us

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME)
Max Rady College of Medicine
260 Brodie Centre, 727 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5 Canada

204-789-3290
204-789-3911