Contact Us We’re Here to Support Your Residency Journey
Have a question about your agreement, benefits, or membership? Reach out to the PARA team directly.
Let’s Chat Have a Question? We’re Here to Help.
Crisis SupportImmediate Support When You Need It Most
Residency can be demanding, but you don’t have to navigate stress, burnout, or difficult moments alone. PARA connects Alberta resident physicians with mental health and wellness resources to support them through the challenges of residency.
Whether you need immediate emotional support, crisis counselling, or support following a critical incident, help is available through confidential support services, including the 24/7 Physician and Family Support Program (PFSP).
Explore PARA’s wellness resources to learn more about the supports available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions Everything You Need To Know About PARA
Find quick answers about who we are, how we represent resident physicians across Alberta, and how to get involved.
PARA is here to represent residents, advocate for their rights, support their well-being, and make sure resident voices are heard. PARA also negotiates the Resident Physician Agreement with Alberta Health Services, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary
Resident physicians are doctors in training who provide frontline care in hospitals, clinics and communities across Alberta. PARA works to ensure they are supported throughout their training so they can focus on delivering exceptional care to patients.
Resident physicians are most often involved in a patient’s first medical contact in teaching hospitals and clinics throughout the province.
Following the completion of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program, resident physicians undergo further training, known as residency, which prepares them for licensure under either the College of Family Physicians of Canada or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Resident physicians generally have at least seven years of university training prior to the commencement of residency.
With residency programs requiring an additional two to seven years of post-graduate training, most resident physicians spend more than 10 years training to become fully-licensed physicians and surgeons.
Our intention is to continually improve resident physicians’ professional and personal lives.
We value:
Relationships with our residents and with our partners.
Understanding of our residents’ needs and the system in which they work.
Diversity in perspective and lived experience.
Rigour in meeting the standard of service that our resident physicians deserve.