Your Membership Advocating for Residents Every Step of the way.

Advocating for Alberta’s Resident Physicians

Advocacy & Community A Member-Driven Organization

Being a PARA member means having a team in your corner throughout residency. PARA advocates for your rights, protects your interests, and works to create a fair, safe and supportive training environment for resident physicians across Alberta.

Your membership dues directly support the advocacy, resources and initiatives we deliver to improve the resident experience and ensure resident voices are heard in healthcare.

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Member benefits Coverage, Benefits & Resident Support

Your PARA membership gives you access to benefits, resources and support designed to help you navigate residency with confidence.

Group Disability & Life Insurance

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, ADIUM Insurance Services Inc. (ADIUM), the Alberta Medical Association administers PARA’s Group Disability and Life Insurance plans for resident physicians.

Enrollment forms are included in your residency orientation package and must be completed to designate your life insurance beneficiary and provide program and completion information to ADIUM and the insurance provider.

Disability benefits include:

75% of your gross monthly resident salary (taxable)
Benefits begin after 90 days of disability
Coverage continues to age 65 or until you are no longer disabled
Coverage can be converted to the AMA Disability Insurance Plan upon completion of residency

Health & Dental Benefits

Resident physicians have access to supplementary health and dental benefits through their residency benefits package. Alberta Health Services pays 75% of the monthly premiums, with residents responsible for the remaining 25%.

For a detailed overview of coverage, eligibility and benefits, view the Benefits at a Glance guide.

 

 

Maternity & Parental Leave

You must be a birth mother or father or adoptive parent and have accumulated 600 insured working hours within the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. For purposes of calculating insured working hours, AHS records resident physicians’ hours at 40 hours per week.

If you are in your first year of residency and have not yet accumulated 600 hours, you may still be eligible if you have insured working hours from another source/employer. You will need to check with Service Canada to see if you are eligible.

Resources and Initiatives Initiatives to Support Your Residency

PARA provides initiatives and resources to support your professional development, well-being and overall residency experience.

Initiatives

Explore PARA initiatives designed to support residents, strengthen the residency experience and address the issues that matter most to you.

Explore Initiatives

Awards of Excellence

Annual awards honoring outstanding resident physicians, staff, and preceptors who demonstrate excellence in teaching, advocacy, and care.

View Awards

Taxi/Rideshare Reimbursement

Eligible residents can access taxi reimbursement support for approved residency-related travel. Learn more about eligibility and how to submit your reimbursement.

Learn more

Legal Services

PARA provides access to legal support and resources to help residents understand their rights, responsibilities and options throughout residency.

Explore legal Services

PARA’s easy to use forms Streamlined Forms

Skip the paperwork. Submit your requests directly to PARA staff through our easy-to-use online forms. From expense and rideshare reimbursement forms to Awards of Excellence, nomination and insurance forms, everything is accessible in one convenient place.

Our digital forms are designed to make submitting requests quick and simple, whether you’re on your phone, at home or at the hospital. Spend less time on paperwork and more time focusing on residency.

Explore Forms

mEMBER Frequently Asked Questions Questions About Your Membership?

Find quick answers about your membership benefits, health coverage, fatigue reimbursements, and resident funding opportunities.

Have More Questions?

  • We negotiate your agreement. We secure your pay, benefits, working conditions and leave entitlements — and we advocate for improvements that reflect the realities of residency.
  • We protect your rights. From scheduling issues to mistreatment concerns, we provide confidential, one-on-one support to help you resolve problems.
  • We strengthen the system. PARA is your voice in broader conversations about medical education, health care system planning and physician wellness.
  • We build connection and leadership. We offer resident-led committees, leadership opportunities and social events to help you grow your network and influence the profession.

Your dues support the work that directly impacts your day-to-day experience as a resident physician. Aligned with PARA’s strategic direction, dues contribute to:

  • Fair agreements and strong advocacy. We represent your interests in negotiations and work to improve your training and working conditions.
  • Resident physician wellness. Your dues fund wellness initiatives that make a real difference during the demands of residency.
  • Professional development and connection. PARA creates space for community through educational panels, workshops and leadership opportunities.
  • Responsive, expert support. We provide knowledgeable help when you need it — with clear, reliable communication every step of the way.
  • System-wide impact. We collaborate with partners and peer organizations to address issues affecting all Alberta resident physicians, now and into the future.

In accordance with Article 7.01 of the Resident Physician Agreement, Alberta Health Services (AHS) deducts membership dues at a rate of 0.95% from your pay. These deductions are made in alignment with AHS payroll procedures. The dues collected each month are forwarded to PARA by AHS within the first 15 days of the following month, along with a list of resident physicians from whom deductions were made.

At 0.95%, PARA’s dues rate is in line with or lower than rates in other provinces, where resident associations typically deduct between 1% and 1.5%. We’re committed to using your dues efficiently and transparently to deliver the highest possible value to members.