The Residents Section, founded in 1990, is a network for those in paediatric training. The section makes up nearly a quarter of CPS membership and represents 94% of all paediatric residents in Canada. It provides a forum for residents to develop ideas and discuss issues related to their training and education. The section is active in areas such as advocacy and professional development, particularly during the CPS Annual Conference.
The section has representation on the CPS Board of Directors and an executive committee made up of from each paediatric program in Canada.
My name is Vivian and I am a fourth-year paediatric resident at McMaster University and the current President of the CPS Residents Section. I am thrilled to be joined by my colleague Dr. Samir Gouin (University of Calgary) as Vice-President for the 2026-2027 academic year. On behalf of our team, it is an honour to represent our fellow trainees and future paediatricians across Canada, and to continue building on the work of those who have come before us in advocating for the health and well-being of children and youth.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, we are looking forward to:
1. Supporting residents through training and transition into practice.
Our priority is to bring together resident voices to ensure our training programs and future careers are sustainable and responsive to the needs of children and families. This year, we aim to prioritize initiatives that address resident wellness and educational needs, improve mentorship access, support the transition from residency into early career practice, and increase transparency around workforce planning and career pathways. Educational initiatives such as National Grand Rounds will continue to highlight diverse career trajectories and lived experiences in paediatrics.
2. Advancing resident-led advocacy with national reach.
Every year, our residents show us meaningful and impactful ways to contribute to child and youth health beyond clinical care. We will continue to support and amplify these resident-led initiatives across Canada’s paediatric training programs, with an emphasis on collaboration, sustainability, and broader system impact. This year, we hope to better connect local projects to national platforms, enabling successful initiatives to be shared, scaled, and supported across institutions.
3. Creating opportunities, connection, and engagement for medical students.
Our collaboration with medical students across Canada continues to be a highlight of the CPS Residents Section, reinforcing our excitement for the future of the field and the reasons we chose paediatrics. Medical student engagement has grown through initiatives such as the “Why Paeds” panel, mentorship programming, CaRMS preparation supports, and national conference events. This year, we are excited to further expand outreach to paediatric interest groups across medical schools and continue developing initiatives such as the “Meet the Resident” podcast to showcase the breadth of careers within paediatrics and the people behind them.
We are so excited for the year ahead! We welcome your feedback, ideas, and collaboration as we continue to use our voices and resources to support children, families, and trainees across the country. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we would love to hear from you.
Here’s to a great year!
Warm regards,
Vivian Chen, Residents Section President Samir Gouin, Residents Section Vice - President
