Training in Canada?

[DOtoCanada]

I am a second year DO student. I am wondering about the prospects of applying for family medicine somewhere in either BC or Ontario. I am willing to train outside of the city as long as I'm within an hour or so of the city. I would even consider Alberta around the Calgary area. Is this a doable plan? I would be willing to do the step one and step two of the Canadian licensing boards. What would I have to do to make this happen? I want to stay in Canada and work towards citizenship after my training. I am doing well in school, especially considering the nasty health problems I've had. My one concern is the $325,000 in debt I'll have when I'm done. Any advice is welcomed!!!

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[Giemsa]

If you're talking about residency in family medicine, you may apply through CaRMS (the Canadian match), but you MUST be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before you apply.

Gory details here: http://carms.ca/eng/r1_eligibility_prov_e.shtml

 

[mkmgal]

DotoCanada,

I'm currently a third-year osteopathic resident and will be graduating in 1 week! There's light at the end of the tunnel. I'm doing an additional year-long sports medicine fellowship. I was born in Alberta (but raised in the states), and my wife was raised in a small community outside of Lethbridge. We are seriously looking at practicing in Canada, pending a couple things happen.

This summer/fall the Alberta government will hopefully pass the "Health Professions Act" which would allow greater access for American-trained physicians to practice in the province. Basically, if this legislation passes, Alberta will finally recognize the USMLE and COMLEX as equivalents to the Canadian licensing exams. This is essentially what Ontario did a few years ago. I think this could potentially open up many doors to other provinces and help relieve the physician shortage in Alberta and throughout the Country....not to mention save a ton of money and hassel!

I encourage you to demonstrate your support for this important legislation, especially if you are interested in returning to practice in Alberta. I urge you to write letters to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, the Alberta MLAs, the Medical Council of Canada, etc. I'd be more than happy to email you contact information and copies of letters I've written, if you are interested. The more support, the better.

Another good resource is Ted Findlay, DO. He's a family physician who practices in Calgary. He did his medical training at an osteopathic school in Ohio, then completed his family medicine residency in calgary. Dr. Findlay is also president of the Canadian Osteopathic Association (www.osteopathic.ca). He's always supportive of answering any questions about returning to the province. His email is: [email protected]. I believe there is one other DO in the province who practices in Red Deer, but I don't know their name.

Feel free to contact me with any Qs. You can personally contact me via email too ([email protected]). By the way, where are you doing med school? Best of luck!

Mike
AZCOM 2006