NOSM University - Public Health and Preventive Medicine including Family Medicine - Northern Ontario
2021 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Last approved on December 11, 2020
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
935 Ramsey Lake Rd
c/o Sonya Richard
SUDBURY, Ontario, P3E 2C6
Program Contacts
Important Information
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine's Public Health and Preventive Medicine Program provides comprehensive training with a focus on northern, rural and remote public health and offers the opportunity to also meet the training requirements of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) with two years of Family Medicine training.
Details about the NOSM PHPM Program will be provided by program leadership,
faculty and residents present at the event. We are also hoping to have a Q&A portion
which includes write-in questions gathered from the registration form in
advance, as well as some inquiries inspired by the event’s discussions.
Please RSVP, no later than Friday, January 8, 2021 via the following link:
https://forms.gle/
WebEx connection details will be distributed to registered
attendees during the week leading up to the event.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Supporting Documentation / Information
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: As per the Ontario Provincial Eligibility Criteria, if you are submitting a Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada document, you MUST submit a government issued photo I.D. to accompany your citizenship documentation.
Reference letters should be written by teachers and/or faculty who have a reasonable knowledge of you, either through close association in training situations, or as your faculty advisor. References should provide an assessment of your population, public health and medical knowledge, clinical skills, interpersonal skills, ability to communicate effectively, your attitude toward learning your abilities to enter training in public health and preventive medicine. If you plan on pursuing certification from the College of Family Physicians, one of your reference letters should also reflect your commitment to Family Medicine.
Order from your registrar.
Medical Student Performance RecordOrder from your Dean's office.
Personal LetterThe personal letter (maximum 1000 words) should focus on the following:
- Experiences that led to your interest in Public Health and Preventive Medicine;
- Aspects of the NOSM Public Health and Preventive Medicine program that interest you;
- The reasons you wish to focus on population medicine as a career, and what that means to you;
- Your commitment to Northern Ontario and personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for practice in Northern, rural or remote settings;
- How you anticipate this program will assist you in becoming an excellent practitioner of Public Health and Preventive Medicine;
- Your greatest challenge if you are accepted into this program and what you would do to address this challenge; and
- Any additional information about yourself that should be considered by the Selection Panel.
If your transcript/CV indicates academic difficulty, failure(s), repeat of a year or any gaps in your education or work history please attach a supplementary statement to the END of your Personal Letter entitled "Transcript/CV Addendum" explaining the above.
Custom Résumé / CV PhotoReview Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on February 8, 2021
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on February 8, 2021
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on February 8, 2021
Interviews
Dates:
- March 25, 2021
Virtual interviews only in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The Program will offer a virtual open house which will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of our program, answer your questions, and determine if it fits with your goals. You will have the opportunity to:
- Meet and socialize with other NOSM residents
- Meet faculty and support staff
- Become acquainted with the program's communities and services, and the diverse opportunities they provide
Due to the public health measures adopted to control the COVID-19 pandemic, all 2021 candidates who meet the selection criteria will be invited to participate in a 1-hour panel-style virtual interview conducted by a faculty-resident interview team
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected for an interview based on:
- demonstrated interest in and understanding of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
- academic record
- strength of references
- interpersonal skills
- demonstrated ability to be self-directed
- professional and leadership qualities
- desire to train in a variety of community settings
- an established interest in future Northern urban, rural or remote practice will be a key consideration
As the clinical component of PHPM residency training is completed through the NOSM Family Medicine residency program (whether completing one or two clinical training years), the admission requirements for the Family Medicine residency program have to be met by PHPM candidates, which includes clinical examination score requirements for IMGs.
Program goals
The NOSM Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency Program aims to offer high quality training to enable residents to flourish as independent PHPM specialists working to improve the health of populations.
Our goal is to deliver a comprehensive curriculum that integrates all of the CanMEDS roles/competencies, and is designed with an explicit focus on building skills to improve northern, rural and Indigenous health, while preparing residents to practice the full breadth and depth of public health and preventive medicine.
We aim to offer opportunities in our program to allow residents to tailor learning environments and areas of focus to further meet their own individual career goals.
Selection process goals
Through our selection process, our program aims to identify candidates who have a strong academic history with demonstrated competence and interest in Public Health and Preventive Medicine (e.g. past PHPM/community health experience, a broad range of electives relevant to the discipline, scholarly activities/research, conference involvement and other related work, academic, or life experiences). We are seeking candidates who have a strong passion and desire to improve the health of individuals, communities, and populations. [Note for 2021 Candidates – The Program is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has limited elective options and other experiential opportunities. These unique challenges will be considered throughout our selection process.]
We are looking for candidates who possess the ability and willingness to work collaboratively (within and across professional domains) in a team dynamic to secure optimal patient and population health outcomes, while exemplifying the highest standards of professional behavior - inclusive of responsibility, respect, and self-awareness.
We are also looking to identify candidates who would be a good fit for our program. As a medical school with a social accountability mandate to the needs and the diversity of the populations of Northern Ontario, candidates best suited to the NOSM Public Health and Preventive Medicine Program are those with a vested interest in northern, rural and remote medicine, who can adapt and thrive in a hands-on, distributed residency program that requires flexibility and some travel away from their primary location of residence. We also believe that candidates who are resilient, can prioritize their personal well-being and work-life balance, and are also committed to self-reflective learning, continuing professional development, and quality improvement, are well-suited to our program.
File review process
Review team composition : The file review team is comprised of program faculty and residents.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 0 - 50
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 76 - 100 %
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Academic & work background/experiences, personal/professional accomplishments, communication skills |
| Electives | PHPM elective(s), diverse range relevant to the discipline, rural and/or northern an asset [Note for 2021 Candidates – The Program is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has limited elective options and other experiential opportunities. These unique challenges will be considered throughout our selection process.] |
| Examinations | We do not evaluate this file component. |
| Extra-curricular | An asset to demonstrate work-life balance and wellness, personal interests. Include in CV |
| Leadership skills | Any leadership roles held throughout training should be outlined in the CV |
| MSPRs | Patient interactions, PHPM rotation competencies, any academic, personal or professionalism concerns |
| Personal letters | • Experiences that led to your interest in Public Health and Preventive Medicine; • Aspects of the NOSM Public Health and Preventive Medicine program that interest you; • The reasons you wish to focus on population medicine as a career, and what that means to you; • Your commitment to Northern Ontario and personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for practice in Northern, rural or remote settings; • How you anticipate this program will assist you in becoming an excellent practitioner of Public Health and Preventive Medicine; • Your greatest challenge if you are accepted into this program and what you would do to address this challenge; and • Any additional information about yourself that should be considered by the Selection Panel. |
| Reference documents | Commitment to PHPM, performance, knowledge/clinical skills, character, attitude towards learning |
| Research/Publications | Past achievements/successes relevant to PHPM, interest in participating in future scholarly activity |
| Transcripts | Strength of academic record, any red flags/concerns |
| Other file component(s) |
Transcript/CV Addendum: If any part of your application indicates academic difficulty, failure(s), repeat of a year or any gaps in your education or work history, a supplementary statement at the END of your Personal Letter is required. Please entitle your statement as "Transcript/CV Addendum", explaining the above. |
Elective criteria
We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted candidates’ opportunities to arrange and complete electives and would like to reassure you that a lack of elective activity this year will not negatively impact your application to our program.
Interview process
Interview format :
We may accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants due to weather, technology failure, or unforeseen circumstances.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | Demonstrated ability to work well in a team setting/multidisciplinary environment |
| Collegiality | Personable, respectful towards others, values the importance of a supportive/collegial atmosphere |
| Communication skills | Able to reflect and communicate responses clearly and concisely, can communicate well with others |
| Health advocacy | We do not evaluate this interview component. |
| Interest in the discipline | Genuine passion for PHPM, interests/experiences, future practice goals |
| Interest in the program | Knowledgeable about our program, training sites, northern Ontario patient populations and challenges |
| Leadership skills | Qualities such as: proactive/takes initiative, accountable, innovative, motivated and goal-oriented |
| Professionalism | Conducts themselves in a professional manner, self-aware, unbiased, morally/ethically responsible |
| Scholarly activities | We do not formally evaluate this component during the interview |
| Other interview component(s) |
Other - Problem-Solving Skills: Conflict resolution, ability to assess, plan, and take appropriate action. Other - Personal Attributes: Personal characteristics and interests, learning style/attitude towards learning |
Information gathered outside of CaRMS application
Specifically, we may consider:Ranking process
The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :Program Highlights
Public Health and Preventive Medicine (PHPM) is a broad specialty with a large range of opportunities and career choices. PHPM specialists are experts in understanding the health determinants of whole populations and assuming leadership roles in how to improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of communities. A Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialist monitors and assesses the health needs of a population and develops, implements, and evaluates strategies for improving the public’s health. These specialty physicians draw on knowledge and skills in health measurement, health promotion, disease prevention and health protection to collaboratively address community health issues through public policy, and partnerships.
PHPM specialists are involved in the leadership of governmental and non-governmental organizations at local, provincial, national and international levels. PHPM physicians are employed in roles such as Medical Officers of Health for health units, CEOs for health authorities, Executive Directors for non-governmental organizations, and consultants for private industry. Many specialists contribute to scholarly work and are involved in the research and teaching of academic institutions. Specialists can also contribute to community-oriented clinical practice with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
The knowledge of PHPM specialists include design, implementation and evaluation of health programs on community health issues such as communicable disease control, environmental health, epidemiology and prevention of acute and chronic disease and injury.
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine's Public Health and Preventive Medicine program offers:
- Comprehensive PHPM training meeting the objectives of training set by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- The opportunity to meet the CFPC training requirements for Family Medicine
- Collegial support from resident peers
- Rotation opportunities primarily located in northern Ontario
- Diverse settings for core and elective training, including
- Affiliation with multiple urban and rural public health units across Ontario
- Provincial and federal government and health agency placements
- International placements may also be arranged to meet resident learning needs with sufficient notice
- Preceptor support from physicians committed to practicing in Northern Ontario
- A comprehensive academic program that includes NOSM specific educational sessions, and participation in rounds with the University of Toronto and Queens University's Public Health and Preventive Medicine Programs
- Financial support for resident travel to and from core clinical placements away from the home base, and all mandatory educational activities at non home base locations
- Housing support for core rotations away from primary residence
- Funding available for research, professional development, and conferences
Wellness support is also available to all NOSM residents via the NOSM Postgraduate Wellness Program.
Residency is a unique opportunity to learn, grow and set the stage for the rest of your career. Residency also has its challenges. While you will face high expectations, the NOSM Postgraduate Wellness Program aims to ensure you also have a high degree of support. The mission of the Wellness Program is to assist our residents in achieving the knowledge and skills to develop healthy and productive professional identities during this important transitional time. The framework of the program includes occupational/academic health, physical health, emotional health and social health.
Our highest priority is providing and coordinating supports for residents who have specific health needs, whether pre-existing or arising during residency. Wellness Program personnel will assist residents with finding and coordinating health resources, as well as working with residency programs to accommodate the learning and training environment if needed. The program also includes proactive components for all residents such as: a wellness curriculum, promoting safe housing and transportation, ensuring your duty hour and leave protections are respected, cultural supports, and guidance with developing a healthy and productive professional identity.
The NOSM Postgraduate Wellness Program has developed a “Residents” section within the interactive wellness app NOSM Well. The Residents section in the App delivers easily accessible, secure, up-to-date wellness information to you around the clock, in any setting!
Program Curriculum
This residency program is for 5 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
The NOSM PHPM Residency Program follows the Structure of Training Requirements set by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
This five-year program is designed with an explicit focus on building skills to improve northern, rural and remote health while preparing residents to practice the full breadth and depth of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Some flexibility allows residents to tailor learning environments and areas of focus to meet career goals.
Based on the resident’s personal learning plan, the content, sequence of training and schedule of movement between teaching sites may vary.
The key components of the 5-year residency program are:
- A minimum of 1 year of clinical training (with 2 years of training recommended as this leads to eligibility for CCFP certification). Clinical training is completed in collaboration with the NOSM Family Medicine Residency Program.
- A minimum of 1 academic year of course work in Public Health and Preventive Medicine generally leading to an MPH degree:
- Options include, distance and in-person courses offered for the Masters in Public Health at Canadian and International Universities.
- Course topics are related to building skills to assess and improve population health include: epidemiology and biostatistics, program evaluation, needs assessment, Canada's health system and policy, field investigation, health promotion, global health and others.
- Previous graduate training in public health (e.g. MPH degree) may be credited.
- A minimum of 18 months of Public Health and Preventive Medicine field placements and dependent on chosen path, 6 months of electives.
- Core placements occur in various sites with requirements in the following subject areas: Environmental health; communicable disease control; health policy and planning; health promotion and chronic disease prevention, and senior management and administration.
- Elective opportunities may include, but are not limited to, Francophone health; occupational health; surveillance and health informatics; emergency preparedness; cancer prevention and screening; or global health.
Please visit the PHPM Program section of the NOSM website for more details:
https://www.nosm.ca/phpm/curriculum-academics/
Training Sites
During the clinical years of training, residents of the NOSM PHPM program will select a home base in either Sudbury or Thunder Bay, with approval from the Program Director. The majority of rotations during clinical training will require completion within NOSM's geographical service area in northern Ontario.
PHPM core field placements occur at various sites in northern Ontario. Site selection depends on learner preference and site capacity, with Program Director approval.
Opportunities for elective placements at federal, provincial or territorial locations may be discussed directly with the Program Director.
Additional Information
To learn more about northern Ontario, please visit the "Wider Campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine" webpage.
Summary of changes
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