The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. The Department of Family Medicine additionally participates in clinical programs in Inuit communities. We respect the Treaties and Agreements that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
The CASPer Test - Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics
All applicants to the Family Medicine Residency Program, at the University of Manitoba are required to complete an online assessment (CASPer), to assist with our selection process. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.
CASPer is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
In order to take CASPer, you will be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that you can satisfy the aforementioned requirements. No exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors.
Please go to www.takeCASPer.com to sign up and reserve a test using your student identifier and a piece of government-issued photo ID. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly; there may be updates to the test schedule.
Please direct any inquiries on the test to support@takecasper.com. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the takecasper.com website.
The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at takeCASPer.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test.
CASPer test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.
ZOOM INFORMATION SESSIONS:
CaRMS General Overview session: Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 7:00-8:30pm CST via Zoom.
CaRMS Information Deeper Dive – Rural: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 from 7:00-8:30pm CST via Zoom
CaRMS Information - Resident Sessions (hosted by our Chief Residents): 7:00-8:00pm CST via Zoom
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpde-sqzwiG9zYapGMdaF7UEOBIDUU6XHm
MANDATORY ORIENTATION SESSIONS:
The mandatory full day Postgraduate Medical Education Orientation for all residents will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
The mandatory full day Family Medicine Residency Orientation will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Prior to the commencement of training, matched applicants must provide proof of ACLS certification that is current as of July 1, 2022. The ACLS Provider course must be certified by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the American Heart Association. ACLS training that is not certified by one of these two organizations and/or is completed entirely through an online course will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining ACLS certification. We provide a re-certification course in your second year of residency prior to graduation.
Resident Home Location and Travel Requirements
As a resident in the Brandon stream, you will be expected to maintain a residence in Brandon or surrounding area.
Vacation Allowance
Vacation in PGY1 can be taken for two weeks in each of two blocks in conjunction with an approved elective or Family Medicine Block Time in the remaining two weeks of the same blocks, or alternatively as one 4 week vacation block. Vacation is not allowed in Block 1 in PGY1. Though the program tries to accommodate residents’ specific vacation period requests, constraints of scheduling often requires flexibility and not all requests will be approved.
The following applicants will be required to sign a Return of Service “ROS” contract with the Province of Manitoba. The ROS commitment is commensurate with the length of the training program
IMGs already holding a return of service obligation must disclose these obligations at the time of application. IMGs who have undischarged return of service obligations may not be eligible to begin training in a position funded by Manitoba Health.
Such individuals may wish to contact Shared Health at pmao-residents@sharedhealthmb.ca for more information.
Program application language: English
You are required to fulfill ALL of the most current Provincial Criteria for Canadian Medical Graduates for Manitoba.
The criteria can be found at: https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/manitoba/
Language Proficiency
English is the language of study at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. All applicants whose first language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency to CaRMS by the file review opening date.
CMG/USMG
Candidates who attended medical school in Quebec or the University of Ottawa where the language of instruction or the primary language of patient care was not English, must fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements.
IMG’s
Candidates are exempted from English language proficiency testing under the following circumstances:
All other candidates must have taken one of the following:
List of countries that have English as a first and native language - Countries: Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands - Caribbean Islands: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Grenadines, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago
Please note the following:
Three (3) Family Medicine Structured Reference Letters are required. Please select supervisors, preceptors or other individuals who have had ample opportunity to assess you as a candidate for Family Medicine. Ideally one of your letters should be from a family physician but this is not mandatory.
All three (3) Family Medicine Structured Reference Letters must be current and dated on or after January 1, 2021. Undated reference letters will not be accepted. Do not arrange for more than three (3) Family Medicine Structured Reference Letters as additional letters will not be reviewed.
Order from your Registrar. Must be English original or certified translation.
If your transcript indicates poor academic standing, course failure(s), leave(s) of absence, or breach of professionalism, please attach a supplementary statement to the beginning of your e-CaRMS Personal Statement entitled "Transcript Addendum" addressing the respective circumstance(s).
Medical Student Performance RecordOrder from the Undergraduate Office. Must be English original or certified translation.
If your Medical Student Performance Record indicates poor academic standing, course failure(s), leave(s) of absence, or breach of professionalism, please attach a supplementary statement to the beginning of your e-CaRMS Personal Statement entitled "MSPR Addendum" addressing the respective circumstance(s).
Personal LetterA personal letter is required. We are looking for mature, enthusiastic physicians who bring with them a broad range of life experiences, are committed to providing excellent patient care and can embrace the depth and breadth of experiences our program offers.
In 500 words or less, please address the following areas: What life experiences demonstrate your adaptability, team skills, leadership potential, and sense of compassion? Why do you feel the University of Manitoba would be the right choice for you? In what ways are you connected to Manitoba?
Custom Résumé / CV
Include a current CV in the Custom Resume section. Please tailor your resume to provide us with a better understanding of your experiences and commitment to Family Medicine.
CASPer examAll applicants to the Family Medicine Residency Program, at the University of Manitoba are required to complete an online assessment (CASPer), to assist with our selection process. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.
Applications submitted after file review has opened on January 31, 2022
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on January 31, 2022
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 31, 2022
Applicants must apply to, and rank each of the University of Manitoba Family Medicine programs individually. There is one central review process.
The same personal letter should be used for all University of Manitoba Family Medicine applications as only one letter will be reviewed per applicant.
There will be only one interview irrespective of the number of programs to which you apply; there may be specific additional questions based on your program interests.
Dates:
The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Manitoba is committed to a fair, equitable, and transparent selection process.
All CMG applicants will have a comprehensive and structured review of their CaRMS file including the personal letter, MSPR, CV and letters of reference. The review will be conducted by faculty, clinic staff and current residents from any site, regardless of the sites to which you have applied. Selection for interview will be determined by the outcome of the file review in conjunction with your CASPer™ score.
Applicants who are invited for interview will participate in one structured interview, regardless of the number of sites to which you have applied. The structured interview may have questions specific to the sites to which you have applied.
The rank order list is generated specific to each site based upon your file review, your interview, and your CASPer™ score.
A broad knowledge base and clinical skill sets enable family physicians to work in diverse settings such as patients’ homes, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, labour and delivery suites, hospital wards, and nursing homes. Family medicine often serves as the main entry point to the health care system and the hub that provides continuity of care throughout the life cycle. As such, family medicine is the central medical discipline. The importance of primary care in quality of health and the value Canadian society places on family physicians in the delivery of this care are well known.
The goal of our residency program is to train family physicians who are able to provide comprehensive, high quality, continuous care in urban, rural, or remote settings.
We are looking for applicants with a broad range of life experiences, interpersonal skills and a firm foundation of academic achievement that will collectively contribute to the capacity to practise the breadth of Family Medicine. We are seeking individuals with an appropriate balance between personal and family life, engagement with community, and commitment to our profession.
On completion of their program, family physicians trained by our residency program will demonstrate the abilities to:
Review team composition : The file review teams consist of Family Medicine physicians, current residents and interprofessional faculty.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 601 +
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 0 - 25 %
File component | Criteria |
---|---|
CV | Comprehensive and well organized document |
Electives | Family Medicine or broad range of interests |
Examinations | CASPer testing |
Extra-curricular | Well rounded activities other than academics |
Leadership skills | Initiative and able to problem solve |
MSPRs | Evaluate according to the info provided by school |
Personal letters | 500 words or less |
Reference documents | 3 standardized reference letters |
Research/Publications | Variety |
Transcripts | Evaluate according to info provided by school |
Other file component(s) | Familiarity with the Canadian Health Care System. Identifies interest in Family Medicine. |
An elective in Family Medicine either in Manitoba or elsewhere, completed before file review, is not required for application to the University of Manitoba Family Medicine Programs. However, we are looking for a demonstration of interest in, and commitment to Family Medicine.
Interview format :
We routinely accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants.
Interview components | Criteria |
---|---|
Collaboration skills | Interprofessional collaboration |
Collegiality | Treats others with respect & knows professional boundaries |
Communication skills | Ability to listen and communicate in a clear manner |
Health advocacy | Affirming and sharing the vision and values of health promotion |
Interest in the discipline | Demonstrates genuine interest through electives, extra curricular activities, volunteering, etc. |
Interest in the program | Demonstrates ongoing commitment to Family Medicine |
Leadership skills | Ability to guide and help others |
Professionalism | Carry themselves in a professional manner |
Scholarly activities | Pursuing further education, previous accomplishments |
Other interview component(s) | Commitment to underserved populations, resilience |
For more than 40 years, the University of Manitoba’s Department of Family Medicine has been positively influencing the health of individuals, families and communities across Manitoba. Through clinical work, teaching and innovative research, family medicine is making a difference.
This program, accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, promotes whole-person medicine through a combination of patient-centred care and structured seminars. During clerkship, learners are distributed in over 20 communities throughout Manitoba.
After completing a four-year undergraduate degree in Medicine, students who enter the two-year Family Medicine residency choose a learning stream tailored to their practice interests.
Here is a video with a general overview of our Family Medicine Program at the University of Manitoba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vieoIArQFM&list=PLCNj2OCRLILF6vOq6gtxYSY3_M-wuE57r&index=6
Each stream provides a broad and balanced experience that prepares well-rounded family physicians who can practice with confidence in a variety of settings.
In addition to the postgraduate program, Family Medicine also offers enhanced skills training which allows Family Medicine doctors to continually shape and reshape their careers. Enhanced training is available in the following areas:
This training requires an additional 6–12 months of study. Residents finishing their second year and practicing family physicians may apply.
The Department of Family Medicine has over 500 faculty members who excel at sharing knowledge, building competencies, and maximizing learning opportunities for students.
Our faculty are integral participants in all stages of medical education. Some have major Undergraduate teaching roles, providing comprehensive Family Medicine and generalist content as well as their unique perspectives on health care.
The Integrative Medicine in Residency (IMR) program is a two-year program of study exploring the integration of Complementary and Alternative therapies with conventional family practice in an evidence-based manner. This program is being offered in conjunction with the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, and is a 200-hour, interactive web-based curriculum that is completed longitudinally alongside the Family Medicine residency program. This program option is available to residents in all streams. Visit the Integrative Medicine in Residency Program page for full details.
The Department of Family Medicine provides exciting opportunities to perform research with practical outcomes on the health of Canadians. The department promotes and supports the development of research skills and provides workshops to all Family Medicine residents.
Where possible, the university offers students the chance to learn in partnership with an interprofessional faculty, which includes dieticians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and other health care professionals. This collaborative learning model teaches our students and residents the basic principles of other health care professions, when to use them in their care of patients, and how and when to make appropriate referrals.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Matched applicants will be required to provide proof of valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider certification before they can commence residency. The ACLS Provider course must be certified by the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation or by the American Heart Association. ACLS certification that has expired or that is not endorsed by the Canadian Heart and Stroke or by the American Heart Association and/or is completed entirely through an on-line course will not be accepted. We provide a re-certification course in your second year of residency prior to graduation.
Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM)
We mandate ALARM training during the residency and provide reimbursement upon successful completion.
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
We mandate ATLS training during the residency and provide reimbursement upon successful completion for all non-urban residents.
Indigenous Cultures Awareness Workshop (ICAW) or Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Safety Training (MICST)
We mandate ICAW or MICST training during residency.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
We mandate NRP during residency and provide reimbursement upon successful completion.
Ultrasound Curriculum
The curriculum will be delivered via an ultrasound educational platform known as SonoSim.
Scholarly activities in our program include:
- participation in monthly Journal Clubs
- presentations at patient case rounds and regular guideline appraisals
- didactic teaching
- formal Quality Improvement curriculum
- Critical Appraisal assignments
- PEARLS exercises as offered through the College of Family Physicians of Canada
- Academic Days throughout the year
- additional core curriculum as mandated by PGME for all postgraduate program residents
This residency program is for 2 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
You will live in Brandon and complete the majority of your residency in this small urban city and surrounding rural communities. Brandon is a small city where generalists, both family physicians and specialists, provide care in the community and at the very well-resourced medical centre. You will become immersed in the community and will practice full-spectrum Family Medicine with lots of hands on experience where you, the Family Medicine resident, are central to the structure.
Your hospital experiences during Family Medicine, Emergency, Psychiatry and Specialty rotations will take place at the Brandon Regional Health Center (BRHC) which is the regional referral center for Western Manitoba.
There are 6 Family Medicine Blocks (FMBT) in each year which includes 4-5 blocks based in Brandon and 1-2 blocks based in a smaller rural community in the region. During Family Medicine Block Time (FMBT), you are based at a private clinic. You are paired with a primary preceptor and their busy fee-for-service practice. The clinics have a mix of family physicians and specialists. The clinics are part of MyHealth Team including mental health workers, a dietitian, a pharmacist and psychiatrist. Both clinics are fully computerized and utilize electronic medical records. FMBT will provide residents with a wide variety of Family Medicine experiences including office practice, walk-in/urgent care, inpatient care, low risk obstetrics, newborn care, palliative care, cancer care, long-term care, minor surgical procedures and emergency room care. Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry training occurs longitudinally during FMBT over the two years of residency. Your FMBT blocks in rural communities will provide acquisition of knowledge, skills, and confidence in practicing in a rural community where the nearest specialty services are 30-60 minutes away in Brandon.
Focused clinical experiences are available in physiotherapy, addiction medicine, IV starts, airway management, gynecology and community medicine. We pride ourselves in our delivery of evidence-based medicine and our ability to allow you to develop your clinical and procedures skills essential to functioning as a rural family physician.
Multiple learners will be together at the same time (typically 2 medical students and 1 or 2 Family Medicine residents). This will enhance the learning environment and is sure to be a lot of fun!
INTERNAL MEDICINE/HOSPITAL MEDICINE
Your Internal Medicine/Hospital Medicine training occurs in 2 blocks in your first year. These 2 blocks will provide a broad range of clinical exposures with a group of Internal Medicine specialists who practice General Internal Medicine and who each have their own area of special interest and experience. This will mainly include office, hospital and emergency consultations. Some time will be spent with the hospitalist service. In addition, Hospital Medicine training is provided throughout Family Medicine Block Time where the vast majority of inpatients are cared for by community family physicians. This provides experience looking after both acutely and chronically ill inpatients often with multiple co-morbidities.
OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
These 2 blocks of training will provide experience in both low risk and high-risk obstetrics (prenatal, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care) at the busy Brandon Single Room Maternal Child Unit (average birth rate of 1520 per year) as well as additional experience in gynecology and gynecologic procedures such as endometrial biopsy and IUCD insertion. Family Practice obstetrics and gynecology exposure will also occur longitudinally during Family Medicine Block Time.
PEDIATRICS
One block of pediatrics has residents involved in the care of children in the office setting, emergency department, delivery room, NICU and pediatric ward. Residents participate in a range of clinical problems from well child care and common childhood illness to consultative pediatrics and the care of critically ill infants. Pediatric training will also be provided horizontally during Family Medicine Block Time and Emergency Medicine. A horizontal experience within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is also provided during Family Medicine Block Time.
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY
The busy ER department at Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg is the site for one block of Pediatric Emergency training. Longitudinal pediatric emergency is also provided during FMBT in both the Brandon and rural FMBT sites.
EMERGENCY
Exposure to the busy Emergency Room department of a Regional Referral Center will occur horizontally throughout Family Medicine Block Time. This Emergency Department sees in excess of 27,000 visits per year with greater than 60% being CTAS 1 - 3. The Emergency Department provides acute care to Brandon and surrounding area. It is also a regional referral centre to patients that require consultation with Specialist physicians in the areas of General Surgery, Orthopedics, Urology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Cardiology, General Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Intensive Care Unit and Psychiatry. Preceptors are Family Physicians that work primarily in the Emergency Room. This is an excellent exposure to a wide variety of critical conditions in patients of all ages. The rural FMBT rotations also provide excellent emergency training in a smaller centre with specialist support 45-60 minutes away.
SURGERY
A blend of general surgery and subspecialty surgery exposure will ensure your Surgery block in Brandon is comprehensive. This involves participating in surgical care in the operating room, emergency department, surgical ward and office. From initial assessment and being first assistant to inpatient care and discharge planning, this rotation provides an excellent experience with lots of one on one bedside teaching. In addition, horizontal surgical experience over the 2 year residency will occur throughout Family Medicine Block Time and Emergency Medicine.
ICU / CCU
This intensive care rotation is based in a nine-bed unit which includes coronary care, intensive care medicine, and intensive care surgery. Residents encounter a wide range of clinical experiences within the unit, through consultations in the emergency department, and time spent in the intensive care unit. The volume and variety of patients is excellent, including plenty of procedural practice. Airway management skills will be taught during this time by the Department of Anesthesia or with focused clinical days with a rural GP anesthetist.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
The Palliative Care rotation has been evaluated by residents as one of the most rewarding and unique to their Family Medicine training. Skills taught by palliative care family physicians enable residents to gain skills essential to providing symptom-based care to both patients struggling with chronic illness and during end-of-life care. This rotation is provided in Winnipeg and training will also occur longitudinally during Family Medicine Block Time.
PSYCHIATRY
This experience will be provided longitudinally during Family Medicine Block Time. Residents will be trained by Specialty Psychiatrists in their community practices, at the Child and Adolescent Treatment Center, Center for Adult Psychiatry and Center for Geriatric Psychiatry. In addition, Emergency Consultations will be seen while on call with Specialty Psychiatrists.
BEHAVIOURAL MEDICINE
An integrated approach to behavioral medicine is utilized during your Family Medicine experiences. Key areas include: Mental health concerns (curriculum in consultation with Department of Psychiatry), helping patients develop coping skills, knowledge of community resources and communication skills.
RHA social workers, psychologists and spiritual care professionals provide assistance with patient centered counselling skills as well as knowledge on and appropriate use of community resources. These professionals, and the psychiatrists, are also involved in teaching during Academic Days. Consultations with the Brandon Regional Health Centre Psychiatric Unit provide additional experiences.
NUTRITION EDUCATION & CARE
RHA dietitians provide experience in office management of nutritional concerns that are common to family practice including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, weight management and other diseases. The program dietitian is involved in evaluation & teaching.
HEALTH PROMOTION
There are many opportunities for enhancing health promotion skills through education to community groups.
ACADEMIC CURRICULUM
There is protected time for provision of the department-wide academic curriculum and also for self-directed learning. The curriculum is delivered by Family Medicine and Specialist faculty members, fellow residents and interprofessional colleagues. Use of simulation equipment is used extensively. Examination preparation is provided in both years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1mrAJln46Y&list=PLCNj2OCRLILF6vOq6gtxYSY3_M-wuE57r&index=3
The Brandon Family Medicine Stream is a two-year residency where residents live and train in Brandon. Brandon is a small city with family medicine preceptors providing the full scope practice, generalist specialist preceptors and a very well-equipped regional referral health centre. Much of the training is provided longitudinally over the two years. Emphasis is placed on skill and knowledge development, generalist education and continuity of care.
Brandon is a welcoming community nestled along the Assiniboine River, rich in diverse culture and offering a metropolitan lifestyle with the charm of small-town living. Located in the heart of Southwestern Manitoba, 200 km west of Winnipeg
TRANSPORTATION
As you will need to move frequently about the city and province between training sites, you will need to secure a means of transportation. You may find it easiest to maintain a personal vehicle.
Additional Points to Consider:
Brandon, Manitoba is approximately 2.5 hours west of Winnipeg by car. It is the regional trade, education and medical service centre for some 180,000 residents of southwest Manitoba. This is why over 100 doctors and medical specialists call Brandon home. Brandon has a stable, strong and diverse economy with approximately 2000 businesses that are local, national and international in scope and range from a couple of employees to several thousand. The agriculture sector, oil industry, retail & service companies along with a solid manufacturing sector keep our economy healthy. There are 8 Medical Clinics with walk-in service, 12 Dental offices and 8 Optometrist offices within the city. Daily flights from Brandon’s modern and spacious airport to Calgary, Alberta via WestJet Encore allows direct access to an international airport; Brandon airport is a 15-minute drive from the centre of the City and offers free parking. Brandon also offers an air shuttle service to Winnipeg International Airport.
The housing market has always remained very stable in Brandon; the average price of a house in 2020 was $292,024 (Housing Resources). All the housing neighborhoods include green space, trees and parks. Brandon Area Realtors website includes listings for all the real estate agents within the city: brandonarearealtors.ca
The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Brandon in 2018 was $943 plus utilities based on data from Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation.
There are many options for apartments; fueled by new construction throughout the city including the conversion of downtown historic buildings into unique living space such as the Prairie Lofts project. Resources for finding rental properties in Brandon are available at Rental Property.
Food
Fitness
Entertainment
Nearby Provincial Parks
For more information on Brandon, visit the following websites.
Brandon Arts/Culture & Recreation
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