Program Contacts

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Important Information

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. 

• Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lc-ivqjssGNFmplBvyjCRgDJl1mGSKg2V

 

CaRMS Information Deeper Dive – Rural: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 from 7:00-8:30pm CST via Zoom

• Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpc-yorjMiH9bFgbgjnVtK7rRwwlibRm8q

 

CaRMS Information - Resident Sessions (hosted by our Chief Residents): 7:00-8:00pm CST via Zoom

• Tuesday, February 8, 2022
• Tuesday, February 22, 2022

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 Boundary Trails stream, you will be expected to maintain a residence in the Winkler/Morden 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.

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Return of Service

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

• All IMGs entering all training programs

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.

 

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General Instructions

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/

 

 

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

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.

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Interviews

Dates:

• March 8, 2022
• March 10, 2022
• March 11, 2022

Selection Criteria

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.

Program goals

Selection process goals

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: 

• Respond to the needs of their communities by providing comprehensive, high quality, continuous health care to their patients and families across the life cycle (including prevention, acute and chronic illness management), in a variety of care settings, and to a broad base of patients, including those from underserved and marginalized populations.
• Recognize that the patient-physician relationship is central to their practice and strive to communicate effectively with patients.  
• Collaborate with other physicians, health professionals, patients, and their families to optimize patient care.  
• Mobilize the resources of the community to improve the health care delivery system.  
• Take an active role in improving the safety and quality of health care.
• Engage in lifelong learning.  
• Demonstrate professional behaviours in all aspects of practice.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:
Social interaction during program related events
Communication with program administration
Social media
Unsolicited reference letters
Unsolicited email references
Unsolicited verbal information on a candidate's prior performance
Unsolicited feedback from colleagues and co-workers

Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

Overview of Department

https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/department-family-medicine

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.

Courses Offered for Residents in Family Medicine

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 Curriculum

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

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Program Curriculum

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.

Family Medicine Training for Boundary Trails residents is done in the context of the rural community.  As Boundary Trails Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) is a home unit, residents will do both first and second year Family Medicine block time here.

The Boundary Trails Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) in the Boundary Trails Health Centre is situated between the City of Winkler (population 12, 005) and the City of Morden (population 7800).  The Boundary Trails Health Centre serves as a regional referral centre for the south central area (regional population approximately 50,000).

For Family Medicine training, residents are paired with a primary preceptor and their busy fee-for-service rural practice at the Menzies Medical Centre or the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre. The medical clinics in total have:

54 family practitioners (21 in Morden and 31 in Winkler)

4 general surgeons

3 orthopaedic surgeons

4 gynecologists/obstetricians

1 internist

1 pediatrician

Family physicians in these clinics have specialty training in areas such as:

-chemotherapy

-hemo-dialysis

-obstetrics

-addiction medicine

-palliative care

- women's health

- anesthesia

- sports medicine

Family medicine experiences include outpatient clinics, caring for your patients admitted to the hospital, and home visits.  Protected time is provided for horizontal experiences in the areas of psychiatry, psycho-geriatrics, geriatrics, sports medicine, gynecology, pediatrics and community medicine. We pride ourselves in our delivery of evidence-based medicine and our ability to allow you to develop your clinical and procedural skills essential to functioning as a rural family physician.

Winkler/Morden are medium-sized rural communities that have a wonderful blend of small-town doctor "culture" and well-resourced medical centres/hospital.  You will become immersed in the community and will practice full-spectrum Family Medicine with a lot of hands on experience where you, the Family Medicine resident, are central to the structure.  Please see our "Training Sites" section for more details on this site.

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY

A four-week pediatric rotation is based in Winnipeg and includes time in the Emergency Department at the Children's.  There is a wide range of clinical experiences including consultation within the hospital and in the Emergency Department. 

A second block is done horizontally at Boundary Trails Health Centre and in 2^nd year there is a block of Pediatric In-Patients which includes care of children in the hospital and walk-in clinics, in addition to visits to a pediatrician’s office in Winnipeg.

ICU / CCU

This rotation is based in a Winnipeg community hospital with a focus on both coronary care and intensive care medicine.  There are a wide range of clinical experiences including consultation within the hospital and in the Emergency Department.

INTERNAL MEDICINE

This two-block rotation is based out of Winnipeg with a focus on demonstrating knowledge, clinical and technical skills and decision-making capabilities pertinent to the management of patients with medical problems.

OBSTETRICS

This two block (one block Winnipeg, one block Boundary Trails) rotation demonstrates focus on providing pre-conception, pre-natal & intra-partum care.  Residents learn essential skills to perform low-risk deliveries, recognize & manage common intra-partum emergencies & provide postpartum care.  Along with these two dedicated blocks, obstetrics is also performed horizontally during FMBT.

PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

Winnipeg has one of the longest-standing traditions in Canada in providing hospital and community palliative care to its citizens.  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 physician specialists enable residents to gain skills essential to providing symptom-based care to both patients struggling with chronic illness and during end-of-life care. Currently, Boundary Trails CTU is developing a similar program.

SURGERY

One block based out of Boundary Trails is dedicated to the diagnosis and pre and post-management of common surgical illnesses.  Suturing materials and techniques are taught/practiced in addition to techniques of assisting, approach to excision of common lesions & the understanding of consent & obtaining consent.

 

BEHAVIOURAL MEDICINE

An integrated approach to behavioural 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

-Communication skills

Psychiatric topics covered at Academic Days and Wednesday morning teaching sessions provide the didactic portion of this experience.  You will also experience an additional one week (7-day) segment working with psychiatrists at Eden Mental Health Centre focusing on management of common mental health problems.

NUTRITION EDUCATION & CARE

Full-time dietitians in both the clinics and at Boundary Trails Health Centre provide experience in office management of nutritional concerns that are common to family practice such as:

Diabetes

Cardiovascular Illness

Weight Management

Opportunities for enhancing health promotion skills through education to community groups.  In addition, there are opportunities for enhancement of health promotion skills through education to community groups.

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Training Sites

Boundary Trails site video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rYmnN6nFe8&list=PLCNj2OCRLILF6vOq6gtxYSY3_M-wuE57r&index=8

Major Strengths of the Boundary Trails Rural Stream

• University of Manitoba rural residents have demonstrated that they are prepared for rural practice. Since 2010, 15/26 Boundary Trails residents have entered (or are entering after completion of a +1) into rural practices across Canada upon graduation.  14 of these residents have contributed to the growth of rural physician numbers right here in Southern Health Santé Sud.  Since 2010, Southern Health Santé Sud has recruited 24 learners to the Winkler/Morden area in total.  Out of the 24, 14 were both medical students and residents that had previously completed rotations at Boundary Trails, but did residency elsewhere.  10 of these people did residency at Boundary Trails and stayed on to practice in either Morden or Winkler.

• University of Manitoba was recognized in 2005 as one of the top 3 rural medical school programs in Canada, through the Keith Award by the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (www.srpc.ca/KeithAwards2005.html). This award is based on analysis of graduates from the University of Manitoba that were practicing in rural communities in 1998 and 2004. We consistently demonstrate the ability to train rural family physicians to meet the medical needs of those 31% of Canadians who live in rural regions.
• Six Boundary Trails residents have completed plus one programs in Anesthesia, Palliative Care and Women’s Health & Obstetrics, and two are currently in plus one programs in Anesthesia and Sports Medicine and will be returning to practice in Winkler/Morden once completed.
• An experienced and active rural teaching unit, with the lowest preceptor to trainee ratio possible, with little competition from other multi-level learners.
• Large clinical volumes with excellent variety of patients.
• Frequent opportunities to perfect your procedural skills through clinical encounters as well as procedural labs.
• Diversity of training sites offers experience in rural medicine within small (population 1000) to larger communities (population 10,000).  
• Continuity of care within your preceptor’s practice is an educational priority, which we achieve through six blocks of Family Medicine Block time.
• An integrated curriculum providing training in psychiatry, optometry, obstetrics, gynecology, geriatrics, community medicine, psychosocial counselling, nutrition, surgical skills, anesthesia, pediatrics and ER.
• Monthly academic days in small group learning environments, rural Continuing Medical Education (CME), and resident-driven teaching rounds and journal clubs.
• We ensure that residents receive exposure to our unique, rural industry and communities (i.e. agriculture, Hutterite colonies, etc) so as to enhance the understanding of farm injuries, access issues to health care, and lifestyle issues of the rural populations.
• In keeping with trends in technology we now have our own website to showcase our program and communities: https://bthc-ctu.ca/

 

• As Boundary Trails Clinical Teaching Unit is a home unit, residents are based here for their Family Medicine block time in both first and second years.
• At this site, multiple learners will be together at the same time (typically 2 - 4 medical students, elective students & residents (airway, obstetrics, ER, palliative care, sports med), and 8 CaRMS-matched Family Medicine residents).  This diversity of learners enhances the learning environment.
• Boundary Trails CTU is a partnership between the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre, Menzies Medical Centre, The Boundary Trails Health Centre, the City of Morden, the City of Winkler, the RM of Stanley, the Southern RHA and the University of Manitoba. Located in the beautiful Pembina Valley Region, the Boundary Trails CTU provides learners with a wide variety of opportunities while experiencing our exciting and diverse communities.
• Learners placed within the Boundary Trails CTU are linked with one of the clinics, either Morden (Menzies Medical Centre) or Winkler (C. W. Wiebe Medical Centre). Both clinics host Electronic Medical Records (Winkler InputHealth, Morden Accuro), and are part of the My Health Care Team network. The clinics are community owned and host both contract and fee for service physicians.

 

• The Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) is a 94-bed acute care facility providing quality health care services to the community and surrounding area of 40,000 – 50,000 people. BTHC is the largest regional health centre in Southern Health-Santé Sud providing progressive primary, secondary and community health care to the residents of Southern Manitoba.  BTHC features a full complement of services, including home care, public health, mental health, emergency, ambulatory care clinics, intensive care, observation, diagnostics, laboratory, medical, surgery, day surgery, obstetrics, chemotherapy, dialysis, rehab/assess and rehab services, e.g. OT/PT, speech & audiology.   

Current Year End Statistics (2018-2019):

Total Surgeries              3, 860

Emergency Visits           22, 064

Deliveries                       930

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Additional Information

TRANSPORTATION

As you will need to move frequently within 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:

• Cost of living, especially rent and automobile insurance, is one of the most affordable in Canada.
• Full access to University of Manitoba library and its electronic resources, including UpToDate.
• Competitive resident salaries with a solid resident contract including a well-supported maternity/paternity leave policy.  http://www.parim.org
• Membership and registration fees are covered for University of Manitoba, College of Family Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, Canadian Medical Protective Association, and the initial membership in the College of Family Physicians of Canada for PGY1 year.
• Annual two day resident retreat held in a community outside of Winnipeg.
• All mandatory course fees are reimbursed upon successful completion.  Examples of mandatory courses include:  NRP, ALARM, ATLS, PALS, BLS and ACLS recertification. Mandatory courses vary between programs.
• Travel costs and accommodation are provided for mandatory offsite rotations.

WHAT ABOUT FUN ON THE PRAIRIES?

The City of Winkler and City of Morden are scenically located on the Pembina escarpment and approximately 20 minutes north of the U.S. border. Both Morden and Winkler offer a wealth of fun opportunities outside of the work setting such as:

Sporting activities throughout the year ranging from curling, hockey, squash, tennis, baseball, basketball, volleyball (indoor and beach), and archery to name just a few.  Of great popularity is the Morden Triathlon.

For the golf enthusiasts, there are two beautiful 18-hole golf courses, one in Winkler and the other just outside of Morden which host many popular golf tournaments.

Colert Beach in Morden and the Winkler Aquatic Centre offer camping and swimming.

The beautiful, rolling Pembina Hills provide quick access to hiking, camping, golfing, biking, boating, and cross-country skiing.

For the avid fishermen/women we have goldeye, carp, catfish, sucker, rock bass and walleye in local waters, to name a few.

Cultural activities are available in both communities year round, and there are active community bands that are always in search of musicians.

Two major festivals are celebrated annually, the Winkler Harvest Festival and the Morden Corn and Apple Festival.

Websites of Interest:

http://www.cityofwinkler.ca

http://www.cwwiebemedical.ca

http://www.winklergolfcourse.com

http://www.winklerflyers.com

http://www.mordenmb.com

http://www.agassizmedicalcentre.com

http://www.golfminnewasta.com

http://www.southernhealth.ca/