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 Parkland stream, you will be expected to maintain a residence in Dauphin 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.

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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 International 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.

In assessing eligible IMG applicants, The Department of Family Medicine will ordinarily consider applicants who have completed their undergraduate medical education within the preceding 10 years, unless the applicant has completed a residency in Family Medicine and/or is actively engaged in generalist practice. Of all such eligible applicants, approximately one third of all applicants, and no less than 225, shall be selected for file review based upon a composite score generated from the following:

the z-score of MCCQE Part I (30% weighting); and

the better z-score of NAC providing the NAC is ≥74 or the MCCQE Part II (30% weighting); and

CASPer score providing the CASPer z-score is ≥-1.28 (90% of CASPer takers will achieve a score ≥-1.28) (40% weighting). 

Of those applicants selected for file review, approximately 80 applicants will be selected for interview including all residents of Manitoba, and all other IMG applicants based upon a composite score generated from the following:

the z-score of MCCQE Part I plus the better z-score of NAC or the MCCQE Part II (30% weighting); and

file review scores (30% weighting); and

CASPer score (40%).

Rank order lists will be created for each stream’s IMG positions based on the following formulaic approach:

the z-score of MCCQE Part I plus the better z-score of NAC or the MCCQE Part II (20% weighting); and

file review scores (30% weighting); and

CASPer score (20%); and

Interview score (30% weighting).

Preference may be given to residents of Manitoba, or individuals who have identified a genuine commitment to Manitoba.

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. 

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.

PGY-1:

The first year Family Medicine rotations will be scheduled in Dauphin at the Parkland Family Medicine Residency Unit.

Experiences in Family Medicine include providing emergency services, caring for your patients admitted to hospital, following maternity patients through pregnancy and delivery, walk-in clinic, satellite clinics and providing home visits.  There is a wide variety of teaching sessions specific to community needs, various linked to U of M specialty rounds, and the Integrated Medicine, mental health and nutrition programs.

Five blocks (20 weeks) in an ambulatory-care teaching unit during which time you are paired with a primary preceptor.   There are opportunities for self-directed learning in areas of residents expressed goals and protected time for sports medicine, pediatric psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, gynecology and First Nations health clinics.

Specialty rotations include:

Pediatrics Emergency (4 weeks) in the busy Emergency Department at the Children's Hospital in Winnipeg.

Obstetrics (8 weeks).  This experience is initially gained within a busy tertiary care system in Winnipeg, allowing volume opportunities for deliveries and triage experience.  The equivalent of a 3^rd month of obstetrics is completed horizontally through the 2 years in Dauphin. A goal of 15 – 25 deliveries during your 2 years in Dauphin is anticipated.   Those who have plans to include obstetrics in their practice, can add an additional 4^th block of Obstetrics in 2^nd year.

Internal medicine (8 weeks). Opportunity for completion of IM in a Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) setting in Winnipeg or rurally.

Palliative Medicine (4 weeks).  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

Elective (4 weeks).    Completion of elective based on residents’ desired area of interest.

 

PGY-2:

The second year Family Medicine rotations continue to be scheduled in Dauphin.   Protected time provided for horizontal experiences during family medicine block time including the areas of obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, psycho-geriatrics, sports medicine, allergy, geriatrics, radiology, and community medicine.

Community pediatrics is completed horizontally within family medicine block time.   Residents are involved in the care of children in the office setting, emergency department, delivery room, and hospital.  Residents participate in a range of clinical problems from well child care and common childhood illness to consultative psychiatry related to pediatric presentations and the care of critically ill infants. A horizontal experience within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is also provided.

Family Medicine-Rural (8 weeks)  Residents will spend 8 weeks in a more rural setting such as Ste. Rose, Grandview or Swan River (population approx. 1,000).  This experience offers the increased independence to manage clinic and emergencies without having specialties within the same location.  

Specialty rotations include:

Surgery & FM-Anaesthesia (8 weeks).  Our general surgeons ensure your four weeks of surgery are comprehensive.  The rotation involves participating in surgical care in the operating room, emergency department, surgical ward and office. From initial assessment and being first assist to discharge planning, this rotation provides an excellent experience with a wealth of informal teaching.   An FM-Anaesthesia rotation has you completing rotation with FM-Anaesthetist completing both Surgery along with FM clinics.

ICU/CCU (4 weeks).  Based in Brandon (population approx.. 50,000), this intensive care rotation is based in a 10-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 operating room. The volume and variety of patients is excellent, including plenty of procedural practice.

 

BEHAVIOURAL MEDICINE (Horizontal through 2 years)

A full time community mental health worker who specializes in adults.  An integrated approach to behavioral medicine is utilized during Family Medicine experiences.    We are available for consult on case management involving mental health concerns, act as a resource for residents – provide resident support inform of personal development and resident well-being as well as help residents identify use of appropriate community resources.   

Together with the dietitian, weekly viewing of residents in their clinical experience and offer of feedback following session to teach interview techniques, communication skills and skills relevant to doctor/patient relationship

Facilitate consultations with the Dauphin Regional Health Centre Psychiatric Unit and experiences with Psychiatrists and Psychologist and various other community mental health workers and psychiatry nurses.

 

NUTRITION EDUCATION & CARE (Horizontal through 2 years)

A full-time dietitian provides experience in office management of nutritional concerns that are common to family practice such as:   Diabetes Self-Management and Clinical Practice Guidelines review, Weight Management in a Family Medicine Setting, Dyslipidemia and Heart Health Dietary Recommendations, Disordered Eating Screening, and Nutrition Management of End-Stage Renal Disease.

Opportunities for residents to learn practical nutrition based totals to enhance their relationships with their client’s chronic disease management.   In addition, there are opportunities for enhancing health promotion skills through education to community groups of all ages.    Opportunity for time spent in Hemodialysis Unit with dietitian.

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Training Sites

Major Strength of the Parkland Unit Rural Stream

Parkland Stream Overview Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwPYmv2vUJw

University of Manitoba Unit Parkland stream residents have demonstrated that they are prepared for rural practice as almost 90% of Parkland residents to date have entered rural practices upon graduation.

We provide:

• Depth and breadth of experiences.   Almost anything can come through the door and we train medical professionals to deal with the life threatening and the unexpected from cradle to grave.
• A stable and proven experienced and active rural teaching unit (25+ years), with low preceptor to trainee ratios and little competition from other medical learners.
• Unprecedented scope of practice.  Advanced skills and surgical procedures provided by family physicians ideal for expanding a resident's future scope of practice.
• Large clinical volumes with excellent variety of patients.
• Diversity of training sites offers experience in rural medicine within small (population 1000) to larger communities (population 8,000 and 45,000), including opportunities for obstetrics/gynecology and internal medicine within a smaller setting.
• Continuity of care within your preceptors practice is an educational priority completing most rotations in a rural setting. 
• An integrated curriculum providing training in psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, geriatrics, community medicine, psychosocial counselling, cancer care, and nutrition.
• Horizontal point-of-care ultrasound experience and opportunities to secure formal certification.
• Monthly academic days in small group learning environments including site visits and community involvement.

We ensure that residents receive hands-on exposure to both the agricultural industry, cultural sensitivity and nearby Indigenous communities to enhance your understanding of farm injuries, access issues to health care, and lifestyle issues facing rural populations.

The Parkland Family Medicine Residency Unit, located in the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, was established in 1991.  The Regional Health Centre serves as a regional referral center for the Parkland area of Manitoba.  There are approximately 23 family physicians, 4 surgeons, 2 psychiatrists, 2 radiologists, 1 obs/gynecologist and an internist providing coverage.

Training sites include rotations in Winnipeg, Dauphin, Ste. Rose du Lac, Grandview, Swan River, and Brandon with the majority of the time spent in Dauphin.

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Additional Information

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:

• 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?

Under the shade of its tree-lined streets, Dauphin is a bustling community with a solid infrastructure to ensure you have everything you deserve.  Aside from its natural beauty and recreational opportunities, Dauphin is a regional service center for health care and retail in the Parkland. We have a growing business community, excellent education system and are fortunate to have many active service clubs rooted in a strong, proud history.  Dauphin is an arts and culture-based community that offers many creative opportunities, as well as scores of youth, seniors and support groups. Affordable housing opportunities and some of the best recreation facilities in Manitoba are only a few of the reasons to live here.  It offers a wealth of activities 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.

Northgate Dauphin is a 26 km system of stacked loop, multi-use trails featuring section for mountain bikers, hiking, train running, and areas to gather and take in the scenery of Riding Mountain National Park.   Other activities include Manitoba MudRun, Dauphin ColorBlast 5K, various other races accessing Dauphin and area.

Lake Dauphin and Rainbow Beach are located only 10 miles from town, and offer camping, swimming and golf.

Riding Mountain National Park is only 16 km away, and provides quick access to hiking, camping, golfing, biking, boating, and cross-country skiing. Wasagaming/Clear Lake is a resort town located 40 minutes south of Dauphin and is considered the Banff of the prairies with its terrific restaurants and recreational opportunities.

Duck Mountain Provincial Park is 1 hour north of Dauphin, and offers fabulous lakes for camping and fishing for rainbow trout, walleye, and northern pike.

For the golf enthusiasts, there are three beautiful 18 hole golf courses within 45 minutes of Dauphin.

Cultural activities are available at the Watson Art Centre year round, and there is an active community band that is always in search of musicians.

Dauphin is presently known as “The City of Festivals.”  Several major festivals are celebrated annually including Dauphin's Country-Fest and Canada's National Ukrainian Festival along with street fairs and winter festivals.

https://www.travelmanitoba.com/places-to-go/regions/parkland/

http://parklandtourism.com/

http://www.dauphin.ca/

http://www.tourismdauphin.ca/

http://www.prairiemountainhealth.ca/

http://www.town.sterosedulac.mb.ca/

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/mb/riding

https://discoverclearlake.com/