University of Saskatchewan - Family Medicine - Saskatoon - Urban
2023 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Last approved on March 03, 2023
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
West Winds Primary Health Centre
3311 Fairlight Drive
Saskatoon , Saskatchewan, S7M 3Y5
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Department of Family Medicine
Saskatchewan Health Authority
City of Saskatoon
Saskatoon Tourism
Program Contacts
Important Information
The Family Medicine CMG stream is open to CMGs and graduates of US allopathic schools. Applicants are responsible for reviewing the University of Saskatchewan Policies for the R1 Match to determine if they meet all requirements and eligibility criteria. Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements or documents may result in an applicant’s file not being reviewed or ranked.
Casper Test
All applicants must complete the Casper test. More information is available under Supporting Documentation-CASPer Exam.
Family Medicine Professional Choices Assessment (FMProC)
All applicants must complete the Family Medicine Professional Choices Assessment (FMProC). More information is available under Supporting Documentation-Family Medicine Professional Choices Assessment.
Licensing
Matched applicants must be eligible for an educational register license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) for a July 1st start date and must maintain eligibility for an educational register license throughout their entire training program. Any delays in providing all required documentation to CPSS may result in the following:
- delay in issuance of an educational register license and a delay in start of postgraduate training beyond July 1st
- release from CaRMS match contract
Applicants completing medical education at the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) are required to submit proof of English language proficiency before the rank order deadline to demonstrate they meet CPSS requirements. More information is available under Supporting Documentation-Language Proficiency.
NOTE: Applicants who are considering a delay to their convocation date must be aware that a medical degree cannot be issued to a student until they have convocated. CPSS bylaws require that new residents must have received their medical degree prior to the commencement of residency training. Choosing to delay convocation will affect a matched applicant’s ability to commence their residency training program in Saskatchewan on July 1. Please refer to the U of S CaRMS Deferral Policy for additional information.
Credentialing
In order to commence and continue in Postgraduate Medical Education training programs, matched applicants must be eligible for and maintain privileges within the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) as determined by their credentialing process. The SHA requires successful applicants to submit a current criminal record check as part of their pre-resident application for appointment. Applicants with criminal records will be considered on a case by case basis by the College of Medicine in consultation with the SHA.
Resident Boot Camp
All matched applicants must attend a mandatory three-day Resident Boot Camp scheduled for late June. The purpose of the Boot Camp is to provide additional support to trainees as they transition to residency by introducing and consolidating baseline skills and knowledge needed to flourish during their residency years. The program will include interactive case-based and hands-on practice sessions. There will also be a social event to provide trainees with the opportunity to interact and network among themselves. Stipends will be provided to trainees.
Attendance is required and absences are only permitted in exceptional circumstances, with prior approval of PGME.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Matched applicants are required to provide proof of ACLS certification (current as of July 1, 2023) to the PGME office prior to starting their training program. The ACLS course must be endorsed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and/or the American Heart Association. ACLS training that is not certified by 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.
Personal Transportation
Applicants who match to the Family Medicine residency training program are required to have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle in order to drive to mandatory rural and remote educational experiences. Residents are also expected to be able to travel within communities for educational experiences. Applicants should be aware that not all training sites have access to public transportation and residents are required to provide their own transportation. Residents receive mileage reimbursement as per PGME guidelines.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Supporting Documentation / Information
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
All applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents at the time of application and must submit a notarized/certified photocopy of one of the accepted citizenship documents.
Proof of citizenship must be current at the time of application and expired documents will not be accepted.
CaRMS is partnering with third-party organizations to automate the verification of citizenship/legal status required by postgraduate offices for entry into residency. Third-party verification simplifies the process for applicants and programs. All applicants who do not receive third-party citizenship verification will be required to upload and assign an acceptable proof of citizenship document. Please see additional information here.
• IELTS
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General
Language assessment document accepted: IELTS Academic
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid up to July 1, 2023
- Minimum score: Minimum of 7.0 in each of the components
- Results available and submitted to programs by: March 2, 2023 at 14:00 ET
Language assessment document accepted:
- Occupational English Test (OET) – Medicine on paper at a test venue
- Occupational English Test (OET) – Medicine on a computer at a test venue
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid up to July 1, 2023
- Minimum score: Minimum grade of B
- Results available and submitted to programs by: March 2, 2023 at 14:00 ET
Language assessment document accepted: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid up to July 1, 2023
- Minimum score: Minimum grade of 9 in all sections
- Results available and submitted to programs by: March 2, 2023 at 14:00 ET
Applicants will be required to provide proof of proficiency in the English language to meet licensing requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSS) of Saskatchewan.
CMGs/USMGs who completed their medical education at an English medical school in Canada or the US are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency.
Canadian applicants with medical education from the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan and must complete one of the language exams listed above.
Applicants who are required to complete a language exam must submit a valid test score to CaRMS by the program rank order deadline. Applicants who do not provide acceptable proof of language proficiency by the program rank order deadline will not be ranked.
Please direct any questions about language requirements or eligibility to della.toews@usask.ca. Applicants should not contact CPSS directly about their eligibility for licensure.
For CARMS 2023 Family Medicine programs have adopted the Canadian Family Medicine Structured Reference Form (SRF). All FM programs requesting a reference will require the form. Traditional narrative letters will NOT be accepted. Should your referee submit a traditional letter it will not be reviewed and your application may be deemed incomplete.
Three (3) reference letters using the Canadian Family Medicine Structured Reference Form are required. Please submit the same reference letters to each site you apply to. Applicants should familiarize themselves with how to request a Family Medicine Structured Reference Letter on the CaRMS website. Applicants can direct their referees to the example of the reference letter on the CaRMS website.
A personal letter describing yourself and your career interest is required. Please address the personal letter to the overall program "Dr. Sheila Smith and Selection Committee" and NOT to each site. Submit the same personal letter to each site you are applying to.
As family physicians, we are interested in learning about you in the same way we are interested in learning about the context of our patients. Your letter must include your motivations for applying to Family Medicine and selecting the University of Saskatchewan for training. Please also reflect on qualities that are critical to being a Family Physician, service to rural, remote and underserved populations and strengths that you will contribute to our program.
Medical School TranscriptYour medical school transcript can be submitted through one of the methods below:
- Obtain your medical transcript from your school and upload it directly to your CaRMS Online account. Follow your school’s policy regarding accessing or requesting your transcript;
- Ask your medical school to upload your medical transcript through their CaRMS Undergraduate Portal account; or
- International (IMGs) and United States (USMGs) medical graduates can transfer their transcript from their physiciansapply.ca account.
For current year Canadian medical graduates (CMGs), there is no action required from you. Your medical school will automatically submit your MSPR to CaRMS on your behalf for you to assign.
If your MSPR is in a language other than the program language of English or French, you are required to have the document translated.
Your CASPer assessment result is sent directly to CaRMS from Altus approximately one week prior to the application deadline. Please ensure that you give Altus permission to share your results with CaRMS.
The CASPer assessment is only valid for one admissions cycle. If you have taken the assessment in a previous year, you are expected to re-take it. To register for the CASPer assessment visit takealtus.com/casper.
All applicants are required to take the FMProC (Family Medicine Professional Choices), a Family Medicine-context specific Situational Judgement Test. More details are available here Information (ENG) / Information (FR). Applicants must contact FMProC to confirm test dates and register for a test at www.fmproc.com.
First set of test dates: Please note registration for the first test of test dates will open at 1PM EST October 3, 2022 and will close at 1PM EST November, 2022.
NEW - Second set of test dates: A second set of dates is available for those who did not register for the 2022 test dates. Registration to sit the test will be open from 3PM ET on December 16, 2022, to 3PM ET on January 9, 2023. This is a hard deadline and no late registration requests will be accommodated.
The new test window will be open for registrants who have not previously sat FMProC in this current CaRMS cycle, to take the test from 3PM ET on January 17, 2023, to 3PM ET January 24, 2023.
Please note the January test scores will be available around January 31st, 2023, and applicants will need to upload these to their CaRMS applications. Applicants submitting their FMProC results after file review opens on January 10, 2023 will not be disadvantaged if they take the test in January.
Custom Résumé / CV Photo
Matched applicants who are graduating in the spring will need to provide a copy of their medical degree/diploma to the PGME office and CPSS prior to the start of residency training.
Review Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on January 10, 2023
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on January 10, 2023
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 10, 2023
Interviews
Dates:
- February 8, 2023
- February 9, 2023
- February 10, 2023
- February 11, 2023
- February 8, 9, 10, 11, 2023
CaRMS has mandated that only virtual interviews can be offered for the 2023 match; in person interviews cannot be considered for any applicants. Virtual interviews will be conducted using Zoom.
Selection Criteria
Program goals
The goal of the Department of Family Medicine and the Postgraduate Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Saskatchewan is to produce caring and compassionate Family Physicians who are ready to provide comprehensive care to all patients in Saskatchewan, especially those serving rural, remote and underserved populations.
Our mission is to create, teach and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes specific to the discipline of Family Medicine.
- We will work to optimize health by demonstrating excellence and innovation in service, education and scholarly activity.
- We will provide university, hospital and community-based education consistent with the principles of Family Medicine.
- We will focus our efforts on working with communities in response to their health needs.
Selection process goals
Identify applicants who have shown an interest in and commitment to generalist Family Medicine.
Identify applicants who have shown an interest in and commitment to rural, remote and underserved populations.
Identify applicants and who have clinical and life experiences that will assist them in understanding the context of their patients, and adapt to the communities they will train in and serve, in the future.
Identify applicants who are self-directed that seek out feedback and opportunities to learn.
Identify applicants who work well with other residents, patients, and staff and team members.
Identify applicants who are interested in providing care across the family medicine professional profile as described in the practice narratives found in the CFPC’s Residency Training Profile.
Identify applicants who can demonstrate attributes highlighted in the CFPC Skill Dimensions and CanMEDS-FM 2017 roles.
Identify applicants who are eligible for licensure in the province of Saskatchewan and have an interest in providing primary care to the patients of Saskatchewan.
File review process
Review team composition : Our review team consists of the program director, site directors, designated faculty and program administrators.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 601 +
Our program accepts applications from IMGs in the first round of the match.
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 26 - 50 %
Resource limitations may result in the inability to interview all qualified candidates.
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Demonstrate a high level of achievement in diverse activities and interests. Demonstrate evidence of life and work experience that indicates applicant's ability to adapt to future communities they will train and serve in. |
| Electives | Due to various inter-provincial restrictions on travel and elective opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, elective experience in Saskatchewan is encouraged, if possible, but is not significantly weighted in terms of selection criteria for interviews or positions. |
| Examinations | CASPer exam is mandatory for all applicants. IMG applicants (and graduates of US osteopathic schools) are required to pass the MCCQE1 and NAC exams. |
| Extra-curricular | Demonstrate evidence of varied interests outside of medicine. |
| Leadership skills | Demonstrate evidence of leadership experience. |
| MSPRs | Evaluated for any identified concerns regarding the applicant, as well as exceptional achievements. |
| Personal letters | Demonstrate evidence of suitability for generalist Family Medicine and experience with rural, remote and underserved populations. Demonstrate evidence of life and work experience that indicates applicant's ability to understand the context of their patients and adapt to future communities they will train and serve in. Evaluated for style. |
| Reference documents | Demonstrate evidence of suitability for generalist Family Medicine and experience with rural, remote and underserved populations. |
| Research/Publications | Demonstrate evidence of Family Medicine scholarly work experience. |
| Transcripts | Evaluated for indications of difficulty with the academic requirements for a medical degree. |
| Other file component(s) | Candidates are assessed for their willingness to practice in Saskatchewan, as well as their ties to the province. |
Elective criteria
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 | Demonstrate effective collaborative skills. |
| Collegiality | Demonstrate collegiality. |
| Communication skills | Demonstrate effective communication skills. |
| Health advocacy | Demonstrate health advocacy. |
| Interest in the discipline | Demonstrate interest in generalist Family Medicine and/or rural Family Medicine. |
| Interest in the program | Demonstrate interest in the University of Saskatchewan's Family Medicine program and experience with rural, remote and underserved populations. |
| Leadership skills | Demonstrate effective leadership skills. |
| Professionalism | Display professional behaviour. |
| Scholarly activities | Demonstrate interest in life long learning. |
| Other interview component(s) |
Demonstrate understanding of cultural safety and sensitivity. Demonstrate clinical reasoning and effective integration of clinical information. |
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
SASKATOON
We hope that you will consider Saskatoon as your training site for Family Medicine!
The Saskatoon Family Medicine Residency Program is based out of West Winds Primary Health Centre, located at 3311 Fairlight Drive in Saskatoon. This unique setting is a joint initiative between the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Department of Academic Family Medicine. West Winds Primary Health Centre is a fully integrated Primary Health Centre with a broad range of services including a full scope Family Medicine practice, individual health screening, intervention, treatment, and population health promotion in one convenient location. The centre features a state-of-the-art training program for Family Medicine residents and facilities for primary care research. The health centre serves a large and diverse population with an equally diverse array of health care needs. Residents are an integral part of the health care team with hands on experience in all aspects of patient care. There is a collegial atmosphere amongst all disciplines and services within the health centre.
Specific services/programs located at West Winds include:
- Academic Family Medicine
- Chronic Disease Management
- Primary Health Dietician
- Healthy & Home Maternal Visiting Program
- Client Patient Access Services
- Healthy Mother Healthy Baby Program
- Food for Thought
- Home Care
- Nurse Practitioner
- Public Health Services
We have a long history of training family physicians who go on to practice successfully in both urban and rural settings. We currently have 20 faculty with a broad range of experiences to offer including the new addition of a faculty with expertise in sports medicine.
Our support staff are very experienced and supportive. Our program has a strong emphasis on low-risk obstetrical training. We are also very interested in fostering resident wellness.
We are looking for residents who are collegial, curious, self-directed and genuinely interested in long-term relationships with patients.
To see more about our program and Saskatoon, please check out the video at this link:
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.
Saskatoon Curriculum
R1 Rotations/longitudinal:
Orientation - 1 week
FM - 22 weeks
General Surgery - 4 weeks
Obstetrics - 4 weeks
Internal Medicine - 4 weeks
Psychiatry - 4 weeks
Electives - 8 weeks
Emergency - 4 weeks
MSK - 2 weeks
R2 Rotations/longitudinal:
FM - 16 weeks
Electives - 8 weeks
Rural - 8 weeks
Selective - 8 weeks (additional Obstetrics, ICU/CCU/Anesthesia, Hospitalist)
Emergency - 4 weeks
Obstetrics - 4 weeks
Palliative Care - 2 weeks
Exam Week
Experiences:
Behavioural skills training
Evidence-based medicine training
Academic half-day program
Integrated Clinical Experiences (Ophthalmology Clinic, ENT, Breastfeeding Clinic, Headache Clinic, STI Clinic, Women’s Mid-Life Clinic, Peds Emergency, General Pediatrics, Pediatric Sim Lab, Refugee Health, Acute Care Neurology, Student Health, SWITCH Clinic, Nursing Home/Care Home Visits, HIV, Addictions Clinic, Methadone Clinic)
Elective time:
8 weeks in each year
Unique features of Saskatoon site:
- our program is housed in the West Winds Primary Health Centre. This facility is located in the heart of Saskatoon’s inner city and includes both individuals from disadvantaged communities as well as newcomers to Canada. The facility includes a large clinic space, two procedure rooms, resident team rooms, a theatre, and a small gym
- we work closely with a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Pharmacist, Public Health, as well as community based programs delivered in the facility.
- Faculty have special interests/training in: working with immigrant populations, HIV, Transgender health, Men’s health, Women’s health, Quality Improvement, Prison Medicine, Addictions Medicine, Geriatrics, Choosing Wisely, and POCUS
- opportunity to do procedural skills: IUD/endometrial biopsy, excisions, lumps/bumps, joint injections, nail procedures, and vasectomy
- our clinic is organized into three teams which provide residents a better opportunity to work closely with a smaller group of faculty and patients
- Obstetrics rotations are done at the new Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital
Rural or Urban, time spent in the other environment:
Rural experience - 8 weeks (choices of sites include Ile a la Crosse, La Ronge, Meadow Lake, Melfort, Moosomin, Nipawin, Rosthern, Weyburn, Yorkton)
Number of residents (CMG, Competitive, DND):
CMG: 12
Competitive: 1
Number of Royal College learners on site:
Typically 1 RCPSC resident in the unit half the time; >100 RCPSC residents in the hospitals
Number of undergraduate learners on site:
Typically 1-2 undergraduate learners on site at any given time
Training Sites
Site name:
Saskatoon Department of Academic Family Medicine
Training sites:
Saskatoon
Size of community and catchment area:
Saskatoon: population 250,000; surrounding area: 50,000
Additional Information
Saskatoon:
- Diverse pool of faculty with highly applicable areas of interest.
- Excellent, experienced support staff.
- West Winds is an excellent facility for learning Family Medicine.
- Major focus on resident wellness.
- Best hospitals in Saskatchewan: JPCHS, RUH, SPH, SCH.
- Excellent program for training low-risk obstetrics.
- Great opportunities for procedural skills.
- Excellent support for research.
- Multi-disciplinary team (RN, NP, pharmacist, home care, public health)
- Good track record of grads working and succeeding in Saskatchewan.
Connect with us on social media!
Facebook: @usaskfamilymed
Instagram: @usaskfamilymed
Twitter: @usaskfamilymed
Summary of changes
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