Queen’s University - Internal Medicine - Kingston
2025 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
IMG Stream for IMG
Last approved on September 11, 2024
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
Etherington Hall, Room 3022
94 Stuart Street
Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6
Program Contacts
Important Information
EDIIA Institutional Statement: The goal of resident selection is to identify trainees likely to succeed both in training and, once out in practice, in meeting the health care needs of patients and Canadian society. We know that having a physician workforce that reflects the demographics of the patients that they serve improves health care outcomes. There are many populations within Canada under-represented in medicine (UIM) with a paucity of health care practitioners who are Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, 2SLGBTQ+, from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and/or with disabilities, and other under-represented in medicine (UIM) groups. Diversity within training programs has also been shown to improve training environments. Queen’s University PGME is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion within its community for these reasons as well as being part of the solution to address historic and contemporary inequities.
Equity and diversity: The Queen's Internal Medicine residency program welcomes diversity among its trainees and seeks to foster an environment that is welcoming to all, regardless of gender identity, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
COVID-19 vaccination requirements: Please refer to the 'Restrictions' section of the Ontario eligibility criteria for messaging regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
Pre-residency Orientation Programs: All IMG candidates accepted to all residency programs will be required to complete either the Pre-Residency Program (PRP) or the Pre-Residency Program for Family Medicine (PRPFM) prior to entering into a residency program. Matched IMGs will be expected to attend these programs in Toronto, several weeks in advance of the start of their residency program. In some cases, this may result in a delay of the start date of the residency. Additional information on the PRP and PRP FM programs can be found at the following link: Touchstone Institute.
Assessment Verification Period: All IMG candidates accepted to residency training programs will be required to undergo an Assessment Verification Period (AVP). This assessment period is normally 12 weeks in length and is required by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to obtain an educational license to enter a residency program. CPSO – International Medical Graduates (IMGs). IMGs that have failed an AVP and are reapplying through CaRMS are ineligible to apply for training in the same specialty in Ontario but may apply to a different specialty in the first and/or second iteration. IMGs who have withdrawn from a program prior to completion of an AVP must declare so upon application.
Gaps in Training, Remediation, or Professionalism issues: Please address any gaps in training, remediation, or professionalism issues in your personal letter as a separate paragraph. This will not count towards your maximum word count.
Return of Service
Ontario’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Return of Service (ROS) program is intended to improve access to physician services across Ontario, particularly in areas with limited physician supply. The IMG ROS program offers participants a postgraduate medical training position in return for a commitment to practise medicine in an eligible Ontario community. The ROS contract is between the Ministry of Health and the successful applicant, and is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm eligibility with respect to ROS requirements of other provinces. Ontario PGME offices are not involved in this process.
The Ministry requests all ROS agreements before July 1 of the year they were matched. All agreements should be returned to the Ministry prior to the start of residency training.
More information for IMG ROS can be found here: Return of Service Program
If you have further questions, please contact the Ministry of Health at PPUProgramOfficer@ontario.ca
PLEASE NOTE: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FULFILL A ROS COMMITMENT IN ONTARIO IMMEDIATELY UPON COMPLETION OF YOUR TRAINING.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Please follow all CaRMS application guidelines and deadlines. Documents submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Refer to Supporting Documents for specifics on the required documentation.
Key requirements for applications:
- Completed CaRMS Application
- Personal Statement
- Personal CV
- 3 Letters of Reference
- Medical School Progress Report (MSPR)
- Proof of Medical Diploma (MD)
- Other items relevant later in the process (e.g., photo, proof of citizenship/residence)
Items we neither require nor want:
- CTU assessments
- PDFs of publications
- PDFs of certificates/diplomas/degrees
A note to First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis applicants: The Queen's Department of Medicine is committed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action on Health. For this reason, we encourage First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis applicants to our residency program to self-identify in their personal letter. Our goal is to mitigate systemic biases by recognizing and valuing the unique contributions of those who self-identify as Indigenous. If you choose to self-identify, please indicate this clearly at the top of your personal letter. For those applicants who choose to self-identify in their personal letter, you will be given an opportunity to provide additional detail in the personal letter (see instructions below, under the 'Additional Documents' heading). Your letter will be reviewed by an individual who identifies as Indigenous and if offered an interview, the interview will be conducted by at least one individual who identifies as Indigenous. We recognize that the decision to self-identify is a personal one and we will in no way disadvantage candidates who chose, or choose not to, self-identify.
Please note that due to the volume of applications our program receives we are not able to provide individual feedback to applicants who are not successful in the match.
Supporting Documentation / Information
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
Proof of valid current citizenship or permanent resident status must be provided by submitting one of the following verifications to CaRMS by the File Review Opening deadline. Failure to provide valid proof will result in your application being removed. No other forms of verification are acceptable:
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Birth Certificate/Act of Birth issued by an authority in Canada must be accompanied by Canadian government-issued photo ID.
- Failure to provide proof of citizenship will result in the removal of your application. No other forms of verification are acceptable.
- Documents must be notarized/certified photocopies. Notarized/certified copies must be dated and not older than two years from the date of application submission deadline; otherwise, a new notarized/certified copy is required.
- Confirmation of permanent residence must be accompanied by Canadian government-issued photo ID.
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
• Letter of language proficiency
• TOEFL - iBT
• Alternative proof of language proficiency
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General
• FAIMER / World Directory of Medical Schools
Language assessment document accepted: TOEFL-iBT, TOEFL-iBT Home Edition accepted
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid by (not expired) up to July 1, 2025
- Minimum score: 93 with a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section
- The TOEFL iBT Home Edition will be accepted as a substitute for the TOEFL iBT.
Language assessment document accepted: IELTS Academic
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid by (not expired) up to July 1, 2025
- Minimum score: 7 in each of the four skills in the same sitting
- The IELTS Indicator will be accepted as a substitute for the Academic Version of the IELTS
Language assessment document accepted: Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid by (not expired) up to July 1, 2025
- Minimum score: Minimum grade of B in each of the four skills in the same sitting
Language assessment document accepted: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General
- Document validity (not expired) by: Must be valid by (not expired) up to July 1, 2025
- Minimum score: Minimum score of 9 in each of the four skills in the same setting
Language assessment document accepted: Letter of language proficiency
Letter of language proficiency is a letter from your Dean attesting that your medical school program of instruction was completed solely in English or French.
Language assessment document accepted: FAIMER / World Directory of Medical Schools
Candidates can submit a printout from the World Directory of Medical Schools (FAIMER) which clearly states that the language of instruction is English or French.
Applicants must be able to communicate proficiently in the language of instruction and patient care of the matching school and training site. Please review specific program descriptions for more information.
IMGs must have written and passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1(MCCQE1). Exam results must be provided by the File Review Opening Date. Please review specific residency program descriptions for more information. For more information on the MCCQE Part 1 click on the following link https://www.mcc.ca/examinations/mccqe-part-i/
The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is mandatory for all IMGs including graduates of Osteopathic Medicine Schools. The results are required by the file review opening date. For more information click on the following link National Assessment Collaboration | Medical Council of Canada
We require 3 letters of reference as part of the application. Additional reference letters will not be considered so please only submit 3 letters of reference. All of these letters should come from faculty members who can comment on your clinical abilities, interpersonal skills, and attest to your ability as a prospective resident. They do not need to come from internists.
A current personalized CV is required. The CV should not include any photographs.
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 International (IMGs) and United States (USMGs) medical graduates, you can submit your MSPR through either of the methods below:
- Upload your MSPR directly into your CaRMS Online account; or
- Ask your medical school to upload your MSPR through their CaRMS Undergraduate Portal account.
A personal letter is required. Word count should not exceed 750 words. Candidates should describe their experiences, achievements, and strengths that are relevant to internal medicine training. It is important to describe why the Queen’s Internal Medicine program is an excellent fit for your career goals.
For indigenous applicants who choose to participate in the Indigenous process as described in the 'General Information' section: Please indicate this at the top of your personal letter. This first sentence (self-identification) does not count toward your word count for the personal letter. If you self-identify as indigenous at the top of your personal letter, you have the option to include an additional 250 words to address the following prompt: "Describe how your identity has impacted your vision for your career in medicine."
PhotoDocuments that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation. Students applying in the last year of medical school will need to submit their most recent marks/transcripts, and will need to provide proof of their MD to CPSO prior to the start of residency training.
Review Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on November 29, 2024
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on November 29, 2024
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on November 29, 2024
Applications are assessed using a standardized process that evaluates the documents submitted through CaRMS (listed above). We review all applicants based on the submitted application package. Only information obtained through review of application files and the interview process are used in decision-making. Scoring is based on the selection criteria outlined in our program description. Everyone involved in the selection process completes training in implicit bias. Issues related to conflicts of interest are identified and managed. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted by our office and provided with details about the interview process, including how to book an interview day and time.
Interviews
Dates:
- January 23, 2025
- January 24, 2025
- January 27, 2025
- January 28, 2025
Each candidate is interviewed by two independent pairs of interviewers. Each interviewer pair is comprised of a faculty member and internal medicine resident. Both interviews are scheduled to take place during either the morning (EST) or afternoon (EST) interview timeslot. In addition to the interview itself, candidates will be scheduled to attend a small-group information session on the same day.
We will organize virtual town-hall events so that applicants can learn more about our program before the interview period. The Program Director and residents will be available at these sessions to provide information and answer questions. These sessions will be held on October 24th, 30th and December 3rd, 2024. Further details will be released on our website under the CaRMS Information section and the CANPREPP National Web Calendar of Events.
Selection Criteria
The file review and interview components of the CaRMS selection process are scored based on the selection criteria outlined below.
Program goals
Goals for the Queen’s University Core Internal Medicine Training Program:
We aim to maintain a training program that consistently meets the Standards of Accreditation for Internal Medicine as outlined by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. More specifically, we aim to train graduates who:
- Provide exceptional clinical care across diverse clinical settings
- Respond to the needs of their patients, communities, and society as a whole
- Have the foundation necessary to enter fellowship training in any of the medical subspecialties
- Have the opportunity to engage in significant research and lay the foundation for a program of scholarship
- Advance the practice and science of healthcare through medical education, public health, professional advocacy, and healthcare administration
Selection process goals
Our goal is to admit a diverse class of residents to our program who collectively bring a wide range of experiences and interests. We want to recruit residents of all backgrounds and from a variety of medical schools. Our goal is to provide a welcoming community where all residents know they belong. We believe that success in residency training requires a strong connection and engagement with your program and colleagues; as such, we look for applicants with a demonstrable interest in Queen's Internal Medicine (QIM) and Kingston.
We look for residents with a passion for internal medicine and a growth mindset. We aim to admit residents with outstanding performance during medical school, strong communication skills, resilience from lived experience, and exemplary professional and ethical standards. We aim to admit candidates who demonstrate the skills and attributes to grow and excel in the competencies outlined in the CanMEDS Physician Competency Framework.
File review process
Review team composition : The file review team includes the program director and internal medicine residents. An associate program director or Department of Medicine faculty member involved with the Internal Medicine Program conducts a secondary review and confirms that documentation has been processed properly.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 401 - 600
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 0 - 25 %
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Ability to present oneself in an organized and professional way. Relevant education, academic achievements, activities during training, and research activity. Successful and meaningful participation in clinical activities in Internal Medicine and related subspecialties. |
| Electives | Evidence of interest in Internal Medicine and clinical experiences that allow for informed decision making about pursuing internal medicine training. |
| Examinations | Please refer to the "Additional Documents" section of the program description. |
| Extra-curricular | Evidence of leadership, advocacy, collaboration/teamwork, and/or activities that support well-being. |
| Leadership skills | Evidence of meaningful leadership activities as part of and/or beyond medical school. |
| MSPRs | Academic performance, professionalism, and personal contributions during medical school. |
| Personal letters | Clear, concise, well-formulated articulation of how QIM aligns with (1) your career goals; (2) personal characteristics; (3) desired community of learning. Demonstrable interest to train at Queen's. |
| Reference documents | Successful application of CanMEDS competencies. Successful and meaningful participation in clinical activities in Internal Medicine and related subspecialties. |
| Research/Publications | Evidence of meaningful research contribution during medical school (not required). Research should be documented in the CV; do not upload copies of publications. |
| Transcripts | Academic performance during medical school. |
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 | Evidence of enthusiasm for teamwork and collaboration in a clinical setting. |
| Collegiality | Evidence that the applicant gets along and supports colleagues, as well as the ability to discuss personal experiences. Polite, respectful, and professional. |
| Communication skills | Evidence of excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills and ability to convey thoughts succinctly. |
| Health advocacy | Evidence of commitment to supporting the unique needs of disadvantaged patients. |
| Interest in the discipline | Demonstrable interest in Internal Medicine. |
| Interest in the program | Demonstrable interest in the Queen's Internal Medicine residency program. Able to articulate how components of the program align with their goals. |
| Leadership skills | Evidence of meaningful leadership experience and/or skills in a medical setting. |
| Professionalism | Evidence of professionalism in all interpersonal interactions and behaviours. Consistently demonstrates respect and professionalism with everyone involved in the interview process. |
| Scholarly activities | Achievements in scholarly activities are viewed as an asset, not a requirement. Interest and willingness to engage in scholarship during training. |
| Other interview component(s) | We do not assess medical knowledge during the interview. Candidates will have an opportunity to ask questions. |
Information gathered outside of CaRMS application
We do not consider any information gathered outside of the CaRMS application and local interview processes.Ranking process
The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :Program Highlights
Overall Program Highlights
- Recipient of the PARO Residency Program Excellence Award in 2018
- Recipient of the PARO Lois H. Ross Resident Advocate Award in 2023 (our very own Program Manager)
- Consistently engaged in continuous quality improvement of the program with a resident-centred approach
- Significant support for the PGY-3 Royal College exam (prep sessions, dedicated half-day series, protected group study-nights, time off)
- Excellent mentorship and career advisement
- Formal POCUS curriculum integrated into Academic Half Day with a focus on hands-on teaching
- Strong experience with and leadership in Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME)
- All 3 electives scheduled prior to Block 4 of the PGY-3 year (to ensure all electives are "pre-carms")
- Great waterfront and family-friendly city
Resident Wellness
- Resident wellness committee with program funding for special events and initiatives
- Engaged and supportive leadership including an Associate Program Director for Wellness
- Fall 1-day retreat to connect residents
- Annual spring 2-day retreat
- Regular resident social events (e.g., climbing, kayaking, cooking, holiday dinner, etc)
- Excellent support services for residents facing stressors and personal challenges
Clinical Services:
- 4 CTUs provide training in the management of inpatient medicine with 2 senior residents per team
- Medical Short Stay team (CTU-E) manages daytime ED consultations
- Stepdown ICU for critically ill patients run by internal medicine
- Excellent overnight support for junior residents (3+ senior residents in-house nightly)
- Hospitalist services to offload patients from teaching services
- PGY-3 Night Float rotation for acute medicine call
- Longitudinal GIM Clinic for PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents
- Competency-based educational curriculum
Research Opportunities:
Queen's Internal Medicine is dedicated to providing residents the opportunity to engage in significant research.
- Mentorship by leading researchers
- Maximum protected research time (up to three blocks over three years)
- Annual Resident Research Fair to introduce PGY1's to research at Queen's
- Annual Resident Research Day
- Regular journal club events organized by residents and supported by faculty and the program
- Funding to supplement travel costs to attend a conference to present scholarly work
Teaching:
Residents in our program are very engaged in teaching - both formally through the Medical School and informally through leading teaching events within our program.
Program Curriculum
This residency program is for 3 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
The core internal medicine training program follows the Royal College required training experiences for Internal Medicine and adheres to the Royal College Competence by Design framework. After completion of their core training, most residents pursue subspecialty training. Residents who do not match to a subspecialty training program can complete a PGY-4 year within our program. Residents complete 13 rotations per year and each rotation is 4-weeks in duration.
The Queen's University Department of Medicine delivers a highly respected, competency-based internal medicine training program in a close-knit and highly supportive community of clinicians. One of the QIM program's strengths is our ability to provide personalized feedback and graduated responsibility. This focus on learning creates a well-supported and very hands-on learning experience for residents.
Each resident is assigned an Academic Advisor. The advisor's role is to help residents set goals, synthesize feedback, and develop individualized learning plans. These learning plans align with a Competence by Design framework. Through this personalized approach, the program is able to graduate superb residents who excel in subspecialty training.
Our ward rotations include the Internal Medicine teaching units (including our medicine-run level 2 ICU). Cardiology and Hematology wards, CCU, and ICU. Subspecialty education is focused on the ambulatory and consult setting, with rotations available in Allergy & Immunology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Neurology, Palliative Care, Respirology and Rheumatology. In addition, residents complete a month of Community Internal Medicine and have the opportunity to take part in at 3 research blocks. All residents have the opportunity to complete three off-site elective rotations.
All residents complete overnight call in accordance with the PARO contract throughout the three years of their training. The type of call changes based on a system of graduated responsibility and can include admissions in the emergency department, ward coverage, or subspecialty call. Our program prioritizes a system where residents are well supported overnight. Frequency of call shifts varies depending on the rotation, site, time of year, and other service-related factors.
Academic Curriculum
The academic curriculum is delivered through a variety of approaches, including weekly protected academic half-day, noon conferences, and evening journal clubs (hosted by the program at local restaurants/venues). Residents also attend subspecialty rounds, Departmental Grand Rounds, and Morbidity and Mortality Conference. Our curriculum covers content required for the Royal College Exam as well as other areas fundamental to developing into a leading clinician, researcher, and medical teacher. Highlights of the curriculum include 1) a mix of PBL and lecture-based academic half-day sessions, 2) a longitudinal Quality Improvement and Patient Safety series, (3) the longitudinal POCUS curriculum that is built into academic half-days, with a focus on hands-on training, and (4) case-based simulation sessions. All residents complete a scholarly project during their training.
Description of Clinical Training Experiences (typical)
PGY-1 (Transition to Discipline & Foundations of Discipline)
- Clinical Teaching Units/General Medicine (4-5 blocks)
- Cardiology
- ICU/Airway
- Palliative Care Medicine
- Elective
- Research/Selective
- Subspecialty rotations
PGY-2 (Core of Discipline Stage)
- Clinical Teaching Units/General Medicine (4 blocks)
- ICU (2 blocks)
- Elective
- Research/Selective
- Subspecialty rotations
PGY-3 (Core of Discipline Stage)
- Clinical Teaching Unit/General Medicine (3-4 blocks)
- Cardiac Care Unit/Cardiac Sciences Unit (1 block)
- Night float
- Community Internal Medicine
- Elective
- Research/Selective
- Subspecialty rotations
Beyond
Queen's also offers subspecialty training in most subspecialties (Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Palliative Care, Respirology, and Rheumatology)
Training Sites
- Kingston Health Sciences Centre
- Hotel Dieu Hospital
- Providence Care Hospital
The three affiliated hospitals work closely to provide rotations in all areas of internal medicine. Kingston Health Sciences Centre is a tertiary care referral teaching hospital with a regional trauma unit, dialysis and kidney transplant programs, open heart, thoracic and neurosurgical services, and the full range of internal medicine and its subspecialties. Hotel Dieu Hospital is a tertiary care hospital with ambulatory clinics in all the medical subspecialties. Providence Care Hospital provides geriatric, palliative, psychiatry, and rehabilitation care. Our residents may also complete rotations at Lakeridge Health Oshawa (for the PGY-1 ICU/Airway rotation and possibly additional critical care experiences). Residents will also complete a community internal medicine rotation at Belleville, Oshawa, Humber River Regional Hospital, or another community site. Travel and accommodations are provided for any mandatory away rotations.
FAQ
Please refer to our website for additional information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Summary of changes
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