Program Contacts

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Important Information

Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
All postgraduate training programs at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto are committed to create, support, and maintain a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and disrespectful behaviour. We also strive to recruit and retain learners, staff and faculty that reflect the diversity of Canadian society, and assure that our programs and curricula prepare our graduates to meet the needs of the diverse communities they will serve in their careers in Canada and around the world. We are committed to working with all underrepresented/minoritized populations (including 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Indigenous Peoples of Canada, people of African ancestry and other racialized groups, people with disabilities, the economically disadvantaged, those from rural or remote communities, and more) in order to advance all forms of equity, and in particular, health equity.

 
CaRMS Self-Identification Questionnaire (CSIQ)
The University of Toronto is actively evaluating how and if the CaRMS Self-Identification Questionnaire (CSIQ) will be used in our application and selection processes.  We believe it is critical to have a fair, transparent, and robust process established prior to integrating the CSIQ into our selection processes.

For the 2025 R1 Match, if you assign the CSIQ to any University of Toronto program, the program will NOT be able to view the content of your CSIQ response. There are programs that provide applicants other opportunities to self-identify as a member of an equity-seeking group. Please see individual program descriptions for details.  

Electives
While elective experiences in our discipline are highly encouraged, as this helps demonstrate your interest and aptitude in the field, an elective at the University of Toronto is not required. We recognize that not all candidates have the opportunity to arrange and complete electives outside of their home institution and would like to reassure you this will not negatively impact your application to the University of Toronto.

FMProC- Requirements for 2025

The University of Toronto Family Medicine Program will be using the FMProC as part of our selection process. The FMProC (Family Medicine Professional Choices) is a Family Medicine context-specific Situational Judgement Test.

All applicants will be required to write FMProC for their application to be deemed complete. More details and information about registration for FMProC can be found here: www.fmproc.com

Please note registration for the first round will open on September 11, 2024, and the testing window will begin in October 2024.

Late requests will not be considered.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

The University of Toronto's Department of Family & Community Medicine (DFCM) is recognized internationally for its clinical and educational excellence. The goal of the program is to prepare you to practice Family Medicine anywhere in the province (urban or rural) and the country.

• The DFCM program has five Family Medicine residency streams you may apply to separately through CaRMS:
  1. Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Barrie or Newmarket, 3. Midland or Orillia, 4. Integrated Communities, and 5. Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham.
• The same application should be submitted for each stream to which you apply. Only one application will be reviewed.
• Attendance at only one Virtual Interview Session is required if you apply to one or more of the five University of Toronto streams.
• Please see the Admissions Process Section of our website for further

Please read the following information in detail to ensure your application receives full consideration.

In addition to the application requirements outlined in this program description, applicants must ensure they meet all Provincial Eligibility Criteria. To review the Ontario Eligibility Requirements, please visit:  https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/ontario/

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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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

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Interviews

Dates:

• January 20, 2025
• January 21, 2025
• January 23, 2025
• January 27, 2025

Selection Criteria

Program goals

The University of Toronto's Department of Family & Community Medicine (DFCM) is recognized internationally for its clinical and educational excellence. The goal of the program is to prepare residents to practice Family Medicine anywhere in the province (urban or rural) and the country.

Our program seeks to train leaders in education and research in Family Medicine who are able to practice and provide high quality comprehensive care to communities both locally and internationally. Accordingly, successful applicants will have a strong academic record that demonstrates proficiency in Family Medicine and related subjects. Applicants providing evidence of strong academic performance and strong interest and commitment to Family Medicine will be prioritized to receive an invitation to interview. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of Family Medicine and evidence of interest and commitment to a career in Family Medicine at the time of interviews.

Selection process goals

Please include a supplementary statement titled “Transcript Addendum” at the beginning of your Personal Letter explaining any poor academic performance or failure, any gaps in medical school training or if you did not graduate with your cohort. The transcript addendum will not count towards your word limit for your Personal Letter. Failing to submit a transcript addendum, if the criteria apply, will result in the application not being considered.

Applicants who fail to meet criteria for strong academic performance will not be considered further. Interviewed applicants will be ranked based on an aggregate score of their application and interview. The selection committee reserves the right to adjust final rankings by consensus to address issues of program priority and diversity. Scores on the file review and interviews will be used to determine a total score. An applicant's total score will determine their position on the rank order list.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

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 :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

• As regional hubs for the surrounding area, Oak Valley Health provides a wide range of primary and secondary services, creating a rich family practice learning environment. 
• Residents will experience the full scope of Family Medicine and specialty rotations while serving patients from various cultural and socio-economic demographics.
• DFCM residents are trained to practice in any setting. They have access to a broad scope of patient populations and clinical experiences in an inter-professional team environment.
• DFCM residents experience the best of both worlds: the unique learning opportunities of a large, internationally- respected program and the richness of learning at their hospital teaching site.
• Residents are active participants in the program and have flexibility to achieve their own specific learning goals.
• The DFCM program is enhanced by a strong academic focus. Weekly academic teaching provides exposure to current issues and topics affecting the practice of Family Medicine.
• The Family Medicine program is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

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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.

All residents in the Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham Stream spend their two years of residency in a hybrid model between Oak Valley Health Markham and Uxbridge sites. Family Medicine Residents constitute the majority of learners at these sites and all hospital-based rotations have a strong primary care focus. In their two years, residents will integrate their GTA Markham experience with the community site of Uxbridge, preparing learners to practice comprehensive Family Medicine anywhere.

Residents will meet regularly with the Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham program director or designate to allow input into the program as the year progresses. Elective time is built into both years of the Integrated Communities -Uxbridge Markham Stream for the residents to gain extra experience in any area of particular interest. All Family Medicine Residents in the Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham Stream will continue to participate with other DFCM residents in weekly Academic Half-Days as protected teaching time. Residents will have the option to join these teaching sessions virtually.  In addition to these Academic Half-Days, Family Medicine residents from all teaching sites will come together every few months for a focused day of seminars and lectures at the Central Core Days.

Uxbridge is conveniently located 28 minutes northeast of Markham and offers residents newly-built, modern facilities next to the GP-led hospital. Family Medicine Residents will follow a horizontal FM curriculum in Markham and Uxbridge over the two years during which they will work with different preceptors to learn different practice styles.

Residents will be able to develop a mini-practice of their own in Uxbridge which they will follow for the two years, preparing them for independent practice. Residents will also take advantage of the local community hospital and the community specialists to augment the learning occurring in the family practice unit. Uxbridge selectives with family physicians practicing women’s health, dermatology, psychotherapy, MSK procedures, pre-travel consultations and more are also available. Tightknit collaboration of full array of interdisciplinary professionals (midwives, physiotherapists, pharmacists, nurse practitioner and more) will be accessible to residents. 

While centrally set objectives and assessment standards are used across all University of Toronto hospital teaching sites, our Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham site has the distinct advantage to leverage local strengths and resources to deliver unique mix of learner-centered experiences.

Competency-Based Curriculum

A strong primary care system requires well-prepared, comprehensive generalists with skills and knowledge relevant to their context. Our program is a recognized leader in competency-based Family Medicine education. This approach ensures learners acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that are necessary to practice Family Medicine. Our competency-based curriculum builds on the internationally recognized CanMEDS-FM (Family Medicine) framework and roles—defining the specific competencies and learning experiences a skilled family physician requires. Our unique staged development model links competencies to the various stages of residency, from competencies required to begin clinical training through to enhanced competencies required by family physicians with special interests in areas such as emergency medicine, low-risk obstetrics, palliative care, care of the elderly, and many more.

Please see our website for more details DFCM Competency Based Curriculum.

Self-Evaluation Tool

1. Online Practice Profile

The delivery of our curriculum is paired with innovative tools for monitoring and assessment. An online resident Practice Profile tool allows residents to document and track their clinical experience to ensure it is comprehensive and fulfills the competencies defined in the curriculum.

2. Progress Testing

Twice yearly, the program administers the Family Medicine Medical Expert Assessment of Progress (FM-MAP) for all residents. Residents are tested on knowledge application in the domains that reflect the program’s competency-based curriculum. As they write the test iteratively, residents gain an understanding of their progress in the Family Medicine Expert role and are encouraged to use their results to tailor their future clinical experience, studying, and preparation for certification examinations.

3. Field Notes

Field Notes have been designed to be quick, frequent low-stakes/formative forms of feedback and assessment. After patient encounters or during post-clinic review, preceptors provide oral feedback to trainees. This can then be documented as a Field Note and submitted electronically through a custom-designed web interface.

4. Six Month Progress Review

Six Month Progress review meetings, one-on-one meetings between a resident and their Teaching Hospital Program Director or designate. During this meeting, career goals, case mix, academic achievement, resident academic project and general progress are discussed. Successful completion of progress review meetings for all residents is logged via a centralized web interface.

PGCorEd™ Module – Resident as a Teacher

These web-based e-learning module provides the foundation for the intrinsic Can MEDS- FM roles and aims to help PGY1 residents transition from the learner role of medical school to the practitioner role. All University of Toronto residents are required to complete the web based PGCorEd™ core Resident as a Teacher module as part of their residency program certification.

Virtual Care Competency Training Roadmap (ViCCTR) Modules

Web-based interactive e-learning modules designed to support the development of medical expertise and transformation of clinical reasoning for the virtual care environment. The modules were developed in collaboration with medical education experts to ensure our learners develop the necessary skills to incorporate virtual care into their current and future family practices. All Family Medicine residents are required to complete the ViCCTR modules as part of the residency program certification. Please see our website for more details ViCCTR Modules

San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Online Training Modules 

San'yas is a nationally recognized training program aimed at improving cultural safety for Indigenous people accessing health services. The curriculum and learning activities have been shown to help residents strengthen their knowledge, awareness, and skills for working with and providing service to Indigenous people and communities; work more safely and effectively with Indigenous people; begin considering their role in correcting, rebuilding and transforming systems to uproot Indigenous-specific racism. All Family Medicine residents are required to complete the San’yas modules as part of the residency program certification.

Teaching Practices: Community/Rural Family Medicine Experience

All second-year Family Medicine resident complete two consecutive four-week blocks of community/rural Family Medicine training through the Teaching Practices (TP) program. The TP network includes more than 90 experienced faculty located in approximately 35 community/rural practices from southern Ontario to remote northern Ontario. Residents are required to live in the same community/rural practice for the duration of TP. Financial assistance is provided to offset travel and accommodation expenses. Please see our website for more details.

Academic Project

All residents are required to complete an academic project by the end of their second year. Although many residents complete a research project, other academic endeavors such as development of educational materials, audits and critical reviews of topics are equally acceptable.

Quality Improvement (QI) Curriculum

Family physicians are increasingly being held accountable for their performance. The DFCM has a QI curriculum for   PGY1 residents, to equip residents with the necessary skills to lead teams while effectively finding new and easier ways of enhancing patient care, increasing both patient and provider satisfaction and ultimately improving patient outcomes. Residents are required to complete a QI practicum in PGY1.

Academic Half Days

Mandatory Academic Half Days covering core topics in Family Medicine are held weekly at all hospital teaching sites. A number of times over the academic year, the entire residency group attends a combination of practice management and resident-organized central core days. Valuable learning opportunities at hospital teaching sites may include journal clubs, evidence-based medicine rounds and grand rounds in Family Medicine.

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Training Sites

To learn more about our hospital teaching sites click, here.

For additional information regarding the University of Toronto’s fully affiliated and community affiliated training sites, please visit: https://temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/vice-provost-relations-health-care-institutions

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Additional Information

1. Permanent Residents: Successful applicants who hold Permanent Resident status in Canada will be required to disclose their Country of Citizenship to the postgraduate medical education office in order to comply with current reporting requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
2. Matched applicants: CaRMS will provide their electronic data file to the matched university’s postgraduate education office. The postgraduate office will share the information as needed, but not limited to, the Ontario Physician Human Resource Data Centre, Canadian Post-MD Education Registry, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario, teaching hospitals and other training sites, Touchstone Institute and the Ontario Ministry of Health.
3. Changes: The Ontario Faculties of Medicine and Ontario Ministry of Health reserve the right to make changes to the information published on the CaRMS website pertaining to Ontario postgraduate training without prior notice.
4. Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements may result in applicant file being removed at any point during the match.

Virtual Resident Meet and Greet Sessions: Applicants who receive an interview invitation will receive details about the optional Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham stream Virtual Resident Meet and Greet Sessions, which will take place before your scheduled interview. The Virtual Resident Meet and Greet Sessions are an opportunity to meet with both faculty and resident leadership from the Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham stream, introduce applicants to the interview process, and will feature a Q + A component with resident representatives.  

Virtual Open House Sessions: Applicants matched to the U of T Integrated Communities – Uxbridge Markham stream will be invited to meet with residents and the Integrated Communities Program Director through a Virtual Open House session to be held after the release of the CaRMS match results (March 4, 2025). Matched residents may also directly contact hospital teaching Site Directors, site administrators and chief residents to obtain information. 

Adding Additional Streams:

When applying to the U of T residency program, it is recommended that you apply to all streams you may be interested in before the CaRMS online application closes. Adding additional streams after CaRMS online application closes may be considered until the last UofT scheduled interview on January 27, 2025. In order to be considered for additional streams, you must email dfcm.admissions@utoronto.ca indicating which stream(s) you would like to add, as well as add the stream to your CaRMS online application.

Car Requirements:

Access to a car with the ability to drive or be driven is required upon admission. This will allow for full participation in the program to travel between sites and elective opportunities.

Additional Training Opportunities:

1. Enhanced Skills Program (PGY3)

* Residents can apply to his program in their PGY2 year

Opportunities exist for further training beyond the two years in areas such as emergency medicine, anesthesia, low- risk obstetrics, women's health, care of the elderly, sports medicine, and academic fellowship programs. Please see our website for more details on the Enhanced Skills Program.

2.  Family Medicine and Enhanced Skills (FAM-ES) Integrated 3-Year Program (I3P)

*Residents can apply to this program in their PGY1 year

The FAM-ES program will integrate PGY3 content (either Palliative Care or Care of the Elderly) alongside core Family Medicine during the PGY2 and PGY3 years of training. Upon completion of FAM-ES, graduates are eligible to apply for the appropriate CCFP PGY3 designation. Please see our website for more details on FAM-ES

3.  Family Medicine Leadership and Master of Science in System Leadership and Innovation Integrated 3-Year Program (I3P)

*Residents can apply to this program in their PGY1 year

The Integrated 3-Year Leadership Program; offers leadership skills to selected Family Medicine residents in an innovative longitudinal integration of Family Medicine residency training combined with a Master’s of Science in System Leadership and Innovation (MScSLI). Please see our website for more details on the Integrated 3-year Leadership Program

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Why Choose Family Medicine at the University of Toronto?

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FAQ

Please see the following FAQ links:

Admissions Process FAQs

Virtual Interview Session FAQs

Family Medicine Program FAQs