Program Contacts

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Important Information

Accreditation Status: Accredited

The Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine's Family Medicine Enhanced Skills Sports and Exercise Medicine Residency Program received accreditation from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in October of 2024.

Program Question and Answer Session

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Enhanced Skills (FM-ES) Programs invite you to attend an upcoming Virtual Question and Answer Session:

Friday, September 6th, 2024 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm ET

Register Here. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.

Our Program Directors look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions that you may have as you prepare to submit your applications for the CaRMS 2025 FM-ES Match!

We welcome you to attend the entire session, or simply drop in for a program-specific Q&A period as outlined below.

FM-ES Q&A Session Schedule:

• 5:00 pm: Emergency Medicine
• 5:15 pm: Addiction Medicine
• 5:30 pm: Care of the Elderly
• 5:45 pm: Palliative Care
• 6:00 pm: Family Practice Anesthesiology
• 6:15 pm: Sport and Exercise Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to meeting the CaRMS Family Medicine / Enhanced Skills (FM/ES) Match Basic Eligibility Criteria, all applicants must meet the Ontario Provincial Eligibility Criteria in order to be considered. Applicants are responsible for reviewing this criteria in full before applying.

Training Level Eligibility 

Subspecialty: Enhanced skills

• Training level: Current Canadian Family Medicine training​
  
  
• Eligibility details: Current residents enrolled in CFPC accredited Family Medicine programs who will be completing PGY2 on or before December 31, 2025. PGY2 residents with completion dates between July 1 and December 31, 2025 must declare their completion date on the application form and request a late start.

The Family Medicine / Enhanced Skills (FM/ES) Match cannot be used for transfers or re-entry.

Additional Information for IMGs

IMGs must be graduates of an acceptable medical school on the World Directory of Medical Schools list. A copy of medical school marks/transcripts and medical degree/diploma must be submitted. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translation.

All IMGs are required to have their documents verified through physiciansapply.ca. 

Language Proficiency

Proof of language proficiency examination is not required by the program, however, applicants must be able to communicate proficiently in the language of instruction and patient care of the matching school and training site. Applicants' written and verbal communication skills will be evaluated in both the file review and interview processes.

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Return of Service

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) ONLY

The Ministry of Health requests all ROS agreements before July 1^st of the year they were matched. All agreements should be returned to the Ministry prior to the start of residency training. It is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm eligibility with respect to ROS requirements of other provinces.

More information for IMG ROS can be found here: Return of Service. 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 SUBSPECIALTY TRAINING.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

Applications are only accepted through the CaRMS Family Medicine / Enhanced Skills Match. All requested/supporting documents must accompany your application in order to be considered complete.

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

Applications submitted after file review has opened on September 10, 2024

Supporting documents that arrive after file review has opened  on  September 10, 2024

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Interviews

Dates:

• November 4, 2024
• November 6, 2024

Selection Criteria

• TMU’s School of Medicine is committed to improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities, with a special focus on the primary care needs of diverse and underserved populations in Peel and surrounding communities.
  
  
• Our mission, in alignment with the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) office, is to provide community-engaged education, scholarship, and service. We aim to educate residents within safe and supportive environments, fostering the development of compassionate, respectful, and forward-thinking clinicians who will provide outstanding holistic care and lead in health system transformation.
  
  
• We are dedicated to upholding our commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, as well as our values related to Reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenous resurgence.
  
  
• Our program goals include selecting residents who demonstrate clinical excellence, community engagement, leadership potential, and a commitment to lifelong learning and health equity. We seek residents who are capable of becoming exceptional physicians in their specialties and who share our dedication to improving healthcare access and outcomes in the communities we serve. To align with our selection process goals, we emphasize the importance of recruiting a diverse population of residents reflecting the demographics of Peel and surrounding communities and are committed to advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, decolonization and Reconciliation. Our process incorporates comprehensive evaluations, including academic performance, clinical evaluations, leadership experiences, and community involvement, ensuring that our residents not only meet our high standards of clinical competence but also embody the values and mission of the TMU School of Medicine.
  
  

Program goals

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) School of Medicine (SoM) Sport and Exercise Medicine Residency Program is designed to train physicians competent in treating patients of all ages who need help with all types of movement and exercise. It encompasses preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating injuries and illnesses related to sport and exercise. Our goals are to:

• Equip residents with the necessary knowledge and skills to become competent Sport and Exercise Medicine specialists who are prepared to meet the unique needs of their patients. We aim to provide a comprehensive training approach that ensures that graduates of our program are well-prepared to address the complex needs of the general population with expertise, cultural competency, and empathy.
  
  
• Provide residents with a broad range of clinical, community, and interdisciplinary training opportunities (chiropractic care, physiotherapy, massage therapy, physiatry, orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery, rheumatology, etc.) that expose them to the full scope of care and allow them to meet patients’ evolving needs.
  
  
• Develop skills to manage acute and chronic conditions commonly encountered in patients of all ages and abilities with various treatment modalities.
  
  
• Increase understanding of the musculoskeletal system, including mechanisms of musculoskeletal injuries and factors that contribute to these types of injuries. The program will also focus on the differences between acute and insidious-onset injuries. It will also provide hands-on training in injury assessment and diagnostics to enable residents to recognize different types of injuries, their causes, and treatment options.
  
  
• The curriculum explains the function and dysfunction of specific body parts during activity and how overall movement can be improved and injuries prevented. It reflects a holistic approach to global movement, management of fascia, whole-body wellness, and interconnectivity.
  
  

Selection process goals

The TMU School of Medicine Postgraduate Medical Education Unit and FM-ES Sport and Exercise Medicine Program are committed to selecting a diverse population of residents who will be exceptional physicians in their specialty, and who are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, decolonization and reconciliation. In addition, the program is committed to selecting residents with:

• Demonstrated competence in family medicine and an interest in sport and exercise medicine.
  
  
• An interest in improving sport and exercise medicine healthcare access and outcomes in Peel and surrounding communities.
    
• A connection to Peel and surrounding communities and/or an interest in practicing in culturally diverse communities.
  
  
• An interest in building the TMU School of Medicine and being an integral part of the success of a brand-new residency program.
  
  
• Lived experiences that have contributed to their personal growth and desire to become a family physician with added competency in sport and exercise medicine.
  
  
• A broad range of personal, professional, and educational experiences that reflect a passion and commitment to community engagement, advocacy, and leadership, especially in the context of marginalized communities.
  
  

File review process

Evaluation 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

• Holistic and innovative approach including interdisciplinary professions and emphasizing whole-body movement, connectivity and health, and encompassing movement in all its forms
  
  
• Focus on biomechanics surrounding both acute and insidious onset injuries, which can result in symptomatic pain in another area
  
  
• Opportunities to provide on-ice/on-field care in multiple venues
  
  
• Unique Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Research, and Non-Clinical (LEARN) Time program enables residents to tailor their learning experiences and launch their careers

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Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 1 year.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

The Sport and Exercise Medicine Program is a 1-year competency-based program broken down into three stages: Transition to Sport and Exercise Medicine, Core, and Transition to Practice.

Transition to Sport and Exercise Medicine
Residents start by spending time at a sports medicine clinic, which is often a multidisciplinary clinic with other healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors or athletic therapists. Residents will further build their foundation in Sport and Exercise Medicine by spending time in a clinic which looks more closely at the role of fascia in the body and its interconnectivity. By analyzing movement patterns and understanding how history can connect injuries via fascia, residents will gain a broader view of causation for patients’ injuries and symptoms.

Core Sport and Exercise Medicine
This phase includes time spent in specialty clinics, such as rheumatology, physiatry, and orthopedics, to gain further exposure to techniques and patient encounters. Residents will also train in the acute care setting, including the fracture and rapid access clinics.

This phase will include longitudinal involvement with a sports team in the area to get sideline experience. Residents will also build longitudinal relationships with interdisciplinary professionals practicing in areas including physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, massage, athletic therapy, structural integrators and nutrition. These areas all fall under soft tissue management, a fundamental part of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Residents can also expect continuous exposure to interdisciplinary professions. 

Transition to Practice
This phase involves further time in a sports or medicine clinic rurally. Residents will also be given a leadership position in a family medicine clinic as a Sport and Exercise Medicine physician in a family medicine clinic. Elective time will also be available.

Sample Rotation Schedule

A sample rotation schedule is provided below. Each resident will receive a personalized rotation schedule.

Transition to Sport and Exercise Medicine

• 2 Block (8 weeks): Sports Medicine Clinic
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Mix of Physiatry Clinics & Family Medicine Clinics
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Mix of Rheumatology Clinics & Family Medicine Clinics

Core Sport and Exercise Medicine

• 1 Block (4 weeks): Chronic Pain Clinic
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Radiology/Interventional Radiology/Plastics
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Elective
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Urgent Care Centre/Urgent FM Clinic
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Fracture Clinic/Rapid Access Clinics (Central Low Back and Rapid Hip and Knee Clinics)

Transition to Practice

• 1 Block (4 weeks): Integrated Health Centre (as preceptor)
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Sports Medicine Clinic
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Rural Community
• 1 Block (4 weeks): Elective
  
  

PGME Foundational Curriculum

The PGME Foundational Curriculum has been designed to address competencies that are not always fostered within the clinical learning environment with a consistent approach across PGME programs. This includes:

• Foundations Course
• Communication Course
• Leadership Course
• Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Course
• Research and Critical Appraisal Course
• Teaching Course
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility, & Reconciliation/Decolonization/Indigenous Resurgence (EDIA-RDIR) and Anti-Racism Course

LEARN Time

A novel program called LEARN Time (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Research, and Non-clinical Time) will allow residents who are meeting or exceeding the standards of their program to access protected time that they may direct toward opportunities for experiential learning activities.

• It is anticipated that many residents will leverage this time to participate in work worthy of publication and scholarly work. While the Program’s Competence Subcommittees will oversee this program, central support for some elements of the LEARN Time program will also be provided. In particular, annual LEARN Time events will connect residents with individuals working in other areas of TMU, Peel, and surrounding committees. This will allow some ‘scholarly matchmaking’ to happen outside of the Program to connect residents with a broader array of scholarly opportunities.
   
• Residents may also use LEARN time to engage in other leadership and advocacy work, such as with the Ontario Medical Association, Professional Association of Residents of Ontario, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Ontario College of Family Physicians, etc.), allowing residents to engage with formal leadership and other opportunities early on in their careers. Residents may also engage in formal teaching and mentorship of TMU School of Medicine undergraduate medical students. They will receive a formal curriculum and informal mentorship opportunities to develop their teaching skills.

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Training Sites

The TMU School of Medicine currently has clinical partnerships with four major training sites: 

• William Osler Health System
• Trillium Health Partners
• Headwaters Health Care Centre
• Halton Healthcare 

TMU Clinical Affiliate map

As the School of Medicine announces additional partnerships, the sites for core program rotations may change. Residency training will leverage a distributed model which may include training at any of these sites for learning in environments, which include community and clinical settings, urban and rural environments, and inpatient and outpatient settings. While the majority of resident training will be focused in Peel and surrounding communities, additional learning experiences may take place at other training sites within Canada through Inter-University Affiliation Agreements. These agreements are subject to change and result in training at sites other than those that are listed above.

Travel to various locations will be required. Access to a personal vehicle will be beneficial, though anyone with access to a reliable means of transportation is encouraged to consider this program.