Program Contacts

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Important Information

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. 

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 IMGs who have withdrawn from a program prior to completion of an AVP must declare so upon application.

 

Note to Couples:

You are welcome to indicate if you are applying to us as a "couple match". We will make every attempt to schedule you and your partner for clinical rotations/experiences that will allow you to have time together.

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.

We are committed to advancing equitable and inclusive practices. Please refer to the PGME website for additional information / resources including QHS EDIIA Initiatives and EDIIA statements (Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, Anti-Discrimination Statement, Inclusion Statement, and Statement on Social Accountability). 

Note to First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis applicants:

The Queen's Department of Family Medicine is committed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action on Health. For this reason, we offer any First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis applicants to our residency program the opportunity to self-identify in their personal letter during the application process. This information helps us identify ways in which the residency program can connect First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis applicants to specific resources and supports. 

Gaps in Training, Remediation, or Professionalism issues

Deferral Requests

Deferral requests will not be considered. 

Note to Transfer Applicants

If you are a resident in a current Canadian PG position using the second iteration of the CaRMS Match as a possible route to change program or specialty, in accordance with the Ontario eligibility criteria, which references the National Transfer Guidelines, you will need to upload all in-training assessments/evaluations and a summary of your training record in addition to the other required components of your CaRMS application. As you will be submitting these additional documents, you only need to submit two Family Medicine structured reference letters.

Please also provide your permission for the program to speak with your current Program Director by adding "If I am shortlisted, I give permission for the program to speak with my current Program Director." at the bottom of your Personal Letter. We will only contact your current PD if you are shortlisted.

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Return of Service

This program has a return of service obligation attached to it. Please review the provincial criteria for more information, found here: https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/.

If you have a ROS agreement in another province please ensure you aware of the commitments and requirements. 

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

Application Feedback

Please note, 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.

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

Applications submitted after file review has opened on March 17, 2026

Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened  on  March 17, 2026

Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on March 17, 2026

All applications are reviewed by the Program Director(s), the members of the interview panel, and other members of the Residency Program Committee.

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Interviews

Dates:

• March 24, 2026
• March 25, 2026

Selection Criteria

We look for residents who are enthusiastic for a career in public health and have an understanding of the field.  We also look for candidates who have:

• Good judgement for both the clinical and applied public health components of our program, including suitability for family medicine training
• Excellent analytic skills, particularly in order to excel in academic training
• Strong communication skills
• An interest in the growth and development of our program and its community

We are interested in your career plans and professional aspirations in public health. We try to find a match between your plans and desires and the program's ability to help you meet them.

Program goals

The Public Health and Preventive Medicine Program at Queen’s University trains innovative public health physicians striving for better health for all.  

Queen’s PHPM is a leader in public health physician training through pioneering our creative curriculum, developing special expertise among individual residents, and emphasizing diversity of experience.

Grounded in the strong academic programs at Queen’s University (Queen’s Department of Family Medicine and Queen’s Department of Public Health Sciences), and having strong practice settings at local public health agencies (KFL&A Public Health; Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit; Hastings & Prince Edward Public Health; and Peterborough Public Health) and national and provincial public health agencies (Public Health Agency of Canada and Public Health Ontario), the program provides comprehensive, high-quality education that allow graduates to excel at the local, provincial and national levels. Through elective time, the program is flexible, allowing trainees to pursue experiences of interest to them, such as expertise in international public health or other special interests in Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

 

The program's strategic plan (2021-2026) can be found here!

 

 

 

Selection process goals

We look for residents who have an understanding of Public Health and Preventive Medicine as a specialty and are enthusiastic about a career in this field.  We also look for applicants who have good collaboration, analytic, and communication skills.

We are interested in your career plans and professional aspirations in Public Health and Preventive Medicine.  We try to find a match between your plans and desires and the program's ability to help you meet them.  Prior experience in public health before medical school and during medical school is an asset, but not a pre-requisite.

Applicants demonstrating a commitment to the field and meeting the selection criteria will be prioritized for interviews. All candidates must be suitable for training in family medicine, however residents can choose to pursue basic clinical year training instead of the full family medicine residency once matched to our program. Following the internal file review process, invitations will be extended to selected candidates for interviews on the published dates.  Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialty and reflect on their experiences in public health at the time of interviews.  Those who are not successful in meeting the selection criteria will not be considered further.

Those who we opt to move forward in the selection process will be ranked via the CaRMS system based on the scores on the assessment of their application and their interview.  The selection team may, at its discretion, adjust final rankings, by consensus, to address issues of program priority and diversity.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:
Social interaction during program related events
Communication with program administration
Social media
Unsolicited reference letters
Unsolicited email references
Unsolicited verbal information on a candidate's prior performance
Unsolicited feedback from colleagues and co-workers

Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

Public health and preventive medicine (PHPM) is a specialty that focuses on disease prevention at a population level through health promotion and health protection. While there are some clinical components to PHPM practice (sexual health clinics, immunizations, communicable diseases), the specialty is primarily focused on population-based health assessment, and interventions to improve the health of the entire population.

The first one or two years of training will be completed within the Queen’s Department of Family Medicine (Kingston-1000 Islands site). Residents can choose to complete one year of basic clinical training (identical to the first year of Family Medicine training), or two years of family medicine residency culminating in the opportunity to write the CCFP exam. The clinical training is customized to your needs as a PHPM resident. These customizations include an infectious disease rotation as part of your internal medicine rotations, a rotation in local public health, and elective opportunities that are relevant to you. You will have the opportunity to attend academic half-days and participate in program-wide academic events, such as our annual PHPM Boot Camp. Your family medicine resident project can also be customized to fit your interests. After two years of family medicine training, most residents opt to write their examination leading to the Certification in Family Medicine (CCFP).

During PGY3, residents are required to do one academic year of course work in PHPM. Residents are eligible to enter the Queen’s University Master of Public Health (MPH) or MSc in Epidemiology program, recognizing that the required course work overlaps with the requirements of these degrees. The MPH degree will be attractive to residents who wish to obtain broad training in public health. It is a non-thesis degree that is completed in 12 months through the professional stream. Degree programs in public health at other universities in Canada and elsewhere are possible, subject to approval from the program director.

Please note that entry into master's degree programs may impact elective time.

Specific placements in public health practice are provided in PGY4 and PGY5. Eighteen months of core rotations and six months of elective time are scheduled in PGY4 and PGY5. International electives are possible, subject to approval from the program director. Elective time can be used to complete the thesis of a master of epidemiology degree.

After successful completion of training and the Royal College examination process, certification is by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

The Queen’s University Public Health and Preventive Medicine Program is administered jointly by Dr. Samantha Buttemer, Program Director, Queen’s Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Dr. Kelly Howse, Kingston-1000 Islands Site Director, Queen’s Department of Family Medicine.

 

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Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 5 years.

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

The curriculum is designed to be flexible to the needs of individual residents. We do our best to accommodate specific interests of individual residents during the clinical years (PGY1 only, or both PGY1 and PGY2), during the academic year (PGY3), and during public health training (PGY4 and PGY5). In PGY4 and PGY5, the rotations are designed to give residents the full exposure to PHPM practice they need to become competent practitioners. Each resident, guided by the program director and their academic advisor, develops an individual learning plan.

In addition to rotations, the program offers weekly academic half-day sessions, an annual review course, an annual retreat, an annual boot camp for on-call training, and other learning experiences throughout the five years. It provides an opportunity to encourage personal, professional, and scholarly development. The half-day sessions include: case-based learning, special lectures, journal clubs, communication skills training, exam practice, and similar activities. The program offers conference calling and other electronic communication opportunities if residents are off-site. The academic half-day sessions are sometimes combined with those from other PHPM programs.

 

PGY1 & 2

Throughout the clinical training component, PHPM residents are encouraged to focus on areas relevant to public health and preventive medicine. Residents will complete one mandatory block of core introductory public health during their PGY1 year.

 

PGY3

This year typically consists of academic training in core disciplines of public health, such as epidemiology and biostatistics. Residents often complete a master's degree, such as a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science (MSc) in epidemiology.

The Queen’s Department of Public Health Sciences offers a non-thesis-based MPH degree and a two-year MSc degree in epidemiology with a thesis requirement. More information about these programs can be found on the Department website Queen's University Degree Programs. Residents can use elective periods to complete a thesis or practicum. Residents are encouraged to select a thesis topic that can be directly applied in the field and to incorporate the data collection and analysis components of their thesis into suitable field placements.

Residents receive the normal remuneration during their course work but are responsible for tuition fees. Residents may pursue academic training at other institutions in Canada and elsewhere, subject to approval of the program director. Residents are encouraged to discuss their potential for a master's degree with the program director.

Depending on the length of academic training, the PGY3 year may begin and end with PHPM rotations.

Applicants with previous relevant graduate training may apply for a waiver of training to reduce their PHPM training length or use the PGY3 year to start senior rotations, allowing for more elective time in PGY5.

 

PGY4 & 5

Years four and five provide core and elective placements in PHPM. There are 18 months of core placements including communicable disease, environmental health, policy and planning, health promotion and chronic disease prevention, and management and administration. The placements will entail successive levels of responsibility, such that by the final rotation, the resident is functioning in the role of associate medical officer of health. There are 6 months of elective time.

Rotations have been developed to meet residents' educational needs and interests. For core training sites in Ontario, Queen's University may provide accommodation and travel allowances for residents who are completing rotations outside the Kingston area. Electives both within and outside Ontario do not have financial support for accommodation or travel.

Some residents may use some elective time to complete the requirements for a master's degree.

 

 

 

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Training Sites

Resources

Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residents at Queen's University have access to a wide array of educational opportunities:

Core Training Sites

South East Health Unit
Peterborough County - City Health Unit
Public Health Ontario

Examples of Elective Training Sites

• Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Department of National Defence
• Correctional Service of Canada
• Health Canada
• Office of the Chief Coroner
• Ottawa Public Health
• York Region Public Health