NOSM University - General Surgery - Northern Ontario
2026 R-1 Main Residency Match - second iteration
Competitive Stream for CMG
Last approved on March 05, 2026
Summary of changesApproximate Quota:
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Accreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
Postgraduate Education
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1
Program Contacts
Important Information
NOSM University General Surgery
- Interviews will be held virtually on the evening of Thursday, April 2nd. Connections details - coming soon.
- No social is scheduled.
- Candidates will undergo two interviews by groups of 2-3. The groups will be comprised of faculty and/or current residents.
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.
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.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
Please ensure all required documents are uploaded by the application deadline. Incomplete applications may not be considered.
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)
• Proof of Protected Person / Convention Refugee Status
• Certificate of Indian Status / Aboriginal Status or Makivik Society Card
• Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
Canadian Citizenship:
Must be a Canadian Citizen/Permanent Resident. Proof of valid current citizenship or permanent resident status must be provided by submitting one of the following verifications to CaRMS by the deadline for submission and assignment of applications and documents. 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 issued by an authority in Canada. Must be accompanied by a Canadian government-issued photo ID; or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Certificate of Canadian Citizenship. Must accompanied by a Canadian government-issued photo ID; or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada. Must accompanied by a Canadian government-issued photo ID; or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Canadian Passport; or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card); or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card); or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Proof of Protected person/Convention Refugee Status; or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Certificate of Indian Status/Aboriginal status or Makivik society card:
- Citizens of Indigenous nations where Treaties allow individuals to work and train across the USA-Canada border are eligible to undergo postgraduate medical training in Canada once their Indigenous citizenship is verified, even if they do not have Canadian citizenship. Of note, it may be necessary to obtain a work visa prior to starting postgraduate training.
Reference letters must be written by clinical teachers and/or faculty who have reasonable knowledge of you, either through close association in clinical training situations or as your faculty advisor. References should provide an assessment of your: medical knowledge; clinical skills; interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively; and your attitudes toward learning.
Consistent with the AFMC measures established in response to the Québec physicians’ strike, we will implement the following accommodations for applicants from Québec faculties of medicine and for applicants from other Canadian faculties who had planned visiting electives in Québec during this time.
- We will accept reference documents completed by any physician able to support the applicant’s candidacy.
- We will not require reference letters from physicians practising in the same discipline as the program.
- Applicants are required to submit two (2) reference documents but are permitted to submit up to the maximum of three (3).
Your 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.
For applicants from Québec faculties of medicine, as well as those from other Canadian faculties who had scheduled visiting electives in Québec during this period, we will accept incomplete MSPRs for file review and ranking purposes.
An incomplete MSPR is one that may be missing final assessments from placements expected to be completed by the date of submission but delayed due to the strike. A complete MSPR will not be required as a criterion for file review or ranking for these applicants.
Personal LetterA personal letter (maximum 1000 words) focusing on the following:
- experiences that led to your interest in General Surgery;
- aspects of the NOSMU General Surgery program that interest you;
- personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for surgical practice;
- how you anticipate this program will assist you in becoming an excellent General Surgeon;
- your greatest challenge if you are accepted into this program;
- additional information about yourself that should be considered by the Selection Panel.
If your transcript/CV indicates academic difficulty, failure(s), repeat of a year or any gaps in your education or training history please attach a supplementary statement to the END of your Personal Letter entitled "Transcript/CV Addendum" explaining the above.
Custom Résumé / CVReview 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
- Applications will be reviewed and scored independently by a combination of 2-4 Faculty members and residents. Scores will be generated for each applicant and the program will offer interviews to approximately the top 30-40 candidates.
- All eligible applicants from medical schools in Canada will be considered.
Interviews
Dates:
- April 2, 2026
- Interviews will be held virtually on the evening of Thursday, April 2nd. Connections details - coming soon
- Candidates will undergo two interviews by groups of 2-3. The groups will be comprised of faculty and/or current residents
Selection Criteria
Candidates for the General Surgery Residency Program at NOSMU are selected based on the following factors:
- Demonstrated interest in General Surgery.
- Demonstrated interest in the NOSM U General Surgery Program and a strong desire to train in tertiary hospitals and clinical settings throughout northeastern and northwestern Ontario.
- Strength of academic record
- Strength of references
- Strong interpersonal, communication and collaborative skills
- Evidence of self-directed learning, reflective practice, a high standard of professionalism and resiliency
These factors are assessed through the following:
- Personal interview
- Review of the personal letter
- Review of performance assessments from clinical rotations in medical school, particularly during General surgery rotations and/or electives
- Review of letters of reference
Program goals
Through early and intensive exposure to diverse and complex cases, personalized mentorship, and a supportive, inclusive learning environment, the NOSM U General Surgery Program aims to foster high-level competence and leadership that will transform aspiring surgeons into exceptional, practice-ready professionals. Our program is dedicated to producing well-rounded surgeons who are prepared to meet the healthcare needs of Northern Ontario and beyond, while achieving their personal and professional goals. We strive to redefine community-oriented healthcare by integrating a systems approach, promoting inclusivity and leveraging our unique geographical diversity.
Selection process goals
Through our selection process, our program aims to identify candidates who have a strong academic history with demonstrated competence and interest in general surgery (e.g. surgical rotations, electives, scholarly activities, conference involvement and other related work or life experiences). We are seeking candidates who possess superior clinical communication skills and can relate to patients, their families, and caregivers with compassion, empathy, sensitivity and humility.
We are looking for candidates who possess the ability and willingness to work collaboratively (within and across professional domains) in a team dynamic to secure optimal patient outcomes, while exemplifying the highest standards of professional behavior.
We are also looking to identify candidates who would be a good fit for our program. Candidates who are well suited to our program are
- Those with a strong surgical and procedural aptitude
- Those who can adapt and thrive in a hands-on, distributed residency program that requires flexibility with some travel away from their primary location of residence.
- Those who can prioritize their personal well-being while striving for work-life balance
- Those who are committed to self-directed learning and reflective practice, professional development, and quality improvement.
File review process
Review team composition : The file review team consists of program faculty and residents. Each application will be reviewed and scored independently by a combination of 2-4 program Faculty members and residents.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200
The program receives an average of around 70-80 applications each year.
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 51 - 75 %
The program offers interviews to approximately the top 35-50 candidates.
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Highlight academic and work background/experiences, personal and professional achievements as well as awards and volunteerism. |
| Electives | Demonstrate a diverse range of electives relevant to the discipline of general surgery. Rural and/or northern electives an asset. |
| Examinations | We do not evaluate this file component. |
| Extra-curricular | Demonstrate work-life balance which highlight personal interests. |
| Leadership skills | Any leadership roles and positions held throughout training should be outlined in the CV |
| MSPRs | Review of rotation competencies as well as academic performance on rotations and any possible professionalism concerns |
| Personal letters | Interest in general surgery and knowledge about our program and training sites throughout northern Ontario. |
| Reference documents | Commitment to surgery, performance on rotations, knowledge and clinical skills and comments on character. |
| Research/Publications | Past achievements and/or publication and interest in participating in future scholarly activity. |
| Transcripts | Strength of academic record. |
| Other file component(s) |
Transcript/CV Addendum: If any part of your application indicates academic difficulty, failure(s), repeat of a year or any gaps in your education or training history, a supplementary statement at the END of your Personal Letter is requested. Please entitle your statement as "Transcript/CV Addendum", explaining the above. |
Elective criteria
Interview process
Interview format :
We do not re-schedule interviews for applicants after we have completed the scheduling process.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | Ability to work well in a team setting which may include other residents, faculty, allied healthcare providers. |
| Collegiality | Personable, respectful towards others, values the importance of a supportive and collegial atmosphere. |
| Communication skills | Able to reflect and communicate responses clearly and concisely as well as demonstrated ability communicate well with others. |
| Health advocacy | We do not formally evaluate this component during the interview. |
| Interest in the discipline | Genuine passion and clear understanding of General Surgery as demonstrated by past experiences and future practice goals. |
| Interest in the program | Knowledge about our program, training sites and northern Ontario. |
| Leadership skills | Expand upon leadership roles and positions outlined in the application. |
| Professionalism | Conducts themselves in a professional manner. |
| Scholarly activities | Based on CV, may ask about research plans. |
| Other interview component(s) | Interviews will be conducted virtually. |
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
- Early surgical skill training
- Individualized educational goals focused on anatomy and surgical procedures; 24 hour in-hospital access to full body cadavers
- Unparalleled preceptor support from knowledgeable surgeons committed to practicing in Northern Ontario
- Early integration as a key member of a health care team dedicated to professionalism, high quality patient care and excellent medical education
- Exposure to the culture and social fabric of Francophone and Indigenous communities
- Opportunity to participate in research under expert guidance
- Opportunity for learning experience in a range of Northern urban, rural and remote clinical settings
- Funding available for research, professional development and conferences
- Provision of financial support for resident travel to and from core clinical placements away from the home base and all mandatory educational activities at non home base locations
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 NOSMU General Surgery program includes core rotations and subspecialty rotations selected to incorporate a diversity of experience and proficiency in subspecialty areas integral to a future practice as a General Surgeon.
Based on the resident’s personal learning plan, the content, sequence of training and schedule of movement between teaching sites may vary. Years one and two comprise the core program (Surgical Foundations). In the fall of PGY2, the core program residents will be eligible to take the Surgical Foundations Examination, which must be successfully completed prior to the fellowship exams.
Residents spend the majority of their first year in either Sudbury or Thunder Bay, providing them with an opportunity to become acquainted with colleagues and to gain a foundation of skills before traveling outside of this home base. After this, there are multiple options available for ongoing training for a variety of rotations in the following communities: Thunder Bay, Sudbury, North Bay, Parry Sound, Sault Ste Marie, Huntsville and Ottawa.
Content of Training - sample structure
PGY-1
- 6 Blocks General Surgery
- 2 Blocks Endoscopy
- 3 Blocks Community General Surgery
- 1 Block Emergency Medicine
- 1 Block MCTU
PGY-2
- 6 Blocks General Surgery
- 2 Blocks ICU
- 1 Block Trauma (Ottawa)
- 2 Blocks Pediatrics (Ottawa)
- 1 Block Thoracic/Vascular surgery
- 1 Blocks Research
PGY-3
- 10 Blocks General Surgery (4 blocks at alternate site)
- 1 Block Vascular/Thoracic Surgery
- 2 Blocks Electives
**Resident must pass the Surgical Foundations exam prior to progressing to PGY-4
PGY-4
- 8 Blocks General Surgery
- 3 Blocks Community General Surgery
- 2 Blocks electives
PGY-5
- 13 Blocks General Surgery (4 blocks at alternate site)
Academics
Academics are delivered to the full resident group during two to three full day sessions which occur 5 times throughout the academic year. The residents will gather for these academic days during protected time from clinical duties.
Residents in the first two years of training will attend the Surgical Foundations Program. Around the 15th month of training, residents in the program will write a final exam set by the Royal College. Faculty led teaching sessions will normally occur weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 1400 - 1700h.
Residents also participate in PGY1 Core Curriculum events, local community educational rounds, presentations, journal clubs and rounds through a WebEx online classroom as well as the Ontario Telemedicine Network.
Research
All residents are expected to complete and present a minimum of two research projects over the five-year program.
Research electives can be arranged to facilitate research goals.
Training Sites
Residents will be based out of either Thunder Bay or Sudbury, with general surgery rotations occurring throughout NOSM U's distributed geographical area.
Additional Information
To learn more about northern Ontario, please visit the "Wider Campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine" webpage.
Summary of changes
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