Program Contacts

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Important Information

Second Iteration – IMG Eligibility (MMI Requirement)

IMG applicants applying in the second iteration must have participated in the Dalhousie Family Medicine IMG MMI during the first iteration of the same match year in order to be eligible for consideration and ranking in the second iteration. IMG applicants who did not interview in the first iteration are not eligible to be considered in the second iteration.

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Licensing Requirement (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI)

To obtain a postgraduate training license in Nova Scotia after the match, Canadian Medical Graduates must register for and challenge the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I) by July 1, 2026. Graduates who are unsuccessful on the exam will be subject to the decision of the relevant regulatory authority regarding licensure.

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Priority Admissions Pathways and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

Our program is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) throughout the selection process.

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Residents Seeking Transfer Through the Second Iteration

Please note: If you are a resident in a current Canadian postgraduate position using the second iteration of the CaRMS Match as a possible route to change program or specialty, in accordance with 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.

If you are shortlisted, you will be required to provide permission for the program to speak with your current Program Director.

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Applications and Ranking

Applicants must submit and rank a separate application for each Dalhousie Family Medicine site they wish to be considered for.

Each site is treated as a distinct program in the CaRMS system.

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Interview Process

Only one interview will be conducted per applicant, regardless of the number of Dalhousie Family Medicine sites applied to.

The results of this interview will be considered for all sites.

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Personal Letter

A personal letter is required in addition to the CaRMS application.

If you have particular interests or connections to specific sites, you are encouraged to address them within your single personal letter.

Previous residency training: If you have previously withdrawn from or been dismissed from a residency training program, this must be declared and explained in your personal letter.

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FMProC 2026 Dates and Requirements

First Round
Registration opens: September 10, 2025, at 12 noon ET
Registration closes: October 30, 2025, at 12 noon ET
Test window opens: October 23, 2025, at 12 noon ET
Test window closes: November 6, 2025, at 12 noon ET

Second Round
Registration opens: February 23, 2026, at 12 noon ET
Registration closes: March 9, 2026, at 12 noon ET
Test window opens: February 25, 2026, at 12 noon ET
Test window closes: March 11, 2026, at 12 noon ET

Important Notes

THESE DEADLINES ARE FINAL AND NO REQUEST FOR LATE REGISTRATION OR LATE SITTING OF THE TEST WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Applicants must have completed the FMProC assessment for the 2026 CaRMS cycle. Results are transmitted directly to CaRMS.

Applicants are only required to register, pay for, and complete the FMProC assessment once per CaRMS cycle.

Additional details and sample questions: www.fmproc.com

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Mandatory Curriculum Event: Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES)

Dalhousie Family Medicine hosts a mandatory curriculum event each year, the Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES).

Attendance is required for all residents at all sites.

Time off will not be approved during this period except in cases of extenuating circumstances.

FMRES 2026 will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Wednesday, August 19 to Friday, August 21, 2026.

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Return of Service (RoS)

All International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who match to Dalhousie Family Medicine residency positions are required to sign a Return of Service (RoS) agreement with the relevant provincial Ministry of Health.

This requirement applies to IMGs matched in either the first or second iteration of the CaRMS match.

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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. (https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/nova-scotia-new-brunswick-pei/#1594752203091-ee3145f0-2e09)

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Interviews

Selection Criteria

Program goals

The Dalhousie Department of Family Medicine’s program goal is to train residents to be family physicians who through education, research, comprehensive clinical care, and engagement in partnerships, meet the needs of Maritime communities.  Residents are trained to address health needs of all populations including underserved communities and individuals with complex needs, giving them the ability to practice in diverse family practice settings.  

Our program and university value the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in residency education, and achieving a diverse and inclusive group of residents is a goal in our selection process.

Selection process goals

As a program we are looking for applicants with solid people skills, a variety of life experiences, an admirable work ethic and reasonable academic background. We look for evidence of commitment to family medicine in your personal letter. We are interested in candidates who are comfortable with self-directed learning, with teamwork, with seeking out the countless learning opportunities available, and with an interest in an appropriate balance between personal life, family, community and professional life.

Dalhousie is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racialized persons, women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.

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

The Dalhousie Program - An Overview:

Have you always wanted to learn in a community setting where family physicians are respected and valued? If so, Dalhousie is the place for you. Teaching residents and students in communities across the Maritimes has been the focus of our Department from its beginnings. Our aim is to encourage residents to become effective, compassionate family physicians who can care for their patients in hospital, ambulatory and community settings. You will be able to learn office practice, in-patient care, obstetrics, procedures and emergency skills from family physicians who are skilled and experienced.

What support is available to residents in the program including rural clinical learning experiences?

Residents are only expected to pay rent in one location. If a resident is required to move to a different site for a core clinical learning experience, the cost of the rent is reimbursed to the resident. Travel expenses are paid when a resident is required to move away from their home site to another site for a core clinical learning experience. If residents are required to travel to multiple sites during a core clinical learning experience, they are reimbursed for the additional kilometres. Travel to and from work is not reimbursed. These supports are provided in accordance with the Maritime Resident Doctors’ Collective Agreement.

Are there opportunities for electives?

Yes, there are ten weeks of electives available in PGY2 year. Residents in the Dalhousie University program can arrange up to four weeks of their elective time outside of the Maritime Provinces. Other elective time should be done in the Maritime Provinces.  Residents can apply to do more than four weeks outside the Maritime Provinces for global health experiences.

What are the research requirements of the program?

A scholarly project is required to be completed during the residency. Residents receive protected time for scholarly activity. It is also expected that the residents will take advantage of any expertise available to them through their core and community practice clinical learning experiences. The purpose of the scholarly project is to introduce the resident to the process of finding answers to questions commonly encountered in primary care by critically reviewing the available literature. Where such answers are found lacking, the resident may choose to employ an appropriate methodology to design a study using proper scientific rigour to answer that question.

What about ATLS, ALARM, ACLS and NRP?

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - All residents are required to have an up to date ACLS prior to beginning residency. During the residency, all residents are funded to attend an ATLS course, an ALARM course, an NRP course, and an ACLS refresher.

How do residents learn evidence-based medicine and research skills?

Current approaches to practising evidence-based medicine are taught through patient and practice-based tutorials. Emphasis is on learning the skills to seek the research evidence to support clinical decision-making.

What PGY3 positions are available?

There are PGY3 positions in Emergency Medicine, Palliative Care and Care of the Elderly at Dalhousie. Individualized third year programs may also be available at a resident's request and initiative and subject to funding availability.

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Miramichi Program - Introduction

Miramichi is the perfect match for candidates who wish to have a true community family medicine experience in a welcoming, friendly, and picturesque region of New Brunswick. Miramichi is a small city with a rural community base of surrounding villages and towns. There is a 146-bed hospital with comprehensive specialty services and many varied local clinics serving the population’s needs.

The Family medicine residency program in Miramichi will have its inaugural year in 2024. Miramichi preceptors have extensive experience teaching medical students through the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship Program. Miramichi is also a satellite site for training the Family Medicine Integrated Emergency Medicine Residents from Dalhousie University.

Our goal is to provide a dynamic, rich learning environment that will prepare family medicine residents to be competent and confident physicians ready to manage a variety of clinical situations in a wide range of practice environments.

Miramichi Program - Unique Features

The program offers unique longitudinal experiential learning with a focus on education and patient centered care. Residents will have opportunities to have hands on learning and skill development in one-on-one preceptor to resident settings. The residents will be involved in providing care of patients in various health care settings including hospital inpatient care, emergency room, surgery, office settings, community clinics, nursing homes and home visits. They will care for patients at birth, provide end of life care, and cover all points in between.

Quality simulation training is provided, and residents will be involved in teaching medical students. Residents will participate in internal medicine procedure clinics, pediatrics, surgical disciplines, care of the elderly, family practice oncology, palliative care, addictions and mental health prison medicine and Indigenous health clinics.  Teaching will emphasize the role of the family physician as health advocate, as well as the impact of the social determinants of health on individuals and communities.

Resident wellness is important to us. We have a dedicated onsite faculty member for Resident and Student Affairs as well as Faculty advisors.

What is the ratio of residents to faculty?

The Miramichi program is based on a one or two primary preceptor model. Most of the time there will be one on one preceptor to resident ratio.

What is the average patient load per resident?

Residents will be responsible for a panel of patients that increases in size gradually over the two years of training. Initially, residents are booked lightly to ensure that they develop standard clinical and practice management skills. Residents will be encouraged to increase their responsibilities as their experience, skills, confidence, and competence evolve. By the end of the two years, residents will be functioning as family physicians and will be ready for independent practice.

What resources are available?

• Our medical education department is fully equipped with a modern lounge.
• The lounge has a coffee maker, TV, fridge, microwave, dining, and lounging areas.
• Dedicated computer workstations.
• On-call rooms are available, as well as lockers and shower facilities.
• There are med ed videoconferencing rooms and a high-tech simulation lab.
• The hospital library is well equipped and connected to the Dalhousie electronic library. The library has excellent staff to assist residents with their learning needs.
• The hospital provides free parking for residents.
• There is an opportunity for free French language training at the hospital.
• Discounts are provided for local gyms. 

Our Community and Region:

Distance from nearest airport to Academic Centre	145 km to the Greater Monton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport and 90 km to the Bathurst Airport.
Housing/Accommodation	Residents are only expected to pay rent in one location and are responsible for securing accommodation. Average cost of accommodation varies widely depending on the community.
Resident Contract	Maritime Resident Doctors
Electives	Residents in the Dalhousie University program can arrange up to 4 weeks of their elective time outside the Maritime Provinces.  Other elective time must be done in the Maritime Provinces.  Residents can apply to do more than 4 weeks outside the Maritime Provinces for global health experiences.
Other Location Information	Miramichi is situated on a beautiful river. It offers many outdoor opportunities including fishing, kayaking, hiking, skiing, biking, and golfing to name a few. There are active community groups in theatre, music, dance, and film. There are yearly festivals celebrating diverse cultures including Irish, Scottish, Acadian, and Indigenous. In addition, there is an engaged multicultural society offering various services and events. There are opportunities to learn and practice French both at work and in the community.

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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.

Mandatory Curriculum Event: Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES):

Dalhousie Family Medicine hosts a mandatory curriculum event each year, the Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES). Attendance is required for all residents at all sites. Time off will not be approved during this period except in cases of extenuating circumstances.
FMRES 2026 will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Wednesday, August 19 to Friday, August 21, 2026.

 

The clinical curriculum is delivered in a longitudinal integrated format over two years of training with the family medicine experience being the largest component. Longitudinal experiences will be provided in Family medicine, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Care of the Elderly and Palliative Medicine. Limited 1-2 week burst rotations may be completed for experience in areas such as Hospitalist, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Intensive Care. There will be a 4-week traditional block of Obstetrics and Gynecology training in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The academic curriculum schedule runs over two years, longitudinally, to cover all core topics with added value curriculum as necessary and available. Academic curriculum also includes Practice Based Small Group Learning modules, simulation sessions, and resident presentations.

Clinical learning experiences in PGY1 include four weeks of selectives in areas that the residents see fit for their needs. Selectives are done in Miramichi.

Electives are offered in the second year. Electives include a total of eight weeks that residents have the choice to arrange, tailored towards their needs and career goals.

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Training Sites

 Dalhousie Family Medicine – Site Administrator Contacts 

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Additional Information

Eligibility and Streams

• The first iteration includes separate application streams:

  • Canadian Medical Graduates (CMG): Must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with no previous post-MD/clinical training.

  • International Medical Graduates (IMG): Must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with no previous Canadian post-MD/clinical training.

• IMG positions are available at Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, Halifax, North Nova, South West Nova (NS), Prince Edward Island (PEI), Fredericton, and Miramichi (NB).

• Applicants to the South West Nova francophone position must provide proof of French language proficiency. Accepted tests include:

  • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)

  • Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF)

Return of Service (RoS) Obligation

• All IMGs matching in the first iteration must sign a return of service contract with the Ministry of Health.

  • PEI matches: RoS contract in PEI.

  • NS matches (Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, South West Nova, North Nova, Halifax): RoS contract in Nova Scotia.

  • NB matches (Fredericton, Miramichi): RoS contract in New Brunswick.

• Please review the relevant provincial criteria for specific details and obligations.

Application Requirements

• The application requirements for IMGs are identical for the first and second iterations.

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FAQ

1. How can I find out more about the program?
   Applicants are welcome to contact any of the Associate Chief Residents listed on our website (http://fmr.medicine.dal.ca) for site-specific questions. For general inquiries, you may also contact the program office directly.
   
   
2. How do I get more information about scheduling electives?
   Undergraduate electives in Family Medicine are available at all of our teaching sites. To arrange an elective or to inquire about availability, contact the Dalhousie Family Medicine Education office at dfm.undergrad@dal.ca.
   
   
3. Am I required to have a vehicle?
   Yes. Due to the rural and distributed nature of our training sites, successful candidates must have a reliable mode of transportation for all clinical rotations and educational experiences. Please note that public transit is limited or unavailable in many areas of the Maritimes, and alternative arrangements may not be feasible. This requirement may not apply to all Halifax-based residents, but is expected at all other sites.
   
   
4. What is the current resident contract like?
   Details about compensation, benefits, and resident responsibilities are available from Maritime Resident Doctors: www.maritimeresidentdoctors.ca.
   
   
5. Will I be required to travel during residency?
   Some required rotations and elective experiences may involve travel within or between sites. The amount of travel depends on each resident’s training plan and site assignment. Residents are expected to plan accordingly. Support for travel and accommodation is available in certain circumstances, in line with program and collective agreement policies.