Enhanced Skills Program: Addiction Medicine

The Addiction Medicine program is a one-year program aimed at providing the family physician with skills to treat patients with substance abuse disorders in urban or rural settings. 

We strive to train leaders in addiction medicine who can deliver evidence-based clinical care and take on pressing societal challenges in policy, research, advocacy and education related to addiction medicine. We are committed to providing our residents with the best possible training experience in order to foster their growth as addiction medicine physicians who are patient-centred clinicians and practice in a culturally safe manner.

Program Director: Dr. Erin Lurie, MD, CCFP 

Length of Program: One Year (52 Weeks) - Full Time

 

Program and Application Eligibility

Family Medicine/Enhanced Skills Match:

  • Trainees currently enrolled in a CFPC accredited program, who hold a postgraduate education certificate of registration or equivalent in their province are eligible for the Match. N.B.: Those enrolled in a PGY3 Enhanced Skills Program at the time of application are NOT eligible to apply to another PGY3 Enhanced Skills position.
    • Off-cycle applicants: PGY2 residents with completion dates between July 1 and December 31, 2023 are also eligible but must declare their completion date on the application form and request a late start.  You may only apply to the match one time.  While some programs are able to admit residents' off-cycle, others are not. Off-cycle applicants will remain eligible to apply to the following year's match recognizing that they may have obtained an independent practice license in the interim period.
  • Residents currently enrolled in ACGME accredited Family Medicine residency programs in the U.S. who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents may apply to the PGY3 FM Addiction Medicine Match if they meet the CFPC requirements outlined on the College of Family Physicians of Canada website. Further information is available on the CaRMS Provincial Eligibility site. Information regarding licensure requirements is available at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario site.

Not eligible to apply through CaRMS:

  • International Sponsored Visa Trainees: This program accepts sponsored trainee applicants* from countries with a training agreement with the University of Toronto Post MD Education Office. The University currently has training agreements in place with: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Sponsored Visa Trainees from these countries must apply directly through the Post MD Education Office. Our program is unable to consider applicants from countries where a training agreement is not currently in place.
    • *Selection determined by application program review and program capacity
  • Practicing Family Physicians are not eligible for the PGY3 FM Addiction Medicine Match but may access PGY3 FM Addiction Medicine training via the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Re-Entry program. Re-Entry Program information is available at the MOHLTC website.

Curriculum Competencies

The Addiction Medicine Residency Program adheres to CanMEDS-FM goals and objectives to achieve the following competencies:

  1. Medical Expert
  2. Communicator
  3. Collaborator
  4. Manager
  5. Scholar
  6. Health Advocate
  7. Professional

For complete details, please read the Addiction Medicine Program Goals and Objectives.

Sample Rotation

Rotations include:

  • Inpatient addiction medicine consultation service
  • Medical withdrawal unit
  • Outpatient management of concurrent disorders
  • Residential treatment
  • Managing patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorders
  • Managing patients with pregnancy and substance use disorders
  • Youth concurrent disorders 
  • Exposure and experience in running groups for relapse prevention
  • Exposure to the use of telemedicine in the area of addiction medicine
  • Nicotine dependency clinic
  • Gambling disorders clinic
  • Optional selectives including HIV and Hepatitis C care, borderline personality disorder clinic, sexual behaviours clinic, etc.
  • Opportunity to tailor learning experiences to specific interests
  • Longitudinal half day back in family medicine

Rotation Goals & Objectives:

Unique Program Requirements

There is an opportunity within this program to complete the CAMH Methadone simulation. Residents participate in a weekly half day back for teaching as well as a longitudinal family medicine clinic. They rotate across the University of Toronto network of hospitals as well as community settings. All residents complete a scholarly project in education, policy, advocacy, QI or research. They also participate in monthly journal club and addiction medicine rounds.

Apply