Summer Opportunities for MD Students

Family Medicine Immersion (FMI) Week is a unique opportunity for first- and second-year medical students to explore what a career in family medicine can look like. Students will benefit from an engaging and varied schedule with talks from family medicine experts and clinical skills workshops on punch biopsies, pelvic exams/pap screening, injections, baby delivery and more. Students will also have the opportunity to shadow a family physician in their clinical office around the city. Come and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a family physician from an enthusiastic group of family physicians and residents!

Dates: June 10-14, 2024 from 8am-5pm

• Students must attend all 5 days to receive participation certificate.

Format: In-person

• Skills training and presentations will take place at 500 University Ave.
• Observerships will take place in clinic between 1pm-4pm on June 11 & 13, 2024
• Clinic placements will be in the downtown Toronto region.

Cohort size: 50

Learning objectives:

• Understand the diversity and opportunity available in a career in family medicine.
• Demonstrate clinical skills relevant to family medicine (i.e., injections, pap tests, suturing).
• Describe a typical clinic day in a family physician's office with a focus on how the four principles of family medicine apply.

How to apply:

Please complete the application form by May 3, 2024.

During the Family Medicine Community Longitudinal Leadership Enrichment Opportunity (FM-CLLEO) program, you’ll observe firsthand the invaluable role family physicians play in the communities they work within. This opportunity allows student learners to collaborate closely with a family physician in an equity-deserving neighbourhood focusing on preventive care such as cancer screening and immunizations. Supported by OntarioMD, you will use extracted EMR practice data to identify patients who are in need of preventive care, schedule patient appointments and perform direct patient care to aid in preventative efforts. The Family Medicine Community Longitudinal Leadership Enrichment Opportunity (FM-CLLEO) is led by the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and aligned with Ontario Health Toronto’s primary care priorities.

Upon completion of FM-CLLEO, students can claim up to 12 hours of EEE activities.

Prerequisites: Students must complete the Family Medicine Immersion Week to be considered for this opportunity.

Dates: End of June 2024 to August 2024

• Students and their family physician preceptor will mutually agree upon a schedule, dedicating a minimum of three half days throughout the summer to complete the program objectives.

Format: In-person

• Skills training and presentations (including 1 half day of data and MI training) will take place at 500 University Ave.
• Observership will take place in clinic (address TBD) between 1pm-4pm on June 11, 2024

Cohort size: 20

Learning objectives:

• Use data to drive clinical decision-making.
• Obtain direct exposure to patients through appointment bookings and in-person preventative care efforts.
• Improve access to care in high priority communities.

How to apply:

Please complete the application form by May 3, 2024.

The Education Scholarship Accelerator Program (ESAP) is aimed at undergraduate health professional trainees and learners and focuses on education scholarship encompassing both research and innovation in health professions education. Participants engage in a series of virtual workshops, guided by experts, to design and execute scholarly projects related to education. The program emphasizes peer-reviewed work that contributes to the field. Participants will collaborate, reflect, and develop their projects, with support from Women’s College Hospital faculty or staff. Overall, ESAP fosters effective education collaboration and project dissemination. This opportunity is led by Women's College Hospital in collaboration with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.

A Certificate of Completion will be issued by the Learning Institute to participants who satisfactorily complete ESAP. Learners are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. This year, there is no terminal examination or report beyond the adjudicated poster presentations. Learners are encouraged to continue working with their supervisors to disseminate project outcomes.

Prerequisites: Students must complete the Family Medicine Immersion Week to be considered for this opportunity.

Dates: 15 hours per week (as determined between student and preceptor) + Webinars every Wednesday from June 5 - July 24, 2024 from 9:30am - 12:30pm

• Learners are expected to attend and participate in all virtual sessions, work with their supervisors on an education scholarship project, and present their work in a final adjudicated poster session. Part-time commitment to project completion is expected as agreed upon with the learner’s supervisor.

Format: Virtual webinars + Research (15 hours per week, as determined between student and preceptor)

Cohort size: 10

Learning objectives:

ESAP aims to build ES capacity among health professions students and WCH staff by pairing health professions trainees with staff supervisors to implement an applied education scholarship project.

Participants will demonstrate that they can conceptualize, design, and execute a scholarly project related to education. They will receive guidance from Women’s College Hospital (WCH) faculty and staff members to support quality scholarship that results in peer-reviewed work that contributes to the field of education and provides a platform for others to build upon.

Students will explore the breadth of education scholarship, including research and innovation in health professions education. Through eight 3-hour virtual weekly workshops, facilitated by field experts, participants will delve into core topics to develop their ES project, research knowledge, and presentation skills. They will work on and present their personal scholarly projects, while reflecting on their progress and refining their ideas.

How to apply:

Please complete the application form by May 3, 2024. Applications will stay open until positions are filled.

The Lester & Jean Gagnon Mentorship Scholarship Program offers a paid 7-week opportunity for first- and second-year medical students at the University of Toronto. Participants gain clinical experience, explore family medicine within a clinical setting and receive mentorship. The program includes leadership, scholarship, and advocacy components. Students engage with family physicians in academic and community settings. As part of the program requirements students must opt into either the FM-CLLEO program, focusing on screening and prevention interventions in vulnerable communities and/or the ESAP program that focuses on education scholarship, encompassing both research and innovation in health professions education.

A Certificate of Completion will be issued by the Learning Institute to participants who satisfactorily complete ESAP. Learners are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. This year, there is no terminal examination or report beyond the adjudicated poster presentations. Learners are encouraged to continue working with their supervisors to disseminate project outcomes.

Prerequisites: Students must complete the Family Medicine Immersion (FMI) Week AND either of the below opportunities to be considered.

• FM-CLLEO
• ESAP

Dates: 5 weeks (end of June to end of July), full time (9 am - 5pm, 5 days a week)

Format: Please refer to the format for FMI Week, FM-CLLEO and ESAP.

• Clinic placements will be in the downtown Toronto region.

Scholarship value: $4000

Cohort size: 2

Learning objectives:

• Students will gain insights into the diversity and various career opportunities within family medicine.  
• Students will acquire relevant clinical skills in both simulated and in-clinic environments.  
• Through clinical exposure, mentorship, and role modeling, participants will develop a strong professional identity within the field of family medicine.

How to apply:

Please complete the application form by May 3, 2024. Interviews will take place in early May.