Letter and report to SOCASMA from Dr. Ed Schollenberg, MD, LLB, LLM, FRCPC. Retired Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick and Dr. Erica Schollenberg, MD, FRCPC, Pediatric Pathologist in Nova Scotia. Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad – Schollenberg Feb 2025

I urge Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad to write to the Honourable Patty Hadju, Minister of Job and Families, with the objective of reinforcing this initiative of loan forgiveness and student financial support for Canadians who go and study medicine abroad. Rosemary Pawliuk, Executive Director The Society for Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad ———————————–s——————————————————————————- From: Society Medicine <socasma@outlook.com> […]

(Le français suit.) March 15, 2026. The10-day hearing challenging the two-stream system of access to residency training before Justice Kirchner in the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver is now finished. Justice Kirchner has reserved judgment. He stated that it would be several months before a judgment and reasons for that judgment would be rendered. On […]

Update on SOCASMA Legal Action (Le français suit) March 6, 2026.  SOCASMA and two Canadians who studied abroad began a judicial review hearing before Justice Kirchner in the BC Supreme Court claiming that IMGs are entitled to compete on the same terms for all the positions available to CMGs after passing the MCCQE1 and NAC […]

After many years of waiting, SOCASMA finally has a court date to hear our challenge of the inequitable access to residency training for IMGs. The case is set to begin on March 2, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. Pacific time in BC Supreme Court. There are two Petitions set for the same time: The Society for […]

le 7 janvier 2026 / January 7, 2026 (The English version to this letter follows the one in French)   Monsieur Gordon Giddings Président Conseil médical du Canada   Madame Isabelle Tardif Membre du Conseil d’administration Conseil médical du Canada   Monsieur Viren Naik Directeur général Conseil médical du Canada   Madame et Messieurs,   […]

The following document outlines 7 key areas that SOCASMA is advocating for in order to improve the current medical residency recruitment and training system in Canada. Le document suivant (voir page 8) présente 7 domaines clés que SOCASMA préconise afin d’améliorer le système actuel de recrutement et de formation des résidents en médecine au Canada […]

Student Information Meeting.  Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 9 a.m. BC/ 10 a.m. Mtn/noon Ont. The meeting will have CSAs current and past who can share experiences and advice on how to maximize your chances of matching. KNOWING HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND PREPARING IS CRITICAL TO A SUCCESSFUL MATCH. We will send you resource […]

December 8, 2025 The Honorable Lena Metlege Diab Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, IRCC.MinisterMinistre.IRCC@cic.gc.ca The Honourable Marjorie Michel Minister of Health, hcminister.ministresc@hc-sc.gc.ca Dear Madame Ministers: Please find attached a policy proposal to address the issue of physician shortages in Canada. Our organizations have put forward a solution that, through a change to immigration policy […]

“The court directs the Minister of Health to issue a fresh directive to such agencies and organizations as may be necessary to re-open the applications process relating to the 2026 R-1 match so that Residency candidates who were excluded by the requirement that they have attended high school in Ontario for two years shall have […]

November 28, 2025 CARMS Email to IMG Subject: Update on Judicial Stay for 2026 R-1 Match in Ontario / Mise à jour sur la suspension judiciaire du jumelage R-1 2026 en Ontario (Le français suit l’anglais.) On November 27, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Divisional Court) ordered on an interim interim basis that the […]

SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED FOR INFORMATION REGARDING QUEBEC’S REQUIREMENT WITH REGARDS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF FRENCH FOR PROFESSIONAL ORDERS. Here are the details: https://www.cmq.org/en/acc%C3%A9der-%C3%A0-la-profession/international/permis-dexercice-regulier-par-la-reconnaissance-dequivalence-du-m-d You’ll see that the knowledge of French is a legal requirement that applies to all professional orders : “Section 35 of the Charter of the French language stipulates that the […]

To :  Ontario Faculties of Medicine Program Directors  Ontario Media  Ontario PGME Associate Deans pgmedean@mcmaster.ca anath@uOttawa.ca adpge@nosm.ca jmccoleman@nosm.ca postgrad.med@utoronto.ca muellevm@torontomu.ca pgme@queensu.ca postgraduate.medicine@schulich.uwo.ca  COFM members  smcnickle@cou.ca  OMA info@oma.org Ontario MOH Premier Ford Premier@ontario.ca Sylvia Jones sylvia.jones@ontario.ca David Lamb david.lamb@ontario.ca Karima Velji Karima.Velji@ontario.ca   Many Ontario Residency Program Directors are expressing that they value diversity, are not […]

La Society of Canadians Study Medicine Abroad est heureuse d’annoncer la création d’une branche de ses activitées qui est dédiée aux médecins francophones formés à l’étranger.  Le Collectif des médecins francophones internationaux du Canada, qui regroupe plus de 150 médecins francophones formés à l’étranger, s’est doté des objectifs qui suivent: Objectifs du Collectif des médecins […]

The purpose of this post is to respond to a number of enquiries/concerns we have received related to Independent clinical electives (outside the AFMC portal) in British Columbia. Electives are important for the match process. The chances of matching is positively correlated to doing an elective in a country, province, and medical school.  Thus, electives […]

by Malcolm M. McFarlane Abstract (Le français suit.) The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) plays a leading role in specialty and subspecialty post graduate medical education (PGME) in Canada. As the RCPSC accredits PGME programs, these programs are structured to meet the RCPSC Competence by Design model and their CanMEDS roles. […]

New E-Book Alert – provided by the Medical Council of Canada Are you an international medical graduate (#IMG) navigating the complex path to licensure in Canada? Physician Licensing in Canada is your go-to resource for comparing clinical assistant, associate physician, and Practice-Ready Assessment programs, broken down province by province. This essential guide, compiled by Dr. […]

British Columbia is bringing down barriers for doctors in the United States.  This is an opportunity for Canadians practicing medicine in the United States to come back home and practice medicine in British Columbia.  See following link: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HLTH0013-000194

Il y a plusieurs années passées, deux Canadiens étudiant en médecine à l’étranger (CSA) et la Société des Canadiens qui étudient la médecine à l’étranger (SOCASMA) ont intenté une action en justice pour mettre fin à la discrimination contre les diplômés internationaux en médecine (DIM). Nous avons enfin une date d’audience. Notre requête doit être […]

Several years ago, two Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad (CSAs) and the Society for Canadians Studying Studying Medicine Abroad (SOCASMA)filed a lawsuit to stop the discrimination against International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Finally, we have a hearing date. Our case is set to be heard for two weeks in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on March […]

SOCASMA has received an e-mail (see in bold, in e-mail below) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia indicating that it is seeking input into new proposed bylaws to put American Board certification on par with Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification. As per this new bylaw, you […]

IMPORTANT NEWS! New Pathway to Supervised Practice for Internationally Trained Specialists – College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario NOUVELLE IMPORTANTE! Nouveau cheminement pour les spécialistes formés à l’étranger – Collège des médecins et chirurgiens de l’Ontario Here is the link: https://dialogue.cpso.on.ca/articles/new-pathway-to-supervised-practice-for-internationally-trained-specialists-?

Here are useful resources for medical students or International Medical Graduates wishing to apply for residency in Canada or in the United States: Powerpoint Information for Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad 2024: Powerpoint Information for CSAs 2024 (December) CARMS Application: carms application Interviewing information and stragegy: Interviewing Information and StrategyPopular Interview Questions Sites of interest to […]

(Le français suit.) IMPORTANT NEWS! The order of the Match has been changed back so that the CaRMS Match will go back to being before the American Match. By having the CARMS match date (March 4, 2025) before the U.S. match date (March 17, 2025), Canadians who study medicine abroad can prioritize doing a residency […]

(Le français suit.) CONSIDERING COMING TO CANADA TO PRACTICE MEDICINE?   HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS AN IMG/ITP: In 2023 the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) announced that it was removing barriers for  internationally trained family physicians trained in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.  It is also […]

See report: https://www.ratnaomidvar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG-Report-Design-EN.pdf   Voir le rapport: https://www.ratnaomidvar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG-Report-Design-FR.pdf

Voici un excellent article du Collège des médecins du Québec décrivant les différentes façons que les médecins formés à l’étranger sont recrutés au Québec.  (Article only available in French at this time.) https://www.cmq.org/fr/acceder-a-la-profession/international/venir-exercer-quebec

Working Group SOCASMA <socasma.working@gmail.com> Tue, Apr 9, 1:01 PM to Sylvia.Jones, Caroline.Mulroney, credentials, comsmgr, comms, presidence, Antoine, fhebert, Rosemary Madame Sylvia Jones Ministre de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée de l’Ontario Sylvia.Jones@pc.ola.org Madame Carolyn Mulroney Ministre des Affaires francophones de l’Ontario Caroline.Mulroney@pc.ola.org (See English version below.) Chères mesdames Jones et Mulroney, J’aimerais souligner l’importance de réduire les barrières qui empêchent les médecins francophones […]

Discover the International MD Electives Program at #NOSMUniversity. Work in diverse environments, from remote communities to urban centres. Applications open June 1! nosm.ca/electives #MedEd #GlobalLearning … Découvrez le Programme international de stages au choix en médecine de l’#UniversitéEMNO. Travaillez dans divers environnements, autant dans des communautés éloignées que dans des centres urbains. La période de […]

We wanted to share with you a documentary, BC’s Code Blue, which we were asked to participate in about the barriers that IMGs face accessing residency training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oITmmQukjYI We are very much interested in more volunteers to help us better connect to CSAs studying overseas, CSAs studying in Canada, and to CSAs training in other […]

The following document outlines 8 key areas that SOCASMA is advocating for in order to improve the current medical residency recruitment and training system in Canada. Le document suivant (voir page 8) présente 8 domaines clés que SOCASMA préconise afin d’améliorer le système actuel de recrutement et de formation des résidents en médecine au Canada. […]

The Society for Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad (SOCASMA) has been fighting since 2010 against the roadblocks that Canadians who are graduates of international medical schools (IMGs) face in becoming licensed to practice medicine throughout Canada.   In the early 1990s the provincial Ministries of Health determined that the best way to control healthcare spending was to […]

Depuis 2010 la Société des Canadiens qui étudient la médecine à l’étranger (SOCASMA) lutte  contre les obstacles auxquels se heurtent les Canadiens diplômés d’écoles de médecine internationales (DIM) pour obtenir l’autorisation d’exercer la médecine partout au Canada. Au début des années 1990, les ministères provinciaux de la Santé ont déterminé que la meilleure façon de […]

Student Information Meeting for Canadian and American Match. December 28, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific (6 p.m. Mountain; 8:00 p.m. Eastern time) Via Zoom SOCASMA will be hosting an information/strategy meeting for IMGs looking to get and share information and strategies for the Canadian and American Matches.  Canadians studying medicine abroad (CSAs), International Medical Graduates […]

A partner organization of SOCASMA, the Foundation of International Medical Graduates, has launched a Canadian Clinical Competencies Internship for eligible candidates interested in applying to Canadian Residency Training programs. This internship was designed by Dr. Adri-Anna Aloia, current Canadian Family Medicine resident and founder and Executive Director of the Foundation of IMG. This program is […]

Between December 2022 and February 2023 SOCASMA conducted a survey to gather information regarding the experiences of CSAs, IMGs and CMGs with RCPSC examinations. A summary of the results of this Survey are available here: RCPSC EXAM EXPERIENCES SURVEY SUMMARY We welcome comments regarding the Survey which may be posted on our Facebook page or […]

Have a look at SOCASMA’s commentary on the Nazerali-Maitland et al article titled Challenges with international medical graduate selection: finding positive attributes predictive of success in family medicine residency. Socasma’s commentary is now available in the journal BMC Primary Care and is freely available online at the below web page: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-023-02105-6 Here is a link […]

SOCASMA has made a submission in regard to a consultation on the future of competition policy in Canada. Have a look at this very compelling submission: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/strategic-policy-sector/en/marketplace-framework-policy/competition-policy/submissions-consultation-future-competition-policy-canada/labour-consumer-or-public-interest-groups SOCASMA a préparé une présentation en réponse aux consultations en rapport avec l’avenir de la politique de la concurrence au Canada. Nous vous invitons à jeter un coup […]

(Le français suit.) PRACTICE READY ONTARIO (PRO) IS NOW OPEN! Practice Ready Ontario application portal is now open to applicants. The Touchstone Institute is the organization running the program. See web site: https://touchstoneinstitute.ca/assessment/practice-ready-ontario/ Phase 1 of Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) is offered for Family Medicine. The deadline for Phase 1 applications is Wednesday, July 19, […]

From the IMGBC Office: To applicants of UBC’s 2022 IMG Clinical Assessment Program: We would like to inform you of an employment opportunity as an Associate Physician in British Columbia, open to international medicine graduates who have specialist and general practitioner postgraduate training. If you have not obtained a residency position and are interested in […]

CPSO REMOVES BARRIERS FOR INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED PHYSICIANS: CLARIFICATIONS PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST OF THE SOCIETY FOR CANADIANS STUDYING MEDICINE ABROAD (SOCASMA) SOCASMA met with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) about the changes the CPSO has made to bring down barriers for certain internationally trained physicians. https://www.cpso.on.ca/News/News-Articles/CPSO-Removes-Barriers-for-Internationally-Educated The following clarifications […]

L’ORDRE DES MÉDECINS ET CHIRURGIENS DE L’ONTARIO (OMCO) ÉLIMINE DES OBSTACLES POUR LES MÉDECINS QUI ÉTUDIENT À L’ÉTRANGER : CLARIFICATIONS FOURNIES EN REPONSE A UNE DEMANDE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES CANADIENS QUI ÉTUDIENT MÉDECINE À L’ÉTRANGER (SOCASMA) (N.B. En cas de doute, la version anglaise a préséance sur la version française.) La SOCASMA a rencontré l’Ordre […]

Mémoire au Comité permanent de la santé de la Chambre des communes par la Société des Canadiens étudiant la médecine à l’étranger 24 octobre 2022 Au lendemain de la Covid-19, le Canada vit une crise des soins de santé. (1) La COVID-19 a révélé des fissures qui existaient auparavant dans notre fondation de soins de […]

Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health by the Society for Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad October 24, 2022 In the aftermath of Covid-19, Canada is experiencing a health care crisis. 1 COVID-19 has exposed previously existing cracks in our health care foundation 2 including inadequate planning for future physician needs 3 ; […]

BC Licensing in Associate Physician and USA Certified Class—Some questions answered. Eligibility Requirements See HPA-Bylaws.pdf (cpsbc.ca) for the College eligibility requirements for registration at s. 2-25- Associate Physician Acute Care s. 2-26 Associate Physician Community Primary Care s. 2-27 USA Certified We sought clarifications. The College has advised us: a. that someone registered in this […]

NEWS RELEASE SOCIETY FOR CANADIANS STUDYING MEDICINE ABROAD (SOCASMA) (Le français suit.) The Society for Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad is applauding the recent announcements* made by the Government of Ontario and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) with regards to the funding of additional medical residency positions and the removal of barriers […]

MedsHousing.com, a partner of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students is a global platform founded by a team of medical community members seeking to alleviate the stress of searching for housing during medical training. The service is free for medical learners and caters exclusively to the medical community. It is an important resource dedicated to […]

SOCASMA is looking for IMGs who are qualified and prepared to work in the Associate Physician categories that have been enacted in BC. HPA-Bylaws.pdf (cpsbc.ca) sections 2-25, 2-26, and 2-27. The associate physician enactment of 2020 has only resulted in one registrant to January 2023. More and more licensed physicians are coming to realize that […]

RCPSC Exams?  Please complete this survey. Just 5 minutes of your time! The quality, effectiveness, and efficacy of the process and the RCPSC exams themselves is an issue that needs to be considered, not just by those who design them, but through the experience of those who take them. We need the input of CMGs, CSAs, […]

STUDENT INFORMATION MEETING FOR CANADIAN AND AMERICAN MATCHES. December 28, 2022 at 9 a.m. Pacific; 10 a.m. Mountain; noon Eastern Via Zoom SOCASMA will be hosting an information/strategy meeting for IMGs looking to get and share information and strategies for the Canadian and American Matches. Before the meeting we will send you information which you […]

A big part of SOCASMA’s work is advocating for equality for IMGs. We advocate in the public sphere, in the political sphere, in administrative fairness organizations, and in the courts. There is increasing awareness and concern about the inequality IMGs face in Canada in accessing the medical profession. MOSAIC, BC’s largest immigrant services organization and […]

Ontarians desperately need doctors. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath recently promised 300 new physicians for Northern Ontario and the Liberals promised to hire more healthcare workers. Given how long it takes to train a physician, how can we get full fledged physicians that are ready to deliver medical care now and within the next couple of […]

Les Ontariens ont désespérément besoin de médecins. La chef du NPD, Andrea Horwath, a récemment promis 300 nouveaux médecins pour le Nord de l’Ontario et les Libéraux ont promis d’embaucher plus de travailleurs de la santé. Étant donné le temps qu’il faut pour former un médecin, comment pouvons-nous avoir des médecins qui sont prêts à […]

Each year, between 50 to 100 family medicine residency positions are unfilled in Quebec. Currently, nearly 1,000,000 Quebecers do not have a family doctor. If each of these doctors would take on average 1000 patients, that means that 50,000 to 100,000 Quebecers will have access to a family doctor. The Society for Canadians Studying Medicine […]

À chaque année, entre 50 à 100 places de résidence en médecine familiale ne sont pas comblés au Québec. Présentement, près de 1 000 000 de québécois n’ont pas de médecin de famille. Si chacun de ces médecin prenait en moyenne 1000 patients, ça veut dire que 50 000 à 100 000 additionels québécois auraient […]

Summary of Discrimination IMGs face in the Medical Profession Canadians who graduated from international medical schools are oppressed and by any objective definition second class citizens in Canada. The government in a free and democratic country such as Canada, by law, must treat all its members equally. While it is fair to require Canadian citizens […]

How the System Works. CMG:  graduates of Canadian and American medical schools IMGs:  graduates of international medical schools   To become licensed to practice medicine one must: Have a medical degree from a school on the World Directory of Medical Schools;   2. Worked in entry level job in medicine called residency training or postgraduate […]

Physician Shortage Is there a doctor shortage in Canada?  About 5 million Canadians cannot find a family physician.  We wait months to see a specialist.  People experiencing severe mental illness generally wait months and in some cases over a year to see a psychiatrist.  We wait months and even years for surgery. However, it is […]

Aux : Ministres de la Santé, Doyens des facultés de médecine, Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada, Médecins-chefs fédéraux et provinciaux, l’Association des facultés de médecine du Canada Cc : principaux médias canadiens à travers le Canada Sujet : Diplômés internationaux en médecine au Canada : Il est temps d’innover et d’utiliser au […]

To : Ministers of Health, Deans of Medical Schools, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Federal and Provincial Chief Medical Officers, Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada RE: International Medical Graduates in Canada : It’s time to innovate and make optimal use of this qualified but under-utilized resource! With COVID-19 still wreaking […]

SOCASMA has partnered with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship in support of the #EqualChance initiative whose objective is to obtain equity based changes in the pathway to practice medicine for internationally trained doctors in Canada. Take a look at this initiative’s impact report which has just been released: https://www.inclusion.ca/site/uploads/2021/12/EqualChance-ChancesE%CC%81gales-Impact-Report.pdf For more information about the #EqualChance […]

CAPER has released a report comparing the increase in resident physician positions Pre (2019/2020) and Post COVID (2020/2021). YearOverYear_Compare_EN.pdf (caper.ca) The number of Canadian citizens and permanent resident physician positions was up by 0.7%. The number of visa trainees* was up 9.2%. However, the CaRMS Forum data PowerPoint Presentation (carms.ca), slide 19 demonstrates that in […]

Nous attirons votre attention sur les changements qui ont été apportés au programme de jumelage des résidences au Québec. Voir lien suivant : https://www.carms.ca/…/criteres-dadmissibilite/quebec/ En plus des CRITÈRES POUR TOUS LES DIPLOMÉS EN MÉDECINE, examinez attentivement l’onglet intitulé : CRITÈRES SUPPLÉMENTAIRES POUR LES DHCEU. (Voir également les onglets pour le premier et le deuxième tour […]

SOCASMA would like to draw your attention to the changes that were made to the residency match program in Quebec. See following link: https://www.carms.ca/…/eligibility-criteria/quebec/… In addition to the CRITERIA FOR ALL MEDICAL GRADUATES, take a close look at the tab titled: ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR IMGs. (Also see tabs for the first and second iteration of […]

Oh, Canada  ☹ Dear CSAs and CSA supporters, For Canada Day this year let’s stand up for the principles which are supposed to be the foundation and moral fabric of our society. As you are aware, we are fighting the discrimination that Canadians who are international medical graduates face.  We have suggested that you assist […]

Coming home.  The route home isn’t straightforward even after residency training.  We are putting together information from the provincial recruiting agencies which we hope will be of assistance to you. British Columbia has been our first response. Here is HealthMatch BC’s physician brochure, which outlines licensing requirements for Family and Specialist Physicians looking to practice […]

AFMC Decision Regarding 2022 Resident (R-1) Match   OTTAWA, ONTARIO –October 28, 2020 – The AFMC Board has made the following decisions regarding the 2022 Resident (R-1) Match: Interviews will continue to be in a virtual format for all candidates. The match timeline will be: Application MSPR submission/University transcript: No earlier than Jan. 7, 2022 […]

HealthMatch BC is holding several career fairs and webinars for physicians. For Specialists October 29th at 11am PST:  Webinar coming up for SPECIALIST PHYSICIANS with international training. You can register here:  https://www.healthmatchbc.org/Webinars.aspx   November 17 at 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST:  Career fair aimed at SPECIALISTS.  At this event you will be able to […]

Malcolm Macfarlane has published a blog in the CMAJ.  Read it and join the conversation. CMA Policy on equity and diversity in medicine encouraging for International Medical Graduates

In the Spring of 2020, the Canadian Medical Association released its Policy on Equity and Diversity, a policy which aligns with the fundamental principles of what it means to be Canadian: “Equity in the medical profession is achieved when every person has the opportunity to realize their full potential to create and sustain a career […]

The College of Physicians ans Surgeons of Ontario has launched its yearly consultation regarding Professional Responsibilities in Medical Education for which the deadline is Sepember 30, 2020. See http://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/?page_id=12714 Click on following link for SOCASMA’s submission in response to this consultation : Submission for CPSO 20.10.01

We are encouraging our members to consider applying to the board of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. There are currently no representation of Canadians who have studied medicine abroad on the Boards that make the decisions about CSAs and IMGs. Thus getting ourselves to the table is important. Here is the […]

Founded in 1943, AFMC represents the 17 Canadian Faculties of Medicine. Visit its web site: https://afmc.ca/ You may also want to register for AMMC’s newsletter : https://afmc.ca/en/news-publications/newsletters AFMC CANADIAN RESIDENCY VIRTUAL PROMOTION GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for all stakeholders involved in the 2021 R1 match. The Association of Faculties […]

Click to the link below for more information : https://www.healthmatchbc.org/Documents/Brochures/ComeHomeToBeautifulBC.aspx

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has recently published the CMA Policy on Equity and Diversity in Medicine. The awareness of discrimination in the medical profession and the development of this CMA policy brings tremendous hope to the international medical graduate community that there will be a change. In the words of the CMA: “When we […]

(ENGLISH FOLLOWS.) Socasma a récemment reçu une correspondance du Dr. Lucie Opartrny, sous-ministre adjoint du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, nous indiquant que les Canadiens hors Québec qui sont diplômés des programmes internationaux de médecine pourront dorénavant présenter leur demande d’admission en résidence au Québec. Le site web de CARMS […]

Click on the link below to access key web sites for job search in the health field for unmatched physicians. Should you have other web sites to recommend, please send us an e-mail at: socasma.working@gmail.com Click here to access document: JOBS

Town hall meeting for IMGs in BC. CSAs have been invited to a Zoom meeting for IMGs organized by physicians who immigrated to Canada.   Thursday May 21 from 5:30-7 PM PDT.   Here is the link for more information and registration.   https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/105439871494

NAC OSCE. Dalhousie eligibility criteria for 2021 onwards.   Dalhousie University Family Medicine will be requiring an updated NAC score for CaRMS 2021. This information is on their website.   https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/family/education/postgraduate/how-to-apply.html   The requirement of having taken the NAC OSCE in the spring of 2019 announced by Dalhousie Family Medicine is consistent with most programs. […]

Excellent story from CTV News Toronto! Click following link: https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2020/04/07/calls-for-foreign-trained-doctors-to-be-allowed-to-help-on-frontlines-of-coronavirus-battle/?fbclid=IwAR3FbigM7-LKcomUng3JhQX6iwZgFVfS0ocE7nJhdmcaiBnxVB0X3B-woWE

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC has posted a proposed addition to Part 2, Section B of the Bylaws under the Health Professions Act. Comments can be posted until April 15. Email address below. The new section 2-24 of the Bylaws will allow international medical graduates (IMGs) to be registered on a restricted […]

Here is the link to SOCASMA’S Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/socasma/?eid=ARA8Pa3iqbGJMnUP-o2kiW7oR1ki_omV5NLu2Km_axTnbc9gpYrZln99qcMl-6fV6CE0D1KGmKMJ8zF8 If you are a Canadian who is studying medicine abroad, you may also want to join the following Facebook group that is private. Being a private group, you need to provide us with some basic information in order to be able to join. Here’s the link: […]

COVID 19 : ALLOW IMGs IN CANADA TO ASSIST AGAINST COVID-19! SIGN THIS PETITION THAT IS NOW CLOSE TO 10,000 SIGNATURES. https://www.change.org/p/patty-hajdu-allow-imgs-in-canada-to-assist-against-covid-19

QUEBEC IS INVITING CANADIANS WHO HAVE STUDIED MEDICINE ABROAD TO APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST COVID 19! Let’s test out this opportunity and please let us know if you were able to secure either a residency or another good employment opportunity. If you are bilingual your chance are probably better, but DO […]

LE QUÉBEC INVITE LES CANADIENS QUI ONT ÉTUDIÉ LA MÉDECINE À L’ÉTRANGER À FAIRE UNE DEMANDE D’EMPLOI DANS SA LUTTE CONTRE LE COVID 19! Nous vous invitons à tester cette opportunité dès maintenant. Faites-nous savoir si vous avez réussi à obtenir une résidence ou une autre bonne opportunité d’emploi. Voici où envoyer votre candidature https://jecontribuecovid19.gouv.qc.ca/Inscription.aspx

Rosemary Pawliuk, Executive Director of Socasma, has written to elected officials and major decision makers in the medical field pressing them to increase medical residency funding and reduce barriers to medical licensing in order to address the current COVID 19 pandemic. Click on the link below to access this letter. COVID 19 2nd wave

La Présidente de Socasma, Rosemary Pawliuk, a fait parvenir une lettre aux élus et décideurs du domaine médical les enjoignant d’augmenter le financement des résidences médicales et de réduire les obstacles à l’octroi des licences médicales pour faire face à la pandémie du COVID 19 au Canada. Cliquez sur le lien qui suit pour accéder […]

COVID 19: Vous êtes de retour au Canada et vous vous demandez ce que vous devez faire? Allez offrir vos services à votre hôpital local, un programme de résidence, une autorité sanitaire ou d’autres décideurs. Vous n’obtenez aucune réponse positive? Allez voir votre député provincial et demandez-lui de vous aider à obtenir un placement en […]

COVID 19 : You are currently in Canada and you are wondering what to do next? Go and offer your services to your local hospital, residency program, health authority, or other decision makers. You don’t get any positive response? Go and see your Provincial Member of Parliament and get him or her to help you […]

La pandémie du corona virus est sans précédent! En tant que Canadiens qui ont étudié la médecine à l’étranger, signalons à nos élus que nous sommes prêts à relever le défi COVID 19. Voir le modèle de lettre suivant que vous pouvez utiliser et modifier lorsque vous écrivez au Premier Ministre Trudeau, au ministre fédéral […]

These are unprecedented times! As Canadians who have studied medicine abroad, let’s tell decision makers that we are willing and ready to help address the COVID 19 challenge. See following template letter that you can use and modify when writing to Prime Minister Trudeau, the federal Minister of Health and your provincial Minister of Health. […]

We need more medical residency positions. More residency positions can be created if we press the federal government to replace foreigners with Canadian citizens and permanent residents by enforcing the provisions of the Immigration Act which requires Canadians to come first. If we stop allowing foreigners to use up our training resources and taking our […]

SOCASMA made a submission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in which we submit that they need to take control of access to residency training because the current system is not only discriminatory but also compromises the public interest by not being competence based. CMGs can fail the MCCQE1 and practice as […]

We need more residency positions. More residency positions can be created if we press the federal government to replace foreigners with Canadian citizens and permanent residents by enforcing the provisions of the Immigration Act which requires Canadians to come first. If we stop allowing foreigners to use up our training resources and taking our training […]

SOCASMA has made a submission to the Steering Committee on Modernizing Health Professional Regulation of British Columbia. We believe that the discrimination international medical graduates face is a function of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in failing in their duty to ensure that access to the medical profession is fair. Here is our submission. […]

We published Interview Advice and Strategies in the Resources for members only section.  Includes: Links and Videos General Advice Popular Questions Interview Pitfalls What to ask Interviewer After the Interview

Click below to access submission: ESDC Report 19.07.30_000102 (1)

NOTICE of MEETING for CANADIANS STUDYING MEDICINE ABROAD and THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.   Tues. Nov. 12, 2019 Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Time:  6:45 PM Place:  Arbutus Club, 2001 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia. Want to practice Medicine back home in Canada? If you are or have a loved one studying medicine abroad, you should […]

For all of you in swing ridings or near swing ridings, candidates are focusing their last days here.  And health care is at the top of the charts for issues that concern Canadians. This is an important opportunity to get out and speak to the need for:  Transferring funds to provinces for more residency positions; […]

SAMPLE PETITION   To Member of Parliament candidates of [name of riding]   I will be voting in the next election.   I believe all Canadians deserve to have access to a family doctor and to see specialists in a reasonable time.  Long waiting lists are hurting Canadians.   I support the federal government funding […]

“To Member of Parliament candidates of [name of riding] I will be voting in the next election. I believe all Canadians deserve to have access to a family doctor and to see specialists in a reasonable time.  Long waiting lists are hurting Canadians.  I support the federal government funding more residency training for doctors, and […]

URGENT! – FEDERAL ELECTION ACTION REQUIRED – YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE INVITED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE being organized by the Society for Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad. Key issues are outlined further down. OCTOBER 7, 2019 7 PM EST (Ontario time); 4 PM PST (British Columbia time) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/396546062 […]

OCTOBER 21, 2019 FEDERAL ELECTION.  ACTION REQUIRED. We write seeking your help.  To address the physician and waiting list shortage, a number of the political parties have promised funding to hire more doctors and to shorten waiting lists.  Our goal is to press the government to direct these funds to residency training positions for Canadian […]

SWING RIDINGS IN 2015 CANADIAN ELECTIONS.  70 ridings won by 5% or less in 2015 Riding, MP (margin of win %) Newfoundland St. John’s East, N.L., Liberal MP Nick Whalen (1.4%) New Brunswick Fundy Royal, N.B., Liberal MP Alaina Lockhart (3.8%) Quebec Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, Que., NDP MP Romeo Saganash (4.9%) Beloeil-Chambly, Que., NDP MP Matthew Dubé (1.7%) Chicoutimi-Le […]

Cliquez sur le lien qui suit pour avoir accès au communiqué de presse: Election federale 2019

Click on following link to access the news release: Federal Election 2019

Want to push for change? Get a petition going pressing your provincial government to make the residency recruitment system in Canada fair, objective, impartial and transparent for all Canadians and permanent residents, including Canadians who have studied medicine abroad. See petition document below and template to collect signatures. (Note: The petition has been written for […]

See powerpoint presentation below. There was a great turnout for this meeting with at least 60 persons attending. The powerpoint presentation contains a lot of valuable information. The group in attendance got quite animated when we talked about lobbying government for change. See our website for template letter. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you […]

Important meeting for CSAs and their families.  Please make an effort to attend.  Encourage everyone you know who is concerned about CSAs getting into residency training.  Video conference available for members of Private Facebook Group for CSAs and their Families Only. Date:   June 24, 2019 Time:   6:30 P.M. Place:  St. Michael’s College School Lecture Hall (enter […]

To encourage more open communication for CSAs and better networking, a Private Facebook Group for CSAs has been established.  The eligibility requirements are that you must be a CSA or a family member/significant other of a CSA. To join: Request to join the group; https://www.facebook.com/groups/cdnssma/ Answer the question asking for your email; You will be […]

Attention Quebec residents who study medicine abroad! Now is the time to write, call and/or meet your Quebec Member of Assembly or Minister of Health seeking her support to establish for 2020 onward a level playing field for all qualified Canadians applying for residency training in Canada. It is also an opportunity to request that […]

Ce document élabore les 7 demandes clées de SOCASMA visant à améliorer le système actuel de recrutement et de formation des résidents en médecine au Canada. SOCASMA SEVEN_francais

1,119 Canadian and permanent resident International Medical Graduates (IMGs) were unable to obtain medical residency positions in 2019. Yet, over 1,000 Saudi visa trainees are utilizing valuable and limited training resources that could be available to train Canadians. SOCASMA wrote, without success, to those federal Ministers responsible for the issuing of visa to foreign medical […]

Important meeting for CSAs and their families.  Please make an effort to attend.  Encourage everyone you know who is concerned about CSAs getting into residency training.  Video conference available for members of Private Facebook Group for CSAs and their Families Only. Date:   June 24, 2019 Time:   6:30 P.M. Place:  St. Michael’s College School Lecture Hall (enter […]

Attention all Canadians who study medicine abroad, family members and friends! Now is the time to write, call and/or meet your provincial MPP, MLA or Minister of Health seeking their support to establish for 2020 onward a level playing field for all qualified Canadians applying for residency training in Canada. It is also an opportunity […]

This document outlines 7 key areas that SOCASMA is advocating for in order to improve the current medical residency recruitment and training system in Canada. SOCASMA SEVEN 19.07.02

GUIDE AND TIMELINE for CSAs in medical school. This guide and proposed timeline are for CSAs who are working their way through medical school. CSAs need direction and organization to succeed. This Guide and Timeline are a work-in-progress. In the future we will be attaching links to documents and websites as we work our way through our Information for CSAs Initiative. The documents will be posted on our website in the Resources section. We are just beginning this initiative. Your feedback and suggestions are important. They will make these documents better and more relevant. So please help us by providing input from your experience and knowledge.

THE SOCASMA SEVEN

Dr. Devlin Letter_no sigDr. Devlin Appendix

December Information Meeting for CSAs. Date: December 30, 2018 Time: 3-5 pm Place: West Point Grey United Church 4595 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC We will be providing information about the challenges that CSAs face and strategies that should be considered. CSAs who have navigated the system will be there to answer questions. For those […]

NOTICE of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING for CANADIANS STUDYING MEDICINE ABROAD and THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. Date: Thursday, November 22, 2018 Time:  6:45 PM Place:  Arbutus Club, 2001 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia. If you are or have a loved one studying medicine abroad, you should attend this meeting.  Canadians who chose to study medicine abroad […]

The Society of Canadians Studying Medicine Abroad (SOCASMA), Dr. Oliver Kostanski, and Harris Falconer have filed a petition in the Supreme Court of BC challenging rules which exclude Canadians who graduated from medical schools outside of Canada or the USA from competing on the basis of individual merit for residency positions in British Columbia. The […]

See attached guide. Note : We are looking for people to write up a chapter for Australia, Poland and other parts of the world.  Please send us an e-mail if you can help:  socasma.working@gmail.com

We recommend that CSAs follow our Facebook page to obtain current information on matters that affect CSAs.

On September 24, 2018 CSAs filed a Petition in BC Supreme Court challenging the residency matching system which excludes international medical graduates (IMGs) including Canadians who study medicine abroad (CSAs) from competing for residency positions on the basis of individual merit, i.e., knowledge, skills, and other attributes relevant to the practice of medicine.  We are […]

Write to the candidates in your riding.  Encourage people you know in swing ridings to write their candidates. Dear Mr. / Ms. XXXXX: I would like to seek your support in addressing an unfortunate injustice in the Ontario Health System that is preventing a number of Ontario medical students who study in the United States […]

Listed below are questions frequently asked about SOCASMA.  Read and learn about what we do, why we do it and how we work.  If you have any additional questions, please send us an email so we can answer your questions and then post them here.