Quality of Family Med programs

[Belle_MD]

I've heard from a few people that McGill and Calgary are known for not having stellar FM programs (not sure what this is based on) - any truth to this? What are the better programs?

[Monkey D. Luffy]

I remember reading a thread from someone with concerns about Calgary's FM program but the PD responded addressing his concerns.
 

 

[JohnGrisham]

Depends on what you want. I have heard from preceptors that certain programs, they would not want those residents going rurally for example, since the training is inadequate for that scope.   i.e. not being prepared for ER coverage, no ICU rotations during residency, etc, not very many deliveries during residency.   

If you want to be a outpatient GP in a big city with lots of specialists to back you up with referrals, probably won't matter much. 

I have heard the same specifically about Calgary's program, and know residents in the program who somewhat apprehensively agree with some criticisms. 

[hamham]

1 hour ago, JohnGrisham said:

Depends on what you want. I have heard from preceptors that certain programs, they would not want those residents going rurally for example, since the training is inadequate for that scope.   i.e. not being prepared for ER coverage, no ICU rotations during residency, etc, not very many deliveries during residency.   

If you want to be a outpatient GP in a big city with lots of specialists to back you up with referrals, probably won't matter much. 

I have heard the same specifically about Calgary's program, and know residents in the program who somewhat apprehensively agree with some criticisms. 

This is not true. As a Calgary FM R2 in urban program, I have completed 6 months of Emergency Medicine, 1 month of ICU, and 6 weeks of OBS. I feel more than ready to work in any setting (rural or urban) without any additional training.

If you want to find out more about the program, feel free to ask any of the ambassadors when you show up for your interview. Don't listen to people like JohnGrisham saying nonsensical things about a program that he has no clue about.

[deathvvv]

I think overall most programs well prepare you well to work as a family doctor on an outpatient clinic basis. But if you want to practice rurally or want to increase the scope your practice, there are obviously programs better for that. For example, rural based program will give you more exposure to rural medicine (er, icu, hospitalist, obygn etc). However, opportunity is what you make of it. I interviewed at basically every FM program (except MUN and alberta), and the impression I got is that residents from every program are happy with their training and feel confident. I was in a big urban program for residency and I had colleagues who graduated and do rural work in NW territories and Yukon with no problems. So you can definitely get exposure to comprehensive family medicine in big urban programs if you are proactive in your learning.

Not to beat a dead horse, but yes Calgary has a rep as being a sub par program (but still good as it is still accredited lol). But if you look at carms stat, it always have spots left over. And from what I heard on the interview trail, most people rank it pretty low unless they have geographic reasons for being in calgary

[JohnGrisham]

3 hours ago, hamham said:

This is not true. As a Calgary FM R2 in urban program, I have completed 6 months of Emergency Medicine, 1 month of ICU, and 6 weeks of OBS. I feel more than ready to work in any setting (rural or urban) without any additional training.

If you want to find out more about the program, feel free to ask any of the ambassadors when you show up for your interview. Don't listen to people like JohnGrisham saying nonsensical things about a program that he has no clue about.

Did not specifically mean Calgary FM re: lack of EM, ICU etc.   As I said there are "certain programs" not Calgary specifically.

As for the preparedness for full scope in general,  i dont think that is unique to Calgary, but as i said the two residents i know (1 who is now an attending, and 1 an R1), they didn't feel that it adequately prepared them. But obviously that is n=2 and confounders of individual variance as well. 

My commentary was not directly disparaging at UofC's program by any means

"This is not true. As a Calgary FM R2 in urban program, I have completed 6 months of Emergency Medicine, 1 month of ICU, and 6 weeks of OBS. I feel more than ready to work in any setting (rural or urban) without any additional training."

I don't think any FM residents graduating from most programs in Canada, Urban for sure, should feel truly ready for real rural medicine yet. Should they still go for it, yes 100%, with the understanding that there will be ongoing learning and training to do while on the job.  It is just the nature of modern training, not a dig at anyone! 

[Valkyrie]

With FM, you just got to do a lot of preparation on your own while in residency in addition to the core training. This continues on into the first 5 years out into practice. You want to be in a busy FM program that gives you a lot of variety in core areas of FM. A relaxed program is great but if it's too chill you're going to become complacent. Residency ain't supposed to be easy, and the harder you work during it, the more you'll feel ready. That's how I feel halfway through R1.

[magneto]

Every single program out there has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

I think the most important thing for family medicine is to be in a location where you will most likely enjoy your life and have family and friends. 

Regardless of the program, if you are a good and responsible resident, you will take ownership for your own learning and work hard towards independent practice.

I think both Calgary and Mcgill programs will make you a quality family doctor as long as you are willing to want to become one and overcome the challenges that come with the individual program.