electives for EM vs FM

[Ross 6]

Hello guys,

I am a third year medical student and I have to choose my electives soon. I will probably apply to EM and FM. What electives do you recommend me to be competitive for both programs and for how many weeks each (i got 8 weeks in total)?

Thanks

[shikimate 237]

Maybe do some rural FM, they often cover ER shifts. But 5 year EM is pretty competitive so you better do most of your EM electives at major centers. Maybe add some IM/ICU if you like. Also consider pediatric ER shifts.

[doctora 3]

For EM it is considered favourable to have a variety of emergency and acute care electives (ICU, anesthesia). Electives in FM are also helpful, even if you aren't applying to it, as programs like to know why you want to do the Royal College (i.e., 5 year) program specifically and not FM+1. If you have done FM electives you can comment on why they did or didn't fit what you're looking for.

Other electives that could easily apply to FM or EM would be things like indigenous health, sports medicine/orthopaedics, or addictions medicine (either through FM or psychiatry).