saskdocs works closely with local, Canadian and international medical learners to help them plan to practice medicine in Saskatchewan.

We look forward to connecting with these individuals as they journey through their medical education. If you're one of these people, please have a look at what opportunities are available and contact us (info@saskdocs.ca) if you have further questions about anything that interests you.

Once you contact us we'll assign a recruiter to you. If you're interested in connecting with one of our recruiters in person you can always refer to our events calendar to see where we'll be next.

The links below will tell you more about many of the programs and support resources available to you as a medical learner whether you're studying at the University of Saskatchewan or abroad.

Rural and Regional Electives Support Program

Are you a University of Saskatchewan (U of S), College of Medicine resident considering a rural or regional elective by March 31, 2019?

Check out the Rural and Regional Electives Support Program, which may assist you by offsetting travel and accommodation expenses.

Pursuing an elective in a rural or regional community not only aids you in gaining specialized skills; it also provides you with exposure to the benefits of establishing practice in a rural or regional community.

This program, offered by saskdocs in partnership with the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA), may offset the expenses of travel and accommodations for U of S residents pursuing electives in eligible rural or regional communities throughout Saskatchewan.

CRITERIA

Funding under this program may be available to you if the following criteria are met:

1. You are enrolled in a Family Medicine Residency Program or in a Royal College Residency Program at the U of S, College of Medicine.
2. You are taking an elective in an eligible community:
   • Family Medicine residents - eligible communities are rural and remote communities in Saskatchewan with a population of 5,000 or less, with the exception of bedroom communities* and Rosthern.
   • Royal College residents - eligible communities are all those excluding Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.
3. You are taking an elective that satisfies the definition of an elective as outlined by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
4. You agree to complete a five-to-ten minute evaluation at the end of your elective.
5. You agree to provide third-party confirmation of the elective (i.e. preceptor evaluation of elective).
6. You consent to the sharing of information (only including name, email, program and date of elective) with Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and community representatives to establish eligibility and administration of the program, offer exposure to the community, and to discuss potential career options.

*Bedroom communities include the following - Balgonie, Clavet, Dalmeny, Delisle, Emerald Park, Langham, Lumsden, Martensville, Pense, Pilot Butte, Warman and White City.

Note: We understand that not all Royal College disciplines currently practice in eligible regional communities; for further clarification on elective criteria refer to the U of S Elective Guidelines; saskdocs will evaluate responses from residents regarding their elective(s) experience and the impact this funding had on their decision to partake in an elective in a rural or regional community.

PROGRAM PARAMETERS

This incentive program may cover travel and accommodation expenses for an eligible elective of up to four weeks in duration. Each resident is allowed up to a maximum of $2,000 per four week elective for one school year (July 1 to June 30). Reimbursement for electives taken for less than four weeks may be prorated up to a maximum of $66 per day. saskdocs may reimburse the following expenses:

• Travel mileage at the Government of Saskatchewan rate for up to one return trip.
• Accommodations up to $1,900 per month (with receipts), or $30 per night if accommodations are provided by family or friends.

Note: Incidental expenses, such as food, rental vehicles, parking, cab fare, internet, telephone charges etc. are not covered. Funding does not cover accommodations that are provided by the Saskatchewan Health Authority or the community. Valid receipts are required for purchased accommodation, but not required for accommodations provided by family or friends.

APPLICATION

Applications must be submitted prior to the commencement of a rural or regional elective. Residents are advised to submit applications at least four weeks prior to the start date.

To apply, please submit your application. Applicants will be notified about the status of their application within ten business days.

ADJUDICATION

saskdocs will adjudicate your application under the following considerations:

• Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• The number of approved applications will be limited to the Agency’s budgetary allocation and is contingent on continual funding.
• The number of awards per residency program may be limited in order to accommodate a variety of specialties.
• This program may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated without notice. In the event that a modification, amendment, suspension or termination of the program occurs, all applications approved prior to the change(s) will be honoured in accordance with the program parameters that were in place on the date of approval.

REIMBURSEMENT

Payment of approved funds is contingent on:

• the completion of a five-to-ten minute evaluation;
• submission of receipts (receipts must be submitted within 30 days after completion of the elective); and,
• third-party confirmation of your elective.

Applicants can expect reimbursement within four to six weeks of submission of evaluation, receipts, and third-party confirmation of elective.

Note: Funding under this program is a taxable benefit, therefore a T4A will be issued.

For further information or any inquiries related to this program, please contact us at info@saskdocs.ca or 306-933-5000.

Step Into Your Medical Career in Saskatchewan - A Guide

A Guide for University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Family Medicine Residents

saskdocs is here to help guide you along your professional journey. It is recommended that in your first year of residency you take the following steps to secure a practice opportunity in Saskatchewan:

Step 1 - In the first six months of your residency network with saskdocs, provincial employers, physicians and the SMA to find out all you can about practicing family medicine in Saskatchewan.

Step 2 - Complete your online saskdocs profile by January 31st of your first year of residency. If you need help with this, please contact saskdocs directly.

Step 3 - Using your profile, you can explore current opportunities and community practice profiles, receive job notifications and apply for opportunities that interest you by May 31st. You can submit applications for positions posted after this date. Be sure to ask questions about anything you would like clarification on.

Step 4 - Set up interviews and site visits. (June, July, August)

Step 5 - Employers will present offers to PGY2 FM Residents by September 15th.

Step 6 - Accept/decline your offer by November 15th.

PREP - Saskatchewan's Rural Externship Program

Explore rural and/or remote communities in Saskatchewan while immersing yourself in a hands-on family medicine learning experience via PREP 2019!

PREP (Saskatchewan’s Rural Externship Program) is accepting applications for the summer of 2019. The program is designed to expose U of S medical students to work experiences in medical practices outside of Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert. It is an excellent opportunity for you to apply your clinical knowledge, establish contacts and learn what rural practice is all about.

The program is a collaborative initiative between saskdocs, the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), College of Medicine (CoM).

Students can participate in PREP for a minimum of four weeks with a start date as early as May 21 and an end date as late as the start of the 2019-20 school year. Just ask Emmett Harrison, a past PREP participant.

Wage/Living Allowance:

The 2019 program provides students with a salary of $500/week that is subject to applicable deductions (e.g. EI, CPP, etc.).

A cost of living allowance in the amount of $250/week (non-taxable income) will also be provided by the SMA. The CoM will be the paymaster, in conjunction with the SMA.

Criminal Record Checks may be required by the employer [i.e. Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)].

Extern’s Function:
The externship is intended to be a learning experience. The preceptor permits you, under direct supervision, to do only those procedures that he/she believes you to be capable of doing safely.  More complicated or advanced procedures are to be demonstrated.

Evaluation:
A written evaluation from the student will be required at the end of the externship. The supervising physician will also be required to complete a brief evaluation of the students performance. With consent from both parties, evaluations will be shared for present and future learning experience.

Apply online today.

The application deadline is January 31, 2019

For more information please contact:
Stacey Glauser
info@saskdocs.ca
Phone: (306) 933-5063
 

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) is the national professional association that oversees the medical education of specialists in Canada. It accredits university programs that train resident physicians for their specialty practices and administers the examinations that residents must pass to become certified as specialists.

The RCPSC website is a great resource for physicians entering practice for the first time. You can visit the College's website by following this link. You can also download a great resource guide titled "New in Practice - what medical residents need to know before entering practice" by following this link.

Canadian Medical Association

The Canadian Medical Association's (CMA) website contains information on programs and services it offers to medical residents and students in Saskatchewan. Click on the following links to find out more about the CMA's programs and if they apply to you.

CMA - Students

CMA - Residents

Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)

For CaRMS information, you can contact us or refer to the Canadian Resident Matching Service website. CaRMS is a non-profit organization that provides an electronic application service and a computer match system for medical students entering postgraduate medical training throughout Canada.

Leadership Development Resources

Throughout your medical education you will no doubt be trained by the best and brightest our medical universities have to offer. In addition to your medical training there are a number of partner organizations that offer leadership development programs for physicians. Below is further information on those programs and links to the organizations that offer them.

• The University of Saskatchewan's (U of S) College of Medicine mentoring program is dedicated to enhancing, supporting and growing the academic environment by establishing a culture of mentoring. The program works toward creating a center where everyone wants to work, learn, teach, conduct research and receive health care. This, in turn will promote Saskatchewan as the best place to live and practice Medicine. For more information please visit the U of S mentoring program website.  
• Resident Doctors of Canada represents more than 9, 000 resident doctors across the country. Its website is a great resource for any medical resident as it contains updated information on career planning, human resources, entry disciplines and practice management. It also has a page specifically dedicated to medical residents throughout the country. Each profile provides a snapshot of a "day in the life" of one of our residents. You can find the profiles here. For more general information on the Resident Doctors of Canada you can visit its website.
• The Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) has a number of different physician leadership opportunities available. In partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the SMA offers Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) courses that will prepare you to be a more effective leader. With targeted funding, the SMA has the CMA PLI series in-house, delivering its courses at a reduced cost to its members. The SMA will sponsor three seats per course for medical students, and three seats per course for medical residents. If you are interested in one of these seats, please contact Kara Jodouin (kjodouin@gmail.com) if you're a student and pairs.sk@usask.ca if you're a resident. On-line modules for the PLI are also available through the CMA Resident and Student Leadership.
• The SMA also connects new doctors with established ones to transition them into practice. The docs4docs program matches a new physician with a physician working in the same area of expertise.
• The Canadian Society of Physician Leaders (CSPL) is known as the “go to” organization for physician leaders. The organization has been providing support and development opportunities for Canadian physicians to help them succeed in their leadership and management roles in health care since 1998. Further information on what the CSPL can do to support you as a physician and a leader is available on the CSPL website.
• The Royal College of the Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) is another great resource to rely on when considering medical career options. The RCPSC recently launched on online database called the Medical Workforce Knowledgebase (MWK)©. The MWK gives a high-level snapshot of what’s happening with Canada’s physician workforce by bringing together data from numerous sources. You can view the MWK on the RCPSC website.