OTTAWA, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) has released a comprehensive study on Canadians studying medicine abroad. The study, which combined data from students, international medical schools and their faculties, aims to provide an accurate description of this cohort and inform provincial and federal governments for future physician planning.
The full report can be accessed here:
http://www.carms.ca/pdfs/2010_CSA_Report/CaRMS_2010_CSA_Report.pdf
The study estimates that currently, there are approximately 3500 Canadian students enrolled in medical schools abroad. They are spread out across the globe from the Caribbean to as far away as Australia. Most importantly, they share a desire to return home to Canada to practice medicine; however, most reported barriers—both perceived and real—to pursuing postgraduate medical education in Canada.
CaRMS is a national, not-for-profit organization that provides a unique electronic application and matching service for postgraduate medical education training in Canada. CaRMS provides a process for applicants to decide where to train in Canada, and for programs to identify which applicants they wish to enroll in postgraduate medical training. CaRMS works collaboratively with stakeholders in the medical education community, and maintains a data warehouse that provides valuable and extensive historical research information on the medical education landscape in Canada and on Canadians studying abroad. CaRMS administers four residency matches annually - one first-year entry and three advanced subspecialty residency matches.
Production of this report was made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
For further information:
Michele McIntosh: mmcIntosh@carms.ca