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MD/PhD program

The driving force behind the MD/PhD program at the University of Ottawa was and remains to attract the small number of students with a high potential to grow into future leaders in the health sciences and allied fields. MD/PhD students exemplify the multi-disciplinary nature of the ongoing educational and scientific activities at our bilingual university. Our shared vision for the immediate and near future of the MD/PhD program at the University of Ottawa encompasses among others the following goals:

• To promote the pursuit of academic excellence through mentored guidance of all MD/PhD students in synergy with their supervisors and course directors;
• To expose our trainees to the spectrum of physician-scientists’ activities at regional, national and international levels;
• To expand the number of participating programs in the MD/PhD curriculum.
• To offer an increasing number of graduate courses during the summer months, which will attract both MD/PhD trainees and PhD students;
• To increase the number of women selected for the combined program;
• To create a new forum that fosters the regular exchange between three important constituencies of our student body, i.e., those actively enrolled in the MD curriculum with a desire for additional research exposure; students in diverse MSc and PhD graduate programs with a strong interest for exposure to the medical sciences; and MD/PhD students, who will benefit from a growing cohort of like-minded peers, amid predictable changes in the makeup of their classmates during the >7 year curriculum;
• To further grow a mentorship program that was introduced in 2016;
• To stimulate a provincial and national debate regarding the long term benefits (and costs) of training students in two disciplines. To this end, to explore new funding opportunities for Canadian physician-scientists.
• To catalogue accomplishments of our current students and future MD/PhD graduates, and to actively support them in their quest to identify the best career choices for the time after completion of the program;
• To longitudinally track the career paths chosen and future positions attained by our trainees. This effort will become part of a network comprising all dual degree programs in Canada. Important outcome measures embedded in these ten goals will ultimately help to gauge the contribution of our MD/PhD program to the success of the University of Ottawa and to Canadian society.

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MD/PhD Program

Combined Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MD/PhD) Program

We welcome applications from Canadians and permanent residents of Canada, including those who currently reside outside Canada. We also welcome applications from persons with refugee status in Canada.

We regret that we are unable to admit international students.

Application Information for Admission in September 2024

Admission Requirements

1) Admission to the MD/PhD Program is limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. 2) To be eligible for admission, the applicant must have a Bachelor’s Degree with first class standing (or equivalent), and have fulfilled all the requirements of acceptance into the four-year medical curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine , and the doctoral requirements of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies . 3) All applicants are required to take the Medical College Admission Test ( MCAT ), but the Graduate Record Examination ( GRE ) is optional. 4) Applicants who obtained their BSc degree (or equivalent) from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. 5) Students with an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) who are already enrolled in the first year of Medicine at UBC are also eligible for admission. 6) Students who are already enrolled in the first year of graduate studies at UBC are also eligible for admission.

Application Procedure

Application to the MD/PhD Program is made by completing:

1) The application form for admission to the MD Program ( on-line form available on the MD admissions webpage), and 2) The application form for admission to the MD/PhD Program ( on-line form available on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies webpage).

Supporting documents:

All applicants are required to upload scanned copies of supporting documents (including transcripts) as part of your MD/PhD application. Instructions about scanned documents required and details of how to submit appropriate scanned copies are included within the online application. The MD/PhD Admissions Committee will use the digital copies of the submitted documents to evaluate your application.

1) Transcripts. Current and former UBC students are not required to submit UBC transcripts as part of your application, as this data is already available through the student database system. However, be aware that you are still responsible for submitting transcripts from all other post-secondary institutions (Canadian and International) that you have attended (e.g., exchange year, transfer year, etc.). 2) Three letters of reference are required. Referees will receive an automatic e-mail (sent to the e-mail addresses entered in the “Referees” section) asking them to provide a reference letter to the online application on the applicant’s behalf. The reference form is not required. 3) An autobiographical essay of research interest is required. Refer to the online application for instructions.

Application Deadline

The MD application timeline is available on the MD Admissions website. The deadline for application to the MD/PhD Program (including all supporting documents) is 13 October 2023, 11:59 pm PST . The deadline for referees to submit on-line references is  18 October 2023, 11:59 pm PST . Application is now closed.

UBC MD Year 1 students who are interested in submitting an application are asked to send a completed “ Letter-of-Intent ” to [email protected] after 16 October 2023 . The deadline for application to the MD/PhD Program (including all supporting documents) is 5 January 2024, 11:59 pm PST . The deadline for referees to submit on-line references is 10 January 2024, 11:59 pm PST . UBC MD Year 1 students will apply for May 2023 admission. Application is open: October 16, 2023.

Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.

Selection Process

The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will separately review the applicant’s eligibility for admission. Applications to the MD/PhD program from students with a strong research background will be evaluated using the same criteria, regardless of whether the applicant is a BC resident or from out of province. Out-of-province applicants who are not invited for interview by the MD/PhD Program will be considered as out-of-province applicants by MD Admissions. Applicants who meet the requirements to the MD Program and the PhD Program will be further assessed by the MD/PhD committee and short-listed for interview by the MD/PhD Admissions Committee. The shortlist is created in conjunction with the MD Admissions Committee. In addition to interviews conducted by the MD Program, shortlisted applicants will be invited (via email) to a 45-minute panel interview. Interview invitations will be sent to selected applicants via email in December. The interview panel would consist of a) two faculty members; b) a current MD/PhD student; c) MD/PhD Director or Associate Director or both. These interviews normally take place between January 15 and March 15 and are done virtually.

Besides academic standard, other strengths including maturity, research experience and potential, scholarship, personal qualities, research field of interest, and proposed research supervisor and laboratory are also assessed. A standardized evaluation form is utilized for the interviews and the ranking process. The final ranking of applicants by the MD/PhD Admissions Committee is normally completed in late March. Successful candidates for the MD/PhD Program will be announced between April and July after a decision has been finalized by the MD Admissions Committee.

MD/PhD applicants who are accepted by the MD Program but not by the MD/PhD Program will be admitted into the MD Program only. Such candidates are encouraged to consider re-applying during fall of their Med 1 year.

Financial Assistance

MD/PhD tuition fee is $5,404.62 per year (2021-2022). This fee is charged in place of, rather than in addition to, the MD-only program tuition charge (currently $19,218.98 per year).

In addition, all MD/PhD students will receive a studentship award through the MD/PhD Program (annual stipend $27,000, renewable each year for a maximum of 6 years and 4 months). Students can refer to our stipend policy for detailed information.

UBC’s MD Undergraduate Program offers our students the opportunity to train at one of four geographically distinct sites in British Columbia: UBC’s Vancouver campus in Vancouver (Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program), UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna ( Southern Medical Program ), the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island ( Island Medical Program ), or the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George ( Northern Medical Program ). MD/PhD students can propose to undertake their training at any of these four sites.

Research Supervisor

A unique aspect of the UBC MD/PhD program is that it considers its students to be PhD students throughout the duration of the program. As such, it is to the benefit of the student to have identified a supervisor as early possible. This has the additional advantage of allowing students an early start on their research program, increasing the chance a student will be able to complete a combined MD/PhD degree in 7 years.

Applicants should list potential supervisors at the time of their application. If selected for interview it is expected that applicants will set up virtual meetings with a potential supervisor(s) prior to interviews. The research supervisor proposed by the MD/PhD applicant is one of the criteria we use to rank applicants for admission. As for all graduate students, it is to the applicant’s advantage to demonstrate that they have explored potential supervisors, research environments, and projects and hence to have developed a plan for what research they would like to be doing at UBC. The research supervisor must be eligible to take on graduate students in a Faculty of Medicine-affiliated program at UBC or one of its partner universities, and should hold a current operating grant from CIHR or an equivalent peer-reviewed, federal or provincial granting agency in order to provide an appropriate research environment to support an MD/PhD student. Successful applicants will have ~5 months between accepting an offer for admission and actually beginning the program, during which time they can finalize their decision about supervisor. Of note, it is possible to change supervisor during the first two years of the program.

Program Video

Further Inquiries

Please feel free to check out the Frequently Asked Questions page. This includes letter of reference, interview, research supervisor, research experience etc.

Applicants are invited to our Annual MD/PhD Student Research Forum & Open House to ask questions about the clinician-scientist career path.

For more information regarding application to the MD/PhD Program, please contact: [email protected]

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University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Medicine (MD/PhD)

The MD/PhD program is designed to produce academic clinician scientists with advanced clinical and research skills who are interested in a career that combines both research and clinical medicine. This program is only open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents that have been accepted or are currently enrolled in the Undergraduate Medical Education program in the Max Rady College of Medicine.

Program details

• Admission requirements

• Max Rady College of Medicine • Rady Faculty of Health Sciences • Faculty of Graduate Studies

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) • PhD

Expected duration

• 3–6 years

The combined MD/PhD program provides benefits to the scholarship and professional development of clinician scientists. The integration of clinical and research training experiences provides opportunities to foster translational research.

In keeping with the strategic direction of the Canadian Health Research Strategic Plan and the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology Strategy, our program emphasizes:

• the need for providing increased transsectorial and multidisciplinary training.
• building research excellence.
• translating knowledge into practical applications.
• deepening the pool of highly skilled clinician scientists.

Allison Balasko, MD/PhD student.

The MD/PhD program is for students currently enrolled in medicine who then pursue graduate studies at the end of their second year or for current graduate students who are conducting health-related research.

Expected duration: 3–6 years (in addition to MD requirements)

Individuals in the MD/PhD program concurrently complete the requirements for two independent degrees. The MD component develops the skills necessary for a career in the practice of medicine. The PhD component develops research skills and provides experience required for biomedical research.

There are two pathways to enter the MD/PhD program. The traditional pathway is where medical students pursue a PhD in a health-related field during a sabbatical from the MD program after year 2 of medicine and before year 3 of medicine (i.e., clerkship). The second pathway to enter the MD/PhD program is where current graduate students in a health-related field get accepted into the MD program during their graduate program. 

Traditionally, trainees first complete the first two years of the undergraduate MD program, providing a broad background in medicine and biology. They then take a funded sabbatical from their MD studies to carry out a health research-based PhD. This can be conducted in any department at UM that offers a PhD program, as long as the project is health-related. Project eligibility will be decided by the Advanced degrees in Medicine Program Admissions and Advisory Committee (PAAC). During the sabbatical from the MD program students will pay continuing MD fees while they are pursuing their graduate degree full time. When all experimental work has been completed and a completed doctoral thesis has been submitted, trainees resume medical studies at third year MD training. Students must provide ample notice to the Associate Dean of UGME and the Clerkship administrators about their intent to reenter clerkship. It is strongly encouraged that students fully complete their graduate degree (i.e., submission of doctoral thesis and completed defense) prior to reentering medicine.

Students pursuing a graduate degree within the health sciences field who then get accepted into medical school in the Max Rady College of Medicine are encouraged to meet with the program director to determine if they are eligible to apply for the Advanced Degrees in Medicine program.

Pursuit of graduate studies in some departments may require that candidates first register for the MSc program then transition to the PhD program upon satisfactory progress in the first year. This neither extends the time nor experimental productivity required for the doctoral degree. We attempt to accommodate individual requirements, and different research plans, meaning that variations on the above may be considered.

We provide a guaranteed PhD student stipend of $25,000 upon admission to the program, conditional upon maintenance of good academic standing. Trainees are also eligible to obtain up to $5,000 as a yearly research allowance. The expenses covered to support the research allowance must be pre-approved by the program director prior to purchase.

Students enrolled in the MD/PhD program are bound by the supplemental regulations of the host department where they are pursuing their graduate degree.  

For general program inquiries and admission questions please contact the general program email .

Admission and eligibility requirements

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the MD/PhD program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

The PhD program is for students currently enrolled in Medicine who then pursue graduate studies at the end of their second year or for current graduate students who are conducting health-related research.

Medical students are eligible to apply upon initial admission to Medicine and at any time during the first two years of the MD program.

To be considered for admission to the PhD Program, you must have completed an MSc or MA and possess a comprehensive understanding of what it means to conduct research. The applicant must meet the requirements of their respective host departments.

Candidates with limited research experience are encouraged to obtain hand-on experience in the field (through the BSc Med program, for example) prior to applying for the MD/PhD program.

In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies .

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be Canadian Citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident (including Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) / Federal Permanent Residency).
• Must meet the administrative requirement for Undergraduate Medical Education Program (UGME), Max Rady College of Medicine and Faculty of Graduate Students in the student’s respective host department.

How to apply

You can apply to the MD/PhD program through one of two avenues:

• As an admitted medical student who wishes to pursue graduate studies before your third year of medicine
• As a current graduate student who has been accepted into medical school.

Students wishing to apply should contact the Advanced Degrees in Medicine Program Director early in the process to clarify any questions and establish a timeline for the application.

Acceptance will minimally require:

• Identification of a supervisor
• Review by the Program Admissions and Advisory Committee (PAAC) and their recommendation for acceptance, and
• Acceptance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
• Concurrent curriculum acceptance by both the associate dean of UGME and the department head within respective graduate department.

The follow documents are required to apply to the program:

• Two letters of reference (one from the supervisor). The letters of reference should outline the suitability of the candidate to manage both graduate studies and medical school commitments and responsibilities.
• A description of the coursework timeline if coursework has not been completed (i.e. an outline of when required courses will be completed). If all coursework is completed, please indicate this in the application.
• Please indicate a research timeline for completion of the project that will encompass a completed full thesis draft ready for examination prior to the student starting clerkship in year three of Medicine.
• Web transcript (saved and sent as PDF) to indicate coursework completed, etc.
• A CV (Common CV in CIHR Format is fine, but free form is acceptable) of both trainee and primary supervisor.
• A research summary (up to two pages). This summary should clearly identify to the committee the scope of the research, how it is related to health-research, the objectives and purpose of the research, and outline a basic methodology.
• Personal statement indicating why the trainee wants to pursue an Advanced Degree in Medicine and become a clinician scientist.

All application documents need to be emailed in PDF form and the letters of reference need to be sent from the referees directly. 

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Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Program inquires

Please contact the individuals below if you are interested in the MD/PhD program. Information and program contacts for our MD program can be found on this page .

Dr. Mark Nachtigal Director, Advanced Degrees in Education in Medicine Max Rady College of Medicine [email protected] 204-789-3708

Lamiya Salim   Programs Coordinator  Office of Graduate and Advanced Degrees Education in Medicine [email protected] 204-789-3558

MD/PhD Program

Our MD/PhD Program, the largest national program of its kind, trains and mentors the next generation of clinician scientists.

Clinician scientists are trained as medical doctors and scientists. They are in the unique position of pursuing both scientific research and clinical practice, translating academic excellence into health care excellence for Canadians every day. Our program attracts the very best medical researchers to U of T PhD programs, and has produced successive generations of innovative health leaders. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, we are advancing medicine and improving health around the world.

Ask an MD/PhD student

The MD/PhD Program trains physician scientists who are well prepared for both research and clinical practice, highly competitive and productive. Learn More

You may apply for admission into the MD/PhD Program at the same time as your MD application, or during your first year of medical school at U of T. Learn More

Research Training Opportunities

We have a wide array of research training opportunities available.

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MDCM & PhD

Program overview.

• MD-PhD Current Students

MDCM-PhD Alumni

You could make major contributions to health care innovation with a career as a physician scientist!

A career as a physician-scientist is extremely rewarding and meaningful! It is also challenging and requires creativity, perseverance and passion. McGill's MDCM & PhD program is designed to prepare qualified students for successful careers in medicine and research. To learn more about this prestigious program, please see the program brochure mdcm_phd_program_brochure_eng.pdf .

For all program admission enquiries , please contact the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office: admissions.med [at] mcgill.ca

For general information about the program, please write to: mdphdadmin.med [at] mcgill.ca

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences offers a combined clinical and doctoral research program leading to the MDCM and PhD degrees (Combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery Medicinae Doctorem et Chirurgiae Magistrum) with Doctor of Philosophy (Philosophiae Doctor). This is a 7 to 8 year program in which the basic and clinical sciences portions of the medical curriculum are completed from September of year one to December of year two, prior to the beginning of full-time graduate studies. In preparation for graduate studies, MD-PhD students conduct research with clinical and basic scientists for 2 months during the Summer term of their first year. This gives students the opportunity to prepare the research and communication skills necessary for the successful completion of graduate research (such as detailed scientific experimentation, sourcing literature, developing hypotheses, working with methodologies, interpreting data, writing and presenting findings), and to screen potential graduate research laboratories. Graduate research is expected to last three, but no more than four years by which time all course work and research requirements for the PhD degree must be completed and a thesis submitted. The defense of the thesis will ordinarily take place at a later date. From January of year five to May of year seven students will complete the requirements for the MDCM degree.

Throughout the seven or eight years, students in the MDCM & PhD program meet at two-week intervals from September to April to attend research seminars presented by clinician-scientists from within, as well as outside, the McGill scientific community, and discuss their research and network with other students in the program.

Along with the MDCM-PhD Program director, the Program Advisor Committee provides oversight and supports the student selection process.  The graduate studies part of the program is administered by the students' respective academic units and McGill's Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) and the MDCM phase is administered by the office of Undergraduate Medical Education.

MD-PhD Students

The McGill MDCM-PhD Program currently has an enrollment of 29 students. Prospective applicants are welcome to communicate with the students to obtain more information on the program via email at: mdphdadmin.med [at] mcgill.ca

Tianwei Ellen Zhou Class of 2019 (MDCM & PhD) - now doing ophthalmology residency at the Université de Montréal

Paul Savage Class of 2019 (MDCM & PhD) - now doing surgical residency at University of Toronto

Paul’s interest in medicine was sparked by great mentors, including his high school science teacher, a physician-scientist who often highlighted the link between science and medicine.

Torn between research and medicine

When applying to McGill, he vacillated between research and medicine. “I was interested in the intellectual challenge of research and the possibility of helping society at large. But, I was also interested in becoming a doctor because of the patients I’d treat. The McGill MDCM & PhD Program opened the door to both – medicine to help patients today; research to help them tomorrow,” he says.

Studying an aggressive form of breast cancer

Under the supervision of Dr. Morag Park, Director of the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre at McGill, Paul studied an aggressive form of breast cancer. The goal was to determine if subsets of people living with breast cancer might benefit from drugs already approved and commonly used to treat other cancers. “It is an exciting time to be a cancer researcher. Thanks to the genomic era, the field is changing at an incredibly rapid pace. How we treat and diagnose people living with the disease is being revolutionized,” he says.

Paul is now doing his surgical residency at University of Toronto. He has always loved sports and has recently taken up golf, although he won’t reveal his handicap.

Dr. Kevin Petrecca Class of 2002 (MDCM & PhD)

Dr. Petrecca makes his living opening heads and cutting into brains - providing life saving treatments for patients. He is a neurosurgeon specializing in brain cancer. When not in the operating room, you’ll find him in his lab perfecting a neuro-oncology surgical tool or maybe doing fundamental research to determine why brain cancer stem cells are treatment resistant. Then again, you might find him hanging out with his wife and three children.

Passionate about his work

To say he is busy is an understatement. “I have the luxury of doing what I am interested in. I never actually have to go to work or work late because it isn’t work. I love the balance. I love treating patients and love doing my research. You need to work in a place that values physician-scientists and with colleagues who understand your dual role. After that it is fun,” he says.

Not really sure he wanted to be a doctor

Dr. Petrecca did things in reverse when he started McGill’s MDCM & PhD Program. He focused on research and put off his medical studies. “I deferred medicine as long as I could because I wasn’t really sure I wanted to be a doctor, however, I soon discovered I really liked taking care of people and making a difference in their lives.”

There is no doubt Dr. Petrecca makes a difference. He, along with Frédéric Leblond of Polytechnique Montréal and the Research Centre of the Université de Montréal, received the 2017 Québec Science Discovery of the Year Award. They developed a fiber-optic probe, no bigger than a pencil, that differentiates between cancer cells and healthy brain cells in a matter of seconds.

Improving patient outcomes

“Often it is impossible to visually distinguish cancer from normal brain, so invasive brain cancer cells frequently remain after surgery, leading to cancer recurrence and a worse prognosis. The probe improves patient outcomes,” Dr. Petrecca says.

Dr. Petrecca acknowledges physician-scientists bring a unique perspective to biomedical research that is inspired by their experience caring for patients. “All fields require people to move them forward. The contribution physician-scientists make to both research and patient care is critical if we are going to answer the most pressing health care issues facing society.”

If you would like to connect with students in the MD-PhD program, please contact admissions.med [at] mcgill.ca .

With their dual degrees, physician-scientists are poised to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. Most will spend the majority of their time doing research and the remainder taking care of patients. This allows them to identify novel and clinically relevant questions at the patient’s bedside that inspire and inform their research.

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Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

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Medical physicists are health care professionals with specialized training in the medical applications of physics. Their work often involves the use of x-rays and accelerated charged particles, radioactive substances, ultrasound, magnetic and electric fields, infra-red and ultraviolet light, heat and lasers in diagnosis and therapy. Most medical physicists work in hospital diagnostic imaging departments, cancer treatment facilities, or hospital-based research establishments. Others work in universities, government, and industry.

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Medical Physics program will:

• understand the physics of medical imaging and radiation oncology;
• achieve independence in original medical physics research;
• work effectively in clinical and research environments that include oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, cardiologists, neuroscientists, radiation therapy professionals and biomedical engineers;
• be prepared for positions at medical physics research institutions as well as healthcare institutions.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

The CAMPEP accreditation was a major draw because of the opportunities to do a clinical residency after graduating. The medical physics faculty have a very wide range of research interests from radiation oncology, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and nuclear medicine. The medical physics program is very well connected with lots of external institutions including TRIUMF, BC Cancer Agency, and Vancouver General Hospital, and has many collaborations with other universities.

Helena Koniar

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 8 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 8 students was $9,907.
• 4 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 4 students was $9,742.
• 2 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 2 students was $2,188.
• 11 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 11 students was $8,462.
• 6 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 6 students was $19,094.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

Career options.

Graduates will be equipped to pursue careers in hospitals, specialized areas of medicine (e.g. cancer treatment and research and brain research), government, industry and other medical research environments. Their work is interdisciplinary in nature and in many cases, translates to innovative solutions to real world medical problems relating to diagnosis and treatment of many disease types from cancer to brain and cardiac research.

Many of our medical physics faculty hold associate or adjunct professor status in the Department of Physics and Astronomy but have primary appointments in Departments of the Faculty of Medicine (Radiology, Surgery, Oncology) or work at the BC Cancer Agency Treatment or Research Centres.

In BC alone, population growth and replacement of retirements requires about 5 new radiotherapy physicists each year.  Growing demand for advanced medical imaging (CT, MRI, PET) creates a similar requirement for imaging physicists. 

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Ford, Nancy (Medical physics; Medical biotechnology diagnostics (including biosensors); Dental materials and equipment; micro-computed tomography; physiological gating; contrast agents; models of respiratory disease; image-based measurements; dental imaging; x-ray imaging)
• Kolind, Shannon (Medical physics; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; brain; Imaging; MRI; medical physics; multiple sclerosis; myelin; Neurological Disease; spinal cord)
• Kozlowski, Piotr (development and application of MRI techniques to study pre-clinical models of human diseases with specific focus on cancer and spinal cord injuries; development of the multi-parametric MRI techniques for prostate cancer diagnosis in the clinical setting.)
• Laule, Cornelia (Medical physics; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Pathology (except oral pathology); Auto-Immune Diseases; Axons; brain; Central Nervous System Inflammatory Diseases; Cerebral Atrophy; Histology; image analysis; Imaging; Inflammation; magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; multiple sclerosis; myelin; Nervous System Development; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurological diseases; Neuronal Systems; pain; Pathology; Schizophrenia; Spinal Cord Diseases; spinal cord; Spinal cord injury)
• Rahmim, Arman (Clinical oncology; Medical physics; Physical sciences; Image Reconstruction; Machine learning and radiomics; medical physics; Molecular imaging; Quantitative Imaging; Theranostics)
• Rauscher, Alexander (Physical sciences; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; magnetic resonance imaging; physics; quantitative susceptibility mapping; myelin water imaging; brain; maschine learning)
• Reinsberg, Stefan (Medical physics, MRIs )
• Sossi, Vesna (Medical Imaging, Brain imaging )
• Xiang, Qing-San (Magnetic Resonance Imaging )
• Zeng, Haishan (Family practice, dermatology)

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Markerless dynamic tumor tracking using diaphragm as a soft-tissue anatomical surrogate for liver tumors

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Medical Physics (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
• Master of Applied Science in Engineering Physics (MASc)
• Master of Science in Astronomy (MSc)
• Master of Science in Physics (MSc)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

Further information, specialization.

Required core courses of the Medical Physics program include Quantum Mechanics I (PHYS 500), Radiotherapy Physics I (PHYS 534), Radiotherapy Physics II (PHYS 535), Advanced Radiation Biophysics (PHYS 536), Radiation Dosimetry (PHYS 539), Image Reconstruction (PHYS 540), and Anatomy, Physiology and Statistics for Medical Physicists (PHYS 545) and Clinical Experience in Medical Physics (PHYS 546). There is one elective which should be chosen from Nuclear Medicine (PHYS 541), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PHYS 542), and Biomedical Optics (PHYS 543).

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

I attended UBC for my BSc and found the physics department to be very efficient and supportive. I had also recently returned from a long internship abroad and wanted to stay closer to home (and its mountains!) for a little bit longer.

Aria Malhotra

I grew up here and I love living in Vancouver. I was very excited to be returning back here to begin the grad school adventure, especially after the Montreal winters I experienced during my undergrad at McGill!

Luke Polson

When applying to PhD programs, I knew that I wanted to engage in research that applied artificial intelligence in the medical imaging world. It was while exploring various options that I discovered my (now) current research group, Qurit, here at UBC. Their strong presence in the world of nuclear...

Considering UBC for your graduate studies?

Here, you can choose from more than 300 graduate degree program options and 2000+ research supervisors. You can even design your own program.

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Are you looking for Postgraduate courses in Medicine? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

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Fleming College

University of saskatchewan.

THE World Ranking: 351

University of the Fraser Valley

University of Windsor

THE World Ranking: 501

York University

Toronto Metropolitan University

THE World Ranking: 601

St. Clair College

Brock University

Mohawk College

University of Alberta

THE World Ranking: 109

University of Guelph

THE World Ranking: 401

University of Lethbridge

THE World Ranking: 1201

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A Comprehensive Guide: How to Become a Doctor in Canada

If you’re here then you probably want to know what it takes to become a doctor in Canada. Given the importance and intensity of this profession, its understandable why becoming a licensed physician in such an enourmous feat. To help you understand what lies on the orad ahead, we’ve compiled all the need-to-know information on becoming a medical doctor from earning an undergraduate degree and a medical degree to passing the medical college admission test and completing your residency training.

( P.S. Medical school is expensive! Discover more about how opening an RESP account can help you or your child, on the path to becoming a doctor in Canada.)

An overview of how to become a doctor in Canada

Before we dive into the specifics of becoming a doctor, we want to provide a general overview into the process which begins with applying for post-secondary education:

• Apply for post-secondary education: Once you’ve obtained a highschool diploma you’ll want to apply to any undergraduate program in Canada. This is a necessary step to becoming a doctor as you’ll need an undergraduate degree to enroll in medical school. (You can learn more about choosing the right post-secondary path here.)
• Medical degree: In order to practice medicine anywhere in Canada, you will need to earn an MD (medical doctor) degree from a recognized university.
• The Medical Council of Canada’s Physician Credentials Repository (PCRC): Next, the medical degree that you earn will need to be source verified by the Medical Council of Canada’s PCRC (Physician Credentials Repository). To have your degree verified, you will need to provide a set list of documents. After being verified, your documents will be permanently stored in the repository.
• The Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination: To become a doctor, you will then need to demonstrate your medical knowledge by taking and passing the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE).
• Language: If you are an international medical graduate, then an additional step you must take is to show proof of language proficiency. Depending on what Canadian province you live in and what country you came from, you may be required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the TSE (Test of Spoken English). Please note that in Quebec, all international medical graduates must also take the French examination of the Office Québécois de la langue française.
• Residency training: Completing a residency program is the next step in the process of becoming a doctor. Residency programs are an important part of postgraduate training and must be completed through an accredited medical school in Canada. Residency programs usually last between three and seven years, depending on the type of medicine being practiced (two years for family medicine and four to five years for other specialties).
• the College of Family Physicians of Canada Certification Examination for family medicine
• the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Certification Examination relating to your specialty
• Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada: Finally, in order to become a licensed physician in Canada, you must become a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). This can only be done after you completed at least one year of your postgraduate training, also known as your residency program. To become a licentiate, you will need to pass two more examinations: the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I) and the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II (MCCQE Part II). Once you have passed both you will receive a Certificate of Registration.

The steps to becoming a doctor in Canada

Now that you know a little bit more about the process, let’s dive into the nitty gritty of becoming a doctor in Canada. Continue reading for a step-by-step guide on how to become a medical professional in Canada.

1. Get a high school diploma

The first step is to get a high school diploma. You usually don’t have to know that you want to become a doctor at this stage, though it might be worth consulting with a guidance counsellor to see what types of high school courses can best prepare you for medical school.

2. Earn a bachelor’s degree

The second step to becoming a doctor in Canada is to earn a bachelor’s degree. To earn a bachelor’s degree, you will need to apply to university undergraduate programs. In order to later attend medical school, completing an undergraduate program is a must. Typically, medical schools do not require a bachelor’s degree in a specific department. That said, if you intend on applying to medical school, it is best to complete your studies in physics, biology, chemistry, and mathematics. The idea of making an education plan is especially important when you want to enter a highly specialized profession, like a doctor.

3. Volunteer in healthcare settings

While not a requirement, during your undergraduate degree is a great time to volunteer in various healthcare settings to gain experience in the field. For example, many students choose to volunteer in hospitals or medical clinics, as this can help them decide if pursuing a career in medicine is right for them.

4. Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

Step number four is to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) upon graduating from an undergraduate program. As of right now, there are 17 Canadian medical schools that prospective medical students can apply to. No matter which you choose to apply to, you will need to take the MCAT. As with the LSAT or any other type of admissions test, the goal is to score as high as possible. The higher your score, the better your odds of getting accepted to the medical school of your choice.

The MCAT is a rigorous test, in which students are evaluated on topics like organic chemistry, general chemistry, physics, and biology. The exam takes approximately nine hours to complete and combines a mix of problem-solving, writing, and verbal reasoning skills. If you do not achieve your desired score the first time you take the MCAT but still wish to pursue a medical degree, you can retake the MCAT up to a maximum of three times per year.

5. Earn a medical degree from a Canadian medical school

After taking the MCAT, you can start applying to medical schools. Assuming you get accepted into one, a requirement if you want to become a doctor in Canada, you must complete the program and earn your medical degree. Medical school programs in Canada typically last four years. The first two years are more theoretical, involving courses taken in a classroom setting and laboratory. This is followed by two years of hands-on experience where students work directly with patients under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Medical school aims to cover a wide range of disciplines within the field, such as pharmacology, pathology, anatomy, biochemistry, neurology, and radiology. The purpose of medical school is not only to equip students with the knowledge they need to become excellent doctors but also to help them identify whether they have what it takes to become a doctor (e.g. if they can work under pressure and have good bedside manner), as well as help them decide what type of residency program they wish to apply to after graduation.

6. Pass the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination

Upon finishing your four-year medical school program, you must then pass the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE), which is a mandatory licensing examination. This exam is known to be far more challenging than the MCAT, testing students on their knowledge and competency in the medical field.

7. Apply for residency programs

Applying for a residency program is the next step if you want to become a doctor in Canada. Residency programs can be applied to through CaRMS. Before applying, make sure that you meet the admission requirements for residency programs in your province. Many programs have specific requirements that must be met. Further, to become a medical resident in Canada, you are required to be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

8. Finish your residency training

Finishing your residency training is another vital step if you want to become a doctor in Canada. Most residency programs take between three and seven years to complete. They vary in length depending on the specialty. Regardless of what type of residency program you are accepted into, you must prepare for it to be a challenge. Long hours and stressful situations are commonplace in these types of training programs. The purpose of residency training is to get medical students used to the reality of working in the medical field and to help them develop the necessary skills they will need to be successful in their careers.

9. Become a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada

Step number nine is to become a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), which can only be done after completing at least one year of your residency training program. Becoming a licentiate is a process in and of itself that involves two examinations: the MCCQE Part I and the MCCQE Part II. Once you have passed both exams, only then will you receive your Certificate of Registration.

10. Obtain the necessary certifications in your province

After your licensing exams are complete, one of the last steps to becoming a doctor is to obtain the necessary certifications in your province. To work as a doctor in Canada, you must be certified by the regulatory authorities in your province or field of study. For example, you can become certified via the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ). To become certified, you will need to pass another exam.

11. Start practicing medicine

Guess what? You did it! After completing all of the steps above, it’s finally time to start practicing medicine because you’re officially a doctor. Beginning your career as a physician can be daunting. However, you will have many options when it comes to the type of medicine you want to practice, as well as where you want to work, e.g. a hospital, clinic, or your own practice. Given the ample experience you have under your belt at this point, you should have a good idea of what type of doctor you want to be. You should also have developed strong connections with other doctors during your residency and medical degree that can help you obtain a job.

Tips for applying to medical school in Canada

If you’re worried about getting into medical school in Canada, follow the tips below to increase your odds of being accepted.

• Grades are important: A high GPA is a strong foot to start your application off on. Although hitting a certain GPA does not guarantee acceptance into the medical school program of your choice, it can certainly increase your chances of earning a spot.
• Achieve a high MCAT score: An MCAT score is another factor that weighs heavily into the medical school admissions process. Study rigorously for this exam. Take practice tests and do as much research as you can so that you have a true understanding of what you will be tested on. If you don’t achieve an ideal score the first time around, consider taking it again. Remember that applicants can take the MCAT up to three times in one year.
• Be candid and honest in your personal statement: Almost all medical schools require applicants to write a personal statement. When preparing to write your statement, think critically about why you want to become a doctor and how your life experience thus far makes you a good fit for this profession. Writing from the heart is key when drafting a personal statement for medical school.
• Double-check your application: There’s no denying that applying for medical school can be stressful. Do yourself a favour and double-check your application before submitting it to ensure you haven’t missed anything.
• Don’t rush the process: Since medical school admissions are holistic, i.e. the admissions team will consider all aspects of your experience and background beyond your grades and MCAT store, you may wish to consider postponing your application if you don’t have the necessary experience. For example, if you don’t have enough experience in the field prior to applying, it might not be worth the hassle. Instead, take a few months or a year to gain the necessary experience and improve your MCAT score, and apply when you can submit a stronger application.

Embark is Canada’s education savings and planning company. The organization aims to help families and students along their post-secondary journeys, giving them innovative tools and advice to take hold of their bright futures and succeed.

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Pathways to Practice Medicine in Canada for IMGs

Due to the competitive nature of the Canadian medical school landscape, prospective medical students have increasingly sought opportunities to study medicine abroad. Some students have pursued medical school in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, with the long-term goal of returning to North America.

As an international medical graduate (IMG) looking to match to medical residency programs in Canada or the US, it is important to be aware of the challenges you will have to overcome to match successfully. In this article, you will learn about the eligibility criteria for IMGs in Canada and how recent SGU Canadian graduates have prepared for a successful medical career in Canada.

Route to Canadian licensure for IMGs

Canada is estimated to face a deficit of nearly 44,000 physicians before the end of this decade. Amid this nationwide doctor shortage, the need for quality medical school graduates is higher than ever. If you’re hoping to bring your medical training and expertise back to Canada as an IMG, you’ll need to take the following step:

Review the established criteria for the Medical Council of Canada

Before an internationally trained doctor can practice medicine in Canada, they will need to have their qualifications officially recognized.

The national organization that sets standards for physicians is the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). Its role in this process is to grant a qualification known as the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to graduates who have completed the following:

• Achieved a passing score on the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part 1 , in addition to passing the clinical assessment administered through the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) exam
• At least 12 months of acceptable postgraduate training>

The detailed criteria can be reviewed in the MCC’s Route to Licensure guide. It can be helpful to think of these conditions as the Canadian equivalent to the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) and US medical residency training. These standards are in place to ensure that internationally trained doctors have gained the knowledge, hands-on skills, and clinical aptitude necessary to meet Canadian expectations.

The MCC offers a credential verification service through PhysiciansApply.ca . This platform helps medical students and graduates apply for the necessary Canadian qualifying exams, facilitate medical registration, share credentials with medical regulatory authorities, and more.

Once you’ve been granted the LMCC qualification, you can move onto the next phase of Canadian medical licensure for foreign trained physicians.

Apply for Canadian medical licensure

As LMCC-qualified, you will then need to enroll in the Canadian Medical Register to ensure you meet the Canadian Standard — a set of qualifications that makes an applicant eligible for full licensing in every Canadian province and territory.

The MCC identifies four main criteria within the Canadian Standard. Qualifying physicians must:

• Have a medical degree from an institution listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools
• Be LMCC-qualified
• Have satisfactorily completed a discipline-appropriate postgraduate training program
• Have achieved certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Collège des médecins du Québec

It’s also worth considering that foreign-trained physicians don’t have to pursue full licensure that enables them to practice anywhere in the country. They have the option to start their Canadian practice with a provisional license, equipping them to practice medicine within a specific province.

Those looking to get a provisional license can take advantage of Practice-Ready Assessment (PRA) programs , if applicable in their intended province. PRA programs are designed specifically to offer clinical field assessments for internationally trained MDs who have completed medical residency training abroad. The process ensures that internationally educated physicians possess the appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to provide quality patient care in Canada, and it is province-specific.

If you’re unsure which pathway to Canadian medical licensure is best for you, it can be beneficial to speak with an advisor within your current medical or residency program.

Prepare for a successful medical career in Canada

As a Canadian-born medical student who is interested in pursuing formal training internationally, it’s clear there will be a few extra steps you’ll need to take before you can return to Canada to practice medicine. But it’s a process many before you have completed seamlessly.

You can learn how past medical school graduates made it happen in our article “ 5 SGU Grads Who Are Back Home Practicing Medicine in Canada. ”

Are you considering St. George’s University Medical School? If you’d like to know more, you can reach out to an reach out to an SGU graduate . They’re happy to tell you what their experiences were like.

If you feel like SGU could be the right medical school for you, take the next step. Continue your research by visiting our  request information  page. 

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An SGU Grad’s Journey to Medical Practice in Canada

Take The Next Step

Start your journey toward becoming a doctor.

Our School of Medicine offers rolling admissions for our January, April, and August classes.

Watch this short video to learn about the SGU School of Medicine and fill out the form out the form to speak with a practicing graduate, a current student, or an admissions officer.

US residencies in 2024 1

US residency placement rate for graduates over the last five years​ 2

USMLE Step 1 pass rate for first-time test-takers over the last three years 3

USMLE Step 2CK pass rate for first-time test-takers over the last three years 4

1 Data as of March 2024.

2 As the medical school graduating the largest number of students per year, SGU places the largest number of graduates into residency programs each year, based on internal SGU graduate/expected graduate and residency placement data as of March 2024.

3 Average of 2019, 2020, 2021 scores. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of students passing USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 1 for the first time. In order to be certified to take USMLE Step 1, students are required to pass all basic sciences courses.

4 Average of academic years 2019, 2020, 2021 scores. First-time pass rate is defined as the number of students passing USMLE Step 2 CK on their first attempt divided by the total number of students taking USMLE Step 2 CK for the first time. USMLE Step 2 CK is typically taken upon completion of third-year core clinical rotations.

Request More Information

US Residencies in 2024 1

US residency placement rate for graduates over the last five years 2

USMLE Step 2CK pass rate for first-time test takers over the last three years 4

Contact SGU

+1 (631) 665-8500 ext. 1380, st. george’s university university centre grenada, west indies.

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Copyright: St. George’s University – 2023

Can't find a family doctor? It might be because they're busy doing other specialties, report finds

Family doctors voting with their feet and turning away from primary care.

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If you're one of the estimated more than six million Canadians who can't find a family doctor, it might be because they're focusing on specialty care, the results of a new report suggest. 

Nearly 30 per cent of Canada's family physicians predominantly provide services outside of primary care, according to the  Canadian Institute for Health Information  (CIHI)'s analysis of 2021 payment data, released Tuesday. 

That means they mainly perform services in specific areas, compared to typical primary care duties, like office visits and assessments that don't require a referral. For example, a family doctor with a general surgery profile would focus on services like minor surgical procedures.

The main non-family medicine areas were emergency medicine (14 per cent), psychiatry (nearly five per cent) and general surgery (two per cent).

"New trends in practice patterns reveal that many newer family physicians are less likely to engage in comprehensive and continuous family practice," the report's authors wrote.

About 74 per cent of Canadian primary care physicians said they believe the quality of medical care has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, according to a report  from last June. That's significantly more than the average of other wealthy countries of 63 per cent.

• Are you having a hard time finding a family doctor in Canada? Tell us about your experience in an email to  [email protected] .

The report's authors and the Canadian Medical Association have noted family physicians have reported increasing challenges such as higher workload and administrative demands. 

Dr. Andrew Park, president of the Ontario Medical Association, said it is important for family physicians to advocate for patients to get medical tests, treatments and specialists, but they face bottlenecks trying to do so. 

Park, who wasn't involved in the report, works in London, Ont., in an emergency department, one of the specializations that the report's authors said attracts family physicians.

He said one reason why family physicians may like the field is because the hospital pays the costly overhead. 

"Doctors are voting with their feet."

The OMA has called  on the provincial government to fund primary care teams for all family doctors and their patients.

Park said the pressure has been building for at least a decade.

"The pandemic was the match to the dry tinder. It really changed everything around this landscape. For the longest time, we were looked at as an item of cost, but we have to stop thinking that way."

Instead, Park said governments should think of primary care as an investment in prevention, or else they'll pay more later. 

Exhausted and closing shop

Dr. Fan-Wah Mang, a family physician in Mississauga, Ont., has had her practice for 29 years, and once planned to work for up to another decade. Now, she's winding down her practice on May 31, due to burnout from a huge administrative burden.

Mang, who also was not involved with the report, said she sees about 20 patients a day, and makes less than $40 per visit. She feels she can't see double the number of patients without sacrificing quality.

"I'm in a group with three family physicians," she said in an interview. "We're all equally exhausted and we can't afford to hire the kind of allied health professionals that we need to sustain our practice."

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Back in 2014, Mang's practice included a registered nurse. Today, with the costs of electronic medical records, mandated secure messaging for patients and cybersecurity insurance plus inflation and rent, the bills eat up what used to go to pay someone to help carry her patient load. 

Mang is now saying goodbye to long-term patients and trying to help them find a new family physician. 

"There needs to be investment in primary care to sustain it."

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'Nothing works'

After Erella Ganon, 64, of Toronto, had four brain surgeries and her adrenal glands removed, her long-time family physician retired. She said it was difficult to find a new one.  

"Everything worked very smoothly, and now nothing works," Ganon said. "If you need a refill on a prescription, you've got to get an appointment when it's convenient for the doctor."

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CIHI's data suggests the problems may persist.

Although Canada's population continues to increase, fewer people are becoming family doctors than before. The five-year growth rate of family physicians in Canada slowed from nearly 13 per cent between 2012 and 2016 to 7.7 per cent between 2017 and 2021. 

Family medicine represented 76 per cent of vacant residency positions in 2023. 

The percentage of family physicians practising outside of primary care grew slowly from 2013 to 2018. Then, between 2019 and 2022, there was a notable increase, from nearly 26 per cent to 28 per cent. The data excludes Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. 

Dr. Michael Green, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, said their pay rate has been stuck for a long time. "Think about that like how much do you pay for a haircut, how much to do you pay when you take your pet to the vet, how much you pay when you go to the dentist?"

When more than 20 per cent of Canadians lack a family doctor, Green said he doesn't understand "why the public isn't marching in the streets."

Corrections

• A previous version of this story said there were 9,500 physicians in Canada. In fact, 9,500 is the number of family physicians who are working outside primary care. In 2021, there were more than 94,000 physicians in Canada. Mar 26, 2024 1:01 PM ET

With files from CBC's Christine Birak

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Microbiome Expert Sean Spencer, MD, PhD: On a Mission to Prove that Food is Medicine

By Sharon Brock, MEd, MS

Sean Spencer , MD, PhD is a Gastroenterologist and Physician Scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine. Along with seeing patients in the clinic, Spencer conducts cutting-edge research on the microbiome in the Sonnenburg Lab . In his research, Spencer focuses on how nutrition affects the microbiome and the immune system, as well as how our diet can prevent and treat gastrointestinal disease and potentially increase longevity.

“There’s a clear association between the microbiome and healthy aging. Studies of centenarians show a different microbiome configuration compared to those with a shorter life span and unhealthy aging,” says Spencer. “The microbiome is a key aspect of lifestyle medicine because what we eat and how we exercise affects our microbiome composition.”

The Medical Path

Growing up in the agricultural town of Madison, Wisconsin, Spencer learned from an early age the importance of nutritious food regarding health. As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, Spencer majored in medical microbiology and immunology, and knew since his sophomore year that he wanted to practice medicine.

“After taking a human physiology course, I just knew that learning as much as I could about the human body and using that knowledge to help people was the only thing I wanted to do,” says Spencer. “As an undergrad, I also discovered that I could conduct research while caring for patients, and that clarified my career path further.”

These career goals prompted Spencer to pursue an MD-PhD program in immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, which he completed in 2015.

“In graduate school, I realized how our diet has a profound impact on the microbiome, which directly influences the immune system,” says Spencer. “You want to think of the three aspects [nutrition, microbiome, and immune system] at the three corners of a triangle. They each impact the other.”

After completing an internal medicine residency with Harvard Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Spencer came to Stanford in 2017 for a fellowship in gastroenterology (GI).

“I came to Stanford specifically to work with Justin Sonnenburg, so it was great to be accepted to both the GI clinical program and his lab,” says Spencer. “What I love most about Stanford are the people and the creativity. This focus on the microbiome and nutrition is unique to Stanford and I’m glad to be part of a community that thinks about lifestyle medicine in both research and clinical care.”

Living His Dream

For the last six years, Spencer has been a practicing, board-certified GI physician at Stanford Medicine and a researcher in one of the most prestigious microbiome labs in the country. Spencer lights up when he talks about his current research on the small intestine microbiome:

“Most microbiome studies look at the very end of the GI tract, but the small intestine is 20 feet long, and researchers have sampled almost none of it,” says Spencer. “We’ve developed a novel technology to sample and investigate the microbiota [bacteria] of the small intestinal microbiome, which has been a huge blank space for the longest time.”

The small intestine is where many nutrients, including glucose, are absorbed into the bloodstream. Since high glucose levels are linked to diabetes and obesity, Spencer believes this research will potentially lead to the development of lifestyle medicine therapies for individuals with these medical conditions.

Spencer will also study hormones in the small intestine, such as Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is the hormone targeted in the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. “The new GLP-1-targeted medications are powerful and amazing drugs, but it’s important to recognize that we have the power to regulate these hormonal pathways with our diet and lifestyle choices,” he says.

Although his work in the lab is a source of fulfillment, Spencer also enjoys bringing his research findings directly to his patients as a GI physician. Spencer is able to offer this bench-to-bedside level of care since he attained both a medical degree and a PhD in immunology.

“I’m most proud that I have the skillset to listen to patients and identify what they need clinically, and then do the research to fill in the gaps and conduct clinical trials to help them,” says Spencer.

Looking to the Future

With his postdoctoral fellowship ending this year, Spencer plans to work at a clinical center (ideally at Stanford) where he can continue to see GI patients and perform clinical trials on nutrition-microbiome-immune research. Studies from the Sonnenburg lab he would like to continue are testing the anti-inflammatory effects of fermented foods, which improve the immune system, and the mechanisms by which our diet, microbiome, and immune system impact each other.

Regarding patient care, Spencer takes a “food is medicine” approach and plans to conduct more research to back up that message. “My future goal is to perform research that reinforces the recommendations of lifestyle medicine; to build the evidence-base for types of food that promote a healthy microbiome and prevent and treat disease,” says Spencer. “This research will help us understand what aspects of food are critical for promoting health and wellness and has real potential to offer improved eating advice and promote health through diet.”

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