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Family Medicine-Enhanced Skills: Palliative Care

A male doctor speaks with a female patient in an exam room

The Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine's Family Medicine-Enhanced Skills: Palliative Care Residency Program received accreditation from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in October of 2024.

Program Highlights
Curriculum
Requirements
How to Apply

TMU’s one-year Family Medicine-Enhanced Skills (FM-ES): Palliative Care residency provides residents with advanced skills in palliative care medicine, preparing them to deliver high-quality, compassionate patient care. Through a broad range of clinical, community, and interdisciplinary training opportunities spanning the full continuum of care, trainees will become well-versed in the principles and practices of palliative care that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

This program is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

 

Program Info:

Faculty:
School of Medicine

Program Format:
Full Time: 1 year

Program Director:
Dr. Karim Manji

Board Eligibility:
Certificate of Added Competence in Palliative Care

Accreditation:
CFPC (October 2024)

Application Deadline:
September 10, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET

  • Broad range of training sites, including hospitals, patient residences (e.g. private residences, retirement homes), residential hospices, long-term care homes, and outpatient ambulatory clinics
  • Focus on both malignant and non-malignant disease spectra of approaches
  • Emphasis on caring for patients from culturally diverse communities and their families
  • Unique Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Research, and Non-Clinical (LEARN) Time program enables residents to tailor their learning experiences and launch their careers
  • Opportunities to work with and learn from interprofessional care teams

Sample Rotation Schedule

  • 16 weeks: Inpatient Palliative Care
  • 12 weeks: Outpatient Palliative Care (Community/Hospice/Long-Term Care/Ambulatory Clinic) 
  • 4 weeks: Family Medicine Clinic
  • 4 weeks: Oncology 
  • 4 weeks: Geriatric Medicine/Care of the Elderly
  • 12 weeks: Elective

Foundational Curriculum

Our comprehensive, competency-based Foundational Curriculum covers diverse areas including equity, diversity and inclusion in medical care, research strategies, communication skills and patient safety. Our unique LEARN Time program also offers individualized time, space and resources for residents to focus on areas of specialized interest.

Candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and meet both the basic criteria (external link)  and the Ontario-specific criteria (external link)  in order to apply to the FM-ES: Palliative Care program.

Residents who complete TMU’s FM-ES: Palliative Care program will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Added Competence in Palliative Care.

Residents will train at four sites in the western GTA with whom TMU has clinical affiliations. Learn more about these affiliates on the map below.

The TMU School of Medicine also has an affiliation with the Region of Peel (external link) , which operates five long-term care facilities in Peel Region.

Additional major training sites may be added for core program rotations.

How to Apply

Applications to the FM-ES: Palliative Care program at TMU are only accepted through CaRMS. Visit our program description page (external link)  for detailed application requirements and to apply. All applicants will be notified through CaRMS Online, and email invitations will be sent directly to those selected for an interview.

Note that three reference letters are required with your application. These letters should be from:

  • One program director or site director from your Family Medicine training program
  • One physician/preceptor
  • One non-physician clinical referee (e.g. an interdisciplinary health professional such as a nurse, paramedic, physician assistant or occupational therapist)
Learn more and apply  (external link)