OBSERVERSHIP PROGRAM

Our Observership Program will provide IMGs with the opportunity to observe licensed Albertan physicians in their Canadian medical settings.  This program will run from the fall of 2009 and continue throughout the winter of 2010.  It is a three month program in which each selected IMG will observe three different physicians in their private clinics.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Through our Observership Program, we hope to achieve the following results for the IMGs who are selected to take part in the program:

• Observership opportunities will enable IMGs to make meaningful relationships with future colleagues in their profession, to reinforce the formalized course-based learning and to provide direct experience of real patients in a professionally monitored setting.
• Observerships will introduce IMGs to the discipline of family medicine in Canada, and the problems commonly encountered in a family practice setting.
• IMGs will be introduced to the patient-centred clinical approach to maintain and promote the health of patients.
• Observerships will facilitate the acculturation of IMGs to the Canadian medical environment.
• IMGs will have direct experience in the areas of relationship-building, focused interviewing, shared decision-making, medical problem solving, and culturally appropriate norms of communication with patients and other health care professionals.
• IMGs will become familiar with the routine clinical procedures – interviewing, history taking, physical examination, writing consultation reports and use of laboratory tests required for the competency in family practice.
• IMGs will have the opportunity to obtain Canadian letters of reference.

For more information, please refer to our Observership Program Information Package.

ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION INFORMATION

IMGs who apply to the Observership Program must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Must be a permanent resident or a refugee in Canada, as defined under the Immigrant and Adaptation Program (ISAP) definitions for the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Exam (MCCEE)
• Must prove demonstrated English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, CLBA)
• Must have passed the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Exams (MCCEE)
• Must be an active member of AIMGA

To pre-register as an interested member for this program, please complete this Pre-Registration Form and send it to us.  We will include you on our list of interested members and contact you with further information on applying to the program.

For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , our Observership Program Coordinator.

Project funding provided by: