Canadian Medicine Primer

The CMP is offered to foreign sponsored and non-sponsored visa trainees studying at the University of Toronto, Western University, University of Ottawa, Queen's University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) or McMaster University.

Visa trainees and fellows at participating institutions will receive an email offer from Touchstone Institute to participate in the CMP after receiving a referral from the associated medical school. At that time, you will be asked to confirm your interest in attending the program. All confirmed participants receive a welcome letter with additional program details prior to the start of classes.

Please review the program date offerings online and with your program and postgraduate offices; they will work with you in determining which program iteration is best suited for your training.

The CMP has been designed to prepare new international residents and clinical fellows for a successful transition to postgraduate medical training in an Ontario medical school clinical setting. Enrollment criteria for the CMP are program specific. Once you have enrolled in the CMP, attendance is required. However, if issues arise that prevent you from attending the program, there will be no penalty or impact on your entry to training. Inform your postgraduate office and Touchstone Institute if you are no longer able to attend as soon as possible. 

We can provide you with a letter of invitation upon request if you need one. You do not require a work permit/visa to attend the Canadian Medicine Primer; you will require a work permit/visa for your postgraduate training. 

We will be contacting you via email to provide you with the necessary details to access our Online Learning Management System (LMS) before you begin the program. You can expect to retain access to the LMS for up to 365 days after completing the program.

Online modules are available once the program begins. If applicable, a pre-reading list will be issued to you along with your schedule prior to the program beginning.

Yes, there is. Trainees in the Virtual-Only Program attend the virtual facilitator-led sessions during the Foundations Module and have access to the Advanced Module recorded sessions and materials on our Learning Management System. The Virtual-Only Program does not include the in-person interactions with simulated clients and facilitators. 

You must confirm with your school that you can attend the Virtual-Only Program, prior to registration.

To provide a harmonized experience for all IMGs entering training in Ontario the program is centrally delivered at Touchstone Institute located in Toronto. Accordingly, there are no other location options for the Advanced Module.

At the current time, all those entering our facility or attending our events are required to be fully vaccinated as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Health. We also strongly recommend everyone receive all vaccines/boosters they are eligible for in addition to this minimum requirement. Our policy is informed by Ontario Ministry of Health guidelines. Information on what safety precautions will be expected for in-person learning will be outlined in future communications. 

Synchronous programming runs Monday to Friday, typically from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. You will have breaks scheduled throughout the day.

Family Medicine residents will also be required to complete asynchronous sessions outside of these hours.

You will find out specific timing for your weeks of programming prior to the start date.

To attain full benefit from the program, your attendance in full is mandatory. All absences from scheduled programming are documented and included in your Learner Report provided to your program and PGME office.

The integration of physician facilitators in our program is a key aspect of your learning in the program. Physicians are integrated in a multitude of ways, leading to a very blended model.

Didactic Sessions: All sessions are developed and delivered by practising physicians and healthcare professionals who understand learner’s unique needs, and are considered to be subject matter experts in their field. Many of these sessions also involve various aspects of facilitation, which can include discussions with your peers and interactive session activities.

Simulation: Physician facilitators are also involved in simulated client encounters that are developed for online and in-person learning.

Our faculty are dedicated to your success both in the program and as you progress onward. If you ever have challenges or questions, the faculty will be pleased to provide you with support.

Additionally, you have the option to request a mentor. To help support a learner’s transition into training, our programs offer individualized mentorship upon request. Confidential consultations with mentors may include generalized discussion on practice in Ontario, recommendations, and supports that will assist learners in future training.

The Ontario university where you will be training may absorb the fee for your enrollment in the Canadian Medicine Primer to help you optimize your success as a postgraduate medical trainee. However, if you are a referred trainee who is responsible for covering the program fee, we will work with you to arrange programming costs.

With over 80 specialties and subspecialties in Ontario, the CMP focuses on addressing core competencies and subject areas that are applicable for all specialties during your transition to residency or fellowship training in Ontario. Accordingly, the sessions are not designed to provide you with details about your specific specialty, but they will provide you with the core competencies required to successfully transition into your training.

Touchstone Institute maintains strong relationships with all of the medical schools in Ontario and our staff are pleased to assist you with any questions that require the involvement of your matched school. If you approach or email any members of the team, we are happy to work with you in connecting you to the appropriate individuals to answer specific queries regarding your residency position or site.