Event prepares med students to become residents

One of the most stressful and challenging times for medical students is their transition to residency. Students must decide on a discipline then apply for, be invited to, and progress through an interview that is critical to their future as doctors. On January 9th Doctors of BC and the CMA partnered to help make this transition a little less difficult.

The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) facilitates medical students’ application to residency across Canada. Students apply through the CaRMS website and then must wait to hear if they have been selected for an interview. Interviews take place nationally this year from January 16 – February 7, 2016. The CaRMS process can be a huge source of anxiety and stress for students.

So on January 9^th CaRMS Mock Interview sessions were held in ten locations across Canada, with Doctors of BC leading the BC event. The mock interviews provided fourth-year medical students an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a group setting with residents who have been through the CaRMS interview process. From what to wear and how to pack, to “Will you be able to manage the demands of your specialty when you are 60 years old?” and the classic “tell me about yourself,” sessions provided practical information and real world experience.

Dr Vishal Varshney, President of Resident Doctors of BC, was one of the resident interviewers on hand for the day. “This is a great event for students,” he said. “I wish we had it before my CaRMS interview. I am so happy to be able help the students out.”  Surgical resident Tom Liu said “Thanks again for a great day, all the students were really appreciative and I think it's one of the most popular events in med school.” The 160 students and 12 residents participating in sessions throughout the day reflect the popularity of the event. During the day students told us, “This was a great experience, I feel much better about the CaRMS process already!”

This new event is just one in a series provided to support members throughout their careers. In his most recent blog post Doctors of BC President Dr Charles Webb discusses our commitment to engaging with and providing a supportive organization for our members--including medical students and residents--through events such as Find Your Match and Transition Tuesdays.

View our Photo Gallery from the event. 

To see what it’s like to go through the CaRMS interview process, watch Dr Chris Nicholas’ excellent YouTube video on his CaRMS interview experience: