Sault Ste. Marie has a strong history of clinical teaching as part of a collaboration agreement with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). The undergraduate program hosts eight third year students during the comprehensive community clerkship (CCC) annually. The postgraduate program holds four Family Medicine, one Psychiatry and one Family Medicine Anesthesia residency positions in CaRMS. Sault Ste. Marie also hosts many program and elective placements for learners from medical schools both in and out of country in undergraduate and postgraduate family medicine and specialty programs. It is common to have an average of twenty-five learners on site at all times.
Physicians in Sault Ste. Marie have an opportunity to obtain a NOSM faculty appointment and join membership of our Local Education Group, Sault Ste. Marie Academic Medical Association (SSM AMA), funded by the Physician Clinical Teacher’s Association (PCTA). These opportunities allow for clinical teaching, preceptor payments, faculty and academic development, and research support.
The amazing preceptor involvement is the key to the success of the clinical teaching program in Sault Ste. Marie. Rotations are often learner-based including one on one teaching but also providing many opportunities for residents to teach medical students participating in the Clerkship or Summer Studentship Programs.
Completing a rotation or residency in Sault Ste. Marie is a great way to experience the medical community and culture as well as the community amenities and recreational opportunities to determine if it is a fit for a long term career location.
“As learners in SSM, we had the opportunity to work with fantastic physicians, nurses and allied health providers in many diverse settings. We were treated as valued members of the team. Our learning needs were continually assessed and reassessed to ensure we were gaining knowledge and skills in all settings. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to learn and work here and hope to return in the future!” NOSM 3rd year clerk
The Physician Recruitment and Retention Program hosts several social learner events throughout the year including kayaking, golf day, ski day, snowshoe and hiking trips.
Completing a rotation or residency in Sault Ste. Marie is a great way to experience the medical community and culture as well as the community amenities and recreational opportunities to determine if it is a fit for a long term career location.
“As learners in SSM, we had the opportunity to work with fantastic physicians, nurses and allied health providers in many diverse settings. We were treated as valued members of the team. Our learning needs were continually assessed and reassessed to ensure we were gaining knowledge and skills in all settings. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to learn and work here and hope to return in the future!” NOSM 3rd year clerk
The Physician Recruitment and Retention Program hosts several social learner events throughout the year including kayaking, golf day, ski day, snowshoe and hiking trips.
Educational Opportunities
Electives Information
Sault Ste. Marie is an elective site with the Northern Ontario Electives Program (NEP) which is administered by the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). The program provides a variety of high quality rural, remote, and small urban clinical learning opportunities in Northern Ontario. It is designed for undergraduate medical students and postgraduate residents from both family medicine and specialty programs.
Additional information and application for the NEP can be obtained at www.nosm.ca/electives/.
Summer Studentship Program
The Summer Studentship Program is offered annually for the month of June to Saultites in first or second year attending Canadian medical schools. The Program provides the medical students an incentive to return home to work during training, with the intent to have them return to the community to practice medicine after their training has been completed. Forty physicians have been recruited to-date who have participated in the Summer Studentship Program. This Program is made possible through the volunteer supervision of the medical students provided by our local physicians and allied healthcare professionals.
These paid jobs are part of the Northern Ontario initiative and is organized by the SSM Physician Recruitment & Retention Program. The work is varied and serves to enhance the students’ current knowledge of healthcare in the North. In Sault Ste. Marie the Program is structured to include three components: 1) community involvement, 2) research projects and 3) clinical opportunities made available at both the Sault Area Hospital and the Group Health Centre.
The student application enrolment period opens annually usually in December or January. Please visit www.nosm.ca/summerstudentship/ for more information and to submit your application.
Clinical Learning Centre
The Group Health Centre’s Clinical Learning Centre provides medical learners in Sault Ste. Marie with access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. The 5,000 square foot area houses fifteen examining rooms, five private offices, a computer room, and a waiting area. It is home to 5 dedicated family doctors and their support teams, and can accommodate up to 6 medical learners.
Interested applicants may contact:
Ian Espeut, Coordinator
Physician Recruitment/NOSM
Tel : 1-705-759-3725
Fax : 1-705-256-3466
Email: espeuti@sah.on.ca