Northern Ontario Electives Program
How to Apply
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to the education of high quality physicians and health professionals, and to international recognition as a leader in distributed, learning-centred, community-engaged education and research.
The Northern Ontario Electives Program (NEP) 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. All medical trainees from Ontario Faculties of Medicine, Inter-Provincial (Canadian) and International schools can gain access to northern community-based clinical learning opportunities by registering in the Electives Program.
Clinical Placements
Learners can expect a high quality educational experience that offers one-on-one individual teaching and learning with a clinical facilitator in an exciting practice environment. Our teaching physicians are enthusiastic and knowledgeable clinical role models who are committed to teaching and practicing in Northern Ontario. They uphold a high standard of care and thrive on achieving patient well-being.
Each elective provides an opportunity to develop skills in an informal setting and offers hands-on exposure to a wide range of medical situations that are often not available in a larger urban teaching centre. Each learner works closely with a clinical facilitator to meet his/her objectives, with regular feedback and evaluations. Electives are available in Family Medicine, Rural Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, as well as in many of the specialty disciplines.
Teaching Sites
During their clinical placements, learners are exposed to medical practice and lifestyle opportunities in a wide range of Northern Ontario urban and rural communities. Clinical learning sites include Sudbury, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Timmins, Kenora and Sault Ste Marie, as well as a variety of smaller centers throughout Northern Ontario. Learners work in community-based practice locations throughout our geographical region, as outlined by Huntsville/Parry Sound in the south, Mattawa to the east and west to the Manitoba border.
Application Process and Guidelines to Apply
- The duration of the placement must be a minimum of 4 weeks to be accepted through the program.
- Learners are responsible to apply on-line by clicking the "How to Apply" button above. Learners are provided with 3 Elective choices within the application format. If you state in the “Comment” field that you are open to alternative locations in your requested discipline, this latitude would improve your placement success.
- Applications, other than inter-provincial or international, are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and observe the following submission deadline dates:
For clinical rotation requests between January 1–August 31st, by October 15th.
For clinical rotation requests between September 1–December 31, by June 15th.
- Postgraduate Residents must submit the following documentation:
• A Letter of Good Standing from the Director of the Postgraduate Program which should include his/her approval of the elective request
• A list of placement learning objectives for the electives must accompany the Letter of Good Standing
• A recent photograph
• A copy of a recent curriculum vitae
• A recent copy of the learner’s immunization records
• Proof of CPSO (licensing approvals)
• Proof of CMPA (with effective coverage dates)
• Pending the placement site location, additional documentation may be required.
- Undergraduate Students must submit the following documentation:
• A Letter of Good Standing from the Dean of the Undergraduate Program which should include his/her approval of the elective request
• A list of placement learning objectives for the elective must accompany the Letter of Good Standing
• A recent photograph
• A recent copy of the learner’s immunization records
• Pending the placement site location, additional documentation may be required.
* Documentation requirements vary for International learners – please review the International Learner section.
Funding Assistance
If required, fully furnished accommodations are provided at no charge. Please refer to our NOSM Learner Housing Protocol.
Travel funding is provided based on one round trip to and from the learning site. Please refer to our Learner Travel and General Expenses Protocol.
A teaching stipend will be paid to your preceptor by NOSM on your behalf.
Please note the following:
Although some learners may contact preceptors directly to discuss placement learning objectives prior to submitting their application selection(s), learners must refrain from “booking” elective dates directly with the physician. Any application submitted after the learner has arranged/booked dates with the preceptor will NOT be accepted through the program, nor receive its accompanying funding assistance. This process is in place to assure that all learners have equitable access to the available placement opportunities in Northern Ontario.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact Information
Elise Rheaume
Clinical Placement Coordinator – Visiting Learners for Northeastern Ontario placements
Phone: (705) 662-7109
Fax: (705) 662-6913
Email: elise.rheaume@normed.ca
Marie Prpic
Clinical Placement Coordinator – Visiting Learners for Northwestern Ontario placements
(Also processes all Interprovincial and International Applications)
Phone: (807) 766-7322
Fax: (807) 766-7370
Email: marie.prpic@normed.ca
Shanna Leclair
Clinical Placement Coordinator – NOSM Learner Electives only (both PG and UG)
Phone: (705) 662-7127
Fax: (705) 662-6913
Email: shanna.leclair@normed.ca
Jeannette Salmi
Manager – Clinical Placements
Phone: (705) 662-7119
Fax: (705) 662-6913
Email: jeannette.salmi@normed.ca