The career development program continues throughout all four years of the undergraduate medical curriculum, anticipating students needs at each stage of their medical education. The program is based in part on the Careers in Medicine (CiM) program and delivers content to students at relevant times during their undergraduate medical education program.  The multi-year plan is designed to build annually upon students experiences.  The program is designed to support students who are at various stages of determining their future career goals.

Students are encouraged to engage in honest and accurate self-assessment in order to better develop an understanding of what medical specialty is the best fit.  Career tools and resources are introduced to students so that they can simultaneously begin to explore the specialty options available within a field of medicine and work towards creating a career plan.  In year 3, Phase 2, students are encouraged to explore different opportunities in medicine, in the northern context and beyond, narrow down specialty choices, and plan their 4th-year electives rotations as well as prepare their residency applications (CaRMS).  In year 4, Phase 3, students begin the application process to matching to residency programs (CaRMS) which involves finalizing a CV, personal statement and preparing for interviews and finalizing all required electives.

Most Career on Track group sessions are delivered to Phase 1 students (year 1 and 2) so they have some career tools and understanding of future career planning.  The year 1 and 2 students attend an individual career advising sessions with a Learner Affairs Officer who assist students with their career development.  During Integrated Clinical Experience placements (ICE),  students are encouraged to connect with Learner Affairs Officers to continue discussions about career plans as questions arise. Providing career resources early on in the undergraduate medical education program allows students to use opportunities of interaction with physicians in different specialties as a method of increasing their awareness and understanding, and also allows students to further develop some of their clinical skills (connecting with physicians as mentors and advisors).

• Understanding Yourself and Your Career Options
• Taking time in understanding individual values, skills, and interests related to career and lifestyle choices
• Developing a Career Plan and Exploring Options
• Seeking out information to help with career decisions

• Choosing/Narrowing Down Specialties & Considering Residency Program Requirements
• Using resources in the clerkship setting and planning ahead for electives to help eliminate options and narrowing down specialties.

• Decision Making & Matching to a Residency Program
• Being informed on how to create effective application packages and candidate presentation skills for the residency match, using clinical opportunities such as rotations and electives for career development, and understanding the fit between competencies and the discipline/residency requirements.