Resources for New Residents

PGME Office Orientation

Thank you to all who joined us for the PGME Office Orientation. Below is a recording of this year’s orientation.

5  Assignments & Missions from Dr. Anderson:

Assignment #1- Read this book

The Happiness Advantage- Shawn Achor

Your mission: Curate happiness

Assignment #2- Watch Dr. Carol Dweck’s TED Talk

Developing a Growth Mindset

Your mission: Foster a Growth Mindset and build feedback fluency

Assignment #3- Read this book

From the Ashes- Jesse Thistle

Your mission: Be kind, Be respectful, Be compassionate

Assignment #4- Watch this video

“Make Your Bed” by Navy Admiral William H McRaven

Your mission:  Change the World

Assignment #5- Read this book

The Sneetches- Dr. Seuss

Your mission: Hear your patients’ stories

During your residency training, we encourage you to reach out to postgrad@nosm.ca with questions related to:

• PGME Policies, Procedures & Forms
• Conference Funding Opportunities
• Resident Representative Leadership Opportunities on Committees and Boards
• Registration, Credentialing, Confirmation of Training
• Getting general assistance in navigating PGME or NOSM University- We are here to help!

Looking for a specific contact?

Click here for a comprehensive contact list of PGME Office and Program Staff.

Welcome! The Postgraduate Medical Education Wellness Program (Resident Wellness | NOSM) offers you support and can assist with your wellness needs. The mission of the Program is to assist our residents in achieving the knowledge and skills to develop healthy and productive professional identities during this important transitional time. 

Our Team:

Mr. Scott Fisher is the Wellness Senior Learner Affairs Officer (LAO) pgewellness@nosm.ca.  He provides residents support and is available to you for confidential advice, for coaching, accommodations, and can help support your wellness issues by finding and coordinating health resources. He also can arrange a referral to the NOSM Clinical Psychologist if needed.

Dr. Diane Whitney is the Assistant Dean, resident Affairs (ADRA) residentwellness@nosm.ca. She is available to you for confidential advice, for coaching and can help support your wellness issues. She can arrange a referral to a clinical psychologist and suggest other wellness resources as needed. The ADRA provides direct support to our residents, represents the wellness interests of all residents and NOSM U residency programs which includes providing education, consultation and support to faculty and administrators.

Ms. Jaimy Kiiskila is the coordinator for Resident Affairs & PGME Office jkiiskila@nosm.ca, she provides the LAO and ADRA support and can assist you with finding and coordinating health resources.

Are you seeking a primary care physician during your residency training?

Taking care of yourself is important. At the start of each academic year, we refresh our list of Northern Physicians who have agreed to take on residents as patients. You can email Mr. Fisher at pgewellness@nosm.ca or use the Well App to request the list at any time during the year. 

NOSM Learner Support Services

Mr. Fisher, as the Senior Learner Affairs Officer (LAO), is part of NOSM University’s Learner Support Services Office Learner Support Services | NOSM. This operates in consultation with the academic program but is a confidential service for individual learners, at arm’s length from academics. Learner Support Services (LSS) offers services and support which assist learners academically and personally. It also has a primary role in learner wellness. We support learners by being accessible and responsive. Learner Support Services works with faculty and administration to facilitate a positive learning environment based on mutual respect. LSS can also assist with accommodation requests Learner Accommodations and Accessibility Services | NOSM and provide support to Learners who feel they have been subject to mistreatment Mistreatment | culture.nosm.ca. 

NOSM U Well App

The Wellness App “NOSM U Well” is free to download (NOSM U Well – App Download (apparmor.com)), with features to support wellness. Some examples of what the App offers are: arrange a cab, emergency information, COVID-19 update links, wellness calendar, PARO-OTH Collective Agreement, links to important policies, housing safety, wellness resources, travel safety, post-call taxi reimbursement, and an option for you to self refer to the NOSM U Clinical Psychologist.

The Wellness Program supports the PGY1CC Wellness Curriculum by offering sessions on Fatigue Risk Management, resiliency, burnout, and strategies for managing stress.  

We encourage any resident experiencing academic or occupational distress to reach out given that wellness issues are often interconnected.

The NOSM University Finance unit (Accounts Payable) is responsible for reimbursing expenses incurred by Residents throughout the course of their academic year. These expenses can include such things as travel, professional development expenses or other expenses deemed eligible by the program. Items related to employment (wages, benefits, etc.) are handled through the NOSM University Payroll unit and not through the NOSM Finance/Accounts Payable unit.

Eligible expenses must be submitted electronically using NOSM’s electronic expense reimbursement platform. This is accessed via MyNOSM and using your assigned NOSM login credentials.

Submissions for expenses must be in accordance with NOSM University policies and program specific guidelines. The applicable policies for travel and expense reimbursements as well as the submission instruction manual can be accessed via this link.

A reimbursement requirements tips guide has been created to further assist residents in navigating expense reimbursement. This can be found on the PGME Office Policies, Procedures and Forms site.

**NOTE: As this is an electronic process, you are responsible to maintain your original receipts for a
period of 24 months from submission. Please ensure you keep these documents safely stored in the
event they are required for audit purposes.**

Submissions should be done in a timely fashion, and payment can be expected within approximately
10 business days from receipt in Finance.

Please provide electronic banking information to Finance to receive direct deposit of your reimbursements.

Visit the EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT site for a step-by-step guide

Another helpful resource has been developed by resident representatives on the NOSM U PGME Budget Subcommittee which provides an overview of all available funding and the ways in which to access it:

Resident Reimbursement Funding at NOSM U: An Overview

PGME Scheduling Tips: Using the PaNDA scheduling system 

This guide features information and tips on how to access and use PaNDa, NOSM’s all-in-one platform for scheduling rotations, electives, leaves of absence and housing. Included in this tips sheet is the process of changing scheduled rotations.

Download the PaNDA Scheduling tip sheet

Before Your First Day 

When residents are performing a rotation in a new community, they should be in contact with the site, hospital, or Community Coordinator in that area, in advance of their rotation. They need to gather information regarding hospital orientation, parking cards, photocopying, access codes, library hours and access, and computer provision, etc. It is also important that before the start of a rotation residents contact their preceptor to introduce him or herself, and discuss the expectations, goals, and objectives for the rotation. Contact information can be found in PaNDA, or in the rotation reminder notifications. 

Rotation Information and Reminder Notifications 

Resident rotation and housing information can be found on the Pan Northern Database (PaNDa) website. In PaNDa, you will find any confirmed, pending changes or requested rotations, community and site-specific information, preceptor information and assignments. Rotation Goals and Objectives are all available online. Please note that you will receive rotation reminder e-mails 4 weeks before the start of each rotation. This e-mail will include the rotation type, dates, location, and preceptor contact information for your next rotation. Please review these e-mails and notify your program coordinator as soon as possible regarding any errors. 

Scheduling and Rotation Changes 

The clinical rotation schedules have been constructed based on feedback from resident planning surveys, program direction, and preceptor availability across all programs. Residents must submit a Learner Change Request Form for any rotation change. Prior to the completion of the form, residents must be released from the approved preceptor. The completed form must be submitted to your program coordinator a minimum of 12 weeks prior to the start of the scheduled rotations. If the requested rotation is not secured within 8 weeks of the rotation, the original rotation will stand.

Scheduling of Electives 

In choosing an elective within NOSM University’s geographical region, funding for mileage, preceptor stipend and housing will be covered by the Northern Electives’ Program. Please note that funding for travel and accommodations is only available for electives of four weeks or greater (these may be subdivided as two and two weeks, but must total a minimum of four weeks within the same community, in order to access this funding). A complete Elective Application must be submitted through the online application process found on PaNDa no less than eight weeks prior to the anticipated elective start date. Residents will need to login to PaNDa to access the elective application forms (Please refer to the PaNDa: Learner Electives Application Handbook). 

If residents choose to do an elective outside of NOSM University’s geographical catchment area, an External Elective Request Form outlining the proposed elective should be submitted to their program coordinator at least eight weeks prior to the start of electives. This form must include a description of the proposed learning objectives for the elective with specific reference to how the elective will meet the resident’s own learning needs. No funding is available for mileage, preceptor stipend, or accommodations for electives outside of NOSM University’s geographical catchment area. 

NOSM Housing

Housing is provided to residents for all CORE rotations outside of their home base and for elective rotations in Northern Ontario up to a maximum of six blocks per academic year. Housing may be provided for elective rotations in the communities of Ottawa if NOSM University housing is available. Availability can only be confirmed 60 days prior to the start of the rotation. Residents are asked to contact Housing at 60 days prior to the start of their rotation to see if NOSM University housing is available. More information on housing can be found on the NOSM University Housing Website.

Pay Information

• Payroll is issued by direct deposit. 
• Semi-monthly Pay (1st-15th of the month deposited on the 15th, and 16th to the last day of month deposited on the last day of each month). 
• If payday falls on a holiday or weekend, pay is deposited on the business day before. 
• Deadlines for on call forms, changes or submissions is 10 working days prior to the pay date. 
• Send inquiries or changes to Payroll by fax (705-671-3880) or email. 

Pay Advices & T4 Slips (how to view online) 

• Your pay advice (pay stub) is available online to view, save, or print. 
• Instruction on how to view pay advices were emailed to you with your payroll documents and are available on MyNOSM with the following link:  How to View your Pay Advice .
• Your T4 Slip will be available electronically by the end of February each year. You can access your T4 through the Self-Service (WebAdvisor) on MyNOSM.  Notice is also sent in The Script when they are ready.    

Resident On Call Claims – Electronic Submission 

• Link located on the NOSM University Website under MyNOSM, Learners. Resident On Call Claims
• Payment of on calls stipends are processed usually in the pay period following receipt. 
• Don’t Miss the Deadline!  As per the PARO/CAHO Collective Agreement, Call stipend claims must be submitted within 30 days following the end of the month in which the call was worked.  Untimely call stipends will not be paid.  Please note deadlines follow the calendar, and do not follow the block dates. 

Workplace Incidents

• All injuries must be reported to NOSM University within 24 hours.
• Complete the mandatory NOSM Injury/Incident Reporting Form and send to hr@nosm.ca 
• Needlestick Injuries require an additional form to be completed.
• The NOSM University Injury/Incident Reporting Form is posted on the NOSM University Website with the following link: Reporting an Injury 

Group Benefits (Mandatory Enrollment)

• Health and dental benefits through Manulife.
• Life insurance benefit through Sun Life Financial.
• Benefit details are available at www.myparo.ca  
• Benefit booklet available on the NOSM University Website with the following link: Manulife Benefit Information 
• Contact Number for Manulife 1-800-268-6195 (Plan number 86936 & Division 006). 

Payroll Contact Information: 

Email: payroll@nosm.ca | Fax: 705-671-3880 

To view PGME Policies and Guidelines, please visit our policies section.

If you have questions about the PGME registration process, please continue to work with pgregistration@nosm.ca. Our staff are working at home but are still working hard to ensure you are credentialed and ready to start residency.  Your continued attention to submission of documents and fees etc. helps us to help you.

For more information, please visit the PGME Registration Basics website.

NOSM University Elentra is a web-based platform accessible to residents and preceptors for the submission of clinical rotation evaluation and assessment forms.  You will log into Elentra using your NOSM credentials (username/password).   

TRAINING MODULES 

Before attempting to navigate Elentra, we recommend that you start with our comprehensive training module.  It is comprised of sets of instructions accompanied by short videos.

Elentra COMMUNITY page

This space will be your ultimate guide for all things NOSM University Elentra. Here you will find links to our Elentra training modules, top Elentra FAQs, and tools to assist residents in meeting all of their program-specific assessment and evaluation requirements.  This page is accessible once you have logged into your Elentra account. 

Visit our NOSM University website for additional Elentra resources:  

Evaluation and Assessment | NOSM 

NOSM Elentra FAQs | NOSM 

Your PGME Assessment and Evaluation coordinators can be contacted at: PGE.EvalandAssess@nosm.ca   

Amanda Murray: Anesthesia; Internal Medicine; Psychiatry; PHPM; FPA 

Julie Rendell: Surgical programs; Pediatrics; Family Medicine; EM; COE; Self-Directed

Welcome to NOSM University’s Health Sciences Library! As a NOSM U Resident you have access to the library’s: 

• Online resources
• Hardcopy resources 
• Interlibrary loan service  
• Equipment booking service including laptops, iPads, projectors, chargers etc.  
• Search assistance  
• Research & scholarly communications supports 
• and more! 

Online, you can reach us at askthelibrary@nosm.ca and our AskUs! chat service on our website.   

See below for additional quick links from the library to get you started.  

Quicks Links: 

How to access resources off-campus 

Library hours 

Location and staff information 

Library registration and borrowing 

Book a librarian 

Library services during COVID-19 

Welcome to Residency at NOSM University.

We at the Research and Graduate Studies Office are thrilled you chose NOSM U and are excited to work with you on any research projects you embark upon in the coming years. We know that residency can be a stressful and very busy time, and we want to let you know that our priority is to work with you, answer any questions and direct you to the right resources. To that end, The Research Office has created a webpage specifically for residents which has some useful documents and resources for you.

We also highly recommend subscribing to our biweekly research newsletter, Research Matters. If you have any questions, our email is research@nosm.ca. Depending on the type of research you choose to do, we can help you with applications for grants, Research Ethics Board applications, reporting, and manuscript preparation. Additionally, NOSM University has opportunities for you to share your research findings.

In addition to Resident Research Days, each year NOSM U holds the Northern Health Research Conference (NHRC). We encourage all residents to send in abstracts, and NOSM U is committed to promoting resident research wherever we can. Undertaking research can be a daunting and sometimes intimidating enterprise, especially if you don’t have a lot of prior experience. Our team is committed to helping you each step of the way and wants you to know you aren’t alone. 

Please feel free to reach out to us. Best of luck with your residency!  

The Research and Graduate Studies Office Team 

Email: research@nosm.ca  

NOSM has developed several resources to help our residents through the impact of COVID-19.

Frequently Asked Questions for Residents

COVID-19 Clinical Resources

The PARO-OTH Collective Agreement:

https://myparo.ca/your-contract/

During Residency

https://myparo.ca/during-residency/

Residents and COVID-19

https://myparo.ca/residents-and-covid-19/

PARO Helpline

https://myparo.ca/helpline/

General Council: NOSM

https://myparo.ca/general-council/NOSM/

The Canadian Medical Association is here to support you during your residency and beyond. Please watch our CMA orientation video or visit cma.ca/resident to learn about the learning opportunities, advocacy programs, clinical tools and practice management resources available to you. For any questions regarding membership status, please contact memberservicecentre@cma.ca 

MD Financial Management Overview

MD Financial Management (MD) is the only national financial services firm dedicated exclusively to the financial well-being of Canada’s medical students, residents, physicians, and their families. Our Early Career Advisors and Specialists can help educate you on various topics related to personal and professional finance, as well as provide personalized support and advice. Our Early Career Education Specialist team is happy to offer you webinars, events, and additional resources to help you succeed along your financial journey.

Resident Resources

Congratulations on beginning residency! With this exciting transition, you may notice a shift in your financial situation. Our website has a dedicated page for residents with articles, blogs, videos and podcasts that are packed with tips and information. Below are a few direct links to articles:

• Managing debt: What should a resident physician pay off first?
• Should I contribute to an RRSP or TFSA?
• Tax tips for resident physicians
• Investing is easy until it’s not: The benefits of a real-life advisor

 Additional resources:

• Congratulations- you’re now a resident!
• Do you want to know more about MD? Watch our MD Introduction Video
• Visit our MD Financial Management website for additional resources: https://mdm.ca/md-financial-management

Contact Us

If you have any questions, our Early Career Education Specialist team can be contacted at: ECS@md.ca

Family Planning for Medical Trainees