The AIMG Program provides a two-week orientation to the IMGs who have successfully matched to residency programs before they begin the clinical assessment component of Externship. The goal of Orientation is to prepare externs for a successful entry into the Canadian medical environment by introducing them to medical practice in the context of the Alberta and Canadian healthcare system.
Externship Orientation focuses on common knowledge gaps of IMGs that have been identified through discussion with relevant residency programs, assessment gaps, review of current research, and input from previous externs.
All externs are expected to have a fundamental knowledge of medicine, clinical skills and patient care. While Externship Orientation will include a few sessions on some crucial clinical skills where IMGs have identified gaps, the main focus is familiarization with expectations of patient care in the Canadian medical system. The orientation curriculum is developed with consideration of the CanMEDS framework, "which identifies and describes the abilities physicians require to effectively meet the health care needs of the people they serve."
During the four or eight-week Clinical Externship Assessment Period with the residency program:
At the end of the predetermined Externship Assessment Period, the applicable Residency Program Director reviews the extern’s assessments and authorizes the approval to commence postgraduate residency training for externs who have demonstrated competency equivalent to a graduating Canadian medical student. If an extern does not successfully complete their Externship Assessment, they will not be accepted for residency training. Unsuccessful externs can reapply as a candidate for match consideration through the AIMG Program in a subsequent year unless dismissed by the residency program because of an egregious breach of professional conduct.
The decision regarding an extern’s assessment and outcome is final.
Externs are required to sign an AIMG Program Externship Agreement indicating acceptance of all the following terms and conditions.
Throughout Externship:
Externship Assessment in a clinical setting cannot begin until the requirements listed below are met:
During the Externship Assessment Period:
The AIMG Program currently pays a monthly stipend of CAD$1,250 to each AIMG Program extern for each full month they participate in the Externship. There is no extra stipend for being on call, nor is there any deduction to the stipend if externs are not on call. Externs are not entitled to vacation time or pay during Externship.
Externs are not permitted to hold any other clinically-related employment that requires a practice permit from the CPSA. Due to the short duration of the Externship, it is strongly recommended that externs do not participate in any employment during Externship due to varied call schedules and the high stakes related to the outcome of Externship.
NOTE: Externs must arrange for their own transportation and accommodation during Externship.