MD students gathered at the UBC Medical Student Alumni Centre to celebrate the results of the first round of CaRMS.
The buzz of excitement was tangible as fourth-year MD students gathered on March 4 at the UBC Medical Student Alumni Centre to celebrate the results of the first round of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), which matches graduating MD students with postgraduate programs nationwide.
280 fourth-year MD undergraduate students from the class of 2015, set to be the largest graduating cohort in the history of the program, matched to postgraduate training programs in the first round — a strong showing in the highly-competitive Canadian residency match. 109 (nearly 40%) of the 2015 Class matched to Family Medicine.
With celebrations in order, UBC MD students were seen capturing the moments of Match Day on camera and sharing news of the results with peers, writing their specialty and location in bright magic marker on t-shirts donated by the Canadian Medical Association.
But the students were not the only ones to mark the occasion and celebrate the results.
This year, UBC’s postgraduate medical education programs accepted a record number of entry-level postgraduate trainees. 97 per cent of the 338 positions — the largest number of entry-level positions in the history of B.C. — were filled in the first round of the CaRMS match, a testament to the strength of postgraduate medical education at UBC.
A resident writes their specialty and location in bright magic marker on a t-shirt.
As in previous years, Family Medicine accounts for the largest number (nearly half) of the residency positions. This year, all 164 entry-level Family Medicine residency positions across the province were fully matched in the first round.
According to Dr. Martin Dawes, Head of UBC’s Department of Family Practice, this year’s CaRMS match results are very encouraging.
“We have increased positions in Family Medicine in response to B.C.’s most urgent need. Today’s 100% match for the record number of 164 Family Medicine residency positions will lead to improved access to health care and better overall health for British Columbians,” says Dr. Dawes.
Starting this July, UBC’s Family Medicine Residency Program — now the largest in Canada — will begin training residents at sites across British Columbia, including a new site offering in Trail. Last summer, the Family Medicine Residency Program opened new training sites in Kamloops as well as North Vancouver.
Dr. Roger Wong, Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, sees the continued expansion and distribution of UBC’s residency programs as a step in the right direction.
“A sustainable healthcare system involves expanding opportunities for family doctors, generalists, as well as specialists so that we can ensure we’re meeting the needs of individuals living in urban, rural and remote regions of the province,” says Dr. Wong.
This July, a new Pediatrics training site in Victoria will also receive its first two residents, broadening pediatric medicine training outside of Vancouver.
Over the past decade, UBC’s expansion and distribution of medical education programs have significantly increased the number of physicians trained in British Columbia, creating clusters of academic and clinical learning in a wide range of settings — from urban hospitals to rural community health clinics — on the Island, in the North, the Interior and the Lower Mainland.
Students pinned flags to the various cities in Canada where they will be completing residencies.
Almost three quarters of those who completed postgraduate medical education training at UBC between 2000 and 2013 have remained in B.C. Of those who also completed their MD at UBC, 90 per cent have remained in B.C. to practice.
“I’m very encouraged by the growing numbers of doctors completing training and heading into practice to provide care to patients across the province,” says Dr. David Snadden, Executive Associate Dean, Education. “This year’s strong match results are not only a testament to the caliber of our students and incredible efforts of faculty and staff, but a reflection of our commitment to increase the number of physicians completing training in communities across B.C.”
To become a doctor, students complete 4 years of undergraduate medical education, followed by postgraduate training which ranges from 2 years for family medicine, to 7 years for specialties.
A second round of the CaRMS match for the remaining unfilled positions will be held in April.