IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING APPLICATIONS:
The Medical Sciences programs are inactive. It is undetermined when or if they will reopen.
The Graduate Diploma in Medical Sciences and Professional Master's of Medical Sciences are two programs offered through a partnership between the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Postgraduate Medical Education, and Undergraduate Medical Education.
These programs have been specifically designed for graduates of medical schools who have not yet matched to a postgraduate residency program in Canada. Students will explore current issues in medical sciences and further develop their clinical skills in the context of the Canadian healthcare system. It is anticipated that the emphasis on research, clinical skills, and scholarship will enhance any future applications for residency positions through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS).
For additional information, please refer to the School of Graduate Studies website at http://www.queensu.ca/sgs/medical-sciences .
"I vividly remember the day I came across the GDPM program after going unmatched in both Canadian and US Residency matches in 2019. I read the testimonials and decided to join this program. Today, I can tell you that it was one of the best decisions of my life.
As an IMG, I was looking for a stage to showcase my skills in front of the residency program’s faculty. I got exactly that here. This is one of those rare opportunities which an IMG should not let go off.
I was again going through both the Canadian and the US match in the 2020 cycle. I received at least 10 US interviews mostly because of this program. The faculty recognizes the importance of every single interview and would offer interview preparation sessions with personalized constructive feedback.
Thank you to the excellent faculty and staff for your tremendous support throughout. I shall forever be thankful. Queen’s Family Medicine - here I come!"
- Gurjot S. Grewal, Graduate Diploma in Medical Sciences
"Pursuing my Medical Sciences Masters at Queen's University is the best decision I have made throughout my entire career. Not only is the program fantastic in regards to preparing IMGs to better perform in the Canadian medical environment through extensive hands-on clinical experiences, it also provides great research opportunities. But more importantly, I have found the program to be unique in the way it allows its students to grow on the interpersonal and professional levels. How to give and receive feedback, work in a team, learn from seniors and support junior learners are all skills that I have gained through the GDPM program. I am thankful to the program for preparing me for the next step in my career as a Family Medicine resident at Queen's University."
- Yara Mouhamed, Graduate of Professional Master in Medical Sciences
"By joining the Queen’s University GPDM program, I have seen personal growth that has been an enriching experience and has challenged me in ways to not only become a better medical physician but also to become a clinical scientist that pursues innovative research. Under the guidance of excellent mentors, I was able to participate and gain invaluable hands-on Canadian clinical experience, engage in standardized patient simulations in the clinical teaching center, and participate in nightmare resuscitation scenarios. The program has allowed me to grow professionally and personally to become a better educator and mentor to my peers and future students. This program also has a dedicated and determined team of researchers who have helped me enhance my research skills by educating the program participants to conduct ethical research through outstanding mentorship that constantly provides tools to ensure success for our research endeavors. I absolutely love this program. I am forever thankful and grateful to the Queen’s Medical Sciences faculty in helping me towards achieving my goals."
- Justin Jain, Professional Master in Medical Sciences Student
"Starting my Professional Master in Medical Sciences at Queen’s has been one of the greatest things I have done for my medical career as an IMG.
Weekly OSCE stations, the Nightmares course, and the opportunity to be placed in different hands-on clinical settings has been a tremendous help in allowing me to maintain and refine my clinical skills and keep my knowledge up to date with current practice guidelines in the Canadian health care setting. It was also a wonderful opportunity to network with great clinical supervisors.
The research component has helped me gain a wealth of knowledge and skills, and the opportunity to publish many research papers in respected medical journals through critical appraisal of research, and how research applies to clinical practice.
The opportunity to mentor junior students and be mentored by senior students is also an important skill set that I learned by being in the clinical, and research environments.
Overall, the program trains and refines competencies pertaining to the different CanMEDS roles, and how they pertain to physicians in practice in Canada."
- Fady Dawoud, Professional Master in Medical Sciences Student
"As an IMG, returning home and matching into a Canadian residency program was very important to me. In order to make myself a more competitive applicant for the CaRMS match, I applied to the Queen’s University Graduate Diploma program in Medical Sciences.
The program gave me the opportunity to enhance my skills and knowledge through integrated clerkships, research, standardized patient OSCEs and technical skills training. My clinical experiences were tailored to the disciplines of medicine I was interested in and better prepared me for what to expect as a resident training in the Canadian learning context within a CanMEDS and CBME framework. The research portion allowed me to work collectively with a group of physicians, perform critical analyses of articles, and interpret and apply the relevant information to publish an informative up to date review.
Throughout the program I was surrounded by excellent physicians, faculty and staff which took an interest into my future. Because of all their help and guidance, I was able to achieve my goal of matching into an Ontario residency program."
- Catherine Nowierski, Professional Master in Medical Sciences Graduate
"As an IMG, joining GDMP was a unique opportunity for me to gain hands-on Canadian experience and get familiar with the details of the healthcare system. All clinical exposures were followed by in-person assessments from Queen’s experienced preceptors. This was extremely helpful in refining my clinical skills and updating my medical knowledge. Moreover, GDPM provided me with an in-depth understanding of CanMED roles. It goes without saying that this is mandatory for becoming a successful physician in Canada. Also, being a GDPM student, I had the chance to perfect my research skills under the guidance of experienced mentors. I even had the chance to present my work at a national level. Last but not least, GDPM was not just an educational program for me; I felt supported throughout all of my journey and made some good friends for which I will be forever thankful.
- Jabiz Modaresi Esfeh, Graduate Diploma in Medical Sciences"