Category 1 programs will be using CaRMS for the match process. This applies to the following Enhanced Skills Programs: Addictions Medicine, Emergency Medicine, FP-Anesthesia, Care of the Elderly, Palliative Medicine, Sports and Exercise Medicine. Consult the CaRMS website for timelines, program descriptions and application instructions.

The Clinician Scholar Program is a Category 1 program that is NOT using CaRMS for the match process. Anyone interested in applying should contact the Program Director, Dr. William Hogg at [email protected] or [email protected]

The Palliative Care Program may have funding to offer re-entry positions, but the availability of positions will not be known until after the interview period. There would not be a return of service requirement for these positions. Application timelines, interview dates, and offer dates are identical to those posted on CaRMS for the ESFP Category 1 Match.For application information, see 'Re-entry' below.

Re-entry candidates interested in pursing a PGY-3 year in Palliative Care, please contact Program Coordinator Ms. Lesley Ananny [email protected] for further information.

Re-entry candidates interested in pursing a PGY-3 year in Care of the Elderly, please contact Program Director Dr. A. Wilson [email protected] for further information.

Re-entry candidates interested in pursing a PGY-3 year as a Clinician Scholar, please contact Program Director Dr. W. Hogg [email protected] for further information.

Please review timelines and application instructions below if you wish to apply for the following Category 2 Programs: Enhanced Maternity Skills, FP-Oncology, Global Health, Hospitalist and Women’s Health.

To be eligible for uOttawa’s Postgraduate Enhanced Skills Family Practice Program, you must be:

• Currently enrolled as a PGY2 in the Family Medicine Residency program at a Canadian university at the time of application deadline.
• Residents must start their PGY3 year within 12 months of completing their PGY2 year.
• You may only apply once.

*Except for the Clinician Scholar Program, please note that we are not currently accepting applications through the re-entry program of the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.

*Please note for all IMG residents, you may still be required to fulfill the terms of your Return of Service (ROS) Agreement after completion of your PGY3 year. It is the trainee's responsibility to ensure compliance with ROS MOHLTC requirements and rules. For further information please visit: the Ministry of Health's page for International Medical Graduates (IMG).

Applications to any of the programs offered at uOttawa follow the timelines agreed to each year by the Ontario Enhanced Skills Program Directors.  We do not accept late applications.  Please be sure to adhere to the deadlines. 

*Category 1 Programs (Addictions Medicine, Emergency Medicine, FP-Anesthesia, Care of the Elderly, Palliative Medicine, Sports and Exercise Medicine), consult the CaRMS website for timelines, program descriptions and application instructions.

*Category 2 Programs: (Global Health, Enhanced Maternity Skills, FP-Oncology, Hospitalist and Women’s Health) please use timelines below: 

Note: You can only match to a single Category 1 program through CaRMS. Should you match to a Category 1 program through CaRMS, this is a binding contract and you will need to relinquish or decline any subsequent Category 2 offers you receive. Should you receive and accept a Category 2 offer PRIOR to the CaRMS rank order list deadline, you will need to withdraw from the CaRMS match. Between the rank order list deadline and match day, you cannot accept any Category 2 offers. Any circumvention of this policy will result in a match violation and may result in disciplinary actions.

To apply to the PGY-3 Enhanced Skills Category 2 for Family Practice program, all of the following need to be submitted before the application deadline:

• A completed Application Form;
• Letter of intent;
• Updated curriculum vitae;
• Letter of reference and general questionnaire from three references of your choosing. NOTE: You are strongly encouraged to include a reference from your Family Medicine primary preceptor as one of three references;
  • General Questionnaire
• Applicants must also ask their Postgraduate Program Director to complete the PD questionnaire;
  • Program Director Questionnaire (docx, 29.98 KB)

The letters of reference and questionnaires should be directed to:

PGY3 Program Coordinator
Phone: 613-562-5800 ext. 7667
Email: [email protected]
Department of Family Medicine
University of Ottawa
201 - 600 Peter Morand Cres
Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3

Palliative Care

The Palliative Care Program may have funding to offer re-entry positions, but the availability of positions will not be known until after the interview period. There would not be a return of service requirement for these positions. Application timelines, interview dates, and offer dates are identical to those posted on CaRMS for the ESFP Category 1 Match. Re-Entry candidates are welcome to apply by submitting the following documents to [email protected]. Direct entry candidates (from PGY-2 family medicine MUST apply through CaRMS).

• Letter of intent
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of reference MUST be submitted directly from referees to [email protected].  One referee MUST be the candidate's most recent Residency Program Director if the candidate graduated within the last five years.  Each referee must also submit a referee assessment form provided below (note that there is a different form for Program Directors versus other referees).

Care of the Elderly

Interested re-entry candidates, please contact Program Director Dr. A. Wilson at [email protected] for further information.

Clinician Scholar

Interested re-entry candidates, please contact Program Director Dr. William Hogg at [email protected] or [email protected] for further information.

• Please refer to the CaRMS website for all information.
• Re-entry candidates interested in pursing a PGY-3 year in Care of the Elderly, please contact Program Director Dr. A. Wilson [email protected] for further information.
• Re-entry candidates interested in pursing a PGY-3 year in Palliative Care, please contact Program Coordinator  Ms. Lesley Ananny [email protected] for further information.
• Re-entry candidates interested in pursing a PGY-3 year as a Clinician Scholar, please contact Program Director Dr. William Hogg at [email protected] or [email protected] for further information.

What happens if I apply and receive an offer to Category 1 and Category 2 programs?

Please note, you can only match to a single Category 1 program through CaRMS. Should you match to a Category 1 program through CaRMS, this is a binding contract and you will need to relinquish or decline any subsequent Category 2 offers you receive. Should you receive and accept a Category 2 offer PRIOR to the CaRMS rank order list deadline, you will need to withdraw from the CaRMS match. Between the rank order list deadline and match day, you cannot accept any Category 2 offers. Any circumvention of this policy will result in a match violation and may result in disciplinary actions.

1. How do I apply?

For more information please see the "How to apply" section above for the application process, eligibility requirements, and deadlines. 

2. When should I apply?

Funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is allocated based upon the residency training period from July – June (ex. July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). Your application should be submitted the year prior to when you would begin. For example, apply in August 2024 for a start date between July 1 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Off-cycle and IMG residents may not officially be a PGY2 resident at the time of the application deadline. Applications will be accepted based upon the criteria listed above. Please email [email protected] if you have any further questions.

3. Can I apply after the deadline?

No. We do not accept applications outside of the dates listed on the website.

4. I am applying to more than one PGY3 program. Am I required to submit an application to each program I am applying to?

Yes. This includes if you are applying to multiple streams (e.g., TOH Stream and Montfort Stream for the Maternity Skills and Hospitalist PGY3 programs).

5. Do my reference letter and questionnaire need to be submitted directly by my reference? How should they be submitted?

Yes, they must be submitted by your reference via email and/or regular mail, but must be received before the application closing deadline. Reference letters and questionnaires should be directed to the PGY3 Program Coordinator and will be forwarded to the appropriate Program Director for review along with your application. 

6. Can the reference letter from the Program Director come from the program Site Director instead?

Important note: The reference letter from the Postgraduate Program Director is no longer a requirement.

7. What is the Reference Questionnaire and why is it required as part of my application?

The questionnaire has been adopted by some of the PGY3 programs to ensure that specific topics are addressed by your referee. Applicants are required to forward the appropriate questionnaire, either the “Program Director Questionnaire” or the” General Questionnaire”, to their references. The questionnaire should be submitted directly by the referee along with the letter of reference before the application deadline.

8. I am a current practicing family physician who will be applying for re-entry funding. Should I apply to my PGY3 program of interest during the regular application cycle?

For Return of Service re-entry funding, re-entry candidates must apply directly to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. Applications sent directly to the Department will not be accepted. 

Please visit the MOHLTC webpage for further information.   

9. What happens after I apply?

See the "How to apply" section above for more specific information regarding timelines but,

• you will receive a confirmation that your application has been received; and
• after the deadline and once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email stating whether or not an interview is offered.

10. How can I get information about interviews?

Currently, interviews are being held virtually. You will receive further information after the application deadline in the email confirming receipt of your application.

11. Who is on the interview panel?

Depending on the program there will be 2 – 4 panelists including the Program Director and current resident (when possible).

12. What are the processes for offers and acceptances?

All applicants will receive an email notifying them if they will receive an offer (see the timeline in the "How to apply" section above). Applicants who receive offers have to accept by the respective deadline. If the offer is accepted, you will receive an email confirmation and more information will follow from the Postgraduate Medical Education Office in mid to late April.

13. What if I decline an offer?

If you decline an offer, the next person on the waiting list will be offered the position in the program.

14. What if I am told I am on the wait list?

You will be contacted should a position become available. You may be contacted after the mid-December deadline should there be positions available. 

15. I am interested in applying, but live outside of Ottawa. How do I find out information about living in Ottawa?

Canada’s capital has no shortage of history and charisma — from Parliament buildings to the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal — but it has long been dogged by a reputation as a ‘boring’ government centre. Don’t make that mistake! With a thriving food scene, multicultural and multilingual roots and a developing nightlife, Ottawa’s exhibitions and galleries are emerging from the shadow of Montreal and Toronto.

Here are our recommendations for exploring our beautiful city!