SCHOOLOFMEDICINE

Background

TheFacultyofMedicineandDentistryattheUniversityofAlbertahashada historyofworld-classresearch,educationandpatientcaresinceitwasestablishedin 1913 ItisknownasoneofCanada’spremierhealthsciencesinstitutesanditsrecent collaborativerelationshipwithAlbertaHealthServiceshasattractedsomeofthetop medicalmindsintheworldandhascreatedanatmosphereofcontinualdiscoveryfor itsstudents.¹TheOfficeofUndergraduateMedicalEducation(UME)offersafour-year DoctorofMedicine(MD)programthatstrivestoeducatemedicalstudentstobecome knowledgeable,compassionate,collaborative,reflectiveandprofessionalphysicians committedtoqualityhealthcareandlifelonglearning.

TheUniversityofAlbertaprovidesanintegratedcurriculumfocusedon education,researchandpatientcaretaughtthroughabalanceoftraditionaland innovativeteachingmethods,includinglecturesandlaboratoryinstruction,small-group casestudies,problem-basedlearning,Internet-basedtutorials,andpreceptor-guided clinicalskillsessions²Studentsareencouragedtopursueresearchduringtheir undergraduatedegreeandarealsogiventheopportunitytopursuetheMDwitha SpecialTraininginResearchDesignationprogramthatmoreformallyrecognizetheir additionalresearchtraining.³Inaddition,acombinedMD/PhDprogramisoffered⁴ , alongwithaMD/MBA.⁵

Admission Requirements

Applications for the Fall 2023 academic year began on July 1, 2022, with the release of the Online Undergraduate and Secondary Medicine Applications, and must be completed by October 4, 2022.⁶

Prospective students are required to provide two official transcripts, two letters of reference, a personal activities section, CASPer test results, MCAT results⁷ , and successful completion of at minimum two full years of undergraduate work and all applicable pre-requisite courses.⁸ A minimum requirement of 124 in the BC, CP and PS sections and 128 in the CARS section of the MCAT is required for consideration. Applicants should take note that only the 2015 and onwards version of the MCAT is acceptable.⁸ If the applicant is qualified for the MMI-style interview, it will take place throughout March and the final decision will be announced in May.⁷ Students should also consider that only 25 spots (15%) are available for those applying outside the province.⁹

The Curriculum

During the first two years, medical students learn about the organ systems in defined blocks that progress from the basic sciences to clinical application. These blocks include infection, immunity and inflammation; endocrine system; cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal systems; gastroenterology and nutrition; reproductive medicine and urology; musculoskeletal system; neuroscience and oncology.² In the later years, students begin their clinical training through mandatory rotations and electives that allow them to develop a deeper understanding of several subspecialties ² Notably, students are offered the opportunity to participate in an Integrated Community Clerkship program in their third year ² The faculty encourages students to seek out research opportunities and to work towards obtaining their Special Training in Research designation Following graduation, the faculty offers over 50 residency programs accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).³

University of Alberta, UAlberta Facts [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/about/facts

University of Alberta MD Undergraduate MD Program [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/medicine/programs/md

University of Alberta, MD with Special Training in Research [Online] Available from: http://education med ualberta ca/Programs/undergraduate/STIR/Pages/default aspx

University of Alberta, MD/PhD Program [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/medicine/programs/md-phd

University of Alberta, MD Admissions: MD/MBA Program [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/medicine/programs/md-mba

University of Alberta, MD Admissions: Important Notices and Dates [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/medicine/programs/md/applying-tomedicine/before-you-apply/important-notices-and-dates

University of Alberta, MD Admissions: Non-Academic Requirements [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/medicine/programs/md/applying-tomedicine/before-you-apply/application-requirements

University of Alberta, MD Admissions: Academic Criteria [Online] Available from: https://www ualberta ca/medicine/programs/md/applying-tomedicine/before-you-apply/application-requirements

The Association of Faculties of Medicine Canada, Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine: Admission Statistics [Online] Available from: https://afmc ca/sites/default/files/pdf/2022 admission-requirements EN pdf