NOSM and AFMC Launch New Portal for Medical Electives

Yesterday, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) joined the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)’s Student Portal, an online system through which Canadian and international undergraduate medical students can apply for unique medical electives in Northern Ontario.

A national information hub and centralized application service, the AFMC Student Portal provides a one-stop shop for medical students looking for electives in Canada. Visiting Canadian and international undergraduate medical students are now able to visit the Student Portal to learn about placements across Canada—including clinical placements in Northern Ontario. Students can search the Visiting Elective Guide on the Portal at any time without having to register or submit an application.

“At NOSM, we know that there are two important factors that influence students in returning to Northern and rural areas: positive one-on-one educational opportunities, and exposure to the quality of life in Northern Ontario,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “We are pleased to partner with the AFMC on the Student Portal to provide an efficient, easy way for students to discover NOSM electives placements, which expose them to all the professional and personal benefits Northern Ontario has to offer.”

“The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada is pleased to have the Northern Ontario School of Medicine join the Portal, which currently houses placement information for 12 Canadian faculties of medicine,” says Dr. Genevieve Moineau, President and CEO of the AFMC. “This collaborative effort opens doors for medical students to arrange visiting elective opportunities in diverse settings including Canada’s northern and rural communities.”

“Students are excited to hear about the launch of an additional school on the AFMC Student Portal,” says Nebras Warsi, Vice President of Medical Education at the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS). “Throughout this process, we remain committed to a fair and equitable access to visiting electives for all Canadian medical students. As a partner in the roll out of the Student Portal, we remain firmly committed to a smooth implementation of the Portal that would allow all Canadian medical students the opportunity to complete visiting electives in their chosen disciplines and locations across the country.”